Gabapentin and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Sar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 17, 2021

For Anxiety "I have crippling anxiety. I’ve tried so many other medications. Benzos I found myself just too tired to do anything, and they made me feel not myself. With gabapentin, I somehow feel so relaxed, but I also have energy at the same time. And my social anxiety is almost non-existent. It’s truly a miracle drug that I wish more people knew about for anxiety!"

• som...
• May 18, 2013

Gabapentin for Pain "I've been on Neurontin for almost 4 months, and it has given me relief for chronic pelvic pain. 300mg at night and 100mg mid-day was the initial dose, and at present, I'm on 300mg at night only. It has made the pain bearable, however, the side effects have been lethargy, headaches, aching eyes, and dreaming so vivid it leaves me hung over. I'm hoping this will improve with time. It has helped with the pain."

• Tir...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 24, 2025

For Anxiety "Absolute wonder drug for anxiety. Was prescribed this for anxiety, both social and generalized about a year ago. SSRIs, trazodone, alprazolam, and hydroxyzine didn't do much. My doctor gave me gabapentin off-label afterward, initially 300 mg PRN for panic attacks. It isn't really good for panic attacks, it has a relatively slow onset of action compared to benzos. I was then instructed to take it twice daily, 300 mg mornings and 600 mg before bed, and my anxiety just was gone. I don't at all feel cloudy or tired as a result of it either, just normal."

• Ros...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 14, 2019

For Insomnia "I started taking gabapentin in 2005 for severe insomnia, and within 2 weeks or so, I started to feel better. My anxiety and depression were so much better also, I felt like a new person. I was taking 600mg once in the morning and 600mg once before bed. After a while went by, I started getting very tired, so I just take one at bedtime now. So far, so good. I highly recommend this medication."

• Lo2...
• May 8, 2013

For Fibromyalgia "Gabapentin has saved my life. I am able to function now. Dealing with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and fibromyalgia for the past 20 years has been a challenge, not to mention the pain. I felt like I was a guinea pig, trying all the medicines out there and being allergic to most of them while the others didn't come close to working. But with the gabapentin, I was so tired but after a while that went away. I wanted to up the dosage but my doctor did it very slowly. Even though I am not 100% pain-free at this time, I can function and be happy. I will always have this medicine with me so I will never miss a dose."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 20, 2024

For Back Pain "I don't tolerate most medications, but gabapentin doesn't have any bad side effects and helps pain and anxiety a ton. You may have a few days of mild tiredness/dizziness, but not enough to complain about. I have absolutely no side effects, and I take 600 mg 3x daily. I love this medication. Gabapentin has helped my energy, but at the same time, it helps me relax at night. It helps my mood and my pain. Is it a miracle medication? YES, it is, but I still have some struggles with my mood and pain, but it's kept me sane and out of the ER and mental hospital from physical pain and anxiety. You may gain a few pounds, and that's the only negative I've found, but I've also lost weight taking it when I was doing low carb. All in all, it's been a saving grace in helping me in multiple areas. I don't know what I'd do if they stopped making it, because I'd probably need multiple meds to replace this one, and I'd probably still suffer. Gabapentin is that good. Give it a try, you have nothing to lose."

• GIR...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2020

For Anxiety "So I have to say gabapentin is by far the best drug I’ve ever been prescribed for anxiety. And I have gone through a lot of meds. I have BPD, dysthymia, and generalized anxiety. It does not knock you out like benzos. It makes you calm and yes, that comes with a little tiredness, but I'm still able to function. Trust me, I am 120 pounds, 300 mg twice daily."

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2016

For Migraine "I have had migraines for over 15 years now. I have tried everything out there from Imitrex to Morphine for reduction of pain, from Propranolol to Nortriptyline for prophylactics and nothing worked. My doctor was running out of options and suggested Gabapentin and what a difference. Now because it makes me tired, I only take at night before I go to bed, so I do not have ANY side effects that other people do. I take a dose of 300 mg at bedtime and so far it has been a life saver. I have not had any headaches for over a month since starting the Gabapentin. I had such bad migraines, they would last up to 4 days straight without any relief. Needless to say, I am quite happy with the medication."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 31, 2013

For Fibromyalgia "I have Fibromyalgia which was diagnosed recently after many, many visits to GPs who told me it was a fancy name for depression and took me off dihydrocodeine and gave me 5mg of codeine. After many months of pain, I changed my doctor who prescribed much stronger painkillers and gabapentin. I immediately felt better with a little pain but nothing compared to what it was. So far, fingers crossed, no side effects except feeling very tired and a little 'spaced' out. Recommend this to anyone."

