Hi I've just started gabapentin and wondering what I've got myself into.
I don't like taking pills, my dr keeps prescribing I keep not taking them... She made me promise to take these . So I am taking them I just don't quite believe her that there are very few side effects. I have so many issues that I always worry it's whatever medicine I'm taking so I stop taking it. This time I will keep trying it but I'm thinking it's making me more tired and depressed and not helping with pain. I've been on it 5 days 100mg at night upping dose next week to 200mg. Thanks

Hi Pam,
After 5 days is it helping you at all?
I have taken Neurontin and now take Lyrica.
It was a long time ago I took Neurontin but I do remember being dizzy but it wore off.
It was good for nerve pain. I went off it after being on it for many yrs because I thought it was making me depressed. As I have learned, taking pain meds for decades, it is always a trade off, all meds have some kind of side effects and only you can decide if the pain control you are getting is worth the side effects. With time and trial and error, you will learn what works best for you.
Diandra

1. developed for epilepsy then after clinical trial found to work on nerve pain also. it works to stop siezures.
myself i have had 4 back surgeries starting in 7-08 2 herniated disc at s1 to L5
L5 to L4. 5 -11 3 level fusion with out hardware was supposed to be put in but was not.salvage surgery 8-12 to repair screw up severe nerve damage to L5 nerve bundle from conpression i have foot drop on left foot chronic low back pain at all times i have been on pain meds since 7-08 80mg hyrdocodone a day, 1050 mg of soma a day, 2700 mg of nuerontin a day. so i now have scs pain stimulator implanated 1-15. i am weaning off the drugs except the soma it is a muscle relaxer that works good for me the vicodin i have been weaning for a month now slowly with long term use the 2 week withdrawl that the pain dr's tell you is b.s. you will get the creepy crawlies bad if you take a large dose like i have you are a junkie just a legal one. with nuerontin it can from 1 to 2 months depending on the dose and length of time 4 years for me my rx guy says that sudden withdrawl at my high dosage could cause a siezure even though i am not epileptic. the scs is working so far i can now sleep all night which i haven't done in years as far as pain you can program it for different areas they now have hi-def programs in my scs that deliver a very smooth pulse some people like that pulsing sensation mine will got to 10.5 volts d.c so it will light your *** up.
the nuerontin would let me know when i was working if i went too long before dosing again i was at 8 hr intervals just like the vicodin i would get the creepies as i call them nervous stomach itchy feeling etc. try some edibles you know what kind i am talkin about i tried some on a trip to colorado 2 years ago they worked great for my nerve pain and back pain but some folks still have the stigma about cannabis. i smoked for years but then quit because ya just get tired of trying to find it all time i live in redneck land so.... there ya go. just my 2 cents from a veteran pain guy

Any updates on taking Gabapentin? I was on it starting off with 300 mg 3 times per day. I noted the nerve pain was not as bad, but I was like a walking zombie.

My doctor wanted to continue but with a much lower dose. 100 mg 1 times per day. Well I'm stopping it as it's not helping at all, but the fatigue is there.

Would like to hear other opinions on the results of taking Gabapentin for nerve damage?

tia ~Becca

I have been taking it for a few weeks. The great news is that I am experiencing no side effects, the bad news is that it is not helping my atypical facial pain. Best of luck.

My experience with it was very poor. I too am not a pill taker....however, I did honestly try. Like its real brand nurontine (sp sorry), I was loopy and unable to function. Even at lower doses. I was told three months trial is best, but sometimes making it that far isn't always possible.

I had the same experience loopy didn't help enough to warrant continuing. Took Lyrica too helped some. Doctors say if helps 50 % that is success. Not for me it is not worth it.
I weather the storm. Last night had a terrile flair with bad pins and needles in feet continued on too numb lips. I could hardly walk it worked it self out with the help of acetaminophen and bengay and massage with a Xanax chaser. An hour later subsided and fell asleep.
I do massage my feet in the evening a few times seems to help
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Gabapentin I couldn't tolerate. I was on Lyrica at carying doses for almoat teo years when I noticed it was losing wffectiveness at a dose that had worked for close to half a year (off the top of my head, I'll verify via journal later).

I was told there are no diminishing returns which means- 1- that is not true or 2. getting worse. When I missed two doses and noticed my cognitive gain I was convinced to get off it.

I have rough patches, but for me it is not worth the trade off. I think everyone needs to decide for themselves.

I agree KnownothingJon Every one decide for self. I'll weather the storm too. with me it is diabetic related not to say have not had flairs but not as often when sugar up.


Uglogirl

I've been on gabapentin for about a year. It does help me a great deal. The down side for me have been the memory problems, the weight gains, and having to go up in dosage every several months. It works better for me than Lyrica did. I think both have the dizzy adjustment period. As others have said, it depends on the person. Good Luck.