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Gabapentin? Testimonials?

Begonia

Begonia

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Feb 2, 2011
Messages
3,673
My doc has prescribed low low dose of it for nerve root pain from herniated discs. Can anyone give feedback about how effective it is for this, and the side effects??
 
I take quite a bit of it for anxiety. It works for that and for my back pain. There is an adjustment period where I felt a little dizzy but it did go away after a few days.
 
Ok, good to know! It's very low dose, but meds hit me hard. Also a long drive to work and deal with large amounts of cash while there, so brain fog is not good.
 
I've been on it for nerve pain on my leg and foot since the car accident where I had injury to my back. I switched to it after I had terrible reactions to another nerve med (name escapes me) and this one at least didn't make me feel awful. It did make me drowsy in the beginning but I think things level out after your body adjusts. But pain wise, it did very little to help, at least in my case. It wasn't until another doctor prescribed Amitriptyline that I started seeing improvements. I'm on both for now, until my doctor decides I can wean off of Gabapentin.
 
Babyblue033 said:
I've been on it for nerve pain on my leg and foot since the car accident where I had injury to my back. I switched to it after I had terrible reactions to another nerve med (name escapes me) and this one at least didn't make me feel awful. It did make me drowsy in the beginning but I think things level out after your body adjusts. But pain wise, it did very little to help, at least in my case. It wasn't until another doctor prescribed Amitriptyline that I started seeing improvements. I'm on both for now, until my doctor decides I can wean off of Gabapentin.
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Ok! Thank you and sorry to hear about your pain issues baby blue!!! Gosh, that sounds pretty dang awful, are yiugetting some relief from the pain??

I get leg pain and right now lots of painful twinges and spasming in the lower back. Usually means the nerves are ticked off and affecting the muscles but who really knows at this point.
 
I took gabapentin for 6 months after I had shingles, I had the virus in a very delicate area (my butt area) and shingles can affect the nerves so my physician prescribed gabapentin and at first it made me feel like a zombie, and after a week or so I adjusted, I never had any residual pain from shingles and I am very glad for that, gabapentin calms the nerves, it's original use I think was for seizures. So I cannot really say it helped but I was happy that I never had any nerve pain as I read it can be really terrible after shingles.
 
I don't have a lot of direct knowledge, but my dog is currently on it. Soft tissue issues, some weird swelling, and some limping that isn't bone cancer related. she's on 300mg dose. First night she was KTFO...lol By the 2nd day, no more limping except later in the day but she was back to her playful goofy self. Day 5, no limp at all. She's on the last dose before we do a wait and see to see if we need to keep her on it. It caused absolutely no stomach upset and she did very well on it. I did notice it made her sleep and drink more (though no potty accidents)


Soo....not exactly the testimony you wanted :lol: but... it appears to work pretty well!

I def. hope it works for you.
 
Thank you for adding what you know Arcadian and Tekate!

Just took the pill a while ago. Getting woozy and sleepy. Can I just say...

Back. Pain. Sucks.
 
My daughter had scoliosis w/a tethered spinal cord. Prior to surgery she was on Gabapentin and after surgery. It did make her sleepy at first but that wore off. She took it for about two weeks before surgery and two months after. No issues and it helped with nerve pain.
 
Mayk said:
My daughter had scoliosis w/a tethered spinal cord. Prior to surgery she was on Gabapentin and after surgery. It did make her sleepy at first but that wore off. She took it for about two weeks before surgery and two months after. No issues and it helped with nerve pain.
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Thanks Mayk! Hope your daughter is better?
 
I took Gabapentin for several months a couple of years ago for nerve pain. I don’t remember any side effects at all. I also don’t believe it helped me much at all. I hope it works for you. And yes...spinal pain stinks. I have had spinal surgery and that is the only thing that helped me. Wishing you luck and pain free days!
 
