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Posted 4/26/2012 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
Is it just me..... I've been on Gabapentin for a week tomorrow and if anything I'm getting worse.... I feel like I've been beat up and left for dead. skull

Also I've got a headache from hell and eveything is SO BRIGHT!!!!!! Not my typical migraine headache.... This is new, scary.... shakehead
Posted 4/27/2012 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
No one?
Posted 4/27/2012 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Kolbee!

I'm also on Gabapentin 600mg x4….and thought I would mention that it can take 4 to 8 weeks for it to take full effect….so give it some time. I have not seen a lot of reduction in my pain after 8 weeks on it. However..do give it some time.

Our Dx's are quite different…and that may make a difference as well. Also,…what dose are you on? It is said that you have to be on the higher dose for it to be effective for CP.

Take care,

SE wink
Posted 4/27/2012 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
I think that's Neurontin, It made my depression spiral out of control and did nothing for my pain.
Izzy5
Posted 4/27/2012 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
Izzy…you are correct! Gaba is generic for Neurontin. wink I wanted to mention that some of the side effects may go away after a few weeks or so. Make sure you give it a good go…unless you just cannot handle them.

SE
Posted 4/27/2012 4:09 AM (GMT 0)
I'm taking it for nerve pain, 600 mg a night (since my ruptured disc, over 3 months ago.) I feel like it's impossible to know anymore what's working - -I started that and Norco at the same time so it's hard to say. It didn't make my pain worse, though, so maybe you are having a bad reaction.

Sure hope you feel better soon. I know what you mean about everything being SO BRIGHT! Yuck - I hate that sensation. Migraines are the worst.

Debbie
Posted 4/27/2012 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Debbie! wink

I'm surprised at your dose….as most PM's will dose it several times a day..x3m..x4…and again for nerve pain it seems to work best at levels above the 1200mg dosage…somewhere around the 2400mg or so…up to the max of 3600mg.

Also!…I understad full well what you mean…as I have reduced my Oxycontin intake…and it's hard to tell how well it's working.

Good luck with it.

SEwink
Posted 4/27/2012 5:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi SE,

Actually, my doc said I could take more, and could try it in the morning too, but I hesitate to "up" anything unless I absolutely have to. I'm going to post on the CP forum now because I did something stupid again...see you!

Debbie
Posted 4/27/2012 9:49 AM (GMT 0)
I was put on gabapentin and after a week I had burning feet and a huge tremor in my thigh that wouldn't let up. I took myself off gradually and the the sensation went away.

I know a few other women that were tried on it. One came down with back issues and the other's (she is elderly) legs gave out two days in a row. She was fine when she was taken off and she hasn't had an incident since.

I try not to do any meds because my rheumatologist has seen the side effects I get from a wide variety of them. She told me that many people with fibro are medication sensative. I do all I can naturally.

Good luck to you.
Posted 4/27/2012 12:18 PM (GMT 0)

    ...yes!...I thought it odd...but Gabapentin can actually cause back pain. Seems so odd, as it is scripted for many with nerve damage for the back. We are all different...and the results can differ greatly.

    Take care,

   SE wink

Posted 4/27/2012 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, thanks for all the replies!

I am on 900mg of Gabapentin. I'm not really a big fan of it, I feel horrible! I'm going to talk to my Dr on Monday and see if there is something else I can take. Before all I had was quite a bit of pain, but now i feel like death is around the corner. Last night I also had a major panic attack and was up all night with that. I have a wedding to attend today at 5, I'm now feeling scared as hell because of last night, on top of feeling like crap and hurting all over. *sighs*

I need to start getting ready now, its going to take the next 4 hours for my shower, hair and resting before I walk out the door. Take care all!
Posted 4/27/2012 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck to you.

When I was experiencing side effects it was a Friday evening and I couldn't call my doctor. I phoned my pharmacist and he suggested I might want to talk to my doctor about taking a bigger dose.

Sometimes we need to take matters into our own hands.
Posted 4/27/2012 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
      ...please be careful if anyone is going to quit taking this med...if you do it too quickly it can cause ... Seizures! ...so be careful!...your PM and or PCD should reduce it slowly for you.     SE
Posted 4/29/2012 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

Well, I stopped the Gabapentin cold turkey Friday morning. I just couldn't swallow another pill, I put it in my mouth and kept gagging. Anyway, by that night I was feeling better, less pain (still in quite a bit though) and by the time of the reception, I was feeling like my old self. Achy, but not with the intensity I've had over the last 4-5 weeks. I was even able to dance with the Bride & the Groom and even managed the Hokey Pokey. The event was fun, but I did end up needing to leave about 2 hours before the night was over because my head, back, shoulders and hips were on fire. I came home, cleaned up with some bath wipes (couldn't manage a shower by that point) got in my jammies, popped 2 Ibuprofine and propped myself up in my recliner. I was hurting, but was pleased with how the night had went. I was surprised that other than a bit of dizziness, I was feeling more like myself.

Yesterday, was even more like my old self, pain still there like always.... But not overwhelming to the point I felt death was knocking. Just the dull achy head to toe stuff I've had for the last 5 - 8 years. I didn't have much energy, because I still haven't found a way to cope with the CFS. So I just took it easy, tried to do laundry, but was so tired my husband (God bless him) had to finish it and take care of meals too.

