Gabapentin and side effects.

joanneredshaw

Hi Everyone

I have recently been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and I am so fed up with the constant muscle pains. Also I have RA and fatigue.

I have just had my meds changed from Amitriptylene which I had to halve because 10 mg made me too drowsy to gabapentin. I was just reading up about the side effects and it looks daunting. Been through all the side effects before and not looking forward to taking it. I am supposed to take one a day for a week and then up it to two. Anyone got any tips or had experience of taking this medication.

Jo

dreamdaisy

I've read about it on here but not yet had the pleasure. I hope it suits you better than the amitryp: I know that when one reads through a leaflet one can think 'Yikes!' but I always assume that things are listed for information, not as a guarantee they will manifest in me. You never know, Jo, this time it could all be OK, the tablets help and you won't be too troubled by side-effects. I certainly hope so and I wish you well. DD

barbara12

Hi Jo
Im on gabapentin for nerve pain from my back, and amitriptyline to help me sleep at night...I do take both , the amitriptyline dose take a week or so to get used to , but it really has been a blessing...I get such a good sleep with it.
The gabapentin was a bit strange at first, nothing bad really just felt not quite with it....mind you I am 60..so nothing new there..they have just upped my does to 200 ml 3 times a day because of the sciatic pain I have...again it has worked wonders...the pain hasn't gone but it really is bearable.
Hope that helps a little
Barbara x

lululu

I started on 3 100 3x per day, you will find that dose will do little for you, mine was upped gradually over two to three months and am now on 3 300mgs 3x per day, yes I have not got that wrong it is 2700mgs per day. Has affected my concentration, memory, speech very slightly, I have good days and bad days pain wise but each person will be different of course. All things considered I would rather be on it than not. Good luck.

tweedie

Hiya,
Just a note , if you really don't ' get on ' with Gabapentin then ask your Dr to change you to Pregabalin , my husband was on Gabapentin a few years ago and had a really bad time with it , but his Dr changed him onto the then new Pregabalin which is basically the same drug but with some changes , it works really well for his nerve pain , I also am on this and for myself find it very good indeed , it does have side effects some good some bad , as my Dr said " It will turn your mind to mush , but if it helps , who cares ? " my thoughts exactly ---- apart from when you are trying to think of a word or phrase and the only thing that comes to mind is marzipane :oops: :roll:
Hope this helps
Joanna
xx

madwestie

Jo,
i have been on gabapentin for a couple of years i started with 100mg for a couple of days then 200mg then 300mg which i stayed on for years but then my hip pain got worse and my gp upped the gabapentin to 300mg morning and evening then 300mg 3 times a day then eventually 600mg 3 times a day. I have not had any side effects from the gabapentin and I still work full time doing a very technical job which does require concentration and memory. Both are not as good as they once were but that is more due to the RA than the gabapentin and they are good enough to still do my good and get praise from my boss.

I finfd that the leaflets that list side effects mostly say the same things and they have to list everything even if it is really rare so personally i try it and see what happens if it doesn't suit then you can change to something else.

Hope you get on ok

Tracey

joanneredshaw

Thanks everyone for your advise, I will start them today and fingers crossed I won't be too drowsy. That's the worse thing for me, I am a teaching assistant at a secondary school and support autistic children. I hate trying to cope when you really are not with it.
I have not been coping very well recently even though I have cut my hours right down, the fatigue is really getting me down. I have been signed off work for 2 weeks and really it's a relief for me although I do love my work.
I just want to find something to help me with the muscle pain and tiredness. I know their is no quick fix as the doctor put it.
I have made a second claim for DLA and it's been 6 weeks so far. My family have been really supportive and help me a lot. I rely on them so much.

Take care everyone.xx

barbara12

Hi Jo
Like you I read the small print on the side effects...but if you read most meds now..they have so much info it is scary.
They have been a godsend to me, I do wish you well with it.
Has for the DLA don't give up, many on here have had to appeal and won.
Love
Barbara x

seamonkey

Hi,
I have been taking gabapentin for some time now and the only side affect i can say i had was tiredness in the first two weeks, i did struggle to keep my eyes open but after the two weeks i was ok and the gabapentin has certainly worked well for me.
seamonkey

frogmorton

Joanne

I think l got up to a stupid amount 3000mg+????

The best meds l ever had for side effects - l had NONE, but the pain stayed too :sad:

Love

Toni xx

mellman01

I was given Gab and it's Ok with me, I was first put on Lyreca and that really messed me up big time, Amyltrip is OK also, oh one thing I did find with Gab is CoCodamol reacted with it for me, made me really nasty and uptight.