Neurontin dosage

[jason80]

I am currently taking 60mg of Nortriptyline a day for neuropathic pain.  It hasn't been effective so I am planning to switch to Neurontin.   What is the average dose of Neurontin for pain management?  More specifically, with a chronic pain level between 5-7.  Is there a database for Neurontin dosage?  I will be ramping to 300mg of Neurontin per day but am wondering if that's too conservative.  Given the 4 week time constant before the benefits are realized, I am wondering if I should ramp up higher, evaluate the effectiveness at that point and then reduce the dosage if necessary.  With the long delay with these days, I'm worried that I'll be in a lot of pain for a while before the right dosage is found.  Any advice is appreciated.

[Tuckamore]

Sorry, this is a very old thread. The original poster and following commenters are no longer active on this forum.

Ppl don't usually reply - or read old threads. I hope you'll begin a New Question (thread) for all to see. Your input it appreciated.

Thanks,
~Tuck

[arejaye]

Contrary to what one(or maybe more) posted that your Dr should decide your dosage, I rely on my Pharmacists more a LOT more accurate info on meds, dosages, and any side effects, both good and bad. With my experience in using gabapentin for pain management, don't expect much. I've been on 600mg x 3 times daily, and still nothing 4 years later, even when taking oxycodone every 4 hours for all of those 4 years!! They've now jumped me from 600mg 3 times a day, to 600mg 7 times a day, and I've read that's still a fairly low dose...at least a moderate dose. Again, don't expect much, but good luck nonetheless. Suffering with constant pain in the US is absolutely crazy!!! They'd rather let the patient suffer than to treat them with the RIGHT meds, at the RIGHT dosages, from the beginning. For these 4 years, I've had my feet feel like they're on fire, every second of every day, but the Dr's seem to not care because THEY don't have to feel it and deal with it!

[freddou]

nobody really got to the original post reply of what is the 60 mg of Neurontin for?  As to the person who started at 1000 mg - I am in that boat.  and moved to the fuzzy boat when I did 300 for breakfast 300 for lunch and 600 for dinner.  The dinner dose made be feel interplanetary for sure.  But was it dangerous?  Only if I was driving.  Neurontin is not a narcotic/opioid and you can see that it will take the doctor a lot of visits to get to 1000 a month.  Far more than the drugs will take.  The flyer that comes in the Neurontin box even states that a normal dosage is a lot higher than 60 mg.    So, the better advice would be - what is the medical problem - knowing that - go online and research the drug and the problem - and then show the stuff to your doc who won't read it anyhow - and maybe hasn't even updated himself on how much neurontin he is giving you... in fact he may have no experience with prescribing this - or of the medical problem you have.... and may be shooting in the dark with a low dose of a placebo type med - that wont have any real effect on you until it gets to 600 mg!   If that's the case, you'lll be wondering if you should switch doctors for a quicker solution way before that time.

[praemedia]

asking questions about your medications is ALWAYS legit, though forums like this may not be the best place for solid information. do some research online. find out what other people have experienced (in forums like this) but also do some hard research into the half-life, side-effects, drug and other interactions. Do not forget to talk about these things with your DR as well. Do not trust that your DR always knows exactly what he is doing though. If the information you get from other sources differs from your DRs approach, just speak with them about it. Maybe they have a plan or knowledge or experience which puts them on a perfect path to finding the answer. Or perhaps, you'll find that you need a new DR. good luck.

(P.S. - I'll admit my own projections. had three different doctors so far who did not know the correct half-life or drug interactions for what i was taking. one perhpas dangerous one, which my pharmacist was good enough to point out. still looking for that DR who knows.)

[danswife]

not a problem.  I hope you get your question answered in a helpful manner.

[Kelleen]

I was just prescribed Neurontin today for neuropathy from chemo.  In answer to your average dose question, here is how it was prescribed for me...

300 mg capsule-take 1 the first day,  twice per day the 2nd day, then 3 times per day from then on.

Hope this actually answers your question.  Best of luck to you.

[Toomanyadvil]

I'm glad you are not upping the dosage yourself, your post was a bit vague on that end and mentioned no DR when you mentioned ramping up the dose. I'm glad that wasnt the case.