I only have kitty knowledge re Gabapentin. We gave it to Fred for his arthritis but it didn't help him and it made him like a zombie. So in our case it wasn't favorable. But I do know it helps some animals and people too. I hope it helps your back pain @Begonia!
 
Gabapentin is so hit or miss. I took it for anxiety and now for nerve pain. I feel so foggy this time around I can’t tell if it helps with the nerves.
 
Well it does grog you out alright! Took it 16 hours ago and I've been in bed for 10 hours. I'm still laying here LOL. I do have insomnia usually and anxiety as well so we'll see how it helps. Did get more sleep than normal, albeit groggy sleep. Too early to tell about the back. I'm headachey I notice...
 
Begonia said:
Well it does grog you out alright! Took it 16 hours ago and I've been in bed for 10 hours. I'm still laying here LOL. I do have insomnia usually and anxiety as well so we'll see how it helps. Did get more sleep than normal, albeit groggy sleep. Too early to tell about the back. I'm headachey I notice...
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Let us know how it goes...if this helps you with (a good aka rejuvenating) sleep once your system gets used to it I am interested. Quality (and sufficient but not too much quantity) sleep improves almost every aspect I think of one's life.
 
I sure will! You are so right about the importance of sleep: I'm perpetually sleep-deprived. This happens a lot with me and sedating meds. The first night in I'll get quite a lot of sleep (for me anyway) but subsequent nights not so much. Right outta the gate, I'll need to adjust what time I take it so I'm not too groggy to get up for work. Booked off today cuz of back spasms.

For those out there who sleep well, meaning you fall asleep, stay asleep and get a solid 8 (or more), be thankful! I'd do anything to change how I'm designed for sleep.
 
Begonia said:
I sure will! You are so right about the importance of sleep: I'm perpetually sleep-deprived. This happens a lot with me and sedating meds. The first night in I'll get quite a lot of sleep (for me anyway) but subsequent nights not so much. Right outta the gate, I'll need to adjust what time I take it so I'm not too groggy to get up for work. Booked off today cuz of back spasms.

For those out there who sleep well, meaning you fall asleep, stay asleep and get a solid 8 (or more), be thankful! I'd do anything to change how I'm designed for sleep.
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We have so much in common @Begonia. I am sleep deprived too. I sleep at most an hour at a time and wake all night and never stay asleep past 3 or 4 AM now. It sucks. And it affects how we feel all day and ultimately our health. I am sorry we share that in common and I hope you find relief soon.

What I try to do when I am laying awake sleepless in bed (it doesn't help me to get out of bed as that just makes me more wired) I try meditating and just relaxing and trying not to worry about not sleeping. And occasionally that works and I can fall back to sleep. I find quieting my brain helps. The problem is my brain is always on for the most part. #workingonit
 
Totally understand missy! I rarely sleep past 330 and wake up repeatedly thru the night. Alike indeed!

I have a monkey brain and find it hard not to think of things that are bothering me, but I'll meditate too, redesign my
Jewellery in my head, or do an only 10 jewellery pieces list. Whatever is creative and calming.

Have you read The Highly Sensitive Person? I'm one of those. I try to protect myself now from things that I know will upset me and keep me there, or at least calming thoughts and no nasty introductions before bed. I'll leave provocative things until my days off as insomnia + shiftwork = exhaustion. Add an upsetting event and I watch the sun rise after being up all night.
 
Missy, have you always been like this?? I ask bc I have since I was a toddler. The whole house was asleep and I'd be laying there. Often wonder if my trauma background has a lot to do with it. Your brain perceives danger and won't let you sleep kind of thing??

Do you have a trauma background?
 
I took gabapentin for nerve pain stemming from herniated discs and I was not a fan. I am very medication sensitive and was on a lowish dose. It did not help my nerve pain significantly and it made me feel so zonked I couldn’t function. After a few weeks on it I then developed horrible cystic acne, the likes of which I had never even seen on someone else IRL. Like cysts in my ears and up my nose! That was it for me. I stopped taking it and ultimately had spinal surgery as other nerve medications did not help either. I hope you find your trial of it better than mine.
 
