Taking for neuropathic pain control.
What is gabapentin mostly used for?
Question posted by paulyboy on 5 June 2009
Last updated on 28 December 2019 by JoyV36
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15 Answers
JoyV36
28 Dec 2019
I take 600mg of gabapentin myself. I was prescribed this for my nerves. It's supposed to help with neuropathic pain, nerve pain. And it helps me a lot.
Ramrodwoman
10 Feb 2019
Gabapentin, aka Neurontin, was initially prescribed for seizures. Now it is used for nerve pain also.
rustydale
26 Nov 2017
it is for nerve pain.
annie47
5 April 2013
I was given this med for my fibromyalgia. When I first started taking it, I was working and it made me very sleepy. My pharmacist told me it was a very good drug and to try taking it at night. I did as she said and i'm glad I did. I am now up to taking 2 300mg 4 times a day.and it helps my fibromyalgia and back pain a lot. I did try Lyrica but one capsule put me to sleep all day, so needless to say that did no work for me. Everyone reacts to medication differently.
destineel
28 March 2011
My doctor has given this too me to help me sleep. I don't see anything about that. Is used for that? Because my sleep worst now!!!
Inactive
28 March 2011
destinee, do you have pain problems? Sometimes if you do it can interfere with sleep. If not, I would talk to your doctor about something different for sleep. Xanax at .5mg is really good for sleep or even over the counter benadryl is helpful. Hope this helps answer your question...
mona62455
11 May 2012
I have neuropathy in both feet, for about 7 years. My foot dr. sent me too another Dr. in Rheumatolagy & Internal Medicine, Arthritis, he diagnosed me with neuropathy,( I also have raynards in both hands and feet, I have had this conditions for 40 years.) I have been taking gabapentin for about 4 months, started out slow now i am taking 300mg. 2-morning, 1-1-1 at breaks and lunch at work 1 supper and 1 at bed time, that is 2100mg. for 3 days now and today was not too bad, my toes felt normal but not yet in the arches and heals of my feet. My side affects are dizzy and and at times sleepy when i sit down and relax, at times i feel a burst of energy,for a short time. In the morning when i wake i have small blister in my mouth, front lower lip ? The Gabapentin has also made my body feel weird, more senstive at times, not all day. How long has someone been on gabapentin?
Inactive
11 May 2012
My husband has been on it for years & years, & the only side effect he has had is it makes him sleepy, so he takes his all at bedtime. Occasionly he forgets & falls asleep before he takes it & he told me he can really tell the difference in his pain levels... Mary
jackie cox
16 Oct 2012
My V A Doctor Has given me this for chronic pain, It Makes me dizzy and the pain is worse than being treated with hydrocodone for 10 years, it helped, but the doc states the FL V A system no longer gives Narcotic pain relievers in FL because 14 V A pharmacy workers in west palm beach were arrested for stealing narcotics, and there are underground labs turning out Narcotic drugs somewhere in FL, supplying NYC with a huge amount of pain meds. gabapentin makes me too dizzy to drive, hemorrhoids, I stay in bed for 16 hours a day, close to the bathroom, it gives me diarrhea, paranoid, worse than ever, I have problems concentrating, If this continues I am going to leave FL just as quickly as possible, Maltreatment of disabled veterans because a gang of affirmative action workers committed crime, and underground labs, does not make any sense.
I just spent a lot of money buying furniture, moved here because I thought the trgional office might treat me better than west palm beach where they gave me morphine, then tramadol in high doses I cannot tolerate, so another doctor gave me tylenol 3 which my records shows I am allergic to, that was the reason I came here, now this ? ? ?
Inactive
15 March 2011
Originally this drug Neurontin(gabapentin) was made for seizures. It has been found very useful to most (but not all) people for pain control, and neuropathy. For some it works wonders, & for some it does not help or they cannot stand the side effects. They usually start you on a small dose & continue to add to that dose over time. My husband take 1200 mg a day, but was started at 300mg. It takes a while before you know if it will help or not. I tried it & couldn't handle the side effects, but my husband doesn't have side effects. Each person is different, & will react differently to each & every drug. Another seizure drug that helps this type of pain is Lyrica. Again starts slowly & builds up in dosage. Don't be to quick to give up on the gabapentin. It takes each individual different amounts of time to get used to each dose increase, and the intitial dose probably won't make a great big difference in your neuropathy pain.
