quote:

Originally posted by Schmelby:
My doctor warned me to not stop taking it cold turkey, could have bad side effects. Ask your doc. It helps the neuropathy in my feet. I cut down to two pills per day instead of three, next appointment I'll ask about just one per day and see what happens.

That is how I got off it.

My nerve pain was related to the sutures on the surgical incisions on heel and 3" above heel. It got better after removing the sutures, but it wasn't a cure. For me, my nerve pain built up throughout the day so I followed PA's advice on focusing on managing evening and overnight nerve pain. Being able to sleep to heal and quality of life were 2 high priorities.

The main side effect was drowsiness and I was having to drink a buttload of coffee all day long to offset my morning pill. I started by skipping morning pill, once I was OK with that for a few days then began delaying the afternoon pill, once the afternoon pill was dinner time I stayed there a few days, and then started skipping the 2nd pill. Finally, skipped the bed time pill and I've been able to manage the lingering nerve pain by elevating my ankle.

YMMV, as I was only on it for 6 weeks.

quote:

it makes you stupid at some doses.

You mean like alcohol and pot do (not to mention barbiturates and opioids)?

Now I understand the concern about "off-label" use.

I was once prescribed gabapentin for a disc issue in my back. My doctor explained that they're starting to run down these other avenues to reduce the dependency on opioids. He stated that it wouldn't work for everybody, but if it does work for you it is cheap, not addictive, and has minimal side effects.

I have restless leg also, and while on the gabapentin it went away and stayed away for several months after I stopped.

My GI doctor uses it for his patients with IBS.

I have also learned that if I have a serious tooth pain and can't get to the dentist, popping one of them apart and applying the powered drug with my finger on and around the tooth works.

The only reason I know what it is is that my vet prescribed it years ago for my lab as he aged.

I have been on it for years for nerve pain. No side effects.

Drug manufacturers can only market a medicine for what it's approved for.
^^^
CORRECT. Pfizer paid huge fines when this drug came out and was prescribed for seizures only. Pharma reps were pushing that it be prescribed for Alcohol Dependence and various other ailments. I have seen it prescribed for chronic pain and neuropathy with mixed results. The pain of neuropathy eventually burns out with time whether a patient takes gabapentin or not. It pays to grill your doctor about drugs you are taking.

Gabapentin is prescribed a lot by the VA and military doctors for pain from trauma or injury.

I read an article on somebody recovering from an IED blast who fairly gobbled the stuff... which is obviously a bad idea. Approved dosages can go from 300mg to 3,600mg per day, which leaves a lot of room for variations in how much people take.

AI says it can have negative cross effects with other drugs...

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
I have a chronic itch for old S&W revolvers. Will this help?

Me too! Also, the Colt Python...

Last year I had both knees replaced. Gabapentin was one of many meds prescribed for pain.
I used it for about one month and found no side effects.

When I was working, Lyrica (pregabalin), a related drug, was extremely helpful for anxiety, and did not cause drowsiness or any mental effects. Unlike SSRI’s which caused intolerable side effects. Now that I’m not making life or death decisions on much less than a night’s sleep, I don’t need it.
Interestingly, Lyrica is a controlled drug, and gabapentin is not. My neurologist thought that was ridiculous, and he was right.

I am on gabapentin. I’ve had two spine surgeries. Was not prescribed it for the first, an extensive C-spine surgery. The second surgery was on my L-spine at 4-5. Post surgery I had it prescribed for nerve pain on my right side. Not too long ago I went back on it because L-side back pain was accompanied by pain on my L knee around the knee cap. A light dose didn’t help and it was increased to 300mg X 3. This thread caused me to question the “brain fog” I seem to be experiencing, unable to recall the name of my favorite horse, miss-naming a friend I was talking to. I dropped the lunchtime capsule immediately.

I guess I’ll add, I do suffer from chronic itching—especially in the winter months. This, despite the fact that I added a whole house humidifier a couple years ago, and haven’t taken a hot shower in about that long either; luke warm at times, cool-cold most often. The gabapentin hasn’t helped that at all.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TMats,