Hello, my name is Karmala. I was diagnosed with MS on Oct 17, 2007 at the ripe age of 44. I am now 48 and still changing meds and getting new pains. I thought my first flare was a sign to chill and go for the no stress thing and all would be fine. I evidently was incorrect. I am now suffering with lower back pain that I cannot control without medication that makes me feel like a zombie. Has anyone here taken Gabapentin?

I have not taken Gabapentin, but just wanted to welcome you to the community! You came to a good place. Sometimes it's a little slow here on weekends, so if you don't get a response right away, don't think you're being ignored!

Welcome Karmala

I was diagnosed at about the same age and for a year I had a stiff back all over and it was before I knew it was MS. I wasn't treated for it, but it only lasted for a year and then it was different symptoms. So yours might be temporary which is a good thing. I haven't taken that medicine but I took one for migraines called Topamax that made me dopey and those lasted nearly two years and then stopped. So try to get through it and hopefully your back will improve and you can cut down on or stop that medicine.

Hi and welcome to NeuroTalk! I was the same age as you when I was diagnosed in 2005.

I've taken Gabapentin before and it really didn't do much except make me feel light-headed and made me gain all sorts of weight. That was several years ago and I have since stopped taking it.

What kind of symptoms are you having? I've had so many different ones. Some stay and some come and go. Everyone's different.

Glad you came to join us. This is an awesome group of people!

Hated Gabapentin. Didn't help and made me a zombie.

I do Vicodin, never makes me feel anything but sleepy at bedtime. MS meds take a lot of self - experience and tweaking. MS takes a lot of tweaking.

Welcome Karmala, nice to meet you.

Welcome to Neruo talk. Hope you get the infomation you need here. You have found the right forum, and there are alot of folks that have MS that can respond to you. My cousin has MS, so I know just a little bit about it. I know of the medicine you speak of. Alot of people feel "drugged and dragging" while taking it. Sometimes it goes away, and others are unable to function well on it at all. Many are started at a lower dose, and gradually increased. In my case, I hated the medication, and I took it for neruological problems associated with my cervical spine issue. I felt just horrible, so I asked my doctor to allow me to stop the Med. Keep close touch with your doctor and do tell him all you are experiencing. I do hope some resolution and pain control can be found for you. There are pain specialists that deal with MS. I wish you all the best as you go forward with your care. ginnie

I didn't try Neurontin, but tried Lyrica, which helped PN remarkably but made me feel like I had trouble breathing. I am usually better off without drugs, even if struggling with symptoms, but sometimes I find a drug which is just right. Zyrtec, for instance, an anti-histimine, helps with itches. As others say, a lot of tweaking is necessary if taking drugs or supplements.

Hello and welcome. I tried gabapentin and WHOOO! it was not a good fit for me. I felt horrible on it, and after 3 weeks of feeling like I was walking thru jello I told the MD to take me off it. He agreed my side effects were more severe than most and perhaps It wasnt a good fit for me.

Loads of folks say they get used to it, and my cousin takes it like its pez. I have no idea how she is able to walk, but she says now without it, she is struggling and really needs it.

I hate all these drugs! I just want to wake up and find it all went away.

btw, I was dx in my 40s as well.

Welcome to NT...
I used to take it for neuropathic pain...just make sure not to take yourself off it...you have to wean yourself off gradually.
Have you gotten som physical therapy? I have back problems which include spasms from MS. I find that my stretching routine really helps.
Keep us up to date on what's going on...