Gabapentin side effects?

It seems they give Gaba to everyone these days. They don't know what to do without Opioids. Gaba is not good for all things. It is good with small nerve pain like neuropathy. A little goes a long way. They increase the dose thinking that more is better. More is not better. It more likely is not working for the persons type of pain if they need high doses.
It is also good in lower dose with combination lower dosecocktails like Motrin/Gaba/Sineguine.
( all lower dose).It also seems that your brain establishes a memory for the drug and you can go on and off and it does not take weeks to help.
I hope this helps.

Have been taking 600mg daily for years with no side affects. Six months ago pain got worse. We experimented with different doses until we came up with this dosage.
Kathy

@msdds1
Gabapentin was developed as a seizure medication, probably the weakest of the Anticonvulsants.
I disagree somewhat with your statement. “They increase the dose thinking that more is better. More is not better.” In some people more is better. It wasn’t in my case. It didn’t help my neuropathy or my focal seizures. I knew a man who took 7,000 my and only then did he get some relief. My brother takes 3,600 and it helps him but the same dose didn’t help me at all.
Just goes to show how differently we react to medicine.
Take care,
Jake

When I experienced dry mouth I found that a room humidifier helped—especially at night

My problem with Gabapentin is balance, I've been on big doses and now 600 2x a day for neuropathy in my feet. Also have just been told I have arthritis in feet and ankles so going to see arthritis physician and see what he recommends, maybe I'll get off Gabapentin. I'm fine till noon and then want to nap all the time, good thing retired.

that drug is awful!! and i agree these doctors need to tell us the side effects!! this drug made me so tired, fat and lazy. I could feel my brain pulling. I am not sure how to describe it...but it's on my list i will NEVER TAKE AGAIN!!! it also made me blow up to 210 lbs almost overnight!! It has to slow down your system, hence the weight gain and tiredness. i just deal with the pain - this rx is not worth the side effects. personal opinion

Maybe try magnesium oil for your feet/ankles.

What does magnesium oil do for feet and ankles?

I am taking it for rectal pain and dysfunction caused by a surgery that went bad. The surgeon never addressed my now 24 hour pain and frozen sphincter in ani. I can only drink food, no solids or stool cannot slip out.
I have been taking gabapentin for 4 months, got to 1800 a day. I then was told to go up to 2700, since pain was breaking through. I am basically home and bed bound. I slowly moved up to the first day of 2700. Horrible feelings in addition to my other side effects. I thought I may have serotonin syndrome .I had it previously from a medicine change. I looked up if gabapentin could cause SS. Yes it is an neurotransmitter. Add that to my antidepressants and yes, SS. The twitching of muscles, the speaking effect, no memory, the shaky feelings inside, the stiff walking, dizziness, difficulty thinking in a linear way, more depression. . I had more nerve pain in my neuropathy and now in my shoulder and arm. It can also effect your gastrointestinal system. Who knows that if you are on antidepressants and take gabapentin you will have this potentially life threatening medicine reaction.
I cant say I had tiredness, because I lost 35 lb in 1 month and lost all my bodybuilding muscles. I am weak. I can’t stop taking the gabapentin, but will stay at 1800, the pain is worse that the SS.
Most doctors are not going to catch this reaction some may give more antidepressants. Look at your meds and do some serotonin research. That may be your problem with the gabapentin.

The dry mouth is a symptom of Serotonin Syndrome. Are you taking antidepressants. If so the gabapentin can be causing may problems because it is a neurotransmitter, it adds to much with antidepressants.