• Lee...
• September 18, 2013

For Insomnia "I've struggled with Restless Leg Syndrome and Insomnia for 14 years. This medication knocked me out! It stopped my legs from jerking and put me to sleep. The only problem is that the first day after I took it, I'd never been so groggy in my life. I could not walk straight and was lethargic all day. The next day the grogginess wasn't as bad and my doc said that that side effect will decrease soon. Other than that, I feel like this is a miracle for restless legs syndrome and insomnia. It's been a 14-year struggle for me, but this is the first time anything has helped."

• squ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 27, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia back in the mid-90s but didn't treat it till I started to feel so bad in 2000, and I had to work, so I was on Prox-y-propanate for several years till it was pulled from the market. I was then on Vicodin 4 times a day, and it worked great. However, many people have abused it or died from mixing it with other drugs, so my doctor pulled me off and put me on Tizanidine, which gave me headaches and heartburn. After that, I was switched to Clonidine, which made me tired and gave me a terrible dry cough. Finally, I was prescribed Gabapentin, which has been awesome. I also take Duloxetine, and together they have me feeling great. I can go to my exercise classes every day, and the energy is amazing. Remember to try everything, don't give up!"

• sis...
• February 16, 2016

For Anxiety "I am on gabapentin for anxiety. 300mg 3 times a day. I feel great! I was on 100mg 3 times a day for 2 years, and they just upped it. I feel good again. I just get over the tired feeling, but I would tell anyone who tries this med, it works wonders. I didn't know how good it was until he upped it. I was a mess. I couldn't even make it to work. I'm off the next couple of weeks so the med can adjust, but it's been a week and I already feel a lot better."

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2017

For Peripheral Neuropathy "I was prescribed Gabapentin for nerve entrapment-related pain. I'm 31, slightly overweight, but otherwise healthy according to my last round of physicals. I also am not diabetic. My doctor recommended 300 mg, three times per day. Gabapentin made me tired, forgetful, imbalanced, temperamental, emotional, dizzy, decreased my short-term memory, and ultimately made me sluggish in thought. The only thing Gabapentin did not do was relieve pain. I gave it 30 days before discontinuing. It took two months before my thoughts and memory were no longer sluggish. (I literally had delayed speech, slurred speech, and developed a stutter.)"

• shm...
• May 29, 2015

For Migraine "I have been having chronic migraines for 5 years now and probably 50 other prescriptions written for me, and finally, gabapentin is like a miracle for me. My migraines were 24/7 with tension in shoulders and neck. Felt a little tired and strange the first day, but great relief now. My doctor and neurologist all but gave up on me and I was feeling pretty depressed. Thank you, gabapentin!"

• egg...
• October 5, 2013

For Peripheral Neuropathy "I have been taking Gabapentin for 7 months while awaiting surgery for a laminectomy, nerve decompression, sacrum tear, and impinged nerves L3-S1. While I still require Oxycodone for pain relief, Gabapentin relieves 80% of my nerve pain. I can't tolerate Lyrica so we started on 900mg-1200mg in the hospital due to severe dis-coordination. Regular dose is now 2400mg per day. Side effects are occasional lethargy, some forgetfulness, and about 3kgs weight gain but I wouldn't be walking now without Gabapentin! If toleration is a problem, titrate up slowly because it's so worth persisting with!"

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2015

For Hot Flashes "I am 70 and was still having hot flushes more than 20 times in 24 hours, it was showing no signs of ending - ever. My GP was reluctant to give me HRT again because of my age and the fact that I had a mild heart attack 20 years ago, but she gave me Gabapentin, and it works! I only take 300mg at night and never have a hot flush or night sweat now. It is a relief after all these years to be free of the horrible feeling of heat, nausea, and palpitations. The only downside is lightheadedness and feeling tired. I don't think I could take a higher dose because of this, hopefully, I won't need to."

• 742...
• January 29, 2014

For Anxiety "Going through a real bad bout of depression and anxiety. Was almost hospitalized but am doing outpatient group starting tomorrow. Doctor gave me enough Valium to wean off and gave me Gabapentin today. 300mg twice a day. Took my first one 2 hours ago and feel pretty chill. Also coming off opiates for chronic pain. Very tired but haven't slept much lately. Hopefully with a good night's rest I'll feel more upbeat tomorrow. Also take Effexor and Remeron. Good luck and prayers to all who suffer from emotional issues."

• Spa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 5, 2017

For Anxiety "I had pretty bad anxiety. My doctor said to take 300 mg of gabapentin three times a day. The first time I took it was at night, before bed. It made me feel a little drunk or maybe dopey. But, not a bad feeling. Not dizzy, not falling down - no other side effects. It made me a little sleepy to help with my insomnia. The next day, I took 300 mg at 9:00 a.m. - no problems, no side effects, nothing. Just anxiety relief. Once in a while, I can feel the anxiety after about 6 hours when I need to take another pill. I started taking 600 mg at bedtime to help with sleep. The first time I raised the dose, it made me a little more tired and a little tipsy feeling. But only once. For anxiety, this stuff worked great for me with no side effects!!!"

