neurontin for migraine prevention

Hi hopefulmigrainer,

I took Neurontin before I took Topamax. I found that it wasn't as severe as Topamax. I did gain weight and it was difficult to come off of, but on it, I felt better than on Topamax. I don't think it really worked for me, but it's a lot more gentle on your system. My family doctor lives by Neurontin. My neurologist lives by Topamax.

Good luck.

Thanks   I'm glad to be back.

Thank you!

The Neurontin is working really well for me. It has not caused weight gain and I take it at night so if it causes sleepiness I wouldn't know. Since I still get a whopping migraine when the barometric pressure drops rapidly I'll probably have to up my dose.

Every one I know who has tried Topomax has cut the dose without telling their doctor and then quite the drug completely. (Complaints were: weight gain, fogginess and hand tremors.)

As I think about it, I was a little slow when I first started taking Neurontin. I didn't feel foggy, more like really relaxed. That side effect went away completely in a short time. My husband is also on Neurontin. He's a big baby when it comes to drug side effects and he has no complaints.

Good Luck,
Diane

Hi Kelly,

The Neurontin has knocked out all of the low and mid-level migraines. That alone has been a huge relief. I'm on hormones to stop my periods so the horrid menstrual migraine (5-7 days) is gone. Right now I am only getting migraines when the weather changes suddenly. When the barometric pressure goes back up, the headache disappears. The storms that move in slowly don't seem to bother me.

Since I live in the desert, we don't get that many big storms until late July. I'd say I've had an 80% reduction in migraines. The next time I see my doc I'll talk with her about upping my dose to get rid of the remaining 20%.

For me, the temporary side effect of feeling really relaxed for a week was well worth it. This drug has been close to a miracle for me. I really don't like to take pain meds since they make me foggy and I was having way too many migraines to take Maxalt every time.

I don't know if Neurontin is a new drug but I am very happy with it.

Diane

Neurontin didn't work for me. I wish it had. I'm about out of options and ready to give in and give up. I've tried Topamax, Zonegran, Midrin, Imatrex, Maxalt, imiprimine (which I'm still on) and so many others I don't remember. Now I'm on Inderal LA. My neuro wants to increase the dosage from 120 mg twice a day to 120 mg 3 times a day. I don't understand how that will make a difference. I kinda want to wean off of it and see what happens by using abortives only.

Sorry to hijack your post, I didn't really mean to, it just sorta happened as I typed.

Thanks Hopeful-

I'm writing the info down right now. I'm willing to try anything. It eased a bit this morning but can feel it coming back right now and it's going to be at full force again. I may make hubby take me to the ER today. Something has to break this cycle!

BTW, no I don't drink alcohol at all. But I do drink 2-3 diet cokes a day. I went off of the caffeine about a year ago for an entire year and noticed no difference what-so-ever. So, since I love the tast of it, I'm drinking it again. I think the caffeine, for me, may be an inhibitor sorta. Who knows? The doctors sure don't sometimes! 

This is surely too late to help the original poster, but for anyone coming to this site for answers... I was on Topamax and it was HORRIBLE. My mind was all fuzzy, I couldn't think, had trouble coming up with the simplest words and suffered from extreme anxiety. I ended up having to call the paramedics and had to be off of work for over a week - this was after just two weeks of being on it. I still suffered from anxiety attacks for several weeks and months afterwards. I will NEVER forget how I felt on that med and never ever ever again will I take it and now have a deep fear of meds as I don't EVER want to feel like that again. I started taking a low dose of 100 mg of Neurontin (gabapentin) for another issue that I have. No migraines at all during the worst (humid rainy season) time of the year for migraines. I usually have 3 or more a week during this time period every year. I am now on a higher dose of Neurontin - mainly for the other issue... but the migraines went away with the really low dose. The first week on it I had mild anxiety. It went away after that initial week. I am amazed at how the migraines have stopped. I don't ever want to get off of this. Great stuff!