It's wasnt your question, just issues between differing opinions. Am sorry that it turned into what it did.
Hopefully that bit of it isstopped. I should have just left the last post alone and ignored it.

Seems like your gonna have to wait out the adjustment period so that your DR knows what dose will be good for you.
Just dont compare your dose to anyone elses. Medication is so different for everyone and you may not react the same to as high of a dose or as low a dose as someone else.
Just see what happens and let your DR know exactly how the medication is effecting you and your pain. They'll know when to raise the dose as it can take a bit to kick in for your pain.
Good luck and I'm sorry your thread turned into what it did!

[jason80]

Thanks. I didn't realize my question was so controversial! I'm not trying to self medicate, I just want to know what the average dose is since I figured this would give me a better sense of what level I should target. BTW, another doctor suggested a higher dose.

[danswife]

this is for everyone, not just Too- you're hijacking this poor guys thread.  He's asking a legit question and you're all getting off on some tangent about previous posts.  Take if offline- or at least stop hijacking legit threads.

[Toomanyadvil]

Seriously?

I think your grasping at straws here.
Those are completely different subjects and concerns
(PS:Just because a DR's reason doesnt always make sense to us doesnt mean they dont make sense in the world of medicine or that they lack knowlege. if we understood everything we would be the ones writting out the sripts and as you think...making all the awful mistakes...Not a contadiction)

I think your a little confused between personal opinion and points of view from differnt perpectives, such a what a DR might be thinking and what a patient might be thinking. And then there is just common knowlege that everyone should be aware of...like dosing yourself is dangerous and the job of your DR. Thats hardly opinion or a DR's point of view...it's just fact.

I could go on and go through each one of the examples you spent so much time writting out and pull apart your accusations,  but find that this is a little rediculous and I dont like arguing with people on forums. I did it once and realized it was a waste of that persons time and mine.

Reread your post and mine when your not so angry, you'll see that my own opinions stay the same and my points of view are from lots of different angles like the DR's, the patients and the law.
You may also find that you put the blame on your DR for hooking you on high doses of narcotics. It's what you said..I didnt insinuate anything out of your post.

I think your just a little angry and arent really seeing my posts for what they are. A mixture of general informaton, my opinion and points of view.
Seeing both sides of a situation does not bode contradiction.

I post alot because I'm stuck inside for now and will continue to post when I feel I have something to offer. I like doing it and have only the best intentions for myself and other people. So you can keep your vicious comments to yourself and stop trying to pick a fight with someone who you invited into your post to begin with.


Bottom line...your grasping at things that arent true.

Come on...this is rediculous.
I will not be replying to anymore of posts trying to start some type of argument or making nasty accusations.

But I am flattered that you think me so important to read all my posts and put all that energy into trying to disect them.

[AnonDH56]

T, You are not being consistent. I just read some of your posts at "Just Deal with it" and you say,...

"but really those are just guesses because DR's always have about 10 reasons they throw at you for anything...some that make no sense. But still they call the shots when it comes to narcotics. Sucks I know."
===
Here at this post you say,...

"No where did it say that the DR was lacking in their job."
AND
"It takes a while to find the right dose and that should be done by your DR. You can do all the research you like but at the end of the day your DR knows what dose is safe and have reasons as to why. If all the patients started deciding what dose they should be on, we'd have alot of doped up or dead people.  You can always tell your DR what that dose is doing for you but you cant just decide to up or lower a dose yourself. That is dangerous."

SO I dont know where you are coming from, UR a flipflopper. I was encouraging him/her to try and understand as much/learn more, in advance and if they meet with a Dr. that cant handle that or is giving one of those "reasons that make no sense", find another doctor. Not everyone can understand meds but it is worth the effort. I would venture to say more than half of all Drs. cant deal with a patient that does some homework.

AND MORE,... you say,...

"Realize that just because you got addicted to pain pills and a DR messed up your surgery doesnt mean all DR's lack knowlege and are terrible at there job."

I didnt say that, but many many are difficient in their knowledge. They rely more on drug reps than ready journals in the evening. My whole post points out that if you feel you are with a Dr. that isnt up to speed, find one of those who are, they exist.

AND you say,...

