Generic Name: Gabapentin for Peripheral Neuropathy (gabapentin)
"I have been on gabapentin for about 4 years, ending up with 600mg three times a day - it is for nerve pain. No help whatsoever for the searing pain I still get. I believe it’s prescribed because it’s a cheap drug and only partly does the job. This drug was originally prescribed for people suffering from seizures and fits to control the brain and was considered useful for nerve pain. As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t work and there should be more research into this debilitating illness. Of course, as a result of neuropathy, you can get neuropathic ulcers, which are incredibly painful. The NHS offer nothing for these. I’m not a diabetic, I don’t drink, and don’t have any of the listed conditions which might cause neuropathy, so I'm pretty annoyed about the lack of knowledge in treating this illness."
"I've been taking Gabapentin for a year. I've tried all the drugs used for neuropathy, and it's the only one that helps without side effects. This disease has caused electrical sparks through my feet and legs, numbness in my toes and balls of the feet, cramping, a hard wooden-like swelling in the balls of the feet that makes it so I can't walk flat foot anymore. I can't walk without my Birkenstocks, I can't run, jump, or exercise on my feet. There is rippling that runs through my feet and legs. All this madness is eased a little with the Gabapentin so I can at least live day to day. I'm taking 600 mg three times a day. I was taking 900 three times a day, but have been able to cut back some. It's a truly awful way to live, and I'm only 61."
"I was prescribed 100mg of gabapentin at night first, then 200mg at 5pm, and the 100mg an hour before bed. It took 3 weeks for results. Interestingly, it was pretty constant relief after it took effect. It helped my legs and feet, and as time went on, my back was relieved. I'm such a fan of this drug, and I hope it works out for a long time. It's great to have my legs and feet feeling better!"
"I have been taking Gabapentin for about two weeks now, starting at 300mg at night which knocked me out! I had been having terrible pain in hips and legs, and sciatic pain at night, and tingling/numbness in hands in the morning. It made me sleepy the first week but now starting to get used to it. Still a little clumsy but getting better. Now increased dose to 300mg at bedtime and 300mg in the morning after breakfast. I feel so much better now. Side effects other than sleepiness are not apparent so I am much encouraged. Thank you Gabapentin!"
"I have been taking gabapentin in significant doses (900mg/4xday). When it is time for me to take a dose, my upper back, and my arms will begin to tingle and become cold, and my hands will begin to burn. If I wait, my arms and back will become very cold, and no amount of heat will help. Once I take my dose, my symptoms will subside in 15 to 30 minutes. I take my gabapentin with a 5 mg tab of oxycodone, which I take for a variety of serious pain, and I think that the combination is much more effective for dealing with neuropathy. I have not found any studies that support my observation. I suffer no side effects from this medication."
"This gabapentin medication has been a miracle drug for me. I have many health problems, and this med has: 1) Decreased my peripheral neuropathy pain in multiple areas. 2) With ataxia - I was falling forward/sideways. It stopped it completely! 3) I am able to be around people now for the first time in 18 years without having severe anxiety attacks and finding the nearest exit. 4) For the first time in 18 years, I have an appetite rather than just eating because my body needs fuel. 5) I am sleeping better. 6) I feel peaceful and happy, rather than just saying I am! I was a nurse, and my life changed overnight, now 19 years later, Gabapentin is helping me live a better quality of life. Thank you."
"Started gabapentin at 300 mg daily. Moving up an extra 300 mg every 3 days. Was extremely sleepy for over two weeks with little or no pain relief...until I started taking 2400 mg, 600 mg three times daily. At this dosage, my pain level dropped significantly and the drowsiness side effect stopped. The pain had been so intense I'd been feeling suicidal...and even opiates were not controlling it. Now, with the 2400 mg daily dose of gabapentin, my neuropathy pain is very well controlled and life is good again. I have experienced no side effects since the first few weeks of drowsiness. Don't let doctors tell you that if 900 mg daily doesn't relieve your pain...that the medicine won't work for you. 1800 mg to 3600 mg is a working dose."
"Do your research. If the lowest dose of gabapentin does not work, higher doses will not either. I was prescribed GABA as soon as I was diagnosed with PN due to a side effect for a biologic I had been taking for rheumatoid arthritis. I experienced rapid weight gain, disorientation, and my short-term memory was non-existent. My neurologist increased my dosage 2x, with no success. I did some research on my own and spoke to my rheumatologist and pain management doctor. They both agreed: if the lowest dose doesn't work, then it won't work... It'll just cloud your mind. Stanford University published a study deterring the prescribing of this medication for neuropathy, as did the University of Vancouver, British Columbia. The efficacy rate is 10%."
