1. < Neuropathy

gabapentin and fatigue

Posted by chemist1 @chemist1, May 14 1:47pm

I have been taking 200 mg gabapentin to sleep for about one year. If I try to back off to 100 mg, I have insomnia, which I try to avoid because insomnia lowers my seizure threshold. To complicate matters, I had an extremely bad case of shingles that lasted 7 weeks; in February and March. Lately I have been extremely fatigued and uncoordinated in the morning. I'm trying to figure out if this is a long lasting side effect of shingles or gabapentin. Any insights out there?

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Leonard | @jakedduck1 | May 14 2:53pm

@chemist1
The gabapentin causes drowsiness like most all seizure meds.
if your seizures aren't fully control, maybe the gabapentin will help with that too.
What seizure medicine are you on?
I used to take a walk awhile before bed. It helped me sleep.
Take care,
Jake

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chemist1 | @chemist1 | May 14 4:21pm

I am on Brivict, 125 mg, AM and PM. A pretty hefty dose!
I find I do sleep better if I exercise during the day.
Thanks!

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dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | May 15 9:26am

@chemist1
Do you take any other medications for epilepsy and insomnia? Have you ever been tested for sleep apnea?

I cannot take gabapentin or Lyrica because it makes me too tired and dizzy in the morning where I cannot function.

Have you tried taking melatonin at night to help you sleep? Have you ever taken aloha Lipoic acid, acetylene l carnitine and magnesium supplements at night which can help calm down your nerves? I take them for small fiber neuropathy nerve pain and they help me. There is also the Calm magnesium supplement you can try which is in powder form and you mix with warm water to activate and then can add more warm or cold water depending on your preference.

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1 reply
bajjerfan | @bajjerfan | May 15 10:12am

Been taking PreGabalin for several years now, but I'm thinking that if drowsiness is like other side effects it should wane with time. I don't really notice much of anything after my am or late afternoon doses. It makes it hard to take other meds with it however. For me the benefits outweigh any side effects and I'll like be on it forever or until I expire; whichever comes first.

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1 reply
sbelur | @sbelur | May 15 12:51pm
In reply to @bajjerfan "Been taking PreGabalin for several years now, but I'm thinking that if drowsiness is like other..." + (show)
@bajjerfan

Been taking PreGabalin for several years now, but I'm thinking that if drowsiness is like other side effects it should wane with time. I don't really notice much of anything after my am or late afternoon doses. It makes it hard to take other meds with it however. For me the benefits outweigh any side effects and I'll like be on it forever or until I expire; whichever comes first.

Jump to this post

Have you found taking AM or late afternoon better than taking before bedtime?

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1 reply
mrmacabre | @mrmacabre | May 15 2:00pm

It seems strange, at least to me, that gabapentin can make someone drowsy. I've been taking 3600mg of it every day for years, and it doesn't affect me like that.

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1 reply
chemist1 | @chemist1 | May 15 4:17pm
In reply to @dlydailyhope "@chemist1 Do you take any other medications for epilepsy and insomnia? Have you ever been tested..." + (show)
@dlydailyhope

@chemist1
Do you take any other medications for epilepsy and insomnia? Have you ever been tested for sleep apnea?

I cannot take gabapentin or Lyrica because it makes me too tired and dizzy in the morning where I cannot function.

Have you tried taking melatonin at night to help you sleep? Have you ever taken aloha Lipoic acid, acetylene l carnitine and magnesium supplements at night which can help calm down your nerves? I take them for small fiber neuropathy nerve pain and they help me. There is also the Calm magnesium supplement you can try which is in powder form and you mix with warm water to activate and then can add more warm or cold water depending on your preference.

Jump to this post

I am drowsy in the morning until I have a cup of coffee 🙂

REPLY
chemist1 | @chemist1 | May 15 4:20pm

I have deep leg fatigue that has worsened over the past 10 years. It is becoming a quality of life issue. I have been referred to a neuromuscular specialist. We'll see what comes of that. Something helpful I hope!

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Leonard | @jakedduck1 | May 15 6:19pm
In reply to @mrmacabre "It seems strange, at least to me, that gabapentin can make someone drowsy. I've been taking..." + (show)
@mrmacabre

It seems strange, at least to me, that gabapentin can make someone drowsy. I've been taking 3600mg of it every day for years, and it doesn't affect me like that.

Jump to this post

@mrmacabre
I too was taking 3600 mg daily and it didn't make me sleepy either but anticonvulsants are notorious for causing drowsiness. We lucked out.
Take care,
Jake

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bajjerfan | @bajjerfan | May 15 9:03pm
In reply to @sbelur "Have you found taking AM or late afternoon better than taking before bedtime?" + (show)
@sbelur

Have you found taking AM or late afternoon better than taking before bedtime?

Jump to this post

I take 75mg 3X per day; when I get up, around 5 in the afternoon and again at bedtime. I don't think it makes me that much drowsier. Recently, I have been taking 800mg of Metaxalone at bedtime. Taking it 3X per day wouldn't be good. Other muscle relaxers would be a nightmare.

In all honesty I could probably get by without the afternoon dose.

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