[richard d]

hi, is anyone having and significant side effects from neurontin,enough to make one stop using the medication?

thanks rich

[billy027]

I had bad stomach pains when I tried it. I stopped completely and they went away.

[(Broken Wings)]

Neurontin....

I have a lot of side effects, from brain fog to forgetfulness or not remembering that I'd done something. Scared me about that drug. If it has that type of side effect, and I know from experiences with it that it does that to me, then how would you know if you done something or not? Really troubles me about it.

As far as relief, nothing in my Rx arsenal relieves my symptoms like Neurontin. Too bad about the side effects for me. If I do something and I know I shouldn't, that's when I'll conceide and take one at nighttime. Or, maybe hold off and have a miserable night and next day, then maybe I'll take one the following night. It made a big difference in the night, morning and day for me.

I won't take two in a row. Too zombified.

oh, yeah. and constipation... but I eat Activia yogurt. (because of other meds too)

Slurred speech if I take them back to back.

If I took it after, say 10:00 PM, then I'd more than likely get the "Big Eye" and you couldn't knock me out with a sledgehammer.

Then, most the time, as it wore off, around noonish, I became a troll.

and the weight gain... well, Neurontin and inactivity and eating hardy too.

also dry mouth in the morning.

I have side effects to other Rxs but this is the most harsh. too bad because it helps the burning and tingling a lot. Also helps control that "Don't make me move" feeling in the morning.

I never did try Lyrica. I hear it don't have too many side effects. I also heard it can increase your complaints. I would want try it, though, if I ever felt like I need to get a Rx for Neurontin again.

I did find out an Ativan, even a fourth of one at times, helped with many of my complaints that Neurontin was helping. It's a lot easier to tolerate.

There's always a trade. you have to weigh it, whether it's really worth the benefit. If I'm not going anywhere in the A.M., I would be inclined to take one if I felt like I really, really had to. This is one drug I give a lot of thought about before I take it. I'll even lay it out at night, but if I can manage at all, I don't take it.

Don't think I'll ever get it tweaked just right...

[tied]

i was told i could take this drug at work if i did not drive or operate heavy machinery. however, it was very much like going to work drunk. definitely a brain fog. plus that reaction makes me wonder if it is addictive. on the plus side i think it works for insomnia.

[PenMan]

I have been on it for four months now and it really does seem to help. They increased me from 300 mg 3x a day to 800mg 3x a day. It is hard for about a week on the increase, but does smooth out after a while. You are right on about the brain fog.
What they had me do is one a day for 5 days, then two per day for five days and then increase to the three per day. He did tell me to take the first one at bed time. Same thing with increase. Does seem fewer side effects with constant dosage in the body.

Also doing muscle stimulation instead of the Lidoderm patches now. Just started and have to see if it keeps working.

[(Broken Wings)]

Originally Posted by tied

i was told i could take this drug at work if i did not drive or operate heavy machinery. however, it was very much like going to work drunk. definitely a brain fog. plus that reaction makes me wonder if it is addictive. on the plus side i think it works for insomnia.

You're right. It did help with insomnia, but I think I was asleep with my eyes open... and walking around in public... and working

It's untelling what I've done or said while I was Neurontinized

[thursday]

I my experience w/ Neurontin is almost identical to Broken's. And Tied too... total brain fog!!
Its an effective medicine- but its no way to actively live life. Zombielike + lack of good sense= trainwreck in slowmotion!!!

[JennyHurts]

Everybody wants to put us on Neurontin. Has anyone explained to you how Neurontin actually works?

When I was dx'd, I already knew the horrors of Neurontin, from reading abuot everyone's experiences here. And I also knew many of us were maxed out on the dosage and where still hurting.

So, of course, I got the dx, and of course the first thing they wanted to do was put me on Neurontin. But before I jumped on board, I went to my regular PCP (who I trust more than any doctor in the world), and I told him they wanted to put me on Neurontin, and I asked for his opinion.