"I was put on gabapentin right after back surgery on my L4 L5 S1 S2 lower lumbar spine. After 2 years from surgery, I still remain on this medicine due to permanent nerve damage. This medicine managed to calm my nerves at night and get rid of the pain allowing me to fall asleep. I am on 200 mg a night but sometimes only need 100 mg. It has been a lifesaver. I don't take this during the day due to the drowsiness side effect but it works wonderfully. I do wake up extremely thirsty though."
Neurontin (gabapentin) "After visiting a neurologist for burning and tingling pain in both feet, I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy and pre-diabetes. (I'm slender, always ate a well-balanced diet, and exercised.) I tried various medications, but the side effects outweighed any pain relief. I have been on Gabapentin (Neurontin) 200mg at night for four years. It doesn't relieve all pain, but it does allow me to sleep through the night. I wake up every morning in pain, which continues on and off all day. However, I have very little side effects (occasional sadness, irritability, nausea). Neurontin allows me to have a reasonable quality of life and is very inexpensive."
"Before taking gabapentin, I had difficulty walking and getting a good night's sleep. I would constantly get shooting pains up and down my legs, as well as in both feet. In just a few days after beginning taking gabapentin, the majority of the shooting pain in the legs subsided. The pain in the feet is more tolerable as well. Just wondering how long this 'miracle' medicine will continue working for me."
"I see there are many reactions to taking Gabapentin...some bad and some good. I can only report my experience which, to me, was a miracle. I have had pretty bad neuropathy in my feet and lower legs, with severe restless legs which I'd been taking Trazodone for for several years, but it was reaching a point where even that wasn't helping the RLS. My new doctor put me on Gabapentin and it truly was miraculous for me. I am 75 in a couple of months and in what I consider fairly good health. I no longer have RLS at night, and the numbness and pain in feet and legs has greatly subsided. I told my doctor I loved him (which probably frightened the young guy!), but I feel better than I have in years. Guess we all react differently to meds...just have to keep in touch with our docs when we notice something wrong!"
"I have systemic lupus, and was put on gabapentin for continued pain several weeks ago, despite control of my disease. I have not felt this good in 5 years. I can actually sleep through the night, and wake up in no pain! Thank you, gabapentin, I now actually feel I have hope to get back to a normal life."
"I have been taking 300mg of gabapentin 4 weeks ago for moderate neuropathy. My biggest problem was radiating intense pain from the little toe on my right foot. Within days, my pain was totally gone. However, I am constantly very sleepy. Hopefully that will subside over time."
"I have suffered with lumbar degenerative disc disease at L5, L4, L3, spinal instability, and prolapsed discs at L5 and L4 since being first diagnosed officially in approximately 2006, resulting in chronic low back pain and sciatica. I had a discectomy and laminectomy at L5/L4, but the surgery failed 7 weeks out of surgery. I had nerve impingement at multiple levels, including left, right, and central prolapses (again), with slight neural compression along with narrowing of the neural foramina and lateral recess on both sides. In plain English, I could not walk. After trying everything else, they put me on Gabapentin. I am now on 3600mg/day, and I went from being unable to walk or stand to walking and being almost pain-free after 1 week. Miracle!"
"I'm 82. I have peripheral neuropathy. The doctors I've seen are surprised that I have this condition since I am not or ever have been diabetic, and I'm enormously fit for my age. I go to the gym for two hours of intensive workout six days a week. I also eat healthily. But there is no denying I have peripheral neuropathy, and taking Gabapentin has given me wonderful relief from pain and tingling in both feet. I'm grateful for this and would recommend the medicine to anyone. I take a light dosage (300mg) on days that the pain is severe; but often do not take any medicines for two to three days at a time. Thank you Gabapentin."
"I have a mild case of neuropathy. My symptoms are sharp pains and burning in my feet and hands, sensitivity to touch especially on my feet. The neurologist has me on 300 mg of gabapentin three times a day. My symptoms are alleviated so much I can not believe it. I sleep better at night and don't wake up. I am overall relaxed. I feel calm most of the day. It works for me great."
"I have peripheral neuropathy that extends from my toes to mid-thigh. Total tingling and numbness. I take 600 mg three times a day. I still have burning, but it is slight. It has done nothing for my numbness. I think it has affected my thinking abilities some, and I have no focus. I wish I didn’t have to take it."
