Neuropathy: Anyone have any experience with gabapentin?

Posted by sjhedcon @sjhedcon, Mar 21, 2020

I have loss of feeling in my feet and tingling sensation. My doctor prescribed gabapentin. I read the side effects and decided not to take this med.
Anyone have any experience with gabapentin?

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I was in the hospital about 4 years ago because my leg kept giving out and I was falling. I was given Gabapentin and I got delirious talking crazy yelling at everyone, also picking in the air. The crazy thing is I knew what was going on but could not control it. My daughter came to visit and I yelled because she did not bring my cat, and I kept saying about the little girl in the corner. Never again for that pill!

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@ancopau1998

I was in the hospital about 4 years ago because my leg kept giving out and I was falling. I was given Gabapentin and I got delirious talking crazy yelling at everyone, also picking in the air. The crazy thing is I knew what was going on but could not control it. My daughter came to visit and I yelled because she did not bring my cat, and I kept saying about the little girl in the corner. Never again for that pill!

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Yes, Gaba did affect me in same way, and I was not warned by the doc. After about 10 days, anger issues began, got worse, my co-workers could not figure out the issues. Not my normal and my wife contacted the doc....oh yea, that can happen. Really? Got off over about 5 days. Warning was part of the paperwork with the prescription, about 4000 words they give you with the prescription which contained about 50 warnings. Best part, since found out, Gaba is normally not prescribed to patients with my type of PN!!! I now read ALL the papers that come with any new prescription. Live and learn.

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@ancopau1998

I was in the hospital about 4 years ago because my leg kept giving out and I was falling. I was given Gabapentin and I got delirious talking crazy yelling at everyone, also picking in the air. The crazy thing is I knew what was going on but could not control it. My daughter came to visit and I yelled because she did not bring my cat, and I kept saying about the little girl in the corner. Never again for that pill!

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Gabapentin is my anti-seizure meds the morn, lunch, eve… a big pile… I had/have a TBI from an accident, 12 years ago, when riding my bicycle. I’m now alive and thankfully my wife took care of me. Am I back? I lost 80% of my memory & my professional ability, but I’m here 👍

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Feet and lower leg swollen 2 years. Skin of them now stiff. Just recently burning pain in heels has started in middle of night in bed. Goes away when I walk. Have not seen a doctor. Advice please.

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@njed

Yes, Gaba did affect me in same way, and I was not warned by the doc. After about 10 days, anger issues began, got worse, my co-workers could not figure out the issues. Not my normal and my wife contacted the doc....oh yea, that can happen. Really? Got off over about 5 days. Warning was part of the paperwork with the prescription, about 4000 words they give you with the prescription which contained about 50 warnings. Best part, since found out, Gaba is normally not prescribed to patients with my type of PN!!! I now read ALL the papers that come with any new prescription. Live and learn.

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Well, normally prescription drugs have a long list of warnings. I think I am more volatile on the low dose of gabapentin I take. I'm curious, what was your dosage and daily amount? Why do you say it was not for your kind of peripheral neuropathy?
I am not sure about this drug and would like to know what other's dosage is on gabapentin?
M

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@jaywemm59 - I was taking 100 mg. 3 times a day which I believe is a low dosage. My reason for my statement about not being for my type of PN is because I do not have any pain where I have sensory motor PN. I have only numbness toes to below knees. My understanding is that Gaba will not help with numbness. In fact, in 2020 Mayo in MN said not much in the way of meds can help with numbness. The doc that prescribed the Gabapentin was my primary doctor, not a neurologist. I would just be watchful of the listed side effects. Best to you!

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@njed

@jaywemm59 - I was taking 100 mg. 3 times a day which I believe is a low dosage. My reason for my statement about not being for my type of PN is because I do not have any pain where I have sensory motor PN. I have only numbness toes to below knees. My understanding is that Gaba will not help with numbness. In fact, in 2020 Mayo in MN said not much in the way of meds can help with numbness. The doc that prescribed the Gabapentin was my primary doctor, not a neurologist. I would just be watchful of the listed side effects. Best to you!

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Good info, thx! I have pain, and it seems to help, but yes there are side effects such as tiredness and, for me also, uncontrolled anger at times.

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@jaywemm59

Good info, thx! I have pain, and it seems to help, but yes there are side effects such as tiredness and, for me also, uncontrolled anger at times.

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Suggestion - let your doctor know about your side effects, in particular, the anger. The issue of anger became a problem with me. Doctor might adjust your dosage.

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Yes horrific side effects and weaning off of this rx is horrible!!!

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I was taking 300mg of Gabapentin every 8 hours for trigeminal neuralagia and pain disappeared. After some time I decided to cut back on dosage to see what minimum dosage was required. I first went to 400mg every 12 hours. After 7 days, I went to 300mg in morning and 400mg at night. After another 7 days, I went to 300mg and 300mg. I am now down to 200mg twice a day and still no pain. I intend to reduce 100mg every 7 days until I start getting some pain. Two years ago, a neurologist told me that sometimes TN goes into remission and then returns. I may discover that I am currently in remission. In my case, gabapentin caused relatively few side effects at the dosage I was taking. It may have aggravated my age related balance issues a little - hard to tell. I am an 82 year old male.

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