Are any DUers taking gabapentin?

[barbtries]

Last edited Tue Dec 31, 2024, 10:26 AM - Edit history (1)

I have a range of issues like Type 2 diabetes, obesity, high BP, all of which have improved over the past couple years, primarily due to Ozempic.

I have neuropathy in my feet. My doctor prescribed gabapentin for me well over a year ago and I haven't touched it yet. I worry about side effects. This does not affect my ability to walk but it's not going away either.

So I'm considering starting the gabapentin and hopefully some DUers have experience with it. My doctor say go ahead and take it. My dog Chase took it for years for pain control and was fine, it helped extend his life I'm sure.

I am not usually phobic about meds by the way. It's just this one I am really on the fence about.

thank you in advance for your input!

ETA: Thank you for everyone and your responses and sharing your experience with this drug. I love DU and the people here!

Happy New Year y'all, #BeTheOpposition

it's gonna be a ride.

[surfered]

1. My father took it for neuropathy in his feet. It helped.

He had to gradually increase the dosage to the prescribed level as the drug made him groggy until he adjusted to it. It eliminated the feeling of burning in his feet.

[barbtries]

4. thank you.

I think he started me on the lowest dose, but I suppose it may make me groggy. I think it's a fear of suicidal tendencies I'm more afraid of than being groggy, but i don't need to be any more tired than I already am, either.

So, over time, the grogginess goes away?

[surfered]

9. Yes, for my father. Tell the your doctor how you feel and follow his advice.

[barbtries]

27. i definitely will

I love my doctor.

[mdmc]

2. good morning

my coworker took it and got some relief from her burning feet.

[barbtries]

5. Thank you.

this is helping me decide to go ahead and give it a try.

I can stop taking if I don't like it after all.

[Trueblue Texan]

3. I took it very briefly during chemo for nerve pain...

I was working in home health at the time and all I remember about that drug (and this is purely my experience, haven't heard this from anyone else) is that my legs felt like they were made of lead. Sometimes I felt I could barely haul myself onto someone's porch and I would stand there praying they would open the door before my legs collapsed. I didn't take it long enough to get any pain relief.

[barbtries]

8. huh.

But you were on chemo too. I wonder if there was a DDI reaction that would explain your experience. If I do go ahead and start it I'll just stop if that happens to me.

How are you now?

[Trueblue Texan]

12. 7.5 years since chemo. Doing well.

And yes, I'm sure the chemo had a lot to do with the fatigue, but my legs didn't feel quite as leaden after I stopped the gabapentin. I'd say give it a try when you feel it's appropriate. I'm sure your results will be unique to you.

[barbtries]

28. so glad to hear you're doing well.

I am going to try it and we'll see if it works, doesn't work, or brings adverse effects i won't tolerate. never going to know until i try.

[multigraincracker]

6. I've had neuropathy for years. My brother and my

father also have it. No sugar problems. Have not found any thing that works. I have learned to live with it and have found walking or slow jogging help.
My feet and hands are always cold. Wear a couple of pair of thick socks and a heating pad under my feet at night. Use to trip and fall all of the time. Had friend that is an MD train me to walk rolling on and off my toes and have only tripped once for the last year.
No pain, just tingling and cold.
Hope they find a cure.

[barbtries]

13. I know mine is associated with diabetes.

It's not nearly as severe as what you describe. I'm sorry.

I believe that another issue on the left side only is related to disc disease in my back. Nerves on the left side are dead because I had a pinched nerve for a really long time. My reflexes are gone and the bottom of my left foot is mostly numb. I can feel the numbness, if that makes sense, but it's not painful.

[oberle]

7. I take it

I have type 2 diabetes and pretty bad neuropathy in my feet. It's like burning alternating with no feeling at all. The gabapentin has helped me a lot, although I've had to use increasingly greater doses. I'm up to 600 mg. twice a day. That along with tramodol has helped a lot.

[barbtries]

15. Thank you

This tracks with what I'm dealing with. I think I'll go ahead and try it and see how it goes.

[debm55]

10. I take it. It makes me sleepy and very drugged up in the morning. With the other meds I take, this was the only choice.

I do not have diabetes or high blood pressure, But my left leg is numb and I have a rash on the top of my foot. I only take one at night. I am taking for the pain. honestly , I have missed somedays and it didn't seem to matter. My leg still hurt. Good luck on what ever you decide.

[barbtries]

18. this sounds like something different.

I actually have little to no pain. It's burning sometimes especially after I'm sleeping, and numbness. No rash.

I hope you have a good doctor to consult with. If any drug isn't helping, usually that would be an indication to do some more digging or a a change of meds.

