Back pain
Will gabapentin help back pain?
Question posted by Robert3531 on 9 June 2024
Last updated on 13 June 2024 (2 weeks ago) by TKMarsh711
4 Answers
I take 1200 mg of Gabapentin per day off label, for anxiety. It works for the anxiety but I've been having some back problems, sciatic nerve pain and it hasn't helped that. It may not be enough for back pain but I'm not taking any more.
Yes, It works for several different pain issues; however, for myself I didn't care for it - it didn't seem to control the pain that well, and the medication left me feeling like I had flu like symptoms (i.e., drowsy, not euphoric, but almost like I had a head-cold, etc.!). However, if your condition is considered "Chronic Pain" (i.e., lasting three months or longer), then suggest to your Doctor using a trial of "Belbuca" (i.e., Generic Buprenorphine - buccal film). This is the opioid portion of the same drug used to treat drug addiction, but does not contain the opioid blocker.
It is a schedule III drug, versus regular opioids being a schedule II drug, thus your Doctor should have no issues around prescribing it? I used to be on "Fentanyl Transdermal Patches" (for twenty plus years) for an ongoing "Chronic Pain" condition; however, since the so called "National Opioid Crisis", most Doctors were/are unwilling to prescribe it any longer! The "Belbuca" is the first drug that I have found comparable to the "Fentanyl Transdermal", in my three year search for something that would control my pain in the same fashion as the "Fentanyl Transdermal" did! If you do try the "Belbuca", be certain to have your Doctor write on the prescription/bottle label, etc., that it is being prescribed for "Chronic Pain", otherwise some future Doctor/Facility reading your records may think that you had been prescribed it for drug addiction? (P.S., Which is fine with the "Belbuca" even if you have previously had an addiction issue, but just to keep your chart correct if some future Doctor considers putting you on a traditional schedule II opioid medication)! Good Luck, Stephen Church
Click on the link for a list of medications for back pain:
From Drugs.com;
Back pain treatment options depend on the type and cause of the pain. They include:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) taken by mouth (orally): Examples include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), diclofenac, or naproxen (Aleve) to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation
Topical NSAIDs: such as diclofenac gel or patches
Acetaminophen: suitable for those who cannot tolerate NSAIDs or have stomach issues
Topical rubs, creams, or salves, such as those that contain methyl salicylate (Arthricare, Exocaine Plus), capsaicin, lidocaine, and menthol (Lido Stream, Veltrix), or combinations of these. These deliver pain relief through the skin
Combination medications: such as acetaminophen/aspirin
Muscle Relaxants: Prescription medications like cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) or diazepam may be recommended for certain types of back pain (see skeletal muscle relaxants) but sedation and dizziness are common side effects
Neuropathic Drugs: Such as gabapentin, pregabalin, duloxetine, venlafaxine, or tricyclic antidepressants can reduce nerve-related chronic back pain
Cortisone Injections: May be considered if oral medications don't improve pain. This involves injecting corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone (Depo-Medrol) around nerves
Narcotics (Opioids) (last resort only): Short-term use of opioids like oxycodone or hydrocodone should be considered under close supervision as a last resort only if other options are ineffective, but potential side effects and a high risk of addiction exist.
Hi, Robert!
Everybody responds differently to medications... it may be very effective for some people but for others not so much, You just have to see what it does or doesn't do for you at different dosages.
These reviews may be helpful:
https://www.drugs.com/comments/gabapentin/
https://www.drugs.com/comments/gabapentin/for-pain.html
Regards, Wildcat
Related topics
anxiety, pain, back pain, gabapentin
Further information
- Gabapentin uses and safety info
- Gabapentin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Gabapentin (detailed)
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