I read, with interest, the lawsuit from 1998 (settled in 2004) re:Neurontin. It seems there are strict rules against MARKETING drugs for medical purposes that haven’t been through all of the FDA required testing rigors for each specific medical condition. It seems Neurontin was originally proven as an anti-seizure drug, but the old owner of the drug made unproven claims and extreme bad acts as having Neurontin touted as a drug for a lot of other diseases, and it does appear they broke laws with their marketing then.
I am not a medical person nor know those laws, nor the status of any further testing done since 2004 on Gabapentin/Neurontin, especially for Neuropathy. But I think many drugs/vaccines (like the Covid vaccine) originate from a drug previously approved to fight another medical disease. I guess at a certain point, enough evidence is collected to have doctors believing that certain drugs may help certain conditions. I know my medical system shows reports on any contributions received by doctors from pharmaceutical companies if I wanted to check; I don’t know if this is a public tool. It never hurts to ask our docs what alternative meds there might be if we’re suspicious.
I think with everything in this forum, everyone agrees there’s no one cure-all that works for each and every one of us and our other competing medical conditions. I do know, from my experience, I am in more discomfort, sometimes extreme, when I’ve missed a dose of Gabapentin, and I’m blessed with getting out and about and having a clear head while taking it, so I will continue as I think it suits my health and lifestyle ok.
I don’t miss many doses, so I don’t know what withdrawal is like, but thank God you’ve got folks responding with their experiences; and as you’ve seen, some are good and some bad - a difficult choice and I’m cheering for you doing what you believe us best for you!!