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.

My husband is having trouble sleeping and is in much back pain. He took 400 mg gabapentin for a couple of nights and had horrible mood changes. He slept well but woke up irritated about EVERYTHING. He said he felt wound so tight he could snap at any minute. He yelled at me over everything. Very unlike his normal loving personality. It certainly affects each person differently. Doctors told him it was a very safe drug to take even at high doses.

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Hello, I have been taking Gabapentin for a couple of years now. I started taking it for neuropathy pain, and yes, it made me tired. I take several drugs and was essentially sentenced to never get out of my recliner because of them. I once stopped taking all the drugs that caused fatigue because I wanted to live life more; I was only 60! That was a big mistake. When I stopped taking Gabapentin abruptly, I developed RLS very badly and had to start taking it again right away. Currently, I just take 1200. If anyone is thinking about stopping Gabapentin altogether, STOP! Talk to your doctor.

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@kengk

Hello, I have been taking Gabapentin for a couple of years now. I started taking it for neuropathy pain, and yes, it made me tired. I take several drugs and was essentially sentenced to never get out of my recliner because of them. I once stopped taking all the drugs that caused fatigue because I wanted to live life more; I was only 60! That was a big mistake. When I stopped taking Gabapentin abruptly, I developed RLS very badly and had to start taking it again right away. Currently, I just take 1200. If anyone is thinking about stopping Gabapentin altogether, STOP! Talk to your doctor.

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I was prescribed it for a nerve pain in my head. The first week was pretty bad in terms of tiredness, then I adjusted. Only take one 100mg at bedtime and plan to wean off that - maybe - and see what happens. I was told to not stop cold, one has to wean off it. Originally it was three times a day, 100 mg, so I weaned down to where I am now.

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@willow5

I was prescribed it for a nerve pain in my head. The first week was pretty bad in terms of tiredness, then I adjusted. Only take one 100mg at bedtime and plan to wean off that - maybe - and see what happens. I was told to not stop cold, one has to wean off it. Originally it was three times a day, 100 mg, so I weaned down to where I am now.

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That good you're on the right track

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@jasl

I wonder why this medicine is being used so widely with so many side effects?

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I was on gabapentine for years for severe back pain (failed back surgery and now osteoarthritis) l hated the way it made me personally feel, so I weaned myself off it. Took a month and then I realized just how manynI was taking. I filled up a large baggie full, could barely close it.. My pain was the same as it was before so why was I on it! I took the bag to the drugstore to have them destroyed. Never been back on it. As for my pain I am now on morphine. Ain't life grand

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Oh! I've been on 300 mg twice a day (prescribed 3x a day). I didn't know that might be where the tiredness comes from. I feel like I'm in a fog all the time. I started taking it in December of 2022. Intake it in the morning along with loaartan and two supplements. It all leaves me off balance for about an hour.

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@sondrakhugg

Ask your Rheumatologist about starting low-dose naltrexone. If he/she doesn’t prescribe it, see a functional medicine doctor. It is the latest greatest thing for pain and many, many other symptoms. Google it. I just started 2 1/2 weeks ago. Wishing you pain relief! ❤️

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Do you take the LDN for fibromyalgia? How much pain relief does it give you?
Can you offer some detail on your experience with it, such as your starting dose and what dose you ending up taking every day as a maintenance dose? I started on 1/4 of a .5mg tablet and worked slowly up to .5mg when it seemed to make my insomnia worse, so I stopped taking it. I thinking of trying it again. Thanks.

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@ripley

Do you take the LDN for fibromyalgia? How much pain relief does it give you?
Can you offer some detail on your experience with it, such as your starting dose and what dose you ending up taking every day as a maintenance dose? I started on 1/4 of a .5mg tablet and worked slowly up to .5mg when it seemed to make my insomnia worse, so I stopped taking it. I thinking of trying it again. Thanks.

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I’m just getting started really. I started at 1.5 mg capsule for one week at bedtime. Then increased to 3 mg at bedtime for one week. Then reach the final dose of 4.5 and have continued that at bedtime. I think it is helping with my pain. It may be too early to tell, but I think I noticed a slight difference. I’m taking it to try and calm my anxiety and several other issues. I get it through my functional doctor. Have not had problems with insomnia. Doctor said if it did cause insomnia just take it in the morning but I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice .

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@sondrakhugg

I’m just getting started really. I started at 1.5 mg capsule for one week at bedtime. Then increased to 3 mg at bedtime for one week. Then reach the final dose of 4.5 and have continued that at bedtime. I think it is helping with my pain. It may be too early to tell, but I think I noticed a slight difference. I’m taking it to try and calm my anxiety and several other issues. I get it through my functional doctor. Have not had problems with insomnia. Doctor said if it did cause insomnia just take it in the morning but I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice .

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Thank you. I did try taking it in the morning, but that didn't seen to help with my sleep issues.

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@tami1966

I have taken 1200 mg of Gabapentin for almost 30 yrs. Ive been sick for years with what they called an unknown autoimmune disease. Now they say its not autoimmune. I have tons of symptoms but some that started this year is purpura that started in january and myopathy in the proximal muscles. If I squat I cant get up without putting my hands on the floor in front of me. It takes several attempts to get back up. This started in march. Swelling, pain, severe insomnia and vision problems are present. Is there a safer alternative to Gabapentin? Is it worth it to do a biopsy for muscle toxicity to know for sure or just taper off? Ive spent tons of time and money trying to figure this out and I need answers or my 27 yr career is going to end.

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Did you ever get explanation for the purple spots on your skin. I have had something similar.

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