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.

myrrh739 | @myrrh739 | Oct 23, 2023

In reply to @lynno7 "Gabepentin caused shakiness in me. I'm 71." + (show)

In response to @lynno7, the same happened to me and the Doctor reduced the dosage, now it’s much better, thank you for sharing.

Amanda Roe | @amandajro | Oct 23, 2023

In reply to @lynno7 "I was taking 800mg 3 times a day. It caused shakiness." + (show)

Hello @lynno7. You will notice I have moved your post into an existing discussion on the side effects of gabapentin, which you can find here:
- Gabapentin side effects?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gabapentin-side-effects/

Here is a resource that you may find helpful as you compare your experience:
- Gabapentin (Oral Route): https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/gabapentin-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20064011?p=1

It sounds as though you are no longer on the medication. Is that right?

pwgrimes | @pwgrimes | Oct 24, 2023

It is used very successfully for many people with nerve pain. The way it works for controlling seizures on the nerves is how it is successful for nerve pain.

rleloup234 | @rleloup234 | Oct 24, 2023

I take 200 mg twice a day now, down from 400 mg twice per day and I have already noticed a significant drop in tiredness and restless sleep. I have already notice an improvement in both sleep and incontenence. I am trying to Wien myself off of the drug. While Gabapintine is a miracle drug, for treating some nerve pain, it does come with side effects.

Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Oct 25, 2023

In reply to @rleloup234 "I take 200 mg twice a day now, down from 400 mg twice per day and..." + (show)

Good evening @rleloup234 .....great to meet you and read about your efforts to reduce your dependency on Gabapentin. I am also close to the end of this long process...from 2400 mg to 200 mg. What a journey.

May I ask you this......is your medical provider aware of your program and supportive? It is important to inform all of your medical even dental team.

Have you found something to take the place of Gabapentin? I have replaced mine with medical cannabis. It has taken a few years to work this all out and I am closer every year. What I didn't really consider was the pain issue. I have had to replace it with cannabis tinctures in the 2:1 CBD/THC and 1:1 CBD/THC ranges.

May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris

jonc59 | @jonc59 | Oct 25, 2023

I've been taking Gabapentin (600mg 2x/day) for upwards of 6 years now. I stopped taking it after about a year, because of chronic fatigue, but then ramped it back up after several months, because of discomfort.

I still blame gabapentin for fatigue, but in my case, other meds may also be contributing.

Pain or drowsiness: it's a difficult compromise to balance - I wish you good luck in finding your balance

romans8 | @romans8 | Oct 26, 2023

I’ve been taking 600mg Gabapentin Enocarbil for about 3 years for PN and Small Fiber neuropathy. And YES it causes extreme tiredness and weakness for me, as well as brain fog. I have continually sought alternatives to manage the nerve pain, but my neurologist seems to have few suggestions. At my last visit, he suggested I try acupuncture. Has anybody found pain relief with that?
It really is a frustrating condition.

olskool32 | @olskool32 | Oct 26, 2023

I have been taking Gabapentin for 20 years with no problems. I take one 300 mg capsule with dinner. No side effects.

ripley | @ripley | Oct 27, 2023

In reply to @olskool32 "I have been taking Gabapentin for 20 years with no problems. I take one 300 mg..." + (show)

Are you taking it for fibro pain? If so, does it help? I've read one problem with gabapentin is that you build up a tolerance and have to keep increasing the dose. So, this was not the case with you?

Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Oct 27, 2023

@ripley
That's not a common occurrence and has never happened to me. I have taken many Anticonvulsants for 57 years and never had that problem. I know many people on Gabapentin who have been on the same dose for years/decades for both seizures and Neuropathy. Never had that issue taking pain pills either and that includes Percocet, Dilaudid and Fentanyl.
Fentanyl helped my Neuropathy the most.
But it does occasionally happen. It's more common if someone already has/had a substance abuse problem.
Good luck,
Jake