Hi Everyone
I am new to NeuroTalk. It looks like a great online community.
I have had occipital neuralgia for four years and am on a LONG wait list for radiographic neurectomy at C2-C3. Recently, my pain increased to the point of being unbearable so I have now started on Neurontin. I was on Neurontin years ago but was never able to get beyond 300mg/day due to side effects.
My question is: If I can only tolerate 300mg of neurontin a day will that still help the nerve pain? or do I have to be at 900mg as the docs have suggested.
Is there anyone out there whose occipital neuralgia has been helped with Neurontin?
Also, has anyone else had radiographic neurectomy at C2-C3 for occipital neuralgia---was it helpful? I had two diagnostic anaesthetic injections at the C2-C3 nerve root and it completely alleviated my pain 100% so I am expecting the procedure should be effective.... if I can ever get a time slot to have it done....
Thanks Everyone
Julie

Hi Julie and welcome to Neuro Talk. I'm not sure which forum to send you to but someone will come along...hopefully Mrs.D with information about the dosage of neurontin.

Here is the link to our Medications fourm.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum72.html

I don't know much about occipital neuralgia, but do know considerable amounts about Neurontin/Gabapentin, since it is used for so many nerve pain issues.

The dosage that people find effective in reducing pain vaires widely. In some spinal and peripheral neuropathy people I know, the dose has been titrated up as high as 3600mg-4800mg/day. There does seem to be a flattening curve of effectiveness, for most people; the difference noticed when one goes from , say 800 to 1600mg is greater than the difference noticed going from 1600mg to 2400mg--increasing dosages are absorbed at lower percentages.

There are side effects to be aware of--fatigue, some dizziness and ligh-headedness--similar to those of many anti-epileptic drugs, which deaden the firing rates of neurons in the spinal and peripheral nerves. These often fade with time, however. Other common side effects are water retention--since Neurontin is eliminated almost whole through the kidneys, and not broken into metabolites by the liver, one should be sure to be well-hydrated--and carb-craving weight gain.

Neurontin has a half-life of around 5-7 hours, so many people find that at whatever daily dose they take, it's often more effective broken up into three or four dosages daily rather than two.

Still, the dosages you've been on (unless your tiny) are pretty low--you might want to see if a bit of a higher dose can be tolerated, and spend a few days seeing if the side effects lessen at each level.

Hi, my name is LaNell. A dystonia patient of Dr. George Paulson of OSU Medical since the past 11 years. After other methods that worked somewhat on my horrible pain, Neurontin was the magic pill. I am 5'8". weight around 122 and have taken 1,500 mg (divided roughly into three dosages) for over 10 years. I am interested if just grogginess was your side affect? I just have a cup of coffe or tea if that it the case. The most horrible thought for me, is not be be able to get my Rx for Neurontin/gabapentin and to revert the the mess I was in before.
Hope you try Neurontin again, and with caffeine if needed

Thank you for all the replies. Keep them coming. I am learning alot.
I had unsteadiness/lack of balance and severe dizziness beyond 300mg but am determined to push through this time as the pain is so unbearable.
What type of pain did you have that Neurontin helped?
Thanks for the reply
Julie

Julie,

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Great to see you have come to be with us. You will find a great number of caring, supporting members here willing to help each other as they can.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene

Hi Julie

I was on 800mg Neurontin a day and some other drugs as well. My sight started going and I refused to take it. I can now (a year later) recognize my symtoms beforehand and then I take 400mg immediately!!! It doesn't happen every day and mostly when I'm under stress!!! I do wonderfully and sleep very well. Good luck! Its shitty! Being kinda sick and not really sick at all!

Hi Julie and Welcome to NT.