Difficulty breathing and sleeping after taking Gabapentin and Cyclobenzaprine?
 

So, last night I finally started taking Gabapentin. I took it before bed, as directed for the first dosage and I laid in bed awake for awhile to see how I felt. It kicked in and I felt...HAPPY. So I got up and walked around for a bit...no panic/anxiety attacks, no pain, no symptoms at all. I actually felt normal. But for some reason it had an opposite effect on me as far as making me drowsy, it actually woke me up. So I decided to take a Cyclobenzaprine [Flexeril] to put me to bed. I laid down again and I was RESTLESS and I was having trouble breathing. I was up till about 4am last night... Could I be allergic to Gabapentin? Could it be because I mixed the 2 drugs? I wasn't having trouble breathing when it first kicked it, before I took the Cyclo... I've never had trouble breathing or sleeping after taking Cyclobenzaprine so I know I'm not allergic to that... Should I try taking a Gabapentin by itself during the day today and see how it makes me feel, and take the muscle relaxer before bed? Any thoughts on that would be appreciated.

I called the last doctor I seen and left a message so I can ask what she thinks about it, but haven't got a call back yet.

I searched for drug interactions between the two and there is a link with it causing respiratory depression. Meaning, you are not taking deep enough breaths or quality breaths. the two together act together to multiply the effect of each (they are synergistic). I would try taking the gabapentin alone. And only take the flexeril if you are having muscle spasms. Are you taking the flexeril to go to sleep? Or for muscle spasms? If its for sleep, i would consider trying a different agent to sleep if its going to interfere with the gabapentin. This is what the link says....

"MONITOR: Central nervous system- and/or respiratory-depressant effects may be additively or synergistically increased in patients taking multiple drugs that cause these effects, especially in elderly or debilitated patients.

MANAGEMENT: During concomitant use of these drugs, patients should be monitored for potentially excessive or prolonged CNS and respiratory depression. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities."

I wholeheartedly agree with nightnurse. Try just the gabapentin. Your dose is very low so you may not notice a lot of difference. You should take it an hour or more before going to bed.

You also need to practice good sleep hygiene. Shut off those stimulating events around you. TV, loud music, etc. You might try some simple reading before lights out. The goal is to get your mind off the activities of the day and evening.

I need to start shutting my body down hours before I try to go to sleep. When I add the gabapentin to this more relaxed body and brain, it allows me to finish relaxing and letting go. It does not cause the sleepiness. It just allows it.

The Cyclobenzaprine [Flexeril] is also not a cause of sleep. It should just make your body more relaxed so you can sleep. It sounds like the gabapentin alone, maybe at an increased dose for bed, may do all that you need.

My best to you.

Well, I usually have trouble sleeping at night because I'm very tense and my nerves are on edge [I've got 2 kids, 4 month old and 18 month boys that I deal with all day]. When I take the Cyclobenzaprine, it relaxes my muscles and calms my nerves so it helps me fall asleep.

Thanks for the information on mixing the two drugs being known to cause respiratory depressant effects. That could be the problem... My concern is, after tomorrow I'm supposed to take the Gabapentin 3 times a day, and I'm prescribed Cyclobenzaprine 2 times a day...How can I work it out where I'm not taking them at the same time?

I would talk to your doctor about maybe switching to something for anxiety to calm your nerves. There are so many better drugs you could take. Flexeril during the day will wipe u out and make your fatigue so much worse. Other options might include... elavil (amitriptyline), temazepam (restoril....helps with sleep and anxiety), alprazolam (xanax). Of course, ask your doctor what would work best and wont interfere with the gabapentin.

If tension is your only sensation at night, try using a magnesium lotion on your tense areas...you'll be surprised at how well it works!

Many of us at PN use this now: CVS Epsom lotion.
I buy at my local CVS. Another brand that is more expensive is called Epsom-it.

You can also soak in a tub with epsom salts.... about 6oz to a bathtub of warm (not hot) water. This can be very soothing too.

Knowing how well tolerated gabapentin is compared to anti-anxiety drugs and such, I would ask about increasing your dose of the gabapentin before trying an anxiety med.

Have you stopped all caffeine and any MSG or processed soy? They excite the nerve cells.

Try not taking the Cyclobenzaprine at all.

Maybe the 3x a day dose of gabapentin will help. Or you could take 200mgs of gabapentin before bed and 100 mid-day. It should help you end of day tensions.

Extended maintenance on muscle relaxants can be problematic. Long term gabapentin is not a problem.

My best to you.

Difficulty breathing when taking Neurontin
 

I started taking a low dose of Neurontin before bedtime and
it helped me sleep. However, upon waking I
felt like my lungs were closed and had bad
wheezing. I have asthma and history of bronchitis.
At first I blamed it on worsening asthma but
after not taking it last night and feeling
better this morning I realize it was the
Neurontin. This med has a lot of side effects
and have tried taking it a number of times
before but always gave up on it due to
side effects of nausea and feeling drowsy
but breathing problems seals the deal and
will not take it again.

Hi bobbygirl,

Welcome to the NeuroTalk Support Groups.

I'm sorry you've had trouble with this medication.

I wanted to let you know that there is a

Medications & Treatments Forum

as well as the

Peripheral Neuropathy Forum

You could also do a search using the forum search feature below if you're looking for more information about this particular medication or anything else.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/search.php

bobbygirl,

How much Neurontin are you taking ? What do you take it for ?

I've been taking it before bed for 15 years.