HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Kinda complicated...gabapentin questions

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/12/2012 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,
It's been some time since I've posted, things have been hectic the last month. I had a small bowel obstruction from adhesions, then after coming home, developed blood clots in my arm, leg, and some of their friends went to my lungs. Needless to say, life has been crazy lately.

I've been talking with a few friends about gabapentin. Currently I take Verapamil to prevent migraines, and Imitrex when I have a migraine. I also take Lortab (7.5/325), up to 4 a day and Zanaflex at night for the back and leg pain. Lortab IS helping my lower back, but not my leg, which I tend to think is nerve pain from the lower back stuff going on.

I emailed my PM dr asking his opinion about gabapentin because I read all the things it's used for...nerve pain, migraines, RLS (which my PCP said is also a possibility of the leg pain). Anyway, I know it can initially have side effects, and for most they go away.

My main question is what has your experience with gabapentin been like? Also, do any of you take it and it helps multiple issues?

Any input or experiences are greatly appreciated! Hugs to you all and thanks for reading! :)
Posted 11/12/2012 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
It took it for a number of years. It was prescribed for nerve pain an it worked pretty good. Most drs will start you at a pretty low dose and then increase it as tolerated. I had no side effects with it, but I tend to not have side effects with most of my meds. I know many people say that they have increased fatigue initally as their body gets used to it.

Nerve pain is awful. If your dr decides to go this route, I hope it works for you.
Posted 11/13/2012 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
I have taken it twice in my life, once for radiation related pain, and more recently for cancer pain. Both times, I needed to quit taking it after a few days. It made me feel very agitated all the time and "spacey" feeling, both things I am not comfortable with.

I know different meds work different ways with people. My doctor, most recently, warned me about mood changes. I don't like any meds that mess with my head.

Good luck if you try it

david
Posted 11/13/2012 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Becky,

I currently taken it and have for a year or better now. I find that it helps greatly w/ the nerve issues in my hands and forearms.... it helps somewhat w/ my sciatic nerve issues.... and has no affect on helping w/ my migraines.

I have no side effects from the med... that being said, because weight gain can be a side effect at higher doses, I've chosen not to go up on my current dose, because I'm on a good weight loss roll finally. So, I'm currently taking 1200mg daily.

Good luck w/ your experience w/ the med - sure hope it works for you.

Also - sorry you have gone through so much lately.... :( Hoping things will be much less hectic this month.

Take care.... --Tina
Posted 11/13/2012 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all. I will probably hear back from PM dr in the next couple days and know his opinion. I'll let you know what he says.

David, I'm thinking of you and your wife, praying for pain relief for both of you. Thanks for your suppport :) and hugs to you and your dear wife.
Posted 11/13/2012 4:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Becky,

I'm new here but I take gabapentin, along with zanaflex and ms contin. At one point, they upped my dosage of gabapentin pretty high and I was also struggling with insomnia at the time and was still working. For that short period, I had some sleepiness with it but, at a dose of 1200mg/day, I've done fine. I've been on that dosage for approximately 2 years now. I still struggle with nightly insomnia but the gabapentin does not lead to daytime sleepiness despite the lack of sleep. It may be important to note, also, that I no longer work and my activity has been drastically reduced, leading to less fatigue overall.

Aside from the short period of daytime sleepiness, I haven't had any side effects at all. I have more side effects from the zanaflex (24mg/day) in that it really dries my mouth out.

Edit: I guess I didn't mention how well it works. It helps quite a bit with the tingling/numbness in my hands and with what I call "electric shock" pains in my arms. I don't have "true migraines," but it does not help my headaches at all.

Post Edited (SolaceInTheFire) : 11/12/2012 9:33:21 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/14/2012 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
Well Dr didn't respond quite like I wanted. He said because of all my health problems, he'd like me to get a thorough neuro exam before trying gabapentin.

I think with so many problems and so many meds it scares doctors to treat me without doing every test available first.

Anyway, now I'll contact PCP to get neuro referral and go from there.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences with it! Maybe neuro will prescribe when I see them. We'll see.

Hugs & well wishes!
Posted 11/14/2012 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
Becky,

I'm glad your doctor is being thorough - or at least it sounds that way.... Let us know what the neuro has to say....

Good luck to you --

Tina
Posted 11/17/2012 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
Neuro? Any head with neck trauma in your history. Might have shook it off and went about your business as I did and forgotten about it. 2 wk's later 200 lb lead carpenter sitting on job site floor turned to jello in 5 sec, 2001. (non-Epileptic Siezure 1'st of many) Went from one missed dio to another P/A (who wouldn't), PTSD, good dio (Nam). I Ya Butted the VA for 8 months over the unaccounted for symptoms. Short Story: Between the head injury and the nerves through the 6 out of 7 C vertebrae wierd things could happen anywhere at any time. Post Concussion Syndrome, check that symptom check list. Your Doc is confused so were mine. Gabapentin a miracle drug for me, eliminated the shakes overnight. 400mg's for me no more / no less for 11yr's. Brain and Nervous System control all we are. Good Luck!
Posted 11/17/2012 12:04 PM (GMT 0)
I've had 1 head injury, but it was in 2007 and I had scans done at the time and everything was fine.

I understand their hesitation to just give meds without tests...since I'm always a complicated patient and they seem to find odd things with me.  That being said, my migraines are only due to hormonal fluctuations.  When you have them 1 week out of every month, and your mom was the same, it's pretty obvious.  My PCP and GYN both agreed that it's completely due to hormones, yet the PM (being male) doesn't exactly agree...so I have to prove that's the issue.  If only I didn't have clotting issues and could just take birth control or some hormones to get things leveled out...

 

Posted 11/17/2012 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, so sorry to hear all you are going thru.  As for gabapentin, I take 600mg 3xday and it helps so much with my fibro, when nothing else helped it has made my life so much more bearable.  I can tell a big difference if I run out, its non-narcotic so no withdrawal, but my entire body feels banged up if I dont take it.

Of course thats me, I know it workss for some and not others. good luck.

Kathy/nini

Posted 11/18/2012 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
My OBGYN just prescribed gaba for menopausal symptoms of hot flashes and insomnia. Although I do have chronic pain in my back and neck and have a headache every day of my life, for some reason I am still feeling leery about taking it. I have heard good and bad about it, but I guess it scares me because my mother in law was prescribed gaba during her bought with cancer, which eventually took her life. It scares me. Help?
Posted 11/18/2012 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
So sorry about your mother.  Please dont dislike the medicine due to a very horrible experience your mom had.  If you just try it, it could make your life better.  Good luck

Kathy

Posted 11/19/2012 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
I have been taking Gabapentin now for several months, along with oxycodone, tramadol, skelaxin, all for back/neck/sciatica pain management.

Gabapentin did give me dizziness, clouded feeling the first few weeks, but after that, it has been fine. I take 1800mg/day; 900mg mid-day and 900mg before bed. I sometimes get nausea if I do not eat when I take it, but other then that it is all good. I do have to take the other meds along with it to keep my pain managable.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply