Gabapentin?? side effects?

[Wobbly]

Hi there, the MS specialist wants me to up the dose of gabapentin, I'm not taking much right now, only 1 pill 300 mg at night as it really tires me out.

She wants me to take 100 mg twice a day in the daytime, but I'm taking amantadine twice a day to help with fatigue.  Now the gabapentine twice a day makes me tired?  

does gabapentin have a side effect that effects you mouth...my teeth, gums.. etc..get so sore everyday for the past few days, not sure why.  I though maybe one tooth, but the other parts of my mouth get sore as well?

plus I'm so out of it, that I can't go outside... I'm so tired and can't seem to sit for long.  

I don't know if its the meds...cause the amount isn't that high... if not the meds...why is this happening?

I'm not sure what to do about it..

take care
wobbly
dx

[slightlybroken]

Hi,

I had some side affects when they tried to up my dosage. I'm currently on 300mg daily. They wanted me on 600mg daily but it made me feel funny in the head. I felt drunk and dizzy all day. I decided to up it slower than they wanted me to and the neuro agreed.

Is your mouth dry too or just sore?

[Udkas]

Hi there,
I can relate to your problem.  I take Gabapentin, I started on 900mg daily and now take 1800mg daily.

At first I suffered from the dry mouth, some double vision etc. especially when I upped the dose but my body has gotten used to it and I do find it helps.  You do need to give it time, I started on a weekend when I didn't have to work but this time round took longer to get used to but I must admit I just went straight to doubling it rather than doing it gradually.

I recently tried to take gabapentin with amitriptiline under my Drs orders but it made me so bad (sleepy) that I couldn't function for work, so I had to stop it, my Dr suggested I take a weeks holiday and take it for a week at bedtime and then my body would get used to it, but I can't do that at the moment. (the amitriptiline i mean).

Hang in there, increase the dose gradually, your body will adjust, but any unusual side affects talk to your DR.

Take care,
Udkas

[Wobbly]

my mouth feels dry and sore... side of my face is sore near my right ear... I feel dizzy and off balance, cant consentrate.  I don't know if I should be taking amantadine as well as the gabapentin.  

I don't know...these are not fun to take.  I feel like I have no energy to do anything or consentrate to get anything done.  my head movements are worse since I've been taking more too?  The Dr said I have nerve damage so I have head tibulation?  

the gabapentin has not improved the pains in my legs that I get in the evening.  or the zapping, tingling.....maybe it's not high enough.. they said to go up to two pills, twice a day... like 200 mg twice a day and 300mg at bedtime.  I can't get to the two 100mg twice a day without feeling dizzy etc.

thanks for your reply... I guess the side effects might just slow down and we will see
take care
wobbly
dx

[Wobbly]

I will keep taking the gabapentin, and give it time to work... and up it slowly.

thanks
wobbly
dx

[Erin0313]

  Hi! Sorry you are suffering side effects. I am on 1800 mg a day and am suffering spinning sensations (vertigo).

  It's my own fault because I thought it was making me gain weight so I lowered my own dose (slowly) to see if it made a difference and when it didn't I started upping back to my normal dose to get the burning sensations back under control. Now I too have to suffer some side effects.

Hang in there it will get better and you are not alone.

Hugs,
Erin :)

[meg321]

My dr just prescribed gabapentin to me today, my husband is picking it up now.  She is giving it to me for my headaches..i am a bit skeptical about it helping but they know more than i do.

I take my first dose tonight, not sure of the dosage yet.  

Are you or anyone else taked it for headaches?  

hugs, meg

[Wobbly]

Hi there.. I'm not taking it for headaches...I don't get them... I'm taking it for leg pains, and tingling, numbness etc.. it's supposed to help with neuro pain...

what I can tell you now is take it at a low dose to start and go up slowly, otherwise you might get side effects... some people do and others do not.  

good luck.
wobbly

[kmil1999]

My husband takes it for headaches.  Doesn't always keep them at bay, but it definitely helps.

Good luck,
Karen

[meg321]

Yes, she said she was starting me at a low dose, and i trust her a lot since she is my MS dr.

and, Karen, i am so glad it helps your husbands headaches.

I am concerned about starting them right now because I am going to have some extraction soon and i dont know if they can be taken with pain meds, which i will need for litte while.

hugs, meg

[kellieg71]

Gabapentin does make you sleepy and sometimes foggy in the brain.  
Just FYI, I have been researching MS alot lately and saw that sometimes oral pain or toothache's can also be a symptom of ms.  

