Gabapentin

I was prescribed gabapentin for pain following my second spinal surgery, it did ease the pain but I was unable to function on it, it turned me into a zombie, I would sit in the same spot for hours and not be at all aware of my surroundings. Needless to say I gradually came off it.

Travelsafar, I am glad to hear that the pain is becoming less severe for you.

The pain that I had is all but gone now, and I am taking a 1x100mg capsule, three times a day.
When I had only 2/3 days left, I rang the surgery to ask about how to continue.
I spoke to a different Dr, and he wanted me to continue for a further month, and then to speak to my own Dr, midway through.
I am happy to do so, and apart from the discomfort, still, from my ribs, I feel so much better, being pain free.

I hope you are soon pain free, and feeling much better.

Happy to say that after a week of taking this medication i feel that the pain in my leg caused by a disc pressing on a nerve is not as intense as before. I will continue with them untill my review with the GP and decide after that what to do.I will certainly be asking questions about the side effects though. Thanks for all the replies.

I am going to bring in a warning.
I was on Pregabalin, which is a stronger but similar drug.
It has left me with more pain than I began with
If you are already developing pain in new places ie joints then this is a warning that you might end up with side effcects. One of which is more pain.
Also in my case and many other people the tolerance soon goes and you end up taking more and more
Plus other side effects and and you will regret ever taking it.
I would suggest you do some online research and then talk to your GP.
You can PM if you you want to.

It was the only medication that helped my late mother in law with chronic pain. It got her on her legs where morphine failed. Give it a chance then see what your GP advises.

Please be cautious when using this. A neurologist prescribed gabapentin for my migraines. I took them for six months and then started taking triptans (vasoconstrictors, not pain meds) which worked wonders (!) so I tried to stop taking the gabapentin. It was awful. I had tremors, restless leg jerking, agitation, insomnia, more headaches, sweats, and foggy head for quite awhile. It was worse than it now sounds, as I type it.

I don't take gabapentin but do take pregabalin which is its sister drug.. I got it for peripheral neuropathy and it is excellent. Had to increase it from the initial dose and it now works very well.

As mentioned by previous poster you must wean off it slowly.

The dosage of gabapentin can vary widely. I believe the max dose is up to 4800 mg per day, but some people take as little as 300 mg per day.

If you're not getting results, I'd suggest going to your provider and asking if your dose can be increased.

It takes a while to build up to a therapeutic level in your system, my husband was on maximum dosage for Post Hepetic Nerve pain following shingles. It did work eventually . I would also want to make you very aware that if and when you decided to come off it, especially if you are on a high dosage to do it really really gradually. I worked out a regime for my husband and it took three months , just gradually omitting half then one tablet , then two etc etc . He had no problems at all , but I have read stories where people had dreadful withdrawal symptoms coming off too quickly . Obviously if you are on just a low dosage you may not experience any withdrawal issues.

Need to let it take time but I did find it made me very tired. I remember going up the stairs and thinking what a hard day I must have had , It was 10 am .

Glad it helped a bit travelsafar.

I must admit to going upstairs on my hands and knees at times.
DH suggested a stair lift ?, but I'm not ready for that, just yet!

By the way, there was another thread on Gabapentin, earlier in the month, with other GN's experiences of the drug. Maybe you could have a look there.

Best wishes.

Auntieflo thank you for that info. Feel more positive and hopeful that it will eventually kick in. Must admit have resorted to a Nurofen this morning as well as the gabapentin as feel so stiff and painful and i have to drive somewhere today. My DH had to tie my shoelaces for me as i could raise my leg or bend down to do it, Scarey!!!!!

travelsafar, oh how I sympathise with you, but do persevere

I started on Gabapentin, to block nerve pain on Thursday Oct. 10th,
with one tablet per day, for three days,
Then two tablets per day, for three days
Then three tablets per day.
It really wasn't until about Wed/Thursday, 16/17th, that I started to feel a difference. So about a week.
My Dr. had told me that I wouldn't notice any difference until after at least three days, but it was longer for me.
But now I am practically pain free, in my hip/ back.
Gabapentin does nothing for the pain from my cracked ribs, but I take paracetamol for that.
I hope you start feeling the benefit soon. Take care.

I understand that it doesn’t work for everyone, just like any other painkiller. Paracetamol doesn’t work for me.