Do not take gabapentin, makes it worse

Posted by elvans40 @elvans40, Mar 22 2:28pm

I have taken gabapentin and Lyrica. I would advise you not to take either as they can sometimes make symptoms worse. Also increase anxiety if you have GAD as I do

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As mentioned by others, we all react differently to medications. In regards to Gabapentin, I recently watched an interesting video by Stanford's Dr. Ian Carroll on Nerve Pain. One segment specifically addresses Gabapentin and how it works. Watch the talk here:
https://youtu.be/v8CP-rfqp0s?si=tB_nwnU_T8jNnW9a&t=2996

Dr. Caroll gives Gabapentin a really good review. I found it very helpful.

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Everyone reacts differently. I have found Gabapentin to be helpful. I haven't had to take anything else for my fibromyalgia and elbow neuropathy.

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@mikeythecat

The active ingredient in Marijuana. It helps get you mind off the pain and you can sleep!

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Thanks for that. Can you tell me the dosage you take, and just how you take the oil? I'm really interested. I've been taking pregabalin and Imdont want to increase the dose, for all the reasons endlessly stated.

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I take gabapentin for a chronic cough condition due to an irritable larynx. It has worked well for reducing the cough reflex.

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@beth71

I was recently placed on Gabapentin due to nightly pain due to nodules inside my thigh tissue and to facilitate sleep. Taking a dose at bedtime has been a game changer for those issues and my mild to mod neuropathy. We respond differently to meds. Take what works for you instead of publicizing NOT to take a particular med. It may require trialing many meds before some people find one that works for them.

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beth71. I agree with you. If the medication doesn’t work for you, don’t tell people not to take it. I have had idiopathic small nerve neuropathy in both feet and legs up to my knees since 2007. We tried lyrica but I had an allergic reaction so we switched to gabapentin. Started out low and worked our way up higher and then came back down to 300 3 times a day. We added Tramadol to it 3 timess a day. It keeps my pain, tingling, burning and pins and needles at about a 4-5 pain wise. It allows me to have a good quality of life without feeling fuzzy or sluggish.

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@kgitti

Sorry but Gabapentin absolutely works for me. I started taking it for debilitating femoral nerve pain many years ago, like 2017, after trying everything else and it absolutely works. If I stop it, it comes back. No other side effects.
Now I have CIDP since 2020. CIDP has usually expected severe bilateral perineal nerve pain but I don’t. It is believed that my high dose Gabapentin is preventing it.
My advice? If your doctor suggests it, try it. We have limited tools for these problems and we have to be open minded and try every single weapon available. Life is short.

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I am taking 1600 mg per day! My starting of this prescription predates my Neuropathy ! So I may find my pain, numbness and tingling would be worse without Gabapentin? I take Gabapentin for anxiety.

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@collison

Thanks for that. Can you tell me the dosage you take, and just how you take the oil? I'm really interested. I've been taking pregabalin and Imdont want to increase the dose, for all the reasons endlessly stated.

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I take no more than 10 mg at a time. If you are just starting you might want to only take 5 mg...depending on the % concentration of THC in the oil/eatable.

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@mikeythecat

I take no more than 10 mg at a time. If you are just starting you might want to only take 5 mg...depending on the % concentration of THC in the oil/eatable.

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Thanks for your reply. Much appreciated.

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@bettyg81pain

Did you try Pregabalin? If so, what were the side effects?

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No, it was never suggested.

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I absolutely recommend against anyone saying don't take this or don't take that. Neuropathy is one of those conditions that is practically impossible to pin down when it comes to treatment. What works for one may not work for others who must keep trying different medications. If your doctor tells you to take it, then take it. You will know within short order if what your doctor prescribed is going to work or not. If it is not working let him/her know and don't wait for months on end to tell him/her.

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