Gabapentin (Neurontin)

[goofysmom1]

For those of you who take Gabapentin (Neurontin):  Just curious what side effects you have experienced (and at what dosage), and how long they lasted?  I just started this last weekend, 300mg once a day at bedtime.  I am having a really hard time waking up in the morning and for the first half of the day I feel a little "loopy" or my head feels "swimmy"....if that makes any sense.....

My Internist warned me that I may feel tired/groggy in the morning, but that it should go away after a week or so.

Thanks for any input...

Chrisy

[doublevision1]

Re: gabapentin, I started at 100mg 3x/day, and gradually titrated up to the 3600mg daily max dose (1200mg 3x/day).  I recently tried to reduce my dosage and found I really need to stay at the max dose.  I still have neuropathic pain but found that I am getting a good amount of relief from this medication.

In addtion to gapapentin, I am taking 125mg per day of amitriptyline as an adjunct pain treatment.  Started about 6 months after starting gapapentin.  It also takes the edge off the pain and discomfort.  It sometimes but not always makes me drowsy.  Not a problem as I take it before bedtime.  I am noticing some urinary retention as I have gradually titrated up to the 125 mg dose (started at 25mg).  Not a major issue so far but something I am carefully monitoring, due to increased risk of UTI.

I have had zero noticeable side effects from gapapentin.  It has never made me drowsy/loopy, including when I first started taking it to working my way up to the very high max dose.  No effect even when I have a glass or two of wine.  So odd because most people I know who have taken it found it made them drowsy, at least initially.  My neuro says he likes it as he has found it is generally well tolerated, effective, with the least amount of side effects compared with other meds for neuropathic pain.  

[PastorDan]

I also just started this drug, on Friday.  I took one 300mg capsule per day through Sunday, then today I bumped it to two per day, or at least I am supposed to; I haven't taken the second one yet.  I don't recall being told to take it at bedtime.  Thursday, I am supposed to begin taking 3 of them per day, & the neuro-ophthalmologist said it could be several weeks before I adapt to it.  It says 3x/day, not 3 per day at any particular time, so I planned to spread them out, one at bedtime, one when I get up in the morning, and another when I come home from work.

Frustrating to hear that so many drugs might worsen the worst problems I already have.  This was given to help prevent migraine symptoms, if I understood and remember correctly.  Balance and vision have been all goofed up for months, and are both worse today; I pray that this isn't why I felt so crummy today.

[Quixotic1]

Hi, I was also loopy on it.  The effects gradually wore off after a week or two.  

Chrisy, please read the HP on General Principles of Treating Neuropathic (Nerve) Pain.  that explains that it is important to start at a low dose and move up in order to give the med the best chance.  Treating paresthesias is the same principle as treating neuropathic pain.  If you can tolerate this dose, then fine.  But if the level of loopiness would otherwise make you stop it, then ask to work up more gradually.  Or you might do better with a lower dose taken more frequently.

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple%20Sclerosis/General-Principles-of-Treating-Neuropathic-Nerve-Pain/show/452?cid=36

Neurontin has a huge range of dosing.  Some people are okay at the lower end and some need to push it upwards toward 3600mg/day or so.

Good luck,

Quix

[Heather8]

I don't remember what dosage I was taking but I remember feeling like a zombie. I got pregnant and after I was put on lyrica . My side effects were bad with both of these drugs. The main reason why I stopped Neurontin was because I felt worse. Lyrica is pretty much the same drug but my eye sight got really bad. I already have limited vision and it was impossible to see anything . As soon as I stopped taking them I got better.

[goofysmom1]

Thanks for your input.  The way you describe the side effect - as being kind of tipsy - is very accurate.  I am really