I am on Gabapentin since October 2011. I started at 300mg 3x/day. I had difficulty adjusting to this dosage. I experienced all sorts of side effects -- light headedness, sleepiness, brain fogginess/memory lapses -- and the worst was the negative thoughts. The negative thoughts have long been gone but I still have all the rest. At one time, I was washing dishes, unknowingly, I dropped it because I fell asleep. I wanted to stop the medication but the pain was the big motivator for me to continue using it. My neuro offered no alternative medicines except an additional Nortriptyline (not as a substitute) but I refused for personal reason.

The 300mg did not work for me. I played around with my dosage trying to find the most minimum dosage that will work. I was concerned of increasing it too early as I realized this is for the long haul. Little by little I increased it to where I am now -- 600mg 3x/day. My neuro said that when you find hte right dosage, you will stay there for a long time (that was a consolation!). Everytime I increase my dosage, the light headedness is more pronounced, but after awhile, my body gets adjusted, but the somnolence and memory lapses still remain.

The Gabapentin, for me, only weans off some of the symptoms like - zapping, electric jolts but not the pain in hte feet and legs. I can tolerate walking but not standing (strange).