Gabapentin for Neuropathic Pain User Reviews (Page 5)

• Son...
• October 11, 2016

"I have tried gabapentin several times to make sure it was the culprit. I have horrible nerve damage caused by a wreck. I am in pain and numb always. Well, I've had several bouts with my gallbladder while taking the med. It makes the nerve pain much better, but I can't eat, I vomit profusely, my whole abdomen is sore, I have heartburn that won't go away, I have more gas than Iran, and it's like liquid acid coming out the tailpipe. For me, this medication is a bust, but clearly others have had better results."

• Sol...
• January 26, 2016

"I was prescribed Neurontin to block the pain in my lower back due to bulging and deteriorated discs. The Neurontin effectively reduced the pain in my back; however, the mental side effects were not worth the pain reduction. I have been previously diagnosed with anxiety and depression, but those illnesses were under control with an antidepressant. However, once I started using Neurontin, my depression and anxiety came back with a vengeance. I had an anxiety attack and could not control my mood. I was tapered off of the drug immediately, and I was back to my old self. Please talk to your doctor prior to taking this medicine if you have ever had depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts."

• bab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2016

"First usage: Three hours of pain relief from severe sciatica after taking the initial dose of 300 mg. Took two more doses later in the day as prescribed. The second dose made me dizzy with no pain relief; the third dose made me feel drugged, and I was unable to stand up or walk. Lasted all night. Waited a day to recover fully from the drugged feeling, then started again with a dose of 300 mg in the morning. No pain relief; 3 hours after taking the drug, I had suddenly had excruciating spasms in one leg when I tried to walk. It is now 3 hours later, and that leg feels as if I have a pulled muscle or ligament, extremely painful. This is the leg in which the sciatic pain is strongest. This drug is a nightmare. Will not continue with it."

• Cat...
• August 12, 2017

"I recently switched pharmacy brands and have noticed I am EXTREMELY tired all the time from taking this new generic. It is from mail-order Humana and mfr Glenmark Generics. It is so bad to the point that I cannot even function. I am at a loss for explaining this. My life is now total despair."

• MoR...
• November 25, 2015

"I experienced progressively worsening and frequent nerve pain shooting down both of my legs. I had almost immediate relief with gabapentin. And for the first time in months, I was able to sleep throughout the night. It was a miracle drug for me. I got up to 900 mg 3x/day. However, I also experience an array of side effects. I always feel exhausted to the point that it makes it difficult to do daily activities. I gained 30+ lbs in a few short months... and I have bad acne for the first time ever. I've started tapering back down and realize that I have more energy... we'll see about the other side effects now. It's a balancing act between the side effects and pain."

• Che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2021

"I had back surgery to fuse L5-S1. I had injured my back horseback riding, broke a vertebra, and then developed severe impingement. I never took this drug before surgery, but they prescribed this drug when I was discharged after surgery. After three days of taking this, I started feeling worse than before my surgery. My back pain was horrible, plus pain down both legs! It had a paradoxical effect and caused nerve pain to increase and spread. We were all confused as to what was going on with me, but the only thing different I had done was to start taking this drug. So my doctor told me to stop immediately, and within 2 days, the horrible pain stopped, and the only pain I had was normal post-surgical pain! Doctors, please stop prescribing this as standard procedure post-surgery, PLEASE! I have heard the same story over and over (patients develop full body nerve pain after several days on the drug). Fortunately for me, the pain this drug created went away after I stopped taking it!"

• blu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2019

"Gabapentin was prescribed to me for pelvic nerve pain. I tried it as needed for the first 6 months, and all it did was put me to sleep, and the nerve pain would come back. I decided in May to try taking Gabapentin every day to see if it helped me. I took 600-800 mg every day for 2 or 3 weeks. Realized again that it wasn't doing anything for my pain, just making me sort of 'high.' Decided to stop taking it and thought I could just stop. BIG MISTAKE. I was in a grocery store and thought I was going to have a 'meltdown,' going to cry and freak out for no reason. Got to my car and took 300 mg and felt a lot better. Told the doctor, and the doctor said to take 300 mg for a week, then 200 mg for 1 week, then 100 mg. I am now taking 100 mg and sometimes 200 mg. I am having lots of anxiety and it seems like my heart is racing. I am shocked this is happening to me for taking it for such a short time. I have also had stomach aches. Only positive is constipation is gone that I had from high doses."