I hope you get it figured out and find some real relief!

[catbyte]

11. I tried it for about two weeks for post-herpetic neuralgia and it was a disaster.

My hands and feet swelled up so quickly that I had to have my wedding ring cut off and I couldn't wear shoes. But I'm sensitive to a lot of medications, so hopefully it won't happen to you. I know folks who have had good results with it, so it's worth a shot. I had the same reaction to Neurontin, too. That class of drugs just disagrees with me.

[barbtries]

20. ooh that sucks.

If I do, and I think I'm going to, I'll be hyper aware of any possible adverse effects and quit it just as fast.

[Yonnie3]

24. My partner says she swelled up and stopped it like you n/t

[barbtries]

36. sounds like allergic reaction.

which for me probably means I'll escape that fate. I have had very few allergic reactions to meds throughout my life.

[Emile]

14. I took it for approximately five or six years. I

started feeling pain on my left side. I had to learn to sleep on my back and right side. I told my doctor and he immediately took me off gabapentin. Took a few weeks but, my side pain disappeared.

[barbtries]

21. so it worked well for a few years?

Did the pain that developed indicate damage to your heart, or anything really destructive? When you stopped the gabapentin did the pain do away? how are you doing now?

[Emile]

25. It did help on needles and pins pain that

got my doctor to prescribe it. When I stopped taking gabapentin, the needle and pins pain returned. Gabapentin helped me, until it didn't.

My doctor was worried the gabapentin could be damaging my kidneys.

[barbtries]

31. so that's good to know.

my upshot is try it, and quit it if anything pops up to contraindicate continuing. My body usually responds well to meds with little to no side effects, but gabapentin is interesting. Some take it no problem, some take it big problems, and some like you, take it for years and then problems!

The biggest test will be if I get relief from it, and don't swell up, or start getting pains elsewhere.

[Emile]

39. You will be under your doctor's care. I hope

it helps you.

[onecaliberal]

16. Mr onecaliberal has been taking it for years for the burning in his feet. It gives him complete relief.

[barbtries]

22. this sounds like the response I hope to hear lol

complete relief, wow. It's been a couple or few years since it started for me and the concept of it just not being there is really enticing.

thank you!

[onecaliberal]

32. I hope the results are the same for you!

[rainy]

17. too much B6 can cause neuropathy, anxiety and insomnia so check your b6 intake before taking another product.

I had all of these symptoms from b6 toxicity:

from Google:

Vitamin B6 Toxicity
Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in various bodily functions. However, consuming excessive amounts of vitamin B6 can lead to toxicity.
Symptoms of B6 Toxicity:

Peripheral neuropathy (numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hands and feet)
Ataxia (impaired coordination and balance)
Muscle weakness
Skin lesions
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Headache
Confusion and irritability
Causes of B6 Toxicity:
Consuming high doses of vitamin B6 supplements
Eating foods rich in vitamin B6, such as bananas, potatoes, and chicken, in excessive amounts
Certain medical conditions, such as kidney disease or autoimmune disorders
Treatment for B6 Toxicity:
Discontinuing vitamin B6 supplementation or limiting intake of B6-rich foods
In severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary for supportive care, such as fluids and electrolyte management
Prevention of B6 Toxicity:
Follow the recommended daily intake of vitamin B6, which is 2 mg for adults.
Avoid taking high doses of vitamin B6 supplements without consulting a healthcare professional.
Eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Note: It is important to consult a healthcare professional before taking any vitamin supplements, including vitamin B6. They can advise you on the appropriate dosage and monitor for any potential side effects.

[barbtries]

23. thank you for the heads up.

fortunately I don't have any of the other symptoms. Also I'm being monitored by my PCP and my urologist (kidney stones) for all the meds and supplements I take. I'm as certain as I can be that my neuropathy is related to type 2 diabetes. My numbers are doing really well, but the neuropathy isn't going away.

[Yonnie3]

19. I took it for a month or so several years ago

It was supposed to be an interim medication until I could have injections for back pain and no refills were allowed on my Rx. It gave me some relief.

After the injections I had a follow up at the pain clinic with a NP (or PA?) I did not know. She wanted to know why I didn't continue the medication. Either the reason for the Rx wasn't in my chart or she didn't look and assumed it was for my mild neuropathy. I declined to accept a further prescription.

The reason I declined was that I felt unsteady when I took the full dose. I would not trade a fall for relief from the minor pain. That said, I have a neighbor who has multiple medical issues and takes it and swears by it.

My understanding from my GP much later, when I asked about, it is that that people react differently. My impression was that the medication is given for symptomatic relief and is not curative.