[tingling803]

I also take gabapentin for leg tingling  and pain in legs as spasms prescribed by my neurologist.. I take 400 mgs.. it helps my energy level, i take it 4times dailey.It does help also with the leg spasms, but not the tingling.  I have not been diagnosed with ms, which i feel is what i probably have-have had these symptoms for over 20 years.  I have vertigo, dizziness, fatigue, leg pins and needles and spasms.  I have had several mri's, one did show some leisons.  It is very frusturating, have had every test other than a recent spinal tap, which i do not want to have.Last one was 15 years ago, and was clear.I take effexor also, this does help for some reason with the head noise and vertigo.

[PastorDan]

Gabapentin was one of the most difficult medicines to which I've ever had to become acclimated, but since I did, it has been well worth it.  I was having severe eye pain, particularly orbital pain.  It was frequently debilitating.  I had the pain nearly all of every day.  On a 1-10 scale I'd have rated it at least a 6, usually 7 or 8, and sometimes pushing a 9.  (This is from someone who has a history of kidney stones with complications that once required a 17 day hospitalization.)  Now I still have it nearly every day, but for less than an hour almost every day that it occurs, and at a level of 2 to 4 for severity.

I started with 300 mg 1x/day, and was to do three days, then 2x/day for 3 more, then 3x/day.  Well, to make a long story short (HA! Me?!), my 3-day steps wound up being closer to 3-week steps.  After a month or so at 900, the neuro-ophthalmologist agreed with my proposal to up it to 1200 mg/day.  Also, I recently began taking them more nearly around the clock rather than all at bedtime, and this also seems to have helped quite a bit.

Overall, I rate gabapentin as the only thing that has had any lasting positive effect for any  of my symptoms.  That might have something to do with the fact that this was the only doctor who seemed to genuinely listen to all I had to say before leaping to any conclusions.

[Ufrustrated2]

by kellieg71, Sep 11, 2009 11:59PM
To: wobbly

>>Just FYI, I have been researching MS alot lately and saw that sometimes oral pain or toothache's can also be a symptom of ms.  

hey, do you have the link that shows this information? sometime back i went and had a tooth pulled due to the shooting pain. guess what? pain is sill there. on my right side. same side that has the dull throbbing pain in the eye.

gabapentin does nothing for it ...

[SickMomma_PDX]

Hey Meg,

Fwiw, I just got diagnosed Gabapentin for headaches. But I'm just starting it so I don't know anything about it yet, really. I'm also starting on a low dose and building up. Let's hope it works for both of us!!

[meg321]

That is all great feedback...I just started my Gabapentin last night, so Sick Momma we need to stay in touch and see how it goes for both of us.

The Dr started me on 300mg for one week and then go to 400mg.

[meg321]

I didnt finish that message,,,i guess i hit the wrong button.  I hope this med is as good for me as it seems to be for some of you.....

When my MS Dr. prescribed, i argued that I thought it was my eyes....but I should trust her judgement, she is usually right.

I dont have toothaches, just bad teeth...

later, meg

[SickMomma_PDX]

Meg:

We should totally keep in touch about it! I just started last night 300 mg pills 1x/day for three days, then 2x per day for 3 days and then 3x/day. I took my first pill at bedtime and was actually disappointed that it didn't seem to help me fall asleep. But maybe that's the reason for my having a bad fatigue day today? Time will tell. Definitely not helping with my headaches yet.

(And I hope everyone understood I meant I'd been prescribed gabapentin rather than diagnosed! I hate it when my brain farts and I use an incorrect word even though I know the right one. Happens a lot more in speech than in writing -- I think this was the first time I'd done it in writing ... at least that I've noticed!)

--SM

[meg321]

Hi,
I started mine last night and I was really sleepy this afternoon not sure if its a side effect or not. My fatigue really doesnt make me sleepy..

Time will tell I guess.  But someone said it can make you sleepy, but the next day?

we will see what happens tomorrow...

hugs, meg

[FrankieT]

I am not dx MS, but I took Gabapentin for a wrist issue where I couldn't use my wrist for a month with no explanation. I was out of it, made really bad decisions (decided to remodel the entire office with a 60 day deadline - oops) was tired and my wrist still hurt. So then when I tried to get off it, that's when the problems really started. I do not have depression, I am not suffering from a chemical imbalance, I do not have hopeless thoughts, but when I tried to stop taking Gabapentin I did not want to move, breathe or enter the next day. It was confusing and scary. Do your research on this drug just so you can be prepared and don't get sideblinded like I did.

[PatHC]

I have recently built up my does to 3 x 100 mg a day and it is helping with the parathesia but does not help me sleep. My MS Nurse said that her intention with it for me is that if it gets rid of some pain and parathesia then sleep will follow.

