[toepain2013]

Hey Gang,

This morning I started my first "therapeutic" does of Gabapentin (I've been ramping up slowly).

Anyway, I've been having horrible headaches all day. In addition I feel a little dizzy. Are these normal things to feel when first ramping up? Will they go away?

Thanks.

[birchlake]

Toepain,

Both headaches and dizziness are very common side effects of gabapentin. I had dizziness and mild headaches when I started gabapentin.

I urge you to give this drug a chance as it often takes about 3 weeks for the body to adjust to this drug.

What dosage are you at? It's important to start with a small dosage and ramp up slowly until you reach a "therapeutic dosage".

I take 1800 mg daily. 600 mg 3X a day.

But know that this drug, like others, is not for everyone. If you absolutely can't tolerate the side effects, contact your doctor.

Good luck to you!

[allentgamer]

Yep, that is the side effects

[toepain2013]

I'm only at 600 mg per day right now -- every 3 days my doc has me increasing my 300 mg.

Glad to hear it can take up to 3 weeks. I'll tough it out. Let's hope it takes the edge off the pain -- I'll do anything for that!

[allentgamer]

I sure hope it works for you!

It does take a little while for your body to adjust to the doses. I found it helped me a lot, but because of an inner ear disease the Gabapentin had me spinning. I was really sad to have to come off of it because it was actually the only thing that had any effect on the RSD that I had tried.

I have a compound cream my doctor had made up for me with Gabapentin, ketamine, and some other ingredients.....I apply it into the scar and it really helps with the pain a lot. It does take a little bit for it to soak in, but is wonderful once it gets in there.

[St George 2013]

Originally Posted by toepain2013

I'm only at 600 mg per day right now -- every 3 days my doc has me increasing my 300 mg.

Glad to hear it can take up to 3 weeks. I'll tough it out. Let's hope it takes the edge off the pain -- I'll do anything for that!

Until recently I had been on gaba for almost a year.....the first time I titrated up he said increase every week......when he wanted to increase again I asked if I could do it every 2 weeks as it was taking a week for the headaches and dizziness to subside. So that's how I titrated up....every 2 weeks and it was a breeze. I was taking for small fiber neuropathy.

Hope this helps

Debi from Georgia

[toepain2013]

St George,

Did you stop taking the Gabapentin because eventually your symptoms subsided?

Today I'm crazy dizzy! I nearly stumbled in the shower. I'm trying to see the bright side though -- it's almost like a video game. See if I can maintain balance...

Thanks!

[Llynnyia]

Originally Posted by toepain2013

St George,

Did you stop taking the Gabapentin because eventually your symptoms subsided?

Today I'm crazy dizzy! I nearly stumbled in the shower. I'm trying to see the bright side though -- it's almost like a video game. See if I can maintain balance...

Thanks!

Thats how I felt at first but when I got above 1000mg the dizziness stopped, I am still working up to a therapeutic dose for pain.

600-800mg gaba is for depression for rsd it is 1800-3200mg for a therapeutic dose.

[heatherg23]

I've had no side effects from taking Gabapentin. But from what I've read many people do have side effects from it.

[Vrae]

Hi there!

I take 1200 3x p/day. I was told this is the max dose.. I also have vertigo, so with that and the gaba I am bouncing around all over the place. No sense of balance. I look drunk from time to time if you didn't know better. But for the neuropathic, shock type pain, I am not sure what I would have done without this drug. I am at a pretty high dose now and would like to back down a bit as my stomach would appreciate this, so my team has added a new drug called Zonisamide. It in combo w/ the gaba is working well. Now if we can just start to back off the gaba a little bit, that would be fantastic! We'll see.

Hang in there w/ the gaba and give it a fair shot to see what happens. Hopefully it will work well for you.