Don't know why I didn't think to ask before today! Duh! Several weeks ago, the day before I had a huge kidney stone removed under general anesthesia, I started to get my 3rd bout with Shingles. I had the vaccine, which probably muted some of the usual symptoms. My PCP put me on Valtrex and my dermatologist added Gebapentin a couple of days later. By then the Valtrex had done a number on my head so when I got the Gabapentin, I only took the first dose and then quit both when I read the side effects of Gaba were similiar to the Valtrex. Currently all my Shingle sores have healed up but I still have some discomfort. Now I am wondering if just one dose of Gaba/day would do what Valtrex did to me, yet calm the discomfort? I still have 59 doses left! That was no fun as I was even afriad to drive more than a couple of miles to see the MDs. l. I'm open to all suggestions from those who have survived similar problems. @gailfaith

Gail, are you saying that the medication gave you shingle-like symptoms? Are you continuing with gabapentin?

@ gailfaith Concerning Shingles: Sorry for any confusion. When I saw the start of the rash I knew it was Shingles as I have had them twice before and now again even after I have had the vaccine. When I had it previously, there were no Rx recommended for shingles. This time when I saw my PCP, he wrote for Valtrex. WIthin 15 minutes of taking the first dose, my head felt funny. At the same time I saw my PCP, I made an appt with my dermatologist also and got an appt several days later at which time he wrote for Gabapentin in addition. When I got it filled I took the first dose, and then read the side effects which seemed to be simiar to the Valtrex ones. So I never took any more of the the Gabapentin . And since I was already taking Valtrex and was miserable, I did not take any more Valtrex either starting the next day. I was afriad to drive. SInce this round of the Shingles was not a severe as I had remembered, I attributied that to the vaccine. The rash has now healed so I can get back into the pool for my Physical Therapy but there is still some discomfort. So I am wondering about maybe trying to take some of the Gabapentin alone (I still had 59 doses left from the original 60!) Can anyone comment on their experience with Gabapentin when taken alone and its side effects. If it is anything like the Valtrex side effects, which were worse than than the disease .... I won't even try. I was too miserable when I took it with the Valtrex so that I couldn't tell if the Gabapentin made the side effects worse. I know everyone has their own way of reacting to any Rx. But any suggestions are welcome. The dermatologist indictated that the Gabapentin reduced the lingering discomfort which I now appear to have. As an aside, it seems for me.,1/2 of a 5 mg Ativan tab ( prescribed for anxiety) seems to help.