Hello @twinpat,

Welcome to Connect. As you will notice, you are not alone in your frustration of getting no relief from Gabapentin! Would you share a few more details about yourself? How long have you been taking this medication for neuropathy? What has helped you cope with the pain?

@twinpat Hi, Twin… I, also, have been on gabapentin a few times in the past. It has never been helpful. Well, it has helped my weight by emptying out my wallet.

Thanks for the response. Has anyone had any success on gababentin?

Your last remark made me laugh, @oldkarl! My husband would whole heartedly agree with you about "weight loss because of lighter wallet!"

Hi @suzylulu , I have had really good results with gabapentin. I started with it more than two years ago. My neurologist has been helpful by adjusting dosages and medication times as the disease progressed. I now take 900 mg 1 hour before bedtime. For me, that means the needles of neuropathic pain and SFN in my hands, wrists, and arms are considerably reduced by bedtime and it is easier to not only fall asleep but stay asleep. Lyrica has recently been suggested as a replacement by my Rheumatologist because it breaks down more completely than gabapentin and is a newer medication. It is 10 times the cost of gabapentin on my RX plan and has side effects that I would not like to experience right now. I do think it matters to have health care providers who work with you as a member of the team, ask the right questions, truly listen to your answers and assist you in understanding your symptoms and options. Take very good care.

I was taking gabapentin 3 times a day, but was having trouble remembering to take the mid day dose because of my work schedule. My doctor changed my prescription to Gralise, a slow release gabapentin. I am taking 900mg about an hour before bedtime.

Thanks for your response@artscaping. I could not take Lycra. Too many side effects. You hang in there. It’s a terrible disease

@artscaping

Chris, after three weeks of Lyrica, I had to go to the ER, and spent three days in the hospital because of serious side effects. It was a bummer that I couldn't take it, as it was the only neuropathy med that touched the pain in my feet. That was a year or two ago, and I've had a spinal cord stimulator implant in the meantime, so I'm revisiting the meds. I'm up to 200mg tid of Gabapentin, and I think it might be starting to help. I just hope that the side effects don't make me move on to another med. I know both Gabapentin and Lyrica relieve neuropathy pain for many people.

Jim

I'm wondering what it's like stopping Gabapentin. I'm just tapering on it, I'm up to 200mg three times a day, and I don't think I will be able to tolerate it. I'm starting to have cognitive problems. I'm not thinking clearly and I think I'm a little unsteady on my feet.

Jim

Thanks for your reply. I have tried Lycra but I couldn’t tolerate the side effect. I felt weird in my head: like removed from myself. Had to stop driving. I also gain weight quickly.

@jimhd l don't know if you have seen the program The doctors with doctors who talk about different medical issues but l put online for people online to read about what they said. One of the doctors had surgery either on his foot or ankle l forgot where but he was talking about them giving him gabapentin and he was saying he read about how hard it is to get off. And l was surprise they gave it to him since he was a doctor but he said he took it once and after reading he discontinued taking it but l guess some people need it but look it up online and see what the reaction when you come off. l hope that will help.

@techi

Thanks for responding. I spoke with the pharmacist this morning and I plan to talk to the neurologist tomorrow. I'm going to cut back every couple of days.

I think I'm at a low enough dosage that quitting should be possible over a few weeks.

Jim