1. < Chronic Pain

Can gabapentin cause muscle pain and cramps in arms & legs?

Posted by sadeyes @sadeyes, Jan 28, 2020

Has anyone ever had the experience of Gabapentin causing severe muscle cramps in arms and legs and muscular pain and feeling of weakness? I know it is supposed to basically do the opposite and help with muscular problems......but this has happened twice to me as soon as I started the gaba and it was very severe,

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sallymayo22 | @sallymayo22 | Dec 16, 2022
In reply to @bustrbrwn22 "@sallymayo22 What an inspiration you are! You are so brave rescuing a 14 year old poochie...." + (show)
@bustrbrwn22

@sallymayo22 What an inspiration you are! You are so brave rescuing a 14 year old poochie. I couldn't deal with the potential heartbreak of the short years remaining for my furry friend. Any dog lover is a good person.

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Sam (my JRT) and I keep each other going! My last Jack Russell lived to a ripe old age . . .

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bustrbrwn22 | @bustrbrwn22 | Dec 16, 2022
In reply to @sallymayo22 "Sam (my JRT) and I keep each other going! My last Jack Russell lived to a..." + (show)
@sallymayo22

Sam (my JRT) and I keep each other going! My last Jack Russell lived to a ripe old age . . .

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@sallymayo22 What a cutie!

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astra | @astra | Dec 16, 2022
In reply to @vklittle61 "My neurologist tells me to go to pain mgmt doc or the sirgeon" + (show)
@vklittle61

My neurologist tells me to go to pain mgmt doc or the sirgeon

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I was referred to a pain management doctor. In less than 10 minutes, he prescribed Tramadol or some such name, said to take three a day. I did not like him, but I took half of the first doze and felt absolutely sick, and stopped. That was my experience of "pain management."

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dunkinmacdougall | @dunkinmacdougall | Dec 17, 2022
In reply to @donrealtesting "@dunkinmacdougall Hi, I see many questions in these forums that ask others if they think or..." + (show)
@donrealtesting

@dunkinmacdougall Hi, I see many questions in these forums that ask others if they think or have experienced issue from certain medications. It's a valid question. First if you read or research the list of side effects that come with theses meds, and combine that with the problems you are having with legs, feet, or wha have you, your answer is there. Looking for drugs alone to remove a problem alone long term is likely not going to solve a problem. Therapy and exercise, along with diet and daily care is going to help. The real question is does what you are taking in combination causing you the pain? Meaning you may have answered your own question to the affirmative just by asking. Real question which one in the combo is the culprit?

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Thanks for the follow up to my question.
I have investigated the meds I am on and if there are contraindicators with my pharmacist. So far we are not having any conflicting meds. I do have a "yoga" routine that I use every morning and on the most uncomfortable nights also. The routine requires up to 45 minutes. There is also 20 to 45 minutes on a stationary bicycle and on some occasions, use of an inversion table. There are Osteopath, massage therapist and a physio therapist that offers the decompression table in my routine. I have recently visited a physiatrist and she relayed that I have a triple whammy. Arthritis, stenosis and neuropathy. Not much left for me to do but "suck it up buttercup"

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Colleencuknfunt | @donrealtesting | Dec 17, 2022
In reply to @dunkinmacdougall "Thanks for the follow up to my question. I have investigated the meds I am on..." + (show)
@dunkinmacdougall

Thanks for the follow up to my question.
I have investigated the meds I am on and if there are contraindicators with my pharmacist. So far we are not having any conflicting meds. I do have a "yoga" routine that I use every morning and on the most uncomfortable nights also. The routine requires up to 45 minutes. There is also 20 to 45 minutes on a stationary bicycle and on some occasions, use of an inversion table. There are Osteopath, massage therapist and a physio therapist that offers the decompression table in my routine. I have recently visited a physiatrist and she relayed that I have a triple whammy. Arthritis, stenosis and neuropathy. Not much left for me to do but "suck it up buttercup"

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Hi Dunkin, Wow sounds like you are more active than I am. Cramps are normal for someone that hangs upside down from their ankles and puts them selves into a pretzel! 🙂
Circulation, not drinking enough water can all make a difference. Basically short circuiting your system is easy, laying or sitting on feet, crossing legs. I get chest pain crossing my legs now. Getting older isn't fun, pain sometimes means to slow down a bit. To the issue of drugs helping or making things worse, time will tell. If a doctor ever tells me to suck it up, that's when I get another doctor. Osteopath over a Chiropractor any day!

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Sleepygirl | @alvamaeyaert | Dec 21, 2022
In reply to @londonwc1 "YES .I suffer from Neurophathy in legs and Restless Leg Syndrome.Nerve conduction tests confirmed the Neuro.I..." + (show)
@londonwc1

YES .I suffer from Neurophathy in legs and Restless Leg Syndrome.Nerve conduction tests confirmed the Neuro.I have taken Gabapentin for years. On and off. Last evening I took 400mg for the RLS. I woke up screaming in pain with cramp from knee to foot. I have suspected the Gabapentin but now I k now. I will stop it. Another thing that causes muscle cramps is Chlorthalidone for high BP. I have stopped that and my Doc is going to give me something else.He said he is not a fan of it.I have CKD so must be careful. I am 85 yrs old. and if I have learned one thing its. Research Research Research.I am new here as Feb 3,2020. Nice to meet you all, and lets help each other with all these meds.

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I didn’t think you could just stop taking gabipentin cold turkey. Aren’t there side affects that could arise?

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queenofhearts921 | @queenofhearts921 | Dec 21, 2022

I have lupus and fibromyalgia and doctors are always pushing gabapentin on me which I categorize as a bad drug. It just makes me sick chest pains, headaches, sick to my stomach, yuck not worth it. Some people it helps tho. It depends on you. The only thing that works on me is morphine and they won't give it to me so I just suffer with the pain, being homebound

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Sleepygirl | @alvamaeyaert | Dec 21, 2022
In reply to @arlenejc "I took Gabapentin for quite a while and had my doctor up the dosage. You go..." + (show)
@arlenejc

I took Gabapentin for quite a while and had my doctor up the dosage. You go on it in steps and come down off of it in steps. The higher dose made my breathing difficult and I called my doctor about it. She had me come down off of it and then I decided to go off completely. I don’t think it ever really helped me. I took CBD for a while with good results for my pain issues but that didn’t last. I’ve tried everything and now the last and final is going to be meditation. This is something that makes a lot of sense. I was on oxycodone for a couple of years and that worked great but you have to up the dosage every few months and of course that eventually kills you one way or another.

Look at a meditation site. People have had good results. Doesn’t work for everyone but worth a good try. I am on, curablehealth.com Just started last week and am taking it slowly so as to understand throughly. Good luck and let me know.

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Thanks for your information.

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mariajean03 | @mariajean03 | Dec 22, 2022

I take 300 of Gabapentin @ HS and wake up with terrible back pain and cry in the middle of the nite. I don't know what it is. Maria.

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helendorsch | @helendorsch | Dec 22, 2022

No, I have not. I have taken it for years.

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