Thanks everybody for this really helpful information.

Finz - I also have a strong family history of type II diabetes and progressive weight gain with aging. I have been using a calorie counting app since New Years (still sticking to my resolution mid way into the year!). I notice in the past month I seemed to stop making progress, and your post explains why... It is probably the neurontin. Your advice is really helpful because maybe it will help me be more careful with my healthy diet goals from now on.

Bram - my stomach isn't as tough as it used to be either, because of all the NSAIDs I took when this started and wasn't diagnosed right away. I have been taking Prilosec almost every morning because I thought the voltaren would cause problems. I was going to drop the Prilosec when I drop the voltaren, but maybe I will stay on the Prilosec. I love spicy foods, and I've found I can still have them occationally if I also take an extra Prilosec in the evening on the days I eat something really spicy, since my problems have mostly been with reflux when lying down.

Hi. I have been on gabepentin since 09. I started low like you, but as soon as I could tolerate the side effects I double it. I am now on 600mg 3 times a day and 1200 at bed. The biggest side effect I have noted is brain fog and weight gain.

If you find it is working I would stick with it. Why change something that works? Also I got relief from blocks as well. My dr. did a serious of 3, one week apart and that really helped.

Good luck!

I've been on gabapentin, pregabalin/lyrica and duloxetine/cymbalta. First thing I will warn you of is that the latter two are hard to withdraw from.

Gabapentin worked a bit for me but at that time I wasn't happy with a bit. I had a few runs with it with breaks in between as for me the good effects lessened after a few months. I didn't gain weight on it but I didn't lose any either (I'm a fatty). I was a bit sleepy and foggy at first but it didn't last long on a lower stable dose. When I was at the highest dose it was there all the time but wasn't bad. ETA: to be honest if it's working I wouldn't knock it. Going up a bit might knock the flares back a little but the side effects may raise too so it might be a case of working out which is more important. It might be that the doc can offer you a breakthrough medication for bad days so you don't feel as muzzy overall from raising the dose.

I tried Lyrica earlier this year as I was told it was better and had far less side effects. It wasn't and it didn't. I gained a dress size in a month and as a result of both Lyrica and Cymbalta I also lost my sleep and my ability to enjoy sex. It also exacerbated my brain fog to the point that I was mentally stumbling over simple things, for example I forgot my address when asked at the chemist! It's hard to know what was Lyrica and what was Cymbalta as both have a reputation for the sex and sleep side of things but the weight and brain fog were most likely the Lyrica.

I wasn't warned about coming off them and the pain docs said I could reduce both by half over a couple of days then come off as I hadn't been on them long. The first week of withdrawal was ok but then I had five weeks of a bit harder to cope with withdrawal. Brain zaps and electric shocks and insomnia were the main issues with the insomnia getting worse and sleep paralysis coming into play which is still happening now. It could be that the insomnia and sleep paralysis would've happened anyway, I don't know. Also what works for one might be rubbish for another and vice versa. I just wish the docs warned people about withdrawal and didn't pretend Lyrica was somehow better for side effects.

Thanks again everyone for all your input. It is so hard to figure out what to do because it seems not only is every person different, but every day seems different. Today was a good day (yeah!), mostly because I sat at my desk at work all day with almost no walking. The few days before were more active and more painful. The best part about today was that the brain fog, as you call it, wasn't to bad so I was more productive. I had more caffeine this morning than usual, so could that be why? I know we are supposed to stay away from it, but I think maybe the problems it causes would be worth it. I've been sleeping so much better since going on the neurontin. Does anyone else had advice about reducing the brain fog other than waiting until my body gets used to the drug?

You want all the physical activity you can tolerate probably, but no more. It took me over ten years before I got any sort of warning I was doing too much when I was doing it. The warning is subtle but I heed it now.

It's probably best to keep all dosages as low as possible and to not use things that are no help. Even if a useless med isn't causing side effects it might interfere or change the operation of ones you need. Generally, start all new meds one at a time so you can gauge its effects.