Originally Posted by groucho

I've been on Gabapentin for the past few months, at a present dose of 600 mg 4x a day. I started at a low dose & as I've worked my way up, and it hasn't taken too long to where my pain relief seems to dwindle down (developing tolerance), at any level. The relief was very good for the short time it lasted.

The other day I asked my Neuro to switch me to Nortriptyline, and he gave me a script for 1 or 2 - 25mg caps per day. He said if 1 capsule per day doesn't do it for me after a few days, to go to 2 capsules a day. A buddy of mine was started out at 10 mg per day & was bumped up by 10 mg per day & he is presently at 40 mg per day & having good results. I mentioned to my Neuro about me starting at 25mg per day vs my buddy starting at 10mg per day, and that starting at 25mg the side effects might be worse & he said I would be fine. As a footnote, Gabapentin put my buddy onto the floor & he was removed from it completely prior to starting Nortriptyline.

Since patients often take both of these drugs at the same time, he said I could start right away, but I'm preferring to cut back slightly first & more pain is slipping back already.

Anyone with initial dosage experience (good or bad) & perhaps some who may have divided capsules into 2 portions to take a smaller dose (Nortriptyline or Amitriptyline)?