Gabapentin?

[Scarlett]

I've been prescribed this for neuropathic tingling/pain in my soles of feet. I've just read the leaflet and I'm now really reluctant to take it, with such awful side effects! I'm starting on a low dose and building up. Am I worrying needlessly and should I just man up and take it? Anyone else taken it?

[Peter Pedant]

noone is gonna say you must take this drug

you are the one with the pain - and it must be bad or you wouldnt have gone to the doctor and said he hadda do something
so - try it and see
ramping up is meant to minimise the chance and severity of side effects

it IS commonly used to neuropathic pain

[Patsy33]

Hi Scarlett, all medication has scary side effects! Starting on low dose probably won't feel much difference. After a week or two doctor will gradually up the dose untill pain goes. They are good. I had to take them about 10 years ago for symptoms of Trigeminal Nueralgia. I did feel a bit shaky on them at first but does settle down. The other thing I noticed it affected my memory a bit. Good luck.

[Sqad]

I would feel scared too.......but, i never read the instructions in tablet packets and i always give this advice on AB too.

If the pain is uncontrollable and makes life intolerable, then i would "bite the bullet" and take it.

[Scarlett]

Thankyou. Patsy how long did you take them for? And how long until the initial side effects wore off a bit?

[Peter Pedant]

[ my brozzer in law confessed - I didnt take as much paracetamol that you said I could peter....and I was still in pain - but it did seem a lot.
.
This was a few weeks later and I just stared at him and said: I am terribly sorry to hear that.]

he had read the package insert again after he asked me
and I wondered why he had bothered

[Scarlett]

The pain is constant numbness and tingling in my feet which hurt a lot if I stand even for a very short time, and throb similarly even if I'm sat in the car without direct pressure. I've had it now for 9 years so I've learned to live with it but also it's stopped me being mobile. I think the neurologist wanted to see if
it is caused by nerves or by being overweight. I guess I'll try !

[KJN]

IF it helps I have been taking Gabapentin for just under a year now for very bad sciatica, it has brought me many months of pain free. I remember my doctor saying to me don’t freak out when you read the leaflet. ( I never read it) Hope this helps. Oh yeah forgot to say, no side effects at all for me. GO FOR IT.

[Patsy33]

I took it for about 4 /12 years. When I initially started on low dose the shakiness lasted a few weeks until I reached the right dose for me. They were a godsend. They also settle down anxiety, which was a plus for me! Like I said, the only other thing I can think of was not remembering as sharp as I used to. My memory is quite good now, by the way! Give them ago. I think you'll be glad.

[Patsy33]

^^^^^^^^
4 .1/2 years!

[GenuineclAss]

Without Gabapentin, I would be practically bedridden. I caused nerve damage to my back in April 2014 and was prescribed Gaba'. I was told to take 2 tabs 3 times a day.

The 'unusual' side effects started immediately. It makes me completely manic and I can't stop talking - thank God I have a dog, or else people would realise that I am indeed talking to myself!

Having been in chronic pain for well over 13 years, the doctors have shown mercy and have allowed me to stay on the Gaba', so that I can gauge the dosage myself and live as normal a life as possible. Being on Gaba' is the only way I can get anything done, since it gives me a compulsion to do things. It doesn't get rid of my pain, but it's necessary .

My side effect is so rare, it wasn't on the leaflet. Don't know if that's changed since I reported it to my doctors. Probably not. However, did find 'Mania' mentioned on an Americn site, so it's not 'unknown'.

Yes, Patsy is correct. It is well known for wiping out your short term memory. I used to have a memory like Stephen Fry, but now I struggle to remember lots of things, especially people's names and times to take my tablets, which is awful! I've invested in a pill dispenser that has an alarm/vibrate function and have found it to be a Godsend!

[cashier]

I've been on it for about 9 months, it hasn't done a lot for the pain, but it badly affected my memory. I couldn't remember the most basic things. It's getting back to normal now but I am reluctant about having the dosage increased.

[paul1763]

hi Scarlett, i'm also taking Gabapentin but at the maximum dose of (3600mg) daily for neuropathic pain in the soles of my feet with no side effects whatsoever (that i know about). i find it really does seem to work well as if i should miss a couple of doses the pain soon comes back. give it a try, you can easily come off it if you feel its not working.