If my foot pain was worse I'd consider taking it again.

In the end it is up to you.

[barbtries]

26. thank you yonnie3

I think I will go ahead and see how I react to it, and whether it relieves my discomfort. I really can't describe it as pain, which is another reason I haven't taken it yet. I guess after decades in chronic pain with my back, a little discomfort is not a big deal? But it will wake me up with my feet burning periodically, and the numbness particularly on the left I think is getting worse.

So, yeah, I think I'll write to my doctor and let him know I'm going to start it. We'll see how it goes.

[hlthe2b]

29. It is usually the unusually high doses that may cause side effects in humans. You might speak

with your physician about whether your condition is best treated by prescribing EXTENDED release Gabapentin versus the standard form that is typically important to take every 8 hours on a regular schedule, 3 x daily. These different forms are recommended for different conditions at different doses. The advantage of standard release is that it is out of your system faster should you have an issue, and is thus easier to adjust doses to accommodate.

Gabapentin is considered a relatively safe drug compared to other options but must NOT be combined with SSRI inhibitors--or at least only under strict observation (e.g., antidepressants or natural supplements like St. John's Wort). While gabapentin is widely used with NSAIDs in animals (e.g., Carprofen or Galliprant), there can be interactions in humans on ibuprofen or Naproxen so ask about that as well.

It is specifically directed at neurologic pain-perception and is not anti-inflammatory so does little specifically at the source of the pain--but for chronic pain that has caused somewhat of a rebound effect, certain types of seizures and neuropathy (as you describe) it can be extremely helpful.

One alternative is amantadine if gabapentin does not work for you. Ask questions. That is your best course. Oh, and take other's experiences with a bit of a grain of salt--as with all medications there are individual responses.

[barbtries]

33. thank you

there is a lot to consider. One thing I really have on my side is my doctor, who has been my primary for about 10 years and knows me very well. I have learned from this discussion that there is no way to know how I will respond to it until I try it. So, that's what I'll do.

I'll probably go see my acupuncturist in January as well, for the neuropathy and for the pinched nerve in my neck. He's also another plus for me and has been for years.

I hope it doesn't turn me into a zombie though. I'm already permanently tired.

[sinkingfeeling]

30. A year ago I was on 1800mg of gabapentin a day for a pitched sciatic nerve in my hip. They just kept increasing

the dosage. Suddenly the pain just stopped, almost as quickly as it started 3 months before.

Forgot to add, I had no side effects. The doctors had me gradually wean off of it by reducing the dosage over a two week period.

[barbtries]

34. ah, the psychotic nerve.

this is a real success story, thank you!

[TexLaProgressive]

35. I am not using gabapentin, but I just read through several user's accounts.

There arer 3 sites that might be helpful, just do a search for gabapentin.
Forum.fudiabetes.org
forum.tudiabetes.org
Diabetesdailly.com

Like a lot of drugs, the can affect people in different ways, sime good some not.

[Elessar Zappa]

37. It works well but it gave me weird nightmares.

But that was just me.

[barbtries]

43. weird dreams.

I've always had them. sometimes nightmares. I'm at the point where I cannot tell if it's due to any substance, drug, or if it's just me. I've been having weird dreams since childhood, so I'm going with that's me.

[mucifer]

38. I had a family member take if for a horrible case of Shingles.

It was very painful and they had vocal cord paralysis, facial drooping and temporarily used a feeding tube because they couldn't pass a swallow test.

Morphine did nothing for the pain. High dose gabapentin helped a lot. Every case is different. Luckily my relative did not have side effects. I'm glad when it happened there was more knowledge about opioids and trying Gabapentin instead.

FYI there are other antineuropathic pain meds Amitriptilyine, and Lyrica are two. Lyrica is in the same family as Gabapentin and is more expensive. For some people it works better.

My relative is all healed up now and was on the gabapentin for a few months. I tell everyone over 50 get your Shingles vax!!!

[barbtries]

42. what a nightmare.

I took amitriptyline briefly years ago for depression. hated it. I couldn't keep my head up, it kept dropping. I won't take it again.

Gabapentin could turn out to work really well for me. or not. I think I'll try it and act accordingly.

[mucifer]

44. Yeah, people react differently to meds. Fingers crossed Gabapentin is a good fit for you.

[fargone]

40. I was prescibed gaba when neuropathy was diagnosed in my feet

Within 6 weeks the neuropathy had increased dramatically and I became dangerously depressed. A different doctor, pain specialist, took me off gaba and put me on prescribed doses of vitamins B1, B6, and B12. The neuropathy went back to what it had been (numbness and only occasional tingling) and has remained there for 6 years.

