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Posted 8/30/2016 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
Can gabapentin be used "as needed" by fibro patients? Or is it one of those "if you are on it, you need to take it on schedule" kind of medication?
Does it help with sleep? Muscle relaxation? Pain?
HEART
Posted 8/30/2016 6:12 AM (GMT 0)
I do both ways. I take 600 mg at bedtime and 100 mg extra as needed to ease over the top pain.
It does make some people sleepy. Unfortunately I'm not one of them.
Posted 8/30/2016 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
I know some here take much higher doses, so that may make a difference, but I have a prescription for 100 mg capsules of gabapentin, rather than the 300 mg capsules I formerly took.

My doctor has given me the "okay" to take them as needed. I would definitely check with your doctor, though, just in case there could be other issues.

When I used to take the 300 mg capsules, yes, they made me sleepy! I only get very slight side effects with the 100 mg capsules (though I wouldn't drive while taking them, just to be safe).

I find gabapentin helpful for nerve pain, especially, but it also helps with general body pain, taking the edge off. I have both Flexeril (for stiffness) and gabapentin on hand, and sometimes when I'm stiff I'll just take one 100 mg capsule of gabapentin and find relief. Not always effective for that, but sometimes it works.

What I'd really like to find is something that works great as a muscle relaxant that doesn't put me to sleep when I'm super stiff! A little gabapentin for those much, much milder days, though, does help me.
Posted 8/31/2016 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
I use tramadol in stead of gabapentin, i have heard they can be similiar .for me in small doses it can have a stimulative effect, but only certain genericS.


They help with pain and fatigue.. Please let us know how you do using it and what the effects are. .
Posted 9/19/2016 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
I have been prescribed Gabapentin to take for muscle/ nerve pain at 100mg as needed.
I am really nervous, no, scared to take it due to the side effects I've read.
How long does it take to see if you are going to have any side effects and what are them at this dosage?
If anyone could relieve my mind about taking this drug, I would appreciate it greatly.
Posted 9/19/2016 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
Two more questions:
I know medications affect people differently, but I was wondering how sleepy does 100mg of Gabapentin make a person?
Also, at this dosage, has anyone experienced blurry vision?

I am relieved to see postings of "positive" experiences w/ this drug. This makes me feel somewhat better!
Posted 9/19/2016 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
100 mg is a very low dose of gabapentin.
I've had no side effects from taking 100 mg in the daytime and 600 mg at night for several years now.
Posted 9/19/2016 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
If any of you have taken both gabapentin and tramadol, ,

It would be interesting to hear you compare them to each other?

I think they are similiar?

Heart, if you try it , it would be great to hear what you think.

Tramadol at very low dose , help keep the edge off my pain without a lot of side effect..but after a long time i still cannot use more than 1/4 pill at a time.. When i take 1/2 i feel side effects..

I often think 1/2 would do better for the pain level, but hate the side effect..so i take 1/4 every two hours..which trying to remember every two hours, is a pain 😊
Posted 9/19/2016 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
Ps, joy sorry it does not help you sleep , this is still an issue?

Lj
Posted 9/19/2016 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
I take 800mg 4x a day. Some days I only take it 3x's, but I find taking it daily helps my "all over" pain. I definitely feel the difference if I don't take them. I've been on them for a little over a year. I did read withdrawls can be nasty if you try to stop using them. I will have to read more about it though. For now, I will keep taking as prescribed.

I am one of the lucky ones...I don't get sleepy from them. Although, I am generally tired all the time...but I was that way before I started taking them. :-)
Posted 9/19/2016 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your input, and I am so glad to hear no side effects at 100mg.
Posted 9/20/2016 4:38 AM (GMT 0)
Lj, they don't make me sleepy.

I can take 600 mg of gabapentin, 5mg of ambian, and 10 mg of tramadol and still be awake 3 hours later.

My bedtime is 3am most nights.
Posted 9/20/2016 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
Have you ever tried 10mg ambien? 5 is low
Posted 9/25/2016 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hello All,
about 4 years ago, I was taking 3600 mg daily of gabapentin along with over 20 other pills. After a month, I could literally fall out of my shoes. My PCP at the VA, just prescribed me LYRICA and informed me to stop taking gabapentin at least a week before taking any LYRICA. I currently take 1200 mg daily of gabapentin to lower my inter-cranial pressure, that for me comes right before a migraine.

As for sleeping, has anyone tried Mirtazipine or the old faithful Melatonin?
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