• Hei...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 6, 2019

"Development of a foot ulcer gave me intense burning pain around the site of the injury. Not being diabetic, my GP at first suggested 20 mg amitriptyline nightly. This soon expanded to 100 mg daily, with no effect. My meds were changed to gabapentin. A slow build-up to 900 daily. I was happily surprised when the pain eased. Beware... coming off too quickly after two months left me back to square one within two weeks. The pain is still there, as is the injury. But I have reduced my meds to 300 mg daily now."

• mik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 22, 2016

"I'm struggling with sciatica pain, which makes me barely able to walk. I'm on 900 mg three times a day, and gabapentin doesn't make any difference at all... still in massive pain, and in my opinion, it is just worse... doesn't do the trick for me, so I need to visit my GP to find a different solution... but that's just me, everybody is individual..."

• B0a...
• July 27, 2015

"This medicine can ruin your ability to think. I would walk into a room and forget the last 5 minutes. I had to reduce the medication by 40%, and am now tapering at 10% a month to fend off sudden withdrawal symptoms."

• gig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 20, 2018

"I took 100 mg gabapentin as prescribed by my doc exactly 5 hours ago for a horrible pelvic pain I have been experiencing for over a year, and I am feeling so much better, the pain is almost gone. I noticed I am more relaxed and calmer, no side effects so far. I am meant to take 100 mg every night for a month to give my nerves a break, but so far, feeling so great, I wouldn’t mind taking it longer."

• Glo...
• June 28, 2016

"My doctor put me on gabapentin after my neck surgery for nerve damage. I couldn't take it. It caused strange out-of-body experiences. He next tried Lyrica, and no problems. Actually, I feel much, much better taking the Lyrica. It doesn't completely get rid of the pain, but it does make it bearable."

• Fox...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 24, 2016

"I have a damaged nerve bundle on the heel of my foot along with a crushed nerve in my arm. This medicine really helps the numbness and some of the pain to alleviate. My only problem with this medication is the hassle of needing to take it every 4 hours to work."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 8, 2017

"I have CFS with neuropathic pain in both legs, the pins and needles, shooting burning pain, and feet that are either freezing or burning. I was initially given amitriptyline, which worked very well but left me with a hangover in the morning, not good when you have to drive 50 miles to work at 4 a.m. My neurologist put me on venlafaxine, which again worked but gave me too many side effects. Gabapentin was prescribed by my GP, and within a day, my walking went from a 70+ year old to a normal 53 year old. My dose needs increasing now as I am only on 600 mg daily and I am struggling again. Best drug ever with no noticeable side effects - UK based."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 27, 2018

"I just increased gabapentin to 900 mg three times a day. It has helped with the sciatic nerve pain. Only complaint is that I feel high and tired. Limits my everyday living skills and driving. Otherwise, 2,700 mg a day has been a good relief."

• nee...
• December 23, 2015

"I have been prescribed gabapentin medreich only last week. Due to having a lot of problems with tingling sensation in the right foot, which got so bad, I was unable to sleep since having spinal fusion back in March, but I have too many problems since my operation, too many to list. However, since taking these tablets, 200 mg, 3x a day, I have no energy, sleeping all the time, and I have since developed pins and needles on the right side of my face, which had me worried as I have never had this before. I'm just wondering if anyone else has had this."

• Bar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 29, 2019

"The only complaint is hunger. I’m on 400 mg, 3x a day, bringing my nerve pain from an 8 down to a 5. Anyone that’s overweight, be careful because it will put weight on you. Your body becomes addicted to it after 3 months."

• Gig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 5, 2017

"My doctor ordered gabapentin 100 mg, three times a day. It did not help the pain, it made me extremely tired. She then upped the dose to 300 mg, three times a day. After the first dose at 300 mg, I felt terrible, my son and I both noticed gabapentin was affecting my mood. Generally, I'm extremely friendly by nature and in a good mood, but I became cranky and extremely tired. I had no energy to do anything. I went back to the doctor, she took me off of gabapentin. I also did not experience much pain relief."

