Neuropathy: Anyone have any experience with gabapentin?

I had been taking Gabapentin for about 6 years and i decided to slack off bc of its side effects of feeling zombie-like and the fact that i gained a LOT of weight, approx. 80 lbs. I could not seem to lose this weight and am still having a hard time losing it. Because i also have Srage 4 CKD, i have changed my eating habits, turning to more plant based foods in hopes of altering my weight and healing.
I seem to be headed in the right direction and i dont miss the Gabapentin at all. I also started taking R-ALA and Acetyl Carnetine, which also seems to help. 🥰

The neurologist started me on 300mg. I could not function…I was so very tired. I tried Lyrica and it made me tired, however not as bad as Gabapentin.
The cost of the Lyrica plus the side effects made me stop taking that too.
Now, I use topical medications like, Aspercreme for nerves, and magnesium lotion, or oil. The magnesium works really well. I get it on Amazon.

ULTRA STRENGTH BENGAY TOPICAL ANALGESIC CREAM, works!

Interesting!I’m going to try it!

I tried it and within a week my bowels were so messed up that I stopped. It’s been three months and the remaining symptoms are such that I am going in for a blood test today to see if it damaged my liver. ….Other people can tolerate huge dosages of it.

I took it for only 2 weeks. It made me stupid and no positive effects I am on a diet and light exercise and paracetamol. My doctor is not a neurologist but has helped me more than the neurologist did. So many different problems and approaches. I just keep trying new stuff. Sometimes I make doctors mad they say give it 6 months - it's like why do I want to beat a 6-month guinea pig and I am the one suffering?
Hang in there keep reading and studying one of us will hit the jackpot and everyone will know

I've had non diabetic neuropathy progressively worsening sice 2015. My primary and neurologist have had had me try several medications over the first few years. The only one that helps reduce the pain in my feet is gabapentin. Started low and slowly got to 3300 mg spread out 4 xs daily which helps reduce my pain by 40-60% depending on the load on my feet. Sometimes I use 4% lidocaine on my feet which helps a ton for an hour or so. Johnmacc

My demyelinating peripheral neuropathy started nearly fifty years ago, but started surging 12 years ago. Evaluated by five neurologists and one neuromuscular doctor. Currently stage four in right leg and stage 2/3 in other three limbs. Usefulness of walker coming to end and looking at braces to hold off on wheelchair. This is what I have tried over the years:
1. Gabapentin - got up to 3200mg per day. Still had pain at 9+ level. The high dose eventually crashed my white blood cell count - below 2. PCP and neurologist tapered me off to zero. All those side effects disappeared.
2. IVIG was recommended for slowing the disease down and helping with pain. Two days per month for five years. Not sure if it helped slow down the disease. Certainly helped with pain for three weeks of the month. Was taking as the same time as the gabapentin.
3. Lyrica - nasty stuff in my opinion. Neurologist prescribed it as part of cocktail with gabapentin.
4. Cymbalta - follow-on to gabapentin. Thirty mg twice per day. Works. Helps with pain from damaged spine also.
5. Spinal cord stimulator - initially implanted for spine pain after too many surgeries. Eighty-five percent solution. Also helped alleviate nerve pain.

I’ve been taking it for about two years. I take 4 in the AM and 3 in the PM. It does a pretty good job of dulling the pain. I’ve not noticed any real effects but I know my balance is poor and wonder if that can be attributed to the gabapentin.

Best of luck,

I was prescribed Gabapentin vs some others because it was the most liver friendly, processed through kidneys vs liver. That’s what my neurologist said and I had researched it early on. Checking liver in blood tests is always a good thing, but hopefully Gabapentin isn’t something that’s supposed to affect it (I’m no medical person, hopefully your doctor will confirm)