I returned to see my GP this week as she wanted to see me after I had reached this dose and she has now told me to take 200mg at night and 2x 100mg during the day. She is happy for me to build to 200mg x 3 times s day. Her actual words were 'play with it until you are happy'. I then have to see her again before I take anymore. 300mg a day is the minimum dose and doesn't always work because it is such a low dose. I find supplementing it with analgesic helps.

It has not made me tired, although it is hard to tell the difference some days as I suffer with fatigue too in a random fashion. However, my GP would like to see me without pain for at least 50% of the time and that is the reason for it.

Reading the health page that Quix did on pain management in MS is enlightening and educational, it certainly helped me.

Pat x

[Wobbly]

I went to the specialist and was told to "play with the meds limit as well" ... first stop what I'm taking which was only 500mg a day..for a few days...then start up again slowing and play with it... keep the Dr informed as how I'm feeling..

he gave me his email and want's me to stay in touch with him that way unless I'm feeling worse then before.. I'm hoping it helps with some of the pain.  and not have side effects too bad.

I have stopped the day time dose...still take the 300mg at bedtime because when I stopped the bedtime med I couldn't sleep...now I didn't give it much time..I started the 300 mg as it helps me sleep and stops the leg pains in bed.

I feel better not taking it in the daytime.. I'm not as constipated as I was..but I was taking Amantadine as well as Gabapentin, so I'm not sure which one made me constipated.  My leg pains through the day are alot worse since I stopped the med in the daytime, so I'm thinking of starting it again...without the Amantadine to see if it helps.. 100mg once a day then twice a day..

like he said I'll play with it.. but not take the Amantadine unless I get horrible fatigue again.  

take care and good luck with this med
wobbly
dx

[meg321]

So far I have had no sgnificant side effects from the Gabapentin, my headaches are a bit better, but I have been feeling better anyway, but it's most likely not the Gabapentin since I only started it about a week ago.

I thought it was making me sleepy but that was only the first day after I took it the previous night.

hugs, meg

[Wobbly]

what dose are you taking now..?  and started??

I'm uping mine slowing... 400 mg a day so far and it good so far..
doesn't help with anything...but I'm not zoned out yet or anything..

take care
wobbly

[rudyhorse]

Yep, I take Gabapentin also and a pretty high dose.  It does help me, but I hate taking any meds.......Like PastorDan once I got used to it, I was glad to have it.  My sister can tolerate a much lower dose than I can, so I know there are differences in tolerance and finding the right level.  Best wishes on that quest. :)
Tracy

[jules2212]

Hi my name is Julie i have been taking gabaentin for about 6/7 months with no side effects. I started on 900mgs  a day taken as 1x300mgs in the morning, afternoon and again at night  soon after symptoms in my legs became unbearable so the dose was increased to 1800mgs a day 3x300mgs in the morning and 3x300mgs at bed time. I have had  no side effects from this dose either. Keep sticking with it as you will benefit from this drug through time if it agrees with your system. Take care and keep well.
Best Wishes
Julie x  

[meg321]

Does gabapentin cause weight gain..i am gaining weight, but not sure what is causing it.  I havent changed my diet but then again maybe I will have to.

This could become a serious RANT !!

So far I have no bad side affects from gabapentin yet..my fatigue is geting better thiugh, but not sure why.

hugs, meg

[Wobbly]

I've heard it does ... but I havent gained yet...but then my appitite is off aibt.. how are you headaches now??  My leg pains have improved abit..

take care
wobbly

[saveone]

Wobbly, I too took gabapentin.  I started at 100 mg 3x daily, still wasn't getting much relief.  It was upped to 300 mg 3x daily.  

I never had any side effects.  I guess I was one of the lucky ones.  However, I have gained 30 pounds in a year.  Because I was complaining about it they (my doc and the pharmacist)  switched me to Lyrica.  For 2 months I have not gained any but I haven't lost it either.

If I remember right you also have had bouts of anemia.  One symptom of anemia is sore tongue and mouth.  Cracks at the corner of the mouth and also thrush.  

I hope you find the correct dose and find some pain relief.

terry

[LLWB]

I have taken gabapentin for lots of years, off & on since 1991. It has never caused me to gain weight. When Lyrica was approved for nerve pain, my PCP thought I should switch. First off it was sssoooo expensive! $75.00 co-pay. Then IT caused me to gain 15lbs in a month! So, switched back to gab. I take 1 300mg pill 3x a day, + 2 at night. And can increase when I need to. I also can take Tramadol, 2 50mg tabs 4x a day. I don't usually need to take that many for pain. So, to answer one of your above questions, yes you can take pain pills along with the gab. If there is anything else I can answer, please feel free to ask. I hope your headaches are gone soon.

