Is Gabapentin appropriate for sciatic nerve pain caused by spinal stenosis?

I have suffered with chronic lower back pain and sciatica for two years with little help from some physicians and pain clinics, I did not want to use any narcotic pain meds because they made me feel like sleeping all the time. I was referred to a new pain clinic and was prescribed meloxicam and neurontin and started on one pill per day of neurontin within days, my horrid pain was tolerable after being on three 100 mg per day for a week and for the first time in two years I can crochet and sit in my living room comfortably for a long time. My son takes larger doses of neurontin to control seizures so I was skeptical now it feels like a wonder thing. I am so glad I did it!

I have been taking Gabapentin for years. I have DJD, had spinal stenosis in my neck but had surgery to correct that, and Osteoarthritis and peripheral neuropathy. The Gabapentin really helps with my peripheral neuropathy leg pain. I basically have NO pain due to this wonder drug. I have been reading about a lot of side effects, but I have not had any. The reading is scary.
I also read about water gain which I am not familiar with. Maybe some one can tell me more about this. I do not have any of these symptoms but I would like to be kept aware of what happens to other people on this drug.
One thing I have noticed is an increase in appetite with any opioid I have taken and the weight gain has been amazing. I have put on 30 pounds due to the unusual appetite I have experienced with opiates. Any one else had this?

I have also found that antiepileptics made me feel like I'd lost my brain, itch, become very thirsty, affected my eyes and generally feel yucky. It is a good thing that they help quite a few people. I guess it is like another other medication, our personal chemistry determines how we will react to it.

I do agree that many are prescribed this for nerve pain of different types and that it can help. I have a personal problem with taking an anti-epileptic seizure medication with it's side effects for that problem.
I don't know how many mgs are used today but years ago you would be started on a small dose and raised until you were taking 1,000 to 3,000mgs a day as for my own personal experience.
I felt it also did cause weight gain (Neurontin) and I felt more loopy from the high doses of anti-epileptic seizure meds than the pain meds I was on so I refuse to use them any longer but it is always a personal choice.

Yes. I have been taking it for over 4 years and there is a definite improvement in that burning awful ache that is most in my arms and legs from cervical stenosis. I started at 3times 300 mg a day now 3times 600 mg a day and I notice it when I miss doses. Hope it helps.

4Gracie, I was prescribed Lyrica for nerve pain, but I didn't care for the side effects (weight gain) being the first, now my Doctor has given me gabapentin for the same problem, I haven't filled it yet, because I still had Lyrica samples left and he said the gaba was in the same family as the Lyrica, which did work also. Good Luck Fall Queen

Yes, it is. Gabapentin, also called Neurontin, is for nerve pain. I have spinal stenosis and was prescribed that for quite awhile and it did help me. I hope this answered your question.