1. < Neuropathy

Can Gabapentin make neuropathy pain worse?

Posted by cwallen9 @cwallen9, Apr 16, 2019

I started getting peripheral neuropathy pain about nine months ago in my feet and hands right after I received a cervical steroid injection. I started taking gabapentin about 7 months ago. I have gradually increased my dose from 100 mg a day to 1500 mg. I can't say that it has decreased my pain at all. In fact, my pain has gotten steadily worse. I was just wondering if it is possible that gabapentin can sometimes make neuropathy pain worse. My EMG and biopsy results are negative for short fiber neuropathy so far.

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

Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jan 10 7:52am
In reply to @marc11 "I have Charcot Marie Tooth disease, which is a peripheral neuropathy, and I cannot tolerate gabapentin..." + (show)
@marc11

I have Charcot Marie Tooth disease, which is a peripheral neuropathy, and I cannot tolerate gabapentin well. It makes me groggy and off-balance, most of the antidepressants and epileptic medications people have mention also sedate AND cause restless leg syndrome. My main problem is nighttime pain which leads to insomnia. I take 1mg of clonazepam at bedtime, but it does work for the whole night. I used to taken Norco also a couple hours before bed and the combination worked quite well for me. Then everything changed and I moved to a new state and no one will prescribe an opioid drug while I’m on clonazepam. Does anyone have experience with be refused drugs that worked well together—I took the Norco/ clonazepam combo for 12 years.

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Welcome @marc11, It must be frustrating to say the least that you can't get the treatment that worked to provide relief from your nighttime neuropathy pain after moving to a new state. There is another discussion where members are sharing what has helped them with the nighttime pain.
--- Neuropathy Pain at Night: What helps?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/night-pain-2/

Another source of help might be the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy in case you haven't already seen the website - https://www.foundationforpn.org/treatments/.

Have you looked into any alternative treatments to help with the nighttime pain?

REPLY
mamabee | @mamabee | Apr 15 7:27pm

I am one of those individuals as well. I've weened myself off once again. When my back messes up I'll start taking it because my foot pain and the "humming" I feel from my hips to my ankles is so disruptive! Every time it'll get worse despite trips to the chiropractor, tens unit, ice packs, walking. When I come of of it, it starts improving.

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