Today, still feeling like my old self.... But I have a little bit of energy. I'm planning to work on a couple projects I've been neglecting.... Hopefully I'll get quite a bit done before I'm rendered back to my chair for the night.

I'm calling my Dr. in the morning, clearly Gabapentin is not for me. I'm not wanting to use Lyrica because of the huge side effect possibilities... Not sure what else there is besides narcotics. She is not one to prescribe those without good reason, can't say I blame her. Although I wish I could have a PRN script of Vicodin to at least deal with flare ups. Oh well. LOL

Hope everyone's doing good, have a Blessed Day!

Post Edited (Kolbee) : 4/29/2012 9:47:34 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/29/2012 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
Kolbee,

I'm glad you were able to enjoy the wedding! It's so important to keep trying to do the things that bring us happiness, if we possibly can. And SO hard to know where to draw the line.

Also, good to know that you don't do well with Gabapentin. My doctor always says that any drug can have any effect at all, on a given person. Kind of a scary thought!

Debbie
Posted 4/29/2012 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
I started on gabapinten 3 yrs ago. I started on 600 mg 3 a day. I thought my neuropathy had been healed. Well, within the first year I moved up and up for more pain....I take a total of 3600 mg daily. I would say it works a little and I have tried lyrica, didnt help. I have a total of 5 meds that keep me out of bed for the day. Now the neuropathy has hit my hands. Kolbee, I see my pain managment doc this week and I am going to discuss backing off gabapetin. My pain has put a huge burden on my marriage. I truly believe that my husband is a huge amount of my pain. He can be so good. What ever I need money isnt an object. He has a very short fuse tho and is actually mentally abusive. Im so sorry. This is no place to vent but this morning the pain is horrible and I know that his words make me sick.....I am going to talk to my pain doc and find a good marriage counsellor. I hope he will go....Again I apologize for the intrusion on this forum, hey, I do feel better tho..
Posted 4/29/2012 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
Vent away hun, I'm sorry your husband isn't being nice to you. Sounds like he needs a good mental tidy! No one deserves abuse of ANY kind! I grew up in a horribly abusive home, raised by a narcissistic alcoholic mother and a very violent army vet as a stepdad. I've experienced pretty much all forms of abuse, even being traded at age 10 to a boyfriend of my mothers for an entire summer. I suggest you get therapy, and if he doesn't go and work on his behavior.... I suggest finding another option. You/your health and well being doesn't deserve to be scared and sick .... Especially when it comes to a husband, who's supposed to be your rock and stability through everything. Good luck, prayers and hugs to you!
Posted 4/30/2012 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Neuropathy10,

Living with a husband who verbally abuses you and doesn't support you emotionally can make the fibro much more difficult to live with. I divorced a husband of many years due to his short fuse and his refusal to try to understand my limitations.

I would suggest that you find a therapist who understands fibromyalgia and see him or her by yourself for several sessions. Then you can ask your husband to attend with you. If you can't afford therapy, do you have a good friend you could confide in for support? Keep us posted.

It really helps to have a good man in your life. At last I found one.

Good luck to you.
Posted 4/30/2012 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
I have a fantastic therapist, he has helped me come leaps and bounds beyond my past issues! Between him and my husband, I'm in great hands! Just wish I could get this pain stuff under control.... Maybe I'll look into acupuncter (sp?).... I've heard that really helps. Today I can't move my left hip very well, not sure what the deal is. Grrr

My prayers are with all of you suffering with un-supportive partners.... I can't imagine how much worse that must make all of this, not to mention life itself.... Big hugs to you all, I wish you the best!
Posted 5/1/2012 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
I'm new here but not to HealingWell.
This thread about Neurontin made me realize I made the right decision last week when my doctor said it could possibly help my chronic nerve pain. I chose not to take it as my pain on a scale of 1-10 is usually only a 5 or 6. I do not take any prescription pain meds at this time. I have always hated taking medicaiton of any kind.
I keep searching the net and books for something herbal or natural that I can do for deep nerve pain that occured a year ago after a bout with ischemic colitis. I have not been successful in that quest.
Posted 5/1/2012 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
Crampygrammy,

I know what you mean about not taking any meds. The supplements that have been most successful for me are the Buried Treasure liquid supplements. They're suppose to absorb into your body better. I use the Now Foods brand for the pill form supplements I take. I purchase all these through a website where I get forty percent off.

Good luck to you.
Posted 5/1/2012 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
May I ask what kinds of supplements you take?
Posted 5/2/2012 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
Everyone is different and we all need different supplements but the following is what I've heard is good for fibromyalgia.

Even with spending the money on all of these supplements I still have to take phenomenal care of myself by eating right, trying to get a good night's sleep, stretching, and trying not to overdo. I still have my flares and I'm never nearly pain free but I believe the following supplements help my immune system. A weakened immune system can bring on a cold and fibro is miserable to have with a cold.

I take Buried Treasure VM100 which is a multivitamin, buried treasure calcium, buried treasure hair and nails because my hair was thinning and my nails were breaking easily, then in pill form I take mostly Now Foods vitamin C, glucosomine, coq10, D3, iron, and krill oil. At night I take a supplement called calm by metagenics. Sometimes I have to add my old standbyes: melatonin and l-theanine. I purchase the calm product through my chiropractor.

What I do with the liquids is mix them with a glass of almond milk and thawed frozen berries placed in the blender. I purchase most of the above vitamins through a website called Imedmart.

Good luck to you.
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