[DannyT]

I've recently been prescribed gabapentin by my neuro which is supposed to help with a number of symptoms. I have started at 300mg but I'm nervous to continue taking it considering Ive read that their are many interactions with supplements such as magnesium and calcium and I believe supplementation to be more imporrtant. I did notice a calming effect to the medication but I'm confused what to do here.

Anyone with any insight into the interactions here? Doctors and pharmacists seem to be useless about these (important) types of things.

[Mark in Idaho]

Take the magnesium at the opposite time of day. I take 600 mgs of gabapentin before bed. I take the supplements about 12 hours opposite to that. (between breakfast and lunch)

I've been taking gabapentin for 14 years. The way it helps my body and mind let go of tension is great. It allows me to sleep without muscle twitches. It has a short half-life of 8 hours so it does no effect me the next day.

[DannyT]

Thanks for the quick reply. I was a little hesitant about starting this medication but I do feel there is some benefit. Do you know what kind of dangers are associated with taking the supplements at the same time as the gabapentin dose? It baffles me (even though it shouldn't at this point) that my neuro failed to mention this and the local pharmacist didn't even know the mechanism of action.

[Mark in Idaho]

It decreased absorption. The interaction checker says to just have a 2 hour separation between gabapentin and magnesium. No big deal. The risk is not getting enough gabapentin if it is taken to prevent seizures.

Rather than deal with 2 hours, I just take them at different times of the day.

[Laupala]

I was also prescribed gabapentin for constant headaches at the suggestion of a PT who likened my pain receptors to motion sensing lights that were tuned to turning on at ants as opposed to people. I haven't taken it yet, as I had just finished being prescribed a bunch of muscle relaxers and prednizone that didn't help, and am kind of sick of medication. Any insight into whether gabapentin might help? I've heard that it's a medication doctors often try to treat a number of things, but you often need to take it at very high doses.

[Mark in Idaho]

Gabapentin works at low doses such as 300 to 600 mgs. High doses are 1200 to 3600 mgs. I was on 1200 mgs for a few years.

[DudeWhoHitHisHead]

This drug is fantastic for a range of conditions. It's a great anticonvulsant. It's also very useful for chronic pain conditions:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4146212/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15564948
http://www.researchgate.net/post/Whi...h_chronic_pain

I'm on Pregabalin which is the 2nd generation version:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23374941
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22879908
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19539427
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20056767

The pregabalin stops my hypnic jerking while trying to get to sleep:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnic_jerk

Both show similar results, at least in chronic pain:

http://www.nps.org.au/publications/h...013/pregabalin

As with all drugs, both Gabapentin and Pregabalin can have side effects:

http://www.drugs.com/answers/gabapen...hy-674995.html

If you get bad side effects with one I would suggest trying the other.

If you take them when you wake up, the cognitive side effects are going to be worse. My doctor has me take the pregabalin before bed and it makes falling off to sleep so easy.

[DannyT]

I'm prescribed 300mg 3 times a day. The neurologist explained that it would help with my headaches at the original concussion site and perhaps aid in my anxiety and OCD symptoms. I originally tried taking it at night but it disrupted my sleep. I know that is a paradoxical effect.

That is why I take it during the day as well as at night. My brain seems to be getting used to it and it no longer disrupts my sleep as far as I can tell. I'm hesitant to dose 900 mg all at once, since I am rather sensitive to medications at this point. I've noticed some adverse effects but overall it seems to be helping. Perhaps, pregabalin would be better suited for me, but my neurologist is not very flexible.

[DannyT]

Mark, have you ever had to discontinue your use of Gabapentin. I've been reading online and a lot of users report some terrible withdrawal symptoms similar to benzodiazapine withdrawal.

Any experience with the tapering or withdrawal of gabapentin? I'm currently taking your dose of 600 mg/night before bed.

[Mark in Idaho]

I went cold turkey for a week when we forgot to take it on a trip. No problem. If you are only taking it once a day, very little stays (less than 1/2) past 8 hours. So, you taper off every day. Some need to take it 3 times a day for more serious conditions plus some take much stronger doses.

I cold turkeyed off Klonopin to gabapentin. I did not notice a problem with the benzo either.

Any withdrawal would likely be at the most just some uncomfortable twitches or such. It would be easy to break up pills so you could taper off. 600 to 300 to 1/2 of a 300 would be an easy taper off.