Give it some time would be my advice. Of course your doctor is the one best to discuss this wilth. Hope this was of some help to you & good luck .
flipster
14 March 2011
pain
Cathleen186
15 Jan 2011
I was prescribed gabapentin for anxiety. My psychiatrist said one of it's properties is it "quiets the mind". Which it does for me.
noway59
9 May 2013
You are so right. I would get mad or upset over dumb stuff and I could not stop thing about my problems. Now nothing bugs me I feel so calm. I LOVE it
Blicharz41
14 Jan 2011
I was prescribed Gabapentin, about 4 years ago for bipolar, I had tried at least 4 other drugs and they just didn't work. They told me it is usually prescribed seizures! But it does work and has very well for the 4 years, along with a antidepressant.
sarah in denver
13 Sep 2010
I receive gabapentin/neurontin for chronic pain which began approximately twenty five years ago. My left leg/left hand was crushed in a motorcycle accident in 1981. I have had no side effects and will not say it is a wonder drug but it does help immensely. Let me know if it helps you.
antisocialxmommy
25 May 2013
I have sciatica, and back pain also... did u feel any results of the gabapentin the first day u took it? As far as pain relief at all?
melanie2400
11 Sep 2010
I take it for sciatica and restless leg syndrome. It works very well for both.
SSTEF25
6 July 2010
I have been taking Gabapentin for back pain for about 6 months or so. I have had a spinal fusion and sciatica as well. Just in case you are thinking about taking this drug or already have started this drug, FYI... I am going to ask my doctor to discontinue my taking this drug as I cannot seem to get used to it. It makes me sleep all day and I have better things to do than that. After 6 months, you'd think I'd be used to it by now. She just keeps saying to keep taking it, that I'll get used to it in time. I'm done with it. Just FYI...
jackie cox
16 Oct 2012
I suppose it may help some while others cannot tolerate it, I cannot tolerate it, ringing in the ears has also increased. I think the ones it helps may work for the company that sells it, ha ha ha
fluxcore
26 Feb 2010
I took gabapentin for Trigimenal nuraliga It never did anything but be carfull I had all the side effects and thought i was losing my mind
sklsanford
5 Aug 2009
It's also an anti-seizure medication and has been used to treat some types of insomnia.
Nacgirl
31 Jan 2010
I was prescribed gabapentin for Myasthenia Gravis.
lambda5555m
3 May 2013
Actually, I take it for sciatic nerve pain that is just brutal. I take 3200 mg a day, and I think the max is 6400 a day, but not sure. Ask your doctor. I had mine doubled about two years ago from 1600 a day, because of the pain, so I am hoping that I croak before it has to be increased. Just kidding, but it definitely helps with nerve pain. Elavil also helps building your tolerance for chronic pain, so that's an option too! I take both and celebrex.and it takes the edge off the pain so I can tolerate it better. Sad, but over the years I have gotten used to the pain. Hope this helps. Take care, lambda5555m
jamie818689
7 June 2013
I take 3200mg per day due to pain from MS. Sadly to say 3200mg is the max dose per day...
Shingles9991
15 Aug 2018
I started taking Neurontin for back pain and sciatica in 2016. I was taking it 3 times a day and taking 1800 milligrams total per day. I'm not so sure it helped the sciatica which was just horrible and I did have back surgery. The thing I did notice is that it help anxiety! I didn't even care that I was having back surgery even on the day of surgery! I tried to go off it slowly, but when I got down to 600 mg per day I started having anxiety attacks. Started taking 300 mg three times per day. That seemed to do the trick until I came down with a case of shingles in June of this year. I got shingles after a facial procedure I wish I never would have had done! I know I'm 2,100 mg of Neurontin per day and it is helping but I think I'll need to up the dose.
Cats Meow
5 June 2009
For nerve pain, of course nerves are where pain comes from!
Related topics
Further information
- Gabapentin uses and safety info
- Gabapentin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Gabapentin (detailed)
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