[barbtries]

41. yeah, after looking at the possible side effects of the drug

I just didn't take it. Your reaction to gabapentin is what scares me.

I have a vitreous detachment in my right eye. Hardly notice it anymore. We adapt. If I didn't perceive that the neuropathy may be worsening I don't think i would be contemplating taking the gabapentin at all.

What happened to you is my worst fear regarding this drug. I'm sorry it affected you that way.

[UniqueUserName]

45. I was prescribed Gabapentin for DISH (Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis) caused nerve issues

My pain is in my upper back. So not at all the same but here's my take:

Gabapentin was like magic!!! ---for about 3 months. Dr. said that it would take a while to work up to therapeutic levels. In my experience, gabapentin worked immediately. It just stopped working in 3 months. As you know, gabapentin is an anti-convulsant so one should never abruptly discontinue usage because of the risk of seizures. I tapered myself off with no issues. My prescription was 300mg @ 3 times daily. I had no issues with discontinuing. It just wasn't working any more.

When I went to see my PCP, I told him that I had tapered off because it wasn't working. He consulted the prescribing specialist. The specialist said that I should not have tapered off. Specialists said that I should have increased my dose. So I left with a prescription of 600mg @ 3 times daily. Again, it worked like magic! ----for about three months. I tapered myself off (using the same method as before with no problems). I don't know what taper regimen I used. I just googled safe tapering.

So for me, I still have the left-over pills from 2019. I will ocasionally take a 100mg to 300mg dose and it works fine. I reserve it for things like long road trips.

I never had any bad side-effects. It did not make me sleepy at all. It also worked immediately and still does (that is it doesn't have to build up in my system, the pain relief effects begin comparably to the time it takes an NSAID to work. I always bring my Rx and show my PCP, because I do want a re-fill when I'm finally depleted.

My cousin's SO has been taking 100mg gabapentin daily for about 20 years with no issues. He has not had to increase his dosage and it still is effective for his issue.

[Vinca]

46. I took the maximum dosage of it for about a year after a bout of post-herpetic neuralgia.

It was a real lifesaver and I didn't have any adverse reactions. That was over 10 years ago and now I just take 300 mg. at bedtime to help get to sleep and to keep the lid on the tiny amount of remaining neuralgia in one leg. I'm pretty weird about taking stuff, but when I had the neuralgia after a bout of shingles, I would have swallowed anything. Worse pain a human can experience according to my neurologist.

[LeftInTX]

47. I've been on it for almost 30 yrs. Maximum dose. (3,600 mg) I've got fibromyalgia.

However, everyone is different. I've heard of mixed reactions and toleration.

I started out with 600 mg. It made me sleepy, so avoid driving until you are used to it.
It's not magic for neuropathy pain, but it helps.

[barbtries]

48. I hope it really helps you.

i'm being started at 100mg moving up to 300mg day by day.

[ificandream]

49. I was a few years ago and stopped.

I didn't like the after effects.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

50. My youngest child has been on this drug for fibromyalgia for over 10 years

She has no problems with this medication

[LudwigPastorius]

51. I took it for a while for post-shingles nerve pain.

There was some dizziness the first couple of days, but after that I had no side effects.

It helped for 8 to 9 months, then I seemingly built a tolerance to it and the pain came back. Now I'm on Duloxetine.

[barbtries]

53. sorry you got shingles!

i know it can cause pure misery. Hope this new med is helping you a lot.

[LudwigPastorius]

54. Thanks. I've been on it about 3 & 1/2 years now, but I think it too is losing effectiveness.

I hope the Gaba works for you.

[Borogove]

52. I just started taking it last month.

I’ve been suffering from peripheral neuropathy, particularly in my right foot, for a few years now. So far so good. The pain relief has been significant and I haven’t noticed any side effects.

[GoodRaisin]

55. Gabapentin was the first thing I was prescribed for neuropathy.

I took it for about 3 months in varying dosages and it never helped my neuropathy in any amount so they switched me to Lyrica, which finally started to help, some, after about 2 months. The gabapentin didn’t cause me any side effects. Wish I could say that about the Lyrica, also called pregabalin, which strangely is in the same family of drugs as gabapentin, but one worked, the other didn’t.

I expect gabapentin should probably be safe to try without harmful effects. You may have to take it a while to start feeling the effects. Good luck.

[barbtries]

56. thank you

[Raven]

57. I have taken it for about 5 years for Restless Legs. It works for me and I have

no side effects. I take it a night before I go to bed.