"Ex-football player through NCAA and a little bit beyond. In my 40s, after years of suffering, I had a lumbar fusion followed 2 years later by cervical fusion. Been on opiate pain relievers for 12 years. Of course, many are familiar with what can happen with these medicines over a long period. Long story short, I am off the opiates, but still have my pain at age 56. Got Doc to prescribe Gabapentin. This is the first week, and it's gotten rid of all the stiffness (I seize up muscularly with physical activity) and knocked out all but localized pain at the surgery sites. So I add Naproxen Sodium, which also adds to the absorption of gabapentin. I'm functioning."
"Wow. I have been on opiates and Neurontin for about 4 years now for debilitating pain in my neck and sacroiliac joint dysfunction, among other things too long to list. At first, the opiates helped for my pains but as time has gone by, they have become a nightmare to deal with. Having to keep upping the doses because they stop working and not to mention the serious constipation that comes with these meds. So, I woke up today and decided to only take the Gabapentin, all at once (that would be 2400mg). OMG, I am not in pain, my mood is so incredibly happy, and my anxiety is also gone. I have energy... Something I did not have for a looong time!! I am going to try and see if maybe I can get off the horrible opiates and stick with my Gaba gaba do!!"
"I needed neck surgery in 2009. I had the surgery, but after a couple of months, I begin to hurt all over and was so stiff it took me hours to get my routine going. I had trouble at work with horrible pain. I finally found a doctor that would listen to me. He put me on 3600mg, and as long as I take it on time and stay on the schedule I am good to go. I am so glad because my job is in law enforcement and I have to be on my toes in the jail. This medication is a Godsend. It's not a narcotic. I hope this note gives everyone a better quality of life."
"I have suffered with peripheral neuropathy in my neck spine for 3 plus years. Started with neck pain and 4 doctors who couldn't diagnose the problem. My 5th doctor, who is now my family doctor, put me on 3600 mg of gabapentin a day and referred me to a neurosurgeon who found the problem in my neck. Surgery was performed to correct the problem plus gabapentin (3600 mg a day), plus other medications I was taking prior to surgery as directed by my new family doctor. My point being, my symptoms of neck pain, arm pain, and leg pain were initially diagnosed as arthritis by 4 doctors. My family doctor and neurosurgeon in combination with gabapentin, the pain and suffering are now 90% reduced to a livable existence. I am 74 years old."
"After a L5-S1 microdiscectomy, the disc reherniated and I was eventually diagnosed with spondylolisthesis. A couple of weeks prior to a scheduled spinal fusion, I developed an extremely severe case of flu, and then a couple of weeks after that came Guillain-Barre Syndrome (a rare autoimmune form of peripheral neuropathy). I have been on 3600mg/day of gabapentin for 18 mos and have been told I can expect to be on it for the 'foreseeable future'. While I still have days where my neuropathy is worse than others, this medicine has played a huge part in my having a better quality of life than I thought was possible with these two major conditions."
"If I could give it no stars, I would! This stuff is for the birds! For the last 3 to 4 years, I have been on 300 mg taken 3 times a day, and it is for my peripheral neuropathy. For the first month to 2 months, it helped some with the pain and the stabbing sensations, etc. It didn't take it away but made it bearable, then it stopped working. I kept telling my doctor it wasn't doing anything anymore, it was like I was taking nothing, even if I took it 4 or more times in a day - all they said was, 'Only take it 3 times as prescribed.' Finally, after about 5 years, they gave me a higher milligram dose. Now, for the last 3 months, it's been 600 mg 3 times a day, however, I can't take a full pill. I have to snap them in half and take half in the morning, half in the afternoon, and another half before bed. Anything more and I'm a zombie for 3 days straight, groggy, and can't keep my eyes open. I have cotton mouth, it feels like I'm outside of my body. Overall, it's a very doped-up feeling, all the while dealing with the pain, the stabbing, the shooting pains, etc., etc."
"I was diagnosed with idiopathic peripheral neuropathy 8 months ago. My neurologist first prescribed Cymbalta. It had no effect. He then prescribed Neurontin (initially 300mg). After 1 day, I notice relief for the pain in my hands, arms, feet, and legs. I was also able to sleep through the night. I am presently taking 600mg. After 2 weeks on Neurontin, the pain is not gone but is 75% reduced."
Neurontin, Gralise, Gabarone
Neurontin, Gralise