• ant...
• July 21, 2009

Gabapentin for Fibromyalgia "I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 6 years ago after a toxin exposure. I recently had some flare-ups so bad that the pins/needles were back in both arms and legs. Finally, they gave me Neurontin yesterday. Other than really knocking me out, it relieved 80-90% of my pain. I did not take it this morning and am hoping by the weekend to be on the 2x a day as the doctor prescribed. I had the first full night's sleep in over 3 years. The first time I could walk without pain in the morning. Did anyone else get really tired when first taking this?"

• Sin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2014

For Migraine "Great medicine - I tried tons of other treatments and was down to my last option. I was at 300 mg, and it started to work with few side effects besides increased appetite and a little more tired at first - a lifesaver!"

• Jud...
• January 15, 2020

For Neuropathic Pain "I had a case of shingles on my head and face and was given 300 mg of Gabapentin to take for the awful pain. It didn’t seem to help much, but the nerve pain down my arm from a spinal injury that I'd had for a while was gone. So my doctor kept me on it. No more migraines, very little nerve pain, muscles less inflamed, and blood pressure down. I sleep well but feel very tired ALL the time. At 300 mg dose, I was dizzy, stumbling, blurred vision, and nauseated. Gained 14 pounds. So I have dropped back to 100 mg dose at night. I’ve been concerned about my driving because I do not feel as alert and my response time is slow. What has been really frightening, however, is that I have stopped breathing during the night and wake up in complete panic. I’m scared and trying to step back my usage. Already my shoulder muscles hurt and the nerve pain down my arm and in my hand is coming back."

• You...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2012

For Pain "Dosage: 300mg 3 times a day. So far, this med seems to be very effective in reducing pain in my shoulder and arm, with few side effects. Although it makes me a little tired, I also seem to get good sleep while taking it. An MRI showed a bone spur on my 6th vertebra. A nerve test showed damage at the 5th vertebra. I'm currently scheduled for surgery -- the pain suddenly spiked and had me popping Vicodin all day. I started taking Gabapentin at that point. Over the next two weeks, I was able to phase out all Vicodin except one in the morning. (If I didn't take that one, it just kept barking all day until I gave in.) After two more weeks, I was able to stop taking the Vicodin entirely. I may now postpone the surgery and try physical therapy."

• Che...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 2, 2017

For Anxiety "I have been suffering from anxiety for the past four years. I have been on Ativan, Xanax, and many SSRI drugs. Nothing helped. As a matter of fact, the SSRI drugs made my anxiety worse. Finally, a psychiatrist prescribed gabapentin. It has been a miracle for me. I don't have any side effects whatsoever. All of the physical symptoms of anxiety (heart palpitations, shortness of breath, sweating, tiredness) have disappeared. I also feel more 'even.' I have more patience and I'm not in such a rush to do things. I take three 300 mg pills a day. I am so thankful for finding this drug. I know how hard it is to try different medications and have them not work. I hope anybody who is suffering from anxiety finally finds a medication that helps."

• 222...
• August 20, 2020

For Pudendal Neuralgia "I’ve had severe pelvic floor dysfunction and organ failure as a result. My nerve is compressed, and I’ve been in excruciating pain for almost 2 years. I started using gabapentin last week, and I noticed the difference immediately. I can function again. I’m in physical therapy, and this is a way to get through the pain so I can heal. I wish I had taken it sooner but was scared. Everyone is different. I have a few side effects, but not so bad, I’m tired and have some muscle aches. I also must mention that I take Lamictal because I have bipolar II, so I have experience with transitioning onto meds. This might have made it easier on me. Lamictal was a hard one, so this is a breeze, again, everyone is different. It really has changed the game, I even notice my inflammation has decreased. If you match this with a clean lifestyle and exercise, I think it’s worth the go because it really helped! Oh, I was also worried about weight gain, but I eat clean, so I think I’ll be okay!"

• Til...
• April 29, 2013

For Fibromyalgia "Only started a week ago for sciatic pain and back pain, the pain eased from severe to moderate - but the pain in my feet supposedly from fibromyalgia has all but disappeared. As I also have side effects from most tablets starting slowly, first 5 days 1 x 100mg, now on 2 x 100mg. Feel nauseous, very tired and occasional giddy bout but hoping that this disappears over next couple of weeks. Will try 3 tablets after 2 weeks and see how this goes. Tiredness is my main problem at the moment."