Maggie

[meg321]

It sounds as if everyone has different reactions to this drug..i am taking 600 mgs a day at bedtime, it makes me sleep good, i don't know how anyone can take it during the or in such high doses.

I am way too sleepy to type....later..

hugs, meg

[Glenislay]

I think everybody has different experiences with meds for many reasons, but here's my unique experience with gabapentin maybe pointing out some things not mentioned above.  I have been taking 4x900.  It took me a while to figure out what might be gabapentin side effects because I was on, starting, or stopping so many other meds at first.  

I believe gabapentin causes my feet to slightly swell to where I use diabetic socks to keep from cutting off circulation and getting cold feet.  I think this is common for older people.  I am 52.

My vision changes anytime the dosage of gabapentin is changed, so I have had to update glasses almost every dosage change. Catching the vision change thing for me reduced the feeling of dizziness because it was just the need for different glasses.  Noticed certain fluorescent lights take time to adjust to, but can't say if it is connected to gaba.  

Initially when on 300mg/d, I learned if I skipped gaba more than a day, I would pay with adjustment side effects of dizziness, etc. all over again the next time I took it.  I have gerd/acid reflux and have to be careful because certain gerd meds may block the amount of gaba dosage absorbed and causes the side effects of changing gaba dosages if not timing when meds are taken.

Even though it says on the insert to stay away from grapefruit and maybe other citrus while on gaba, I also discovered that drinking Squirt and some other popular clear sodas with citrus will greatly interact with gaba and cause dizziness and other negatives like feeling of being slightly drunk (they should mention sodas with grapefruit/citrus as well on the insert and the neurontin website because people don't think of sodas having grapefruit sometimes).  

I have gained about 15 pounds either from inactivity or gaba or both over the last two years.  I am a computer programmer and have to admit, I cannot do multiple calculations in my head anymore. I think my concentration regained somewhat after a long term adjustment to a fixed dosage. I learned to use additional tools to help keep organized and reminded. I think in my situation, the life changing health crisis may also have played a part in concentration. Any negatives have been more than worth the cost for the benefits in my situation.  

[Wobbly]

Hi there...that's very interesting to hear others info that we haven't heard before... could you tell me why you take Gabapentin...is it for MS Pain...or tingling, numbness...

by the way... I'm 56 and not an older person....hahahaha

I have Gerds as well and take Pariet daily for it.. and drink Diet 7 UP..
should I be not drinking this?  

I didn't see any info on this...but then I don't like to check them out too much as I would get every side effect I read..hehehe

take care
wobbly
dx

[Glenislay]

I know this is the MS community, but I was searching for gaba info because I am at such a high dosage.   After 5 years of neurologic pain in my chest and shoulder (which always mimicked angina or a heart attack), in 2007 a doctor prescribed 300 mg of gabapentin that took those pains away, but not before a year long frozen shoulder.

Then shortly after this in 2007, I started getting unbelievable pain attacks. I can only describe the attacks as if a steak knife was stabbed in my upper side under my arm pit, then the knife is ripped down towards my groin and sometimes then down my leg.  Thankfully, each attack only lasts a 1-2 seconds.  Most days, I would only get 2-5 attacks, but had some days of 20-100 attacks.  When I get more than 3-4 attacks, I cannot get out of bed for a day or two after.  These attacks give me ongoing swollen, pulled stomach muscles from reacting to the torturous pain, which my doctor thought were tumors at first because people don't get pulled muscles in those spots.  There was no more driving because I would wreck if I had an attack and no more going out in public because of embarrassing yelling during attacks and people sure I was having a heart attack. About 12 years ago in an accident, I ripped off my finger tips, took a chunk out of my arm, and hit my back so hard it was black.  It didn't hurt as bad as one of these pain attacks.

Pain doctor and another doc think it is postherpetic neuralgia, but primary doc and neuro are just leaving it at peripheral neuropathy.  Recently had pain go to other side, so that throws a new wrench. Gaba has been a life saver for me. I have eliminated a lot of other negative meds knowing it is what works for me.

I think Diet 7up is fine because of its contents.  It is also the closest of all sodas to the ph of water.  Definitely Squirt could cause a side effect in some people taking gaba.  Other sodas that say citrus might too, because grapefruit is cheap juice.  I am on a PPI and ranitidine, plus occasionally need coating stuff like sucralfate, so my gerd meds are more extreme than some.  I am guessing, but things that coat like tums, bismus, sucralfate might be more of an issue than PPI's and Zantac for some that are just adjusting to gaba.  Just timing the gaba an hour or two before or after gerd stuff would help consistency rather than at same time.  Tums/Rolaids can affect some blood pressure and other meds the same way.  

As far as age, it is not the year of the car, but the mileage.  Also attitude makes the difference between highway miles and off road.  :-)