Originally Posted by Susanne C. (Post 957357)

Yes, I get tested every year or two. I have very poor vision, with one "wandering eye" due to poor muscle control, and severe astigmatism. My right eye is legally blind, and I need strong prisms in my glasses to keep it in line, but i have no depth perception, so my eyes are closely monitored and now they do the cataract tests as well. Blurred vision is listed with the gabapentin side effects and I had it before I started the opiate therapy.

I definitely think the gabapentin causes fog, memory, and all sorts of issues, and what you are describing sounds very severe, not the typical menopause memory problems everyone talks about.

How is your sleeping? Are you sleeping poorly at night, or sleepy during the day? Narcolepsy can cause confusion between awake and asleep states.

Originally Posted by Idiopathic PN (Post 957528)

My sleeping is good. Well, that is one thing I probably benefit from Gabapentin -- it helps me sleep at night. I dont think I have Narcolepsy. I just hope I can taper down the gabapentin dosage but I cannot. How long have you been on the same dosage of gabapentin. In 15 months, I went from 900mg to 1800mg. My doctor said that there are a lot of patients that once it finds the right dosage, it stays in the same dosage for a long time. That is why he increased my dosage to 600mg 3x a day because in my previous dosage, my pain was not well controlled. For a while, I was doing good with the new dosage but now, it would seem that the pain in my feet is worse.

Originally Posted by Idiopathic PN (Post 957131)

I have been on Gabapentin for over a year now. Earlier on, I experienced brain fogginess but as I went along, I have noticed frequent forgetfulness. I attribute some to natural aging. But some I know its not from aging. For example, there was a conversation the previous day that when I wake up the following day, it would seem that that conversation was like a dream. I have to think hard to realize it was real. Another one - I called my friend 2x to talk about exactly the same thing we talked about the previous day. If I am experiencing this memory problem now only 16 months on this medication, how will I fare years from now?

I wish there are better alternatives to Gabapentin. Sadly, we have limited options. The gabapentin in fact is not 100% effective but it weans off some of the discomfort.

Does anyone on gabapentin experience the same memory problems?

Originally Posted by Idiopathic PN (Post 957283)

My word, it was that bad, huh.

Originally Posted by mslincolnaol (Post 957692)

Not really so bad, but definite memory affect. Started gabapentin in 11/2006, 300 X 3 a day - and yes, memory stuff, some days worse than others, but absolutely a trade off I'm willing to make for the relief the neurontin gave me, even on first dose! Life changer - my pn was undiagnosed for more than a few years, so on the first dose of gab. I felt a sense of well being I had not in years. Good luck - worth the trade off for me now, and at 62, memory is iffy anyway. Have been experiencing less-than-stellar vision too, but optomotrist also preaches dry eyes as problem with aging and blur. Grateful my condition and symptoms and side-effects are not worse. Throw in Apnea, and cpap now - most daily activities, including frequent golf and teaching, not affected. Though the cognitive declines do make the classroom interesting!!! :)

Originally Posted by hopeful (Post 957798)

Yes for me it was. My neurologist said there was no way he could get me up to a high enough dose to be effective for the pain. However, I seem to be sensitive to many drugs!:)

Originally Posted by Idiopathic PN (Post 957131)

Does anyone on gabapentin experience the same memory problems?

Originally Posted by Brue (Post 958317)

I forget words in the middle of the sentence, usually a descriptive term. My vocabulary has suffered - what little I had! I am sure it's the neurontin.

Originally Posted by Idiopathic PN (Post 958058)

So, what do you take for your PN?