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The problem is that our brains are the "most complicated things we know of in the universe, " as they say on PBS! Therefore, drugs designed to address neurological issues can have unexpected and sometimes antithetical effects. (For example, this med designed for seizures, was only later determined to be efficacious for neurological pain).

I'm glad you, Patrick, and so many people here, have a good response to gabapentin for pain... However, the makers of Neurontin were sued because of suicides that occurred among users who had never before been depressed. There is now a black box warning for this possible outcome.

My best guess is that my severe PN....whIch I noted, began with the acute onset of dysautonomic symptoms, followed a hypertensive and anaphylactic (!) crisis with antidepressant medication. I think it was a variant of serotonin syndrome. ...but I'll never know. I'm left hypersensitive to most medication....and I often have antithetical responses. It makes treatment really difficult.

So, as Elaine noted, gabapentin has an incredibly long list of side effects....most might be rare, but they are listed for a reason. I'm glad she warned Carrie not to abruptly terminate this med.....but it still might be the reason for her panic attacks.

We just unfortunately have a disease of our very poorly understood and highly complex organ...our brain...which is why treatment is often frustratingly indirect and dicey.