Stacy, I had a similar experience of it working and stopping after a short time, reaching these plateaus for a short time and having to go to the next. Eventually most folks reach a therapeutic plateau that works for them. For me it was 1800mg.

One thing to note about Gabapentin is it absorbs fast, brings your blood level up fast, but also drops off rapidly.

I tried 4 pills and still nothing. But I only did it for two days, since there was no improvement at all. Someone suggested I take it day and night but my doctor has not suggested that. She wanted me to get cymbalta but I wont switch to that.

I dunno what is next.

I was likewise thinking taking it just a night seemed a little unusual, but thought maybe it might work. I might suggest the same day and night schedule because that is how I took it.

Of course, I had pain day and night so it made sense in my case.

I would say needle your doc about whats next. If they are only going to bump you up, there should be no reason to wait for an appointment like that.

Yes--that's why I spread out my Gapentin (smaller doses three or four times a day).

My PITA doctor got pissy when I left message I could not do cymbalta so her nurse just called in another RX for more gaba and said we would "deal with it" when I come to see her next week.

Leaving me stuck and in pain. SO, on my own I decided to take 1 at 11 am and another at 6 pm and 2 before bed, around 11 pm. Each pill is 300mg. She had been having me do 3 at bed time. So whatever. This new dosing is helping me MUCH MORE. Why she couldn't just suggest it, well, nevermind, I know why. She literally disliked me just because I take lots of supplements. Not sure what will happen when I go next week. She will get all offended that I decided to does myself, but she certainly didn't care enough to try and help me.

This is working better but not great, still cant get up a lot. Still cant leave my house. Still use water but less frequently, get more sleep.

Definately more side effects. But this is my life now, as you all can relate. I accept it.

I'm not surprised the dosing you are doing now is helping. Actually, that is the 'typical' dosing, I thought (3 times a day). The half-life is like 5-6 hours, so 3 times a day seems appropriate for better/consistent coverage.

I hope your visit next is more productive then the first one. I'd ask her some pointed questions (particularly why she's dismissing EM), but in the next breath, I'd give her an opportunity to tell you what the long term approach and plan is and where she sees this going.

Stacey, I can't offer more then what has been said already. I just want to say hang in there! Hopefully, you will find the right dosage and treatment to at least lower your pain.

In the mean time know you are in my thought and prayers.

I went to my dr today. God answered my prayer and she was like a different woman, literally, kind, sweet, NICE, open to suggestion...PRAYER WORKS. amen

Even hubby said the change was night and day. She even looked at and READ the EM info and agreed I probably had it as a secondary condition. However, she said treatment remains the same either way, which is somewhat correct and I knew that, though there are other options. She said the magnesium is simply over the counter choice, which I was not sure of, I thought Dr Cohen used stronger stuff but I didn't know.

The said no to gout in her opinion, which I agree, my symptoms do not present as gout. She did draw blood to test for heavy metals at my suggestion, though I believe hair testing is better, this was my only option. She does not feel the need for any further testing, which surprised me since we have not tested for hardly anything. In her opinion, it seemed she felt the options are not anything reversable so why test.

Treatment is remain on gaba until it wont work anymore, raising to the limit. Which may be sooner than later, since my muscle pain is bad. She was surprised by that but I seem to have issues with muscle pain as even micardis did it to me and it was a rare side effect for that med also.

She is calling in a compounding cream with gaba, nortriptline, and lidocane.

She also suggested ultra sound therapy.

After that she wants cymbalta or lyrica. I kept silent on that.

One day at a time. One hour at a time. One moment at a time.

The compounding cream is a good idea. See, I suggested to you to give her a chance....It is a good sign for you that she looked this up and understands it. Some doctors will do this and others refuse.
The ones that refuse to look stuff up, should be fired ASAP. (they have closed minds and big egos).

But this one is working with you and your problems are complex and not easy fixes ...so you have to be patient.

Yes. The compounding cream was my idea also.

It is very wise to go in knowing your stuff. That would be my suggestion to any new people going to a doctor, know your stuff. Know what you want, why, what tests you want to do, everything.

It was my idea to do gaba through the day, my idea for heavy metal test, my idea for a compounding cream, she seemed surprised I knew to ask for this and said yes, that is a good idea, and most surprising, she did NOT mention one single word about that $3,000 test I was supposed to do. I was waiting for her to ask but she didn't. I can't believe she wanted me to do a test that cost that much and then she didn't even ask if or why I didn't do it, nothing. Guess it was not that important, just MY money.

The only idea she had was ultra sound which I can't imagine would help and if so, temporary help that costs too much to keep up.

I feel it was a better appointment in that she was compliant and nice but that is about it. I am very surprised she has no other tests to run to continue to find out what exactly I have or what might be causing it. It seems she doesn't really care as pain meds are the only answer...again, something I have said here before...why spend all the time and money when it doesnt seem to matter in the end.