1. < Chronic Pain

Gabapentin side effects?

Posted by Sundance(RB) @sundance6, Apr 13, 2019

I am a regular on the Mayo Board! I don't know what I would do without it! Our doctors don't want to discuss openly the things about illnesses and side effets of drugs and other things. Anyway, my question to all of you is Gabapentin and it's side effects. I have been on it now for 6 months. My doctor raised me from 100mg. to now I am on 400mg. three times a day.
The problem is my tiredness! I happen to be in a friends office yesterday and she was taking some medicine. She said she was taking Gabapentin. I asked why and she said she had, had shingles back when and it still helped with the pain. I know the drug is percribed for many things that is why I take it for my issues.
I told her I had been taking it for about 6 months. She asked if I had been tired all the time, just out of the Blue. OF COURSE I SAID YES! She said it took her a year before she got out of the tiredness.
Let me know if any of you have experienced the same thing. Also let me know at what dosage you may be on? I know this is all confidential!
Again Thanks to The Mayo Clinic and Everyone who is kind enough to be open with their lives!
Sundance!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

tammie2 | @tammie2 | Sep 15, 2023

Been on Gabapentin since last November...for Neuropathy symptons caused by out-of-control sugars for 1 year.
I just read on this Mayo clinic. Side affect common.
I take all sorts of Vitamins.
Took Magnesium Citrate twice and both times Body concerns.
I quit cuz of problem I felt.
Just to read tonight Mayo...Do Not Take Magnesium Citrate w Gabapentin.
Crap! What else does that Dr. Not Know About common side affects of Gaba.
As of 1 month ago been having Severe, Severe Muscle Pain, Cramps n Charlie Horse a couple times.
I wanna scream!!
I fit 4 of 5 common side affects.
Never once told about possible side affects.

REPLY
vgd | @vgd | Sep 15, 2023

My Doctor put me on Gabapentin 100mg.
I only take it at bedtime. That seems to be when my Neuropathy seems to give me the most problems. I simply couldn't sleep. It does help me to sleep. At first I was having headaches in the morning but I am not now. No other side affects. Of course everyone has had a different experience.

REPLY
hennykatz | @hennykatz | Sep 15, 2023
In reply to @oldflathead "I have been on low dose Gabapentin 100mg daily since knee replacement in 2012. No problem..." + (show)
@oldflathead

I have been on low dose Gabapentin 100mg daily since knee replacement in 2012. No problem and it reduced pain. PCP increased dosage to 400mg daily Jan 2023, then 900mg daily March 2023, 2400mg daily July 2023,
August 2023, VIOLENT DIARRHEA, unable to attend Physical Therapy! August 2023 self prescribed reduced Gabapentin to 600mg daily & Walgreens Anti-Diarrheal Loperamide/ Diarrhea stopped. PCP increased dosage to 900mg daily. Two days later Violent Diarrhea returned.
I saw PCP yesterday Sept 12, reduced to 600mg daily. We will see???

Jump to this post

My doctor at Mayo gave me a schedule how to increase or decrease daily dosage. You will get stomach upset if changing dosage too quickly.

REPLY
Berk | @gba | Sep 15, 2023
In reply to @rozmuhr "I have been on Gabapentin for 1 1/2 years slowly increasing to 3300 mg a day..." + (show)
@rozmuhr

I have been on Gabapentin for 1 1/2 years slowly increasing to 3300 mg a day till I got relief from cranial pain middle left on the scalp. It took me a long time to get used to, felt tired and dizzy and very bad in the late afternoon. No swelling or urinary problems. I also take an anti depressant for the same condition. Still have pain but is more controlled. Everyone is different . You have to experiment with many drugs its unfortunate but life is worth living.

Jump to this post

Get off the drugs, try rub on creams

REPLY
2 replies
bubblesk | @bubblesk | Sep 15, 2023

I have been taking gabapentin 300 mg 2 capsules three times a day, for over 10 years. I have moderate pd with numbness going up my ankles and sharp stabing pain. The gabapentin does not eliminate the pain but makes it bearable. I also have numbness in my fingers. My side effect is not being sleepy but lack of balance. My neurologist has me on b12 injections, b1 and folic acid. I have been reading about acupuncture and was wondering if anyone else has tried it and what are the results.

REPLY
earthangel | @earthangel | Sep 18, 2023
In reply to @oldflathead "I have been on low dose Gabapentin 100mg daily since knee replacement in 2012. No problem..." + (show)
@oldflathead

I have been on low dose Gabapentin 100mg daily since knee replacement in 2012. No problem and it reduced pain. PCP increased dosage to 400mg daily Jan 2023, then 900mg daily March 2023, 2400mg daily July 2023,
August 2023, VIOLENT DIARRHEA, unable to attend Physical Therapy! August 2023 self prescribed reduced Gabapentin to 600mg daily & Walgreens Anti-Diarrheal Loperamide/ Diarrhea stopped. PCP increased dosage to 900mg daily. Two days later Violent Diarrhea returned.
I saw PCP yesterday Sept 12, reduced to 600mg daily. We will see???

Jump to this post

I use roll-on pain relievers after my knee replacement. Like
Icy Hot, Biofreeze, and two more. I do not like taking pain pills.

This way I can use the roll-on when I have pain that is intense, rather than taking pills everyday for possible pain, and maybe never have pain each day.

REPLY
1 reply
janpb | @janpb | Sep 18, 2023
In reply to @gba "Get off the drugs, try rub on creams" + (show)
@gba

Get off the drugs, try rub on creams

Jump to this post

I do have to respond to your suggestion and say that, for those of us with severe and chronic debilitating pain, there is absolutely no cream that deals with this.

REPLY
1 reply
cincin3 | @cincin3 | Sep 19, 2023
In reply to @janpb "I do have to respond to your suggestion and say that, for those of us with..." + (show)
@janpb

I do have to respond to your suggestion and say that, for those of us with severe and chronic debilitating pain, there is absolutely no cream that deals with this.

Jump to this post

Just have to share: after reading this post I pictured in my mind filling my bathtub with analgesic creams and rolling in it to get everywhere I have pain. Think I might try it! 🙂

REPLY
margaretob | @margaretob | Sep 19, 2023

Doctor took me off Gabapentin. Old age blamed for everything. WE all need encouragement from each other for all the other stuff...GOD BLESS US EVERY ONE. MargaretO

REPLY
sue15 | @sue15 | Sep 19, 2023

I am on Gabapentin 3x a day 300 mg each capsule for a total of 900mg/day. I do take it before bed and it definitely helps with sleep. I started on it for implementation in both knees. I am on 4 different meditations and I have noticed the memory loss side effect. I’ve been diagnosed with Central Pain Sensitization. So we’ll see how things go. Lots of pain in body that Gabapentin cannot help.

REPLY
3 replies
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.