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← Return to Gabapentin side effects?
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I am so sorry to hear of your distress, and yet I am relieved to hear your experience with Gabapentin, because I have recently experienced a similar situation. I have been taking Horizant (gabapentin enocarbil) for 3 years for neuropathy pain, ( with accompanying side effects of fatigue, balance issues, and brain fog) and was just recently diagnosed with gastroparesis! Now I am in a dilemma, not knowing if Gabapentin has caused the stomach issue. If I go off the Gabapentin, there really isn’t anything else the docs say that will help with the nerve pain. And yet the dietary restrictions for gastroparesis are pretty severe. Let me know if you come up with a solution.
Replies to "I am so sorry to hear of your distress, and yet I am relieved to hear..."
@romans8 and @carolm23 Good morning to both of you. I want to join you two in your search for alternatives for Gabapentin that will help manage the progressive reality of SFN pain.
My loyalty to Gabapentin has been 10 going on 11 years. The brain fog from the medication has increased due to aging and cognitive decline. In essence, my life was shrinking and I was in denial as to the cause.
About 4 months ago, my PCP and I had one of our "health partner" sessions. We have also been together for 10 years and counting. She recommended that I taper off the 2400 mg a day of gabapentin down to 200 mg at bedtime. As a replacement and with her support I have increased my daily medical cannabis and added an as needed dose of Ibuprofen (600 mg). This is exactly the medication program I used two years ago for my second TKR surgery when my orthopedic surgeon took a special interest in my SFN condition. This collaborative relationship continued post-surgery when my PT at the orthopedic center discussed her exercise choices with my MFR (myofascial release) therapist. Because everyone was working together, I had an amazingly positive recovery with only modest discomfort.
Mayo Clinic is well known for its team approach to health care. By inquiring and explaining I was able to create the same team at three different facilities. Recently I read that Mayo Clinic is now making this kind of collaboration possible for others.
Give it a try.....you may be surprised how helpful the "team" you create can be for your current distress. Don't hesitate to ask questions.. I am here for you.
May you be safe, free and protected from inner and outer harm.
Chris
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Romans8. I was taking so much gabapentin, and my gastro doctor told me it was most likely the gabapentin that caused it. He said there is a major nerve in your stomach, which aids in digestion, so the gabapentin turned out to be the cause, also blocking that stomach nerve from fully digesting my food. I went from 1800 mg a day to 600 mg a day. The gastro paresis went away in just a few days, but I suffered with it for months. I am going to see a pain management doctor to see what they suggest. Spinal cord stimulator is one thing to try, but I'm very hesitant. I've seen so many doctors about the neuropathy, to include a podiatrist. She had a compounding pharmacy make a cream consisting of 6 different meds. It works well, but only for 3 or 4 hours. I'm constantly on the search for relief.
Let me know if u need anymore info.