"You may want to think about why you arent able to take accountability of your addiction and putting the blame onto your Dr."

You cant be talking to me here, I am not on opiates. I got off them all, all by myself. But you say I cant blame a Dr. for prescribing a regimen that three Drs. since all said was irresponsible, hmm.

AND again you are inconsistent in saying,...

"Stop putting your ill feelings words DR's onto other people" here but elsewhere again contrary you said,...

"but really those are just guesses because DR's always have about 10 ereasons they throw at you for anything...some that make no sense."

ARE U not indicating here doctors are not the know alls they pretend to be? I cant PUT feelings into anyone, I just let them know just how badly doctors can and DO mess things up.

For someone who posts so much, you need to decide just what side of the fence you are one, but better yet, explain when you one place talk like they are quacks and other places you talk like they are perfect. So "Wow, slow down there" Toomanyadvil. At least I am consistent and encourage patients trying to understand their bodies.

D

[Niffer991]

I took Neurotin (gabapenten) for a year and I had to start slowly as instructed by my doctor because it makes you very stoned. I gradually got up to over 5000mg a day but I was in chronic pain. This is definately for your doctor to decide, but from where I was, I started at 1000mg a day and worked my way up. If you have a job where you have to concentrate or think to much, only take a little bit becuase it "fuzzes the mind" I would describe it as. After taking it for a while the "fuzzy mind" diminishes.

Good Luck

[Toomanyadvil]

Wow, slow down there anon. What are you talking about. Read the post over. No where did it say that the DR was lacking in there job.
It takes a while to find the right dose and that should be done by your DR. You can do all theresearch you like but at the end of the day your DR knows what dose is safe and have reasons as to why. If all the patients started deciding what dose they should be on, we'd have alot of doped up or dead people.  You can always tell your DR what that dose is doing for you but you cant just decide to up or lower a dose yourself. That is dangerous.
Take into account this post was also written on a weekend which means the DR is out of the office and most likely wouldnt raise the dose even if there on call.

   Realize that just because you got addicted to pain pills and a DR messed up your surgery doesnt mean all DR's lack knowlege and are terrible at there job.
  Just beacuse someone wants to up there dosage doesnt mean there DR is not on top of there case.  
You may want to think about why you arent able to take accountability of your addiction and putting the blame onto your DR.  
   Stop putting your ill feelings twords DR's onto other people. This post didnt say anything about a bad DR. Whether this person has one or not, they may. But thats not really for us to decide unless they say so. And infact it didnt even mention a DR.
  I love my DR's there great. They dont do everything I want and one of them over looked my diagnosis to begin with which ment I had to suffer for longer, but he found it later and it happens.

[AnonDH56]

Do more research, the info is out there. Toomanyadvil talks about Drs. like they are all equal in knowledge and ability. It is misperforming doctors that Operated on the wrong disc in my back, took the Whole meniscus out of my right knee but told me they just trimmed it, got me hooked on opiates at such high levels, after moving to another area of the state, no one would even take my case. Get you info ready and let the Dr. you see know you at least are trying to understand you body that you are in 24/7 and which he only hears a summary of for ten minutes a month. If the Dr. cant handle you having done research, go find another one or at least get several opinions. They are not Gods and the sooner this society gets over that FACT the sooner their PRACTICING Medicine and making horrific life altering mistakes, the sooner we all can start to heal. Dosages, half-lives of drugs, side effects, interactions with foods and conditions, if you can read and understand all that and it isnt that hard, if you think your Dr. is under-informed, nicely call him or her on it, ask lots of questions, it is your body to live in the next month. Good luck.

[Toomanyadvil]

Hi Jason,
   No one can tell you what you should do when it comes to how much of a dosage you should take for anything. Thats what your DR is for and its dangerous to take these decisions into your own hands.  DR's use different dosages when it comes to medication depending on what there using it for so there is not really a "normal" dose. Someone using it for seizures will take a different dose than someone using it to treat nerve pain.  And when its being used to treat pain not everyone is going to be on the same dose.
It is going to take a while for you and your DR to find the dose that works for you. It isnt a quick process because you need to give medications time to work. Everyone reacts differently to medications. Ramping the dose us yourself can have serious side effects.

Call or see your DR before you do anything,