Thank you all for responding with actual information. I was leery of starting, due to the potential drowsy issue. Driving is my sole source of daily enjoyment and I don't want to lose that.

Johnny - For me (my dose is low compared to others here) I discovered that taking mine on a full stomach reduced the sleepiness effects to almost nothing. If I take it on an empty stomach I am usually asleep in the recliner within 60 to 90 minutes according to my wife.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

Not unusual neuropathy burns out over time.

That's the first time I've heard of that. Anyone here have that experience?

My 12-year old Labrador Retriever was prescribed Gabapentin for a rare debilitating nerve issue. He was essentially knocked out, groggy, and had no life when he was on it. It is a powerful drug. Be careful.

quote:

Originally posted by mike28w:

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

Not unusual neuropathy burns out over time.

That's the first time I've heard of that. Anyone here have that experience?

My neuropathy, causing numbness of my feet, has been slowly, but consistently, getting worse for nine years. So ZSMICHAEL‘s comment disagrees with my experience.

I see a very smart neurologist every six months, but he hasn’t helped my condition. I still manage to walk three or four miles most days.

I was on this for severe nerve pain in my shoulder after a breakage. It may have helped that pain but also numbed the sensitivity in everthing else. I mean *everything*. I said nope to my Dr. for a refill and stopped taking it. He did not receommend anything for replacement.

My dog's vet said it was a pretty safe medicine long term.

quote:

1800mg a day seems like a lot.

That is half of the recommended max dosage for an adult. I know because I'm on the same amount (600mg 3 times a day). When we ramped up my dosage to 1800 I had a discussion asking what the max dosage was for reference.

I've been on it for 3 years due to nerve pain from Guillian Barre Syndrome. It's definitely been a big help and I don't have any side effects that Im aware of.

I took Vicodin for 12 years and my new VA doc decided I was addicted, so I said then give me something else for my nerve damage. Neck,knees and shoulder are beat to crap. I started on 1800mg of Gabapentin and read some studies and research and now I take 900mg. Feel about the same, but it's maintenance for my 71yr. old bod.

You guys are making me think I don't have to be concerned about a paltry 300mg a day.

Thanks for the encouraging information.

I wouldn't worry about 300 mg per day. My 11 year old German Shephard takes 300 mg twice a day. Can't tell you whether it is safe for him drive (doesn't have a DL) but he has no side effects and seems to have relief from nerve problems due to his arthritic and compressed spine.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:

quote:

Originally posted by Schmelby:
My Doctor has me at 600mg three times a day for neuropathy in my feet. It hasn't gotten worse since I retired. <snip>

Hm… I suffer from neuropathy, causing numbness in my feet, impairing my sense of balance. And it’s getting worse. My neurologist has never mentioned Gabapentin. I’ll ask him about it. He told me that there were no useful medications for my neuropathy. He did tell me that me to cease all alcohol consumption. I did, but that didn’t reduce numbness, nor slow its progression. I may resume my nightly 12oz beer.

P. S. I just checked the web. It said that Gabapentin helps neuropathy pain (which I don’t have) but not numbness (which I do have).

I had numbness too. I would start to feel it about a 1/4 mile into our daily walk. It would progress down my butt, and I would feel it in my balls. The numbness would go down my right leg to my foot. My issue was disc degeneration at L4-5. I have a very good spinal specialist neurosurgeon in Phoenix, and he went in, restored disc height with an appliance, relieving nerve compromise which caused the numbness. Hate to say it, but you are probably there.

quote:

I don't have to be concerned about a paltry 300mg a day.

I wouldn't be concerned with that dosage unless you are having side effects.

Was prescribed Gabapentin for restless leg, didn't like the brain fog and quit taking it after 3 weeks, would rather suffer with the leg than the fog. Know quite a few who take it and think it's great.

Like any medication, it affects people differently, took about 5 -6 different BP meds before they found one that didn't trigger either gout or a dry cough.

If you are concerned about Gabapentin, look at Lyrica to help with the pain, does a good job for me, started at 100 and now on 200mg twice a day.

Doesn't end the numbness, nothing will, but it does help the pain, and, I've found when my BS spikes I get more pain in my toes. So keeping it under control as well is a key...

Gabapentin merely masks the pain along with causing diminshed cognitive capacity. Originally used for Seizure disorders it use has been expanded thanks to the Pharma reps. It is important to control the underlying causes of neuropathy, the primary one being diabetes. Other culprits are chemical exposure,B12 defiency an alcohol abuse.
My neuropathy PAIN has pretty much burned out and I am left with numbness which has its own set of problems,

Approximately 15 years ago I went on a 8 hour mountain bike ride with shoes that were to tight and caused myself nerve damage to the bottom of my feet. I have just accpeted it. But Last year it started geting worse. whole foot numb and shooting pains at night. Having trouble feeling the brake pedal. . Modern medicine has no answer for neropathy. A local chiropractor does treatmetns of relight therapy, Nerveplate vibrations and a therapy called piezo wave therapy.

Its a 10 week course of threatment. It has helped and I no longer have shooting pain. But the numbness is still there. Lots of remedies out there. I am pretty much doen trying them anymore. If the pain comes back I guess I will have to take the gabapentin