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.

How do you gradually reduce dosage of gabapentin, think I want to get off, so much pain doesn't seem to be helping.

REPLY
@addisons

that drug is awful!! and i agree these doctors need to tell us the side effects!! this drug made me so tired, fat and lazy. I could feel my brain pulling. I am not sure how to describe it...but it's on my list i will NEVER TAKE AGAIN!!! it also made me blow up to 210 lbs almost overnight!! It has to slow down your system, hence the weight gain and tiredness. i just deal with the pain - this rx is not worth the side effects. personal opinion

Jump to this post

Were you taking Gabapentin for fibro pain? I'm trying to find a med that might help relieve my pain. How long did you take it and what was your dose? Did you have withdrawal symptoms when you stopped taking it? Thanks.

REPLY
@fitness71

What does magnesium oil do for feet and ankles?

Jump to this post

can help with cramps and spasms anywhere. For some folks.

REPLY

I am on Gabapentin for neurapathy pain from the Shingles I had 5 years ago
I take only when I have neurapathy pain where the shingles had been all on my left side.
It does help a lot although at my age, I'm getting tired all the time so I started taking B12 twice daily.
It helps during the day and I walk a lot as I have Sciatica pain and can not walk in some mornings.

REPLY
@ripley

Were you taking Gabapentin for fibro pain? I'm trying to find a med that might help relieve my pain. How long did you take it and what was your dose? Did you have withdrawal symptoms when you stopped taking it? Thanks.

Jump to this post

Been on Gabapentin several years, started with 3600 (1800 2x a day) for neuropathy in feet, so off balance kept reducing now 600 2x a day, feel it isn't really helping much anymore, feet are miserable and I frequently walk like someone who has had a few too many. The balance problem still there and sometimes dizzy so thinking of asking how to reduce and get off, so many other side effects have just ignored those in hope of relief.

REPLY
@suzzy

Been on Gabapentin several years, started with 3600 (1800 2x a day) for neuropathy in feet, so off balance kept reducing now 600 2x a day, feel it isn't really helping much anymore, feet are miserable and I frequently walk like someone who has had a few too many. The balance problem still there and sometimes dizzy so thinking of asking how to reduce and get off, so many other side effects have just ignored those in hope of relief.

Jump to this post

Thanks for the hug, need one about now.

REPLY
@suzzy

Thanks for the hug, need one about now.

Jump to this post

HUG_G_G

REPLY
@suzzy

Been on Gabapentin several years, started with 3600 (1800 2x a day) for neuropathy in feet, so off balance kept reducing now 600 2x a day, feel it isn't really helping much anymore, feet are miserable and I frequently walk like someone who has had a few too many. The balance problem still there and sometimes dizzy so thinking of asking how to reduce and get off, so many other side effects have just ignored those in hope of relief.

Jump to this post

I've been on Gaba/Neutontin for a long time also, but lower doses than you.
Even with my 300 mg, Twice a day usually, I had a lot of dizziness which was a trade-off for less pain. (MS, fibro, arthritis)
When a pain management doctor prescribed a new med on top of the GAB, it added to the dizziness and I suffered a fall for the first time ever-- Still recuperating from that injury.
Then I quit all pain meds because I didn't wanna fall again! I am 69 with osteoporosis-- Really don't wanna be breaking any bones right now!
So now I'm in pain. Lots of pain. Taking Ibuprofen + Acetaminophen and feeling really LOUSY.
Thanks for Sharing your own experience.

REPLY

I'm 86 and think will pursue getting off gabapentin get rid of balance problem, fell twice, leading to knee replacement and shoulder, no fun. HJave found some relief with 8hr Tylenol. Pain clinic prescribed Tramadol when back became big problem and I try to keep both to twice a day. You can really tell when rain is coming, pain increases. I need a vein ablation too and Medicare has turned it down, they think I want Betty Grable legs, mentioned that at Dr visit and he laughed (was old enough to remember her) and nurse just had puzzled look, so we explained who she was. Medicare thinks you want ablation for cosmetic reasons but veins leak and cause lots of swelling and pain so we've all got our cross to bear. Golden years, rusty, tarnished and corroded!

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.