I was dx with rsd in left foot/leg about two weeks ago. Right away I started taking Topamax 25mg, once/day, tolerated it ok, hands got tingly pretty much right away, but not too bothersome though. I started Neurontin a few days later (after the EMG results came back normal, basically confirming rsd).

I'm still at the initial dose of Neurontin of 300 mg once/day, but it double every week for the first four weeks, and I'm SCARED! Because I also experienced extreme "drowsieness" (not a strong enough word, at all!). The first night I took it, I slept 18 hours straight, from that night, all through the next day, and into the next evening. It's not quite as bad now- in fact, it's helping me sleep at night, whereas I couldn't at all before, and I can wake up by 10 AM usually...but I'm worried about the fact that in a few days, I'll not only be doubling the dose, but I'll be taking the stuff in the morning- I really don't want to be a zombie all day. I'm in school, and have exams every class for the next 2-1/2 weeks till end of semester

That, plus the Topamax makes me forgetful and feel just plain stupid. I've maintained a 4.0 my entire college career, and I'm terrified that I'm going to lose it b/c of these drugs...but the pain is unbearable, the vicodin certainly won't do it alone, and I'm told that the first three mos are crucial in treatment, so if this is what I have to do, than so be it...I can't function in all this pain alone, and idk of anything else that will take the pain away without these side effects, that will also properly "treat" this early stage of RSD/CRPS.

So no, you are not alone- when they say Neurontin's side effect is drowsiness, they mean it! (even one of my class prof's knew about it, and understood immediately when I explained why I missed class that first day, of 18hrs sleep) but it has helped with some of my pain- and if it can put me into remission, the nasty side effects are most definitely worth it!

Best of luck to you! Hope all gets better, and goes well

p.s. my dr. has assured me that the side effects *will* get better/go away as body adjusts to the drug - we'll see- if not, there seem to be lots of alternatives out there as well.