• Mam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 18, 2017

"I took gabapentin after my Dr. prescribed Lipitor after my strokes to help lower my cholesterol. The Lipitor left me with nerve damage after taking it for a year. The nerve pain in my legs and feet was so severe that I was unable to walk. At first, I was taking 300 mg at night. Soon after that, it was increased to 100 mg at meal time (just as a reminder) and 300 at night. It helped for the most part, but after a year and a half, I had gained 8 lbs and couldn't seem to lose it. The pins and needles came back, and I was told to take as much as I needed to make it work. I increased it to 1000-1200 per day. My appetite also increased, and I have gained 20 lbs since I started taking it. I'm still having breakouts, and they are getting worse again."

• 1Mo...
• February 20, 2016

"One week ago, an MRI revealed a large central protrusion at L4-5, which is causing excruciating sciatica down my left leg. An orthopedic surgeon referred me to Spine & Sports Rehab, who happily provided a prescription for Gabapentin. Took one, nothing. Started taking 300 mg every 8 hours. It basically does nothing. No more pain reduction than taking 800 mg of ibuprofen twice a day. Drs. these days know narcotics will help with nerve pain, but they want you to suffer a long time before they prescribe it. A laminectomy is coming my way. I can barely walk. I just wish they could give me something to survive on until the surgery."

• Sal...
• August 13, 2015

"I got prescribed Neurontin (gabapentin) back last year for nerve pain due to a damaged sciatic nerve from an epidural gone wrong. However, I have also noticed that it helps with my seizures as well, and I strained my lower back and had to go to the ER, but got out and took some Neurontin, and I have hardly any pain now while I recuperate, and the only side effect is that it makes me slow and sleepy. I have been nodding off a lot, but I slept awesomely last night and barely even budged. I also take Wellbutrin and Buspirone as well, for anxiety and depression."

• Sha...
• August 24, 2015

"I am on 600 mg in the morning, 600 mg midday, and 1200 mg at bedtime for nerve pain (complex regional pain syndrome). I notice little relief. A lot of side effects: sleepy, foggy minded, just to name a few. I have been on it for almost 6 months, started at 300 mg 3 times a day. Hoping for relief."

• Nas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2021

"Started gabapentin 4 weeks ago for shoulder and neck pain, and it hasn't helped at all. Started off on 3 x 100 mg daily and worked up to 3 x 300 mg daily. My eyesight is foggy, and my eyes flicker. I also have daily headaches, which aren't fun at all, but when I take any headache tablets, they react with the gabapentin and totally wipe me out. I'm coming off them as they're not helping :("

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2016

"First off, it is really unfair of me to 'rate' this medication. I have just started on it. Low dose of 100 mg 2 times a day and 200 mg at bedtime. I have decided to comment as I had a good discussion with my pharmacist about this prior to taking it. I have mild cerebral palsy (have since birth 53 years ago) and various other spine problems. Most recently, an MRI showed that I have bone spurs on my L3, L4, and L5, with the L5 pushing on the nerve, thus sciatic pain down my right side, extreme much of the time. My pharmacist said not to expect this medication to work overnight. In fact, he stated I was on a low dose and it was best to increase it gradually, likely 4 months! I will keep you posted!"

• Bes...
• February 25, 2017

"I was worried gabapentin would make me a zombie, but to my surprise, it didn't. My pain management doctor gave me this for nerve pain in my face and fibromyalgia. It seems to help. I have been taking a very low dose of hydrocodone, 2.5 to 5 mg, as needed to take the edge off pain for several years. I don't like hydrocodone or the feeling it gives me. I don't like the sleepy, groggy feeling. If I feel like that, I am overmedicated. But a little bit helps the pain...maybe I am an oddball, but I only take the opioid when I am in real pain. I also take 300 mg of Wellbutrin XL daily, which works okay. Nothing has really worked on my depression, but at least I am doing okay. So I'll see how the gabapentin does. If it causes weight gain, I'll quit it."