No longer tolerating Neurontin?

[Nerve_Wrecked]

I think I've developed an intolerance to Neurontin. After 2.5 years of going off and on it (bad me), I've been on it consistantly for about 6 months now. All of a sudden, over the last week or so, a few hours after I take my dose, I get hit with SEVERE vertigo. I walk like I'm completely drunk, my world spins mercilessly, and nothing helps. The vertigo's been getting worse each day, and today it's been at it's worst.

I've had to take a nap on the couch the last few days, which REALLY bothers me since I am at home with my 2 girls (aged 2.5 years and 4 years). I am blessed that they are very good, but I don't feel I'm doing what's best for them, so starting tomorrow morning, I'll be weaning down my Neurontin, in anticipation of a change of meds. I take 600mg in the morning, and 600mg at dinner time. So tomorrow morning I'll only take 300mg, since it's the morning dose that does me the most damage. And I'll call and see if I can get in to see my doc this week.

I'm not sure what else to expect. Will she try me on Lyrica? Or since it's so close (so I've read) to Neurontin will she bypass that all together in favour of something else? IS there something else?

I hate this. I hate that I have to keep taking this drug, I hate feeling so awful. Has anyone else been through this? If so, what course of action did your doc take?

Thanks
Christine
(un-dx)

[Fluffysmom]

I switched from neurontin to Lyrica, and for me it was a very good move.  I did gain some weight, but that was a few months after I switched and coincided with a herniated disc, acute onset tremors, and exteme fatigue, so I really don't think the weight gain was from the Lyrica.

I take a much lower dose of Lyrica than I did Neurontin.  I have bouts of dizziness/vertigo, but they started long before Neurontin, so that probably doesn't relate to your situation at all.

I just want you to know that I sympathize and I can smell the lemon and banana here in Portland OR.  I have some very ripe bananas and plan on making a loaf of banana bread with walnuts.

wishing you the best,

Kathy

[Nerve_Wrecked]

Good to know I'm not alone. Weird how one can suddenly start reacting to something like that.

I only took 300mg this morning, rather than my usual 600mg, and I feel a lot better than I have been in days gone by. I have more "shocks" but at this point, it's far better than the vertigo, which was bordering on crippling.

I feel overheated now, but that's likely because I'm baking loafs (banana and lemon, 2 of each, with only 1 loaf pan), so my oven's been going for the last 3.5 hours. I've opened a window now (thank Heaven for a house that gets a good cross breeze).

Unfortunately I can't get in to see my family doc until June 12, so I may have to go see my "back up" doc about this. I'm not sure yet.

Christine
(un-dx)

[MrsPriz]

Christine, you almost sound like me.  I am now off Neurontin and considering the suggestion my Neuro has of starting on Lyrica.  I feel better the last few days being off it, but the nerve symptoms and related pain are getting to be too much (I am NOT looking forward to returning to work Tuesday after a three day weekend).  From what I am learning on reading about Lyrica I am hesitant in starting it, but I have to do something.  How one med effects someone can be totally different from how it effects the next person, and two related meds can effect the same person differently.  I am trying to maintain a positive attitude.  Eventually something WILL do what I need it to do for me.
It's really hard with having young kids and being so tired.  Mine are 7 and nearly 5.  I feel for you..  and remember..  you are not alone.  hugs*

~Debbi

[Ley5792]

My doc put me on Neurontin for pain, I took 300mg a night for a few weeks with no side effects (my doc wants to work me up to 600mg).

Then after taking it for a while I would get extremely dizzy and weak, have diarrhea, and feel like I was going to puke. This lasted for four weeks (as it took me a while to realize why I was sick).

I lost over 15 pounds in that time.  I forgot to take it one night and woke up feeling improved, didn't take it the following night and the morning after I felt FINE.

I discussed this with my neuro and she brought me down to 100mg a night for now. The buzzing in my legs seems stronger, but I have yet to feel like H-E-double toothpicks.

Thought it was interesting you had similar.

~Ley

[Nerve_Wrecked]

I haven't had a chance to talk to her (my doc) yet. I'll be making an appointment to get in and see her as soon as I can. She's only in 3 mornings a week, and my husband takes the car to work (I don't drive), so it's kind of hard to get in and see her.


The only other meds I take are 10mg of Domperidone (I think it's called Bella Donna in the US) to keep some intermittent nausea I suffer from, away and the occasional Ibuprophen. That's IT.
My doc doesn't like the idea of drugging me up (on ANYTHING) if she doesn't need to. Even for fatigue she just advised that I increase my B12 (I'm bad, I didn't. I'm not good about remembering pills).

Well, like the rest of the women in my family, if I'm gonna do it (be ill) I gotta do it weird! At least my doc's seeing me as someone to learn from!

Christine

[Quixotic1]

The use of meds in MS is something that I know about only from reading and not from experience.  My concern is why you are suddenly becoming symptomatic on it.  I would wonder about another med causing the levels to shoot up.  I looked it up and there are a couple meds that can increase the blood levels of gabapentin, such as Darvon and Morphine.  There is a huge list of drugs with lesser effects on the levels of gabapenten:

http://www.drugs.***/drug-interactions/neurontin_d03182.html

(***=com)

It is excreted by the kidneys, so if the kidney function decreased, the levels could rise to symptomatic levels.

Suddenly getting toxic symptoms (if that is what your are experiencing) is unusual after tolerating something for a long time.  

What does your doc say about all this?

People who have failed to get relief with gabapentin often do get relief with Lyrica, even though they are related.

Quix