Need to up Gabapentin without affecting workday & is the cold weather making itworse?
 

I am currently on only 300mg 2xday because the side effects sucked and I needed to function, I am the breadwinner, my husband is a SAHD and is trying to work doing computer repair, it's only a little here and there, so I have to stay alert and not foggy at work.

I've been on this since July and when I take my pill in the morning, I can feel the side effects a little still through mid-day, that kind of semi-high feeling I'm sure you all know. So I'm thinking I can't really add more during the day while I'm at work.

Is there a good way to space out the doses, and increase it, so it won't affect my workday? I know my body is getting used to it, I assume, and I need to up the dosage. If I gradually increase it to 600mg at night, will that only help at night? I have read many of you end up having to take them in 4 hr intervals. That really sucks.

I'm also REALLY bad at taking pills, when I'm supposed to take them. Yes, I could set an alarm. Right now I have to take Levothyroxine for my thyroid, and I'm still working on getting the right dosage. My thyroid is NOT related to my nerve damage, which was caused by a 2nd/3rd degree burn to the tailbone (the thyroid is off because of the trauma). Also taking 300mg Wellbutrin.

I did try another drug, an tricyclic antidepressant starting with a D, but I didn't like the way it made me feel.

ALSO
I've noticed the past few days my toes and up a few inches into my feet are killing me when they're cold. They actually felt wet the other day. I've been trying to keep them warm, but it's not easy. Walking around in my Uggs a lot. It's making me kind of afraid to go out and do anything this Winter, like ice skating with my daughter. Any tips for this??

I'm at 600mg 3-4 times daily. I worked my way up on 100mg caps until I got to 300mg x3daily. As you up your dose, and take it more regular than twice a day, you will find that after being on a particular dose, it is only a few days that you will have any of the "high", which will fade, along with the warm, fuzzy feeling in your feet. When you up your dose some more, you have those pleasant feelings again.

What I'm trying to say is, you are likely to have a slight brain fuzziness, and notice less & less new & strange feelings in your feet as you adjust to the med. Enjoy the nice feeling now, as it will fade. It will kind of feel like you are back to square one, but the pain isn't as intense as it was before I started the Gaba, back at the end of June.

Yes, cold weather does make it much worse, at least for me. I use more pain medication when I am cold, and I am very reluctant to go out at all. When I do go out I wear long underwear, sweatshirts, wool hat and mittens, and a heavy down full length coat. We have to keep the house at 72 and I still use electric blankets and a space heater. If I do get cold I shake and feel nauseous and a hot shower is the quickest way for me to warm up. It is positively reptilian.

This is a common complication of CMT ( hereditary neuropathy). My hands and the back of my thighs are my most susceptible spots. I have no sensation in my feet, but my husband will attest to their iciness.

I apologize if my previous reply seemed a bit sarcastic, or whatever. I guess PN & the drugs don't help. To try and be a bit more helpful, try upping your dose ASAP at the beginning of the weekend. By Monday, most of the light headedness, etc should be minimal. I really think you need to move to taking a 3x daily dose or better, to get you where you want to be. You need to get leveled out on the Gabapentin, so you're not having major ups & downs on it. Taking a large dose a bedtime isn't going to help, as it will be worn off by morning.

If you you are taking your 300 x2 doses about 12 hours apart, maybe on Friday take your 2nd dose about 8 hours from your first dose. I don't think that dose should bother you too much, taking it earlier. Then take your 3rd dose at bedtime, and I think you might be on your way to getting past the side effects by Monday. I am not a Dr, and I am only basing the suggestions on my own personal reactions to the Gabapentin. Your reactions may be different, and you might not want to plan on driving on the weekend while building your dose. I hope this was more helpful, and having stated the Gaba in mid-summer, I can't offer you cold weather advice.

I used Gabapentin for four years, eventually I was taking 2400mgs per day but right from the very first day the side effects were horrible , I would feel terribly tired and my conversation suffered as I 'lost' words or my sentences faded away and I never finished them. My Pain Consultant suggested changing to Pregabalin/Lyrica and I am like a new woman. I have much more energy and conversation is much easier - I would say my brain is sharper, no more brain fog.
Also I only take 600 mg per day in the form of four tablets so you wouldn't forget .

I took an extra dose in the middle of the day yesterday, I went ahead and just took the 300 because I'm out of 100's. I don't think I really felt any more side effects, my feet were still buzzing. I'm going to take one in the morning, one right after work at 5pm and then at night. Maybe after a few days it'll feel better? I figure after work is a good time to try it, just in case I do get a bit tired or whatever. I suppose eventually it'll be morning, lunch, dinner and bedtime huh?

Doc suggested a couple other things. I took one and didn't like it. The other two didn't look good regarding side effects.

Lyrica is only brand name, and I have a generic only plan. Maybe once my settlement comes through I can get it, but not right now. I looked on their website and am not eligible for any assistance.

And @groucho, don't worry, I don't get offended easily.

LOL. Thanks. I guess I get a bit ornery because I'm already tired of dealing with the PN, and I know it's not likely to go away. Yes, getting in at least a 3rd dose (wears off for me & need 4 daily) will slow those ups & downs that seem to make the side effects more noticeable. If you're like me, the strange & somewhat pleasant feelings in your feet will wane very soon & you'll think it's not working for you anymore. But you should find that your pain levels aren't as severe. I don't think I'd want to do Lyrica, due to the fact that it can become habit forming & Gabapentin isn't so much so. I have a Navy buddy who started taking, once a day, Nortriptyline, an antidepressant, & he seems satisfied (but not happy) with it & I may switch to it. My Neuro offered me either drug, or both, if I felt I needed the extra relief. I just don't know if the small amount of extra relief is worth combination therapy, to me.

I"m trying to get a referral to a neuro for ulnar nerve damage. My PCP had me on 100mg of gabapentin (neurontin)3x's a day. I had to stop taking it my body did NOT get used to it at all! That foggy feeling never went away and on top of that initial extreme drowsiness when I took it at night I would lay there for HOURS trying to fall asleep. Until I talk to a Neuro I don't know what else to do either, it's hard when we are the bread-winning moms huh?:grouphug: