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Anyone here dealing with peripheral neuropathy?
Neuropathy | Last Active: Dec 26, 2024 | Replies (3053)Comment receiving replies
This is my first post about P/N which I've experienced for 15 years starting at age 65. It progressed from my feet up to my thighs and it is felt in other upper regions of my body - even my face. My Internist prescribed Gabapentin 100 mg but the side effects are off putting (dizziness) so I have NOT started this medication due to being semi-ambulatory and already have poor equilibrium, therefore I don't want to add side effects which will further increase disequilibrium. My question: I request others who have taken Gabapentin to offer their experience with this drug and how it may (or not) have helped ameliorate the discomforting symptoms of neuropathy. My thanks for any information.
Replies to "This is my first post about P/N which I've experienced for 15 years starting at age..."
@hurtsalot Good evening and welcome. @johnbishop has asked me to share my gabapentin experience with you. As he mentioned, it does a good job of subduing the tingling and needlelike conditions in the hands and feet. At first, my neurologist wanted me to have a 300 mg tablet in the am and then 2 more an hour before bedtime. I happened to take all 3 of them one morning by mistake and so I experienced the dizziness. As a partner in this process, I sought a solution to the side effect. Because I am a medical cannabis user, I substituted a 2:1 CBD/THC tincture in the morning and again in the afternoon. I then took all 3 tablets of the gabapentin at night. At first, there was some disorientation but I learned to settle down for bedtime and I slept well. I also noticed that my body adjusted to the medication within a few weeks and the disorientation disappeared.
One side effect that does occur is dry mouth. There are OTC mouthwashes and sprays to help with that. I also carry a Contigo with ice water everywhere I go. Having it at the bedside for those times you wake up with cotton mouth is highly recommended. So...start slowly with one 300mg tablet. After a month, add a second one and then if necessary an additional 300 mg one month later. That cautious process really makes you feel more secure and gives your body time to adjust to the medication. Good luck and please keep posting to let us know how it is working. May you be free of suffering and have a lovely evening......Chris
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Hi @hurtsalot, welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing. I only took gabapentin for a few weeks when I found out it only helps with the pain and does nothing for the numbness so I stopped taking it. I have idiopathic small fiber peripheral neuropathy which I've had for 20+ years but only got it diagnosed a few years ago. I only have numbness with my neuropathy. I would have the same concerns as you on the side effects.
I'm tagging @artscaping, @lioness and @grandmar who may be able to share their experience with gabapentin.