He put it this way, and then he let me decide what I wanted to do:

Nerves can sometimes be "turned on," like a light bulb. We can injure them and turn them on. Usually, they turn off on their own and stop bugging us. Sometimes they need help to turn off.

Neurontin works by turning off the nerves.

The reason your whole body goes whacky is because neurontin is not selective. It basically turns every nerve off in your body.

Once the misbehaving nerve is turned off (which can take a few weeks, right?), then you can slowly come off of the medication and it should stay off.

In most cases, this can be a great thing. In fact, when my doctor told me this, he explained to me that he, himself, had just finished a round of Neurontin because he had a problem with a nerve in his back.

And he also explained to me all of the lovely side effects. You basically forget everything. You forget where you put your keys, etc.

Anyhow, I knew where he was heading with this, and I asked him... "So, every time I raise my arms and compress the nerve, I'm basically turning it on?"

And he said, "Yes."

And I said, "So, what good is Neurontin going to do for me if I'm just going to keep turning the nerve on, anyway?"

And he said that was for me to decide.

And I put two and two together and realized for myself that this is why many of us end up maxing out on Neurontin and still having symptoms.

And I figured, I'd rather have my brain working and my body in pain, than have neither of them working.

Now, this is just my experience, and just my opinion. And maybe I'm wrong in my assumption (above).

Perhaps those of you who are maxed out on Neurontin and still in pain might have a different opinion about this?

~ Jenny

[(Broken Wings)]

I can tell you didn't take your Neurontin today if you were able to think of something that funny

Originally Posted by JennyHurts

Everybody wants to put us on Neurontin. Has anyone explained to you how Neurontin actually works?

When I was dx'd, I already knew the horrors of Neurontin, from reading abuot everyone's experiences here. And I also knew many of us were maxed out on the dosage and where still hurting.

So, of course, I got the dx, and of course the first thing they wanted to do was put me on Neurontin. But before I jumped on board, I went to my regular PCP (who I trust more than any doctor in the world), and I told him they wanted to put me on Neurontin, and I asked for his opinion.

He put it this way, and then he let me decide what I wanted to do:

Nerves can sometimes be "turned on," like a light bulb. We can injure them and turn them on. Usually, they turn off on their own and stop bugging us. Sometimes they need help to turn off.

Neurontin works by turning off the nerves.

The reason your whole body goes whacky is because neurontin is not selective. It basically turns every nerve off in your body.

Once the misbehaving nerve is turned off (which can take a few weeks, right?), then you can slowly come off of the medication and it should stay off.

In most cases, this can be a great thing. In fact, when my doctor told me this, he explained to me that he, himself, had just finished a round of Neurontin because he had a problem with a nerve in his back.

And he also explained to me all of the lovely side effects. You basically forget everything. You forget where you put your keys, etc.

Anyhow, I knew where he was heading with this, and I asked him... "So, every time I raise my arms and compress the nerve, I'm basically turning it on?"

And he said, "Yes."

And I said, "So, what good is Neurontin going to do for me if I'm just going to keep turning the nerve on, anyway?"

And he said that was for me to decide.

And I put two and two together and realized for myself that this is why many of us end up maxing out on Neurontin and still having symptoms.

And I figured, I'd rather have my brain working and my body in pain, than have neither of them working.

Now, this is just my experience, and just my opinion. And maybe I'm wrong in my assumption (above).

Perhaps those of you who are maxed out on Neurontin and still in pain might have a different opinion about this?

~ Jenny

[sabimax]

been on neurontin now for 6months or more, for neuropathy though, and no side effects and works well. I used to have numbness in my body with severe tingling painful pins needles tingling. Neurontin has kept that away. NO side effects for me so far so good.

Now broken wings, just curious, if you talk over those side effects with your dr, and if you ever get that stuff without neurontin. Sounds a lot like my other symptoms, just wondered as I have cogfog memory stuff, other stuff you mention but all for many years without neurontin. Just hoping that those are only from the meds for you, and hoping if they are new symptoms of something else you are aware they might be not from the meds.

hugss all and good luck whatever all decide to use for sx relief...sarah