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Gabapentin effectiveness

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Old 06-04-2008, 12:17 PM #1
Rum River Rum River is offline
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Well, got the results of the MRI. Nothing earth shaking or out of the ordinary. Spoke with my Doc regarding my dosage, he wants to keep it at 1800mg daily. Some days my side effects aren't bad, other days they can be a problem. (Yesterday I had to leave work early and finish the day from home. A couple of times I "came to" with the mouse still in my hand. In one episode I had been sitting like that for 30 minutes.) Oh well, time will tell.
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Old 06-04-2008, 08:02 PM #2
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I've been on gabapentin for almost 10 yrs. When I was first diagnosed with my TN back then...I was on 3600mg/ day in addition to 2000mg/ day of Vicodin. Talk about feeling spaced-out!!!! Was still having some breakthru attacks until neuro came up with the right "cocktail" and took me off the vicodin and added Elavil. Yes, it's known as an anti-depressant...but within 48 hrs I was totally pain free. Over the course of the next month or so, I gradually decreased the gab. until I was at a level that would just control the pain, nothing more..nothing less. I've been on 1200mg/day of the gab. for about 5 yrs now, and only needed the Elavil for about a yr.
My TN is the atypical type, the lower level constant pain..very few of the lightning shooting pains.


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Old 06-05-2008, 05:23 PM #3
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Originally Posted by Rum River View Post
Well, got the results of the MRI. Nothing earth shaking or out of the ordinary. Spoke with my Doc regarding my dosage, he wants to keep it at 1800mg daily. Some days my side effects aren't bad, other days they can be a problem. (Yesterday I had to leave work early and finish the day from home. A couple of times I "came to" with the mouse still in my hand. In one episode I had been sitting like that for 30 minutes.) Oh well, time will tell.
I've often wondered how many times I may have spaced out like that. It happened to me once in the middle of the road. I saw someone I had seen at work for the last five years and for the life of me, I couldn't place them. When I came to, a car was stopped and the driver had a puzzled look on his face. Scared the *@^#%@% out of me.
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Old 07-02-2008, 12:24 PM #4
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Back again, still struggling a bit.

Currently am not able to chew, PERIOD. Only liquid or everything mashed.

Have to be careful in the shower, no direct streams of water on the right side of my scalp or on the right side of my face.

Have shaved my beard for the first time in 15 years, checking to see if shaving is less painful than shampooing.

The doc has bumped my Gabapentin to 3000mg, this is the second day and there's no improvement. I'm scheduled to try for a total of three before getting back to him with the results.

We're camping over the 4th, but I won't be able to eat burgers from the campfire, THAT's for sure.

Nuts.............
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Old 10-21-2008, 04:04 PM #5
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I'm brand new here.

I was originally diagnosed with TN by a TMJ specialist my dentist referred me to when I saw him for what I thought was tooth pain.

My dentist correctly realized I had no tooth issues, but suspected TMJ. The TMJ specialist recognized TN from the journal I provided detailing my symptoms over a 4-5 week period. He suggested I see a neurologist, so I went to the same one who had diagnosed my Charcot-Marie-Tooth fifteen years ago.

My neurologist confirmed the TN diagnosis, and I've been on Gabapentin since mid-April. I started out slow at 300mg daily, and plateaued at 900mg daily. The side effects weren't bad, and I got significant relief.

In the last week though, the symptoms have returned, and I've gone up to 1800mg daily. (The max my prescription allows.) The gabapentin doesn't seem to offer any relief, and the side effects are more noticeable.

What is the experience of others here? How often do your symptoms ease when taking 1800mg Gabapentin? Have your doctors said why the medication doesn't seem as effective?

Another thing, how fast does TN manifest itself? My first twinge of "tooth pain" was in late February. Here it's only May and I can't remember the last good night's sleep I had.

Sorry if I've repeated what is common knowledge to the rest of you, but I figure I have to start somewhere.
Hi I'm new here too. I had TMJ after my dentist pulled or actually had to break all 4 of my wisdom teeth to get them out. They were causing terrible headaches, eye problems etc. Anyway, the TMJ went on for weeks I thought it was just part of the healing process because my cheeks and chin were bruised badly and I had numbing in my lips and nose...the nerves run very close to the root of my teeth. Anyway I finally, after taking tons of pain meds went to a chiropractor who showed me how to align my jaw back using pressure points next to your jaw bone. I started doing it at home and after a few months I was back to normal and have not had any great problems since. If my jaw clicks while I'm eating I just do the pressure points and it puts things back into alignment and I'm okay...sometimes I think it has a lot to do with my sinises, seasonal allergies or even a cold. I hope this help you.
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Old 10-29-2008, 11:23 PM #6
Mikesimone Mikesimone is offline
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My symptoms started about 10 days ago and consist of right jaw pain that is present 24 hours/day. I might sleep for 3 or 4 hours and then I wake up with the pain. The pain is dull and deep and is about a 6 or 7 on a 10 point scale. The triggers are talking or swallowing and if I do those I will have an increase in pain for a few hours or more. They can't get me in for an MRI for 3 weeks. My symptoms don't seem to be that of classic TN but possibly more closely related to the atypical TN.

Does anyone have any thoughts? I can't see how people live with pain like this. Thanks.
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Old 10-30-2008, 03:21 PM #7
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Welcome to the forum, although sorry you need to be here. I have a mix of classic and atypical TN involving all three branches and both sides. I have a lot of triggers, but I also get a lot of spontaneous pain which occurs without being triggered. The duller, boring pains go on for extended periods of time with me, where as the classic lightening bolts are episodic and short lived. Some doctors opine that there is a pre-TN period which consists of pain similar to what you describe, and believe that it progresses to the lightening bolt/classic TN type of pain pattern. You've mentioned that you're waiting for an MRI, but have you seen a neurologist and have you been diagnosed? Part of the diagnostic process involves trying patients on an anticonvulsant and seeing if it stops the pain, as TN pain doesn't respond to typical pain killers. I had this condition for a long time before I was properly diagnosed. Prior to treating with meds, I didn't get a lot of sleep. Every time I tried to lie down, the pain would get stronger. This condition has turned my life upside down and living with it isn't easy. Hopefully others will respond and if you have some specific questions, post them. Also, check out the TNA website. There is a lot of good information there. Take care!
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