Hi I received a TN diagnosis on Monday and have been given gabapentin. However how long does this take to kick in its Thursday now and I know I'm being impatient but I am in agony I could rip my cheek off with talons and I'm sure it wouldn't hurt this much!!! I'm anxious as anything about the diagnosis as I according to my dr am very young to have TN so he wants to do an MRI for MS am scared stiff and I can't even clean my teeth or wash my face ( sorry to share) can someone reassure me that this pain will ease some time soon ????????????

In this case I think you are right to be impatient! Pain is not something to put up with if you can help it.

Do hang in there. Sometimes it takes awhile to get the treatment you need! So sorry you are in such pain! I have never taken that medication. The tegretol took only a few minutes to take away my pain! but they had to work me up to the dose I needed so I was pain free for maybe 8 hours, then wham the pain was back. Keep reporting in to your doctor. One of the ways they confirm a diagnosis of TN is by whether the medications work. Maybe this isn't the right drug or the right dose or the right diagnosis. Or maybe this drug works more slowly. You need to ask your doctor. He or she should know and may be able to switch or adjust if needed.

So sorry you are in so much pain. I do not have TN but take gabapentin for small fiber neuropathy....I'm on 1800 mg a day at the present time. My neuro says it can take up to 2 weeks for the gaba to start working.

Can I ask what mg they started you out on ? The dr can steadily raise the mg until it helps or you have side effects that are difficult to handle.

Waiting for a test or test results can drive a sane person crazy ! Hopefully he can get your MRI scheduled soon so you can rule out MS

We're here for you so please keep us posted.

Debi from Georgia

I was just recently diagnosed myself. The doctor told me the MRI is just to rule out tumors, MS or anything else that could be causing the TN. Like you, he also said I was too young to have this. I have been 3 times since 1-8-14 to see him. I guess because we are so young they have their doubts. I don't know. I don't take the meds you do but I know people who do for different reasons. They said it takes awhile to get into your system. This TN stuff sucks. I am with you on that. Just hang in there and keep calling your doctor if he is not giving you info or pain relief.

Hi

Thanks for messages of support I don't normally get ill so wasn't sure if I was just being a wimp !! He has started me on 100mg three times a day but as yet no improvement :-( I have blood tests tomorrow and then revisit the dr a week later he said he won't increase my dose until blood results howecer if he had the pain I'm bloody sure he'd hurry up about it!

On a side note I have a cyst on the back of my neck below my ear right side never caused me a problem and it was checked out when I first found it about 10years ago however since this whole TN thing it's hurting too and seems to be bigger?? Possibly linked?? Going to ask the nurse tomorrow but there a bit funny about doing more than one thing at an appointment but I only he want her to look at it and tell me if I need to see dr sooner so fingers crossed shes in a good mood ;-)

Thanks

I'm so very sorry. I have Atypical TN. I think the only thing worse is TN.
However, on the positive side is with TN, often they can perform surgery that is curative.

I have heard that a Tricyclic antidepressant like Elavil along with Gabapentin might be helpful. But, no doubt everyone is different.

I use a med like Elavil, plus a compounded special cream on my face and have gotten good results. There are three meds in my cream, one is Gabapentin. I can't remember how long it took...there was a delay....but then one day...I noticed improvement. Thank goodness!

Keep us posted.

Go to the area at the very top that includes special links to get even more information from other sources. (The " Sticky's")

I am so sorry that you are in pain. I am just easing out of the pain that started on Tuesday. I am on Lyrica and although I have some breakthrough pain I am much better than yesterday. Hang in there! I hope youR MRI is fine. I am new to this forum and hope that I can be here to listen Lissyc1 - as u can tell I am up at 2am with the side effects of Lyrica hoping to get sleepy soon

So much time has gone by since I was diagnosed with TN. I was getting zapped by elec shocks from my ear to my cheek. Fear is a very good way to describe the situation.I was put on 30mg. Elavil and 100mg. Dylantin. That was easy I thought. Ten yrs. went by and I was enjoying life. Suddenly it came back. This time it didn't just go away. I am now on 3600mg. Gabapentin each day, 200 mg. elavil . I take 6 other meds. to help control
this miserable disease. Things have gone so far as me being in Mayo clinic
where my trigeminal nerve was actually severed. I am now going through
what is called Anethesia Delorosa. The left side of my face is totally numb but with a lot of pain that no med. or surgery can help me now.
I am so sorry about your situation. I know that "patience" is not a very good
term to use when pain is involved. Support is so necessary. I realized there were others who are going through a lot of the same things as me. I even had a smile once in a while.