Hello all,I have peripheral neuropathy and have been prescribed the drug gabapentin. My question is does this drug help relieve the symptoms of numbness and burining or is there a natural supplement that does a better job.

Thanks Henry

Hi Henry,

Gabapentin helps many people - not all, but it's one of the firstline meds doctors prescribe for the burning pain of PN. Other folks are using Lyrica, Topamax, amatriptyline and/or others. Each has their good points and side effects.

The best "natural" supplement I know of is a combination of:
R-Lipoic Acid - 100 mg. 1/day
Acetyl L-Carnitine - 500 mg. 2/day (once with the R-Lipoic Acid)
Pantothenic Acid (vit. B-5) - 500 mg. 2/day (once with the R-Lipoic Acid)

That's what I take. It works as well/better than gabapentin (for me, but not for everyone), and AFAIK, it has halted the progression. The sooner one starts on these, the better/faster they work.

It would also be a good idea to take B-12 (methylcobalamin) 5,000 mcg./day (on an empty stomach)

If you haven't yet, read the thread Really need help! dx now idiopathic neuropathy on this forum; it has questions/advice for you for going further.

Doc

It has helpd me in 2 different ways... First in 1999... after I had a hunting accident and was accidentally shot in the left thigh (long story if anyone wants to hear it... the bullet clipped the nerve that supplies sensory feeling to the outer calf and top of foot... sorry, I'm not a doctor... think its the tibial nerve... anyway, after a week, I was put on gabapentin for the hyper sensory feeling.... I weened myself off after almost 5 years... then, in 2006, is when i started having nerve issues in both feet... So, was put on the gabapentin again... I'm on the maximum dose (3600 mg per day)... hopefully, I can start weening myself off again...

Yes, it's a good med, but I couldn't tolerate the brain fog.

As mention its good and usually the first choice med for P/N.

Disadvantages
weight gain, this is real problem for diabetics and any anyone with foot P/n since your weight is supported by a small surface area along the soles of your feet so more weight=more painful walking.

Brain fog, which is okay if your retired or have a low profile job but if your the CEO it may be difficult.

Effectiveness which varies from person to person but the drug may require increase dosage as your body builds up a tolerance.

Yup, I found it to be helpful, with a minimum of side effect. The tiredness and brain fog reduced or went away after a while and I didn't get the weight gain that people talk about. I'm seeing a pain doc now, and we've switched to Lyrica (which is a slight reformulation of Gab.) and I don't think it's as effective. I haven't found supplements to be very effective in helping, but the pain doc has good words to say about high doses of Acetyl-L-Carnitine (500-1000mg a 3x/day), and Alpha-lipoic acid, so I'm going to give them a try again (and make sure I take them every day this time). But I may switch back to the Gabapentin, too. Good luck with it, everybody's different.

Exactly why I stopped it...too zombifying!!

Oh Antonina I love that word 'zombifying' - it just sums me up at times, although since taking theanine I seem to have woken up from my zombie state

How does the theanine help, besides clarifying your brain?

It makes me sleep and it also gives you a feeling of wellbeing- maybe that comes from better sleep though. Anyway it is worth a try.