Keeliamira said:
I took gabapentin for nerve pain stemming from herniated discs and I was not a fan. I am very medication sensitive and was on a lowish dose. It did not help my nerve pain significantly and it made me feel so zonked I couldn’t function. After a few weeks on it I then developed horrible cystic acne, the likes of which I had never even seen on someone else IRL. Like cysts in my ears and up my nose! That was it for me. I stopped taking it and ultimately had spinal surgery as other nerve medications did not help either. I hope you find your trial of it better than mine.
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Well that is good to know!!!
I already have minor acne problems and refuse to have it worsen!!
 
I actually just had to stop taking this. My hands were shaking so badly, I guess I’m one of those people who experiences that as a side effect. Back to the drawing board...
 
I feel that as pain relievers go, this is the mildest of the bunch. I really wanted to make this one work. I pushed through the adjustment period because the alternatives to this drug were not as mild as this medication.

My son once took this med for seizures. The neurologist said it’s very easy on the body, the liver doesn’t even process it.

Of course it isn’t for everyone.
 
Begonia said:
Missy, have you always been like this?? I ask bc I have since I was a toddler. The whole house was asleep and I'd be laying there. Often wonder if my trauma background has a lot to do with it. Your brain perceives danger and won't let you sleep kind of thing??

Do you have a trauma background?
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Yes I have always been like this re insomnia. My mom said I never slept through the night. Ever. Always woke up crying. As far as I know no trauma background. Just not great genetics IMO. But who knows? I don't know of a traumatic incident but I would have been too young to remember perhaps. Nothing my parents told me about.

Begonia said:
Totally understand missy! I rarely sleep past 330 and wake up repeatedly thru the night. Alike indeed!

I have a monkey brain and find it hard not to think of things that are bothering me, but I'll meditate too, redesign my
Jewellery in my head, or do an only 10 jewellery pieces list. Whatever is creative and calming.

Have you read The Highly Sensitive Person? I'm one of those. I try to protect myself now from things that I know will upset me and keep me there, or at least calming thoughts and no nasty introductions before bed. I'll leave provocative things until my days off as insomnia + shiftwork = exhaustion. Add an upsetting event and I watch the sun rise after being up all night.
Click to expand...

I have read the HSP and in fact think I started a thread about it here years ago. LOL. I am one too. We have a lot in common @Begonia

I recently distanced myself from someone here who hurt me and treated me insensitively and not nicely at all. I thought she was a true friend. It was a shock this behavior coming from her because from the outside she seems like such a lovely person. But sadly my experience with her was unpleasant and hurtful. So I feel better now being separate from that relationship but yes my feelings are still somewhat hurt. I am a person who feels strongly so if I give my heart to someone it isn't something I do lightly and not something I can brush off just like that. Live and learn. And now I protect myself much better than I did a few years ago.

Sending you warm hugs and good thoughts. You are not alone. XO.
 
Hey @missy :)

Laying in bed - I've been awake since 3, and it's now 5. Just. Charming.

Ahhh good, you have read it. Reading that book changed my life, and explained so much (esp why I've always felt alone in the world). I married one too, and gave birth to 2.

No trauma is good! I think mine contributes, but having a sensitive nervous system is pretty much the issue. Pros and cons to that. Very sensitive to energy, or as I once heard "velcro girl" LOL.

Oh, I get the toxic friend problem - or frenemies as I used to call them. Learning to cut bait is a skill I too am just beginning to learn :) I'm a bonder and loyal, and sometimes quite easily used or manipulated. Learned some hard and painful lessons along the way, so good for you to have set that boundary and walk away when it's negatively affecting your life/health.

Well the sun will be rising soon. Guess I should give it one last try at sleep. I know the phone is baaaaaad, but I haven't been to the library this week, and have been sitting here making lists in my head for hours :roll:

Hope your day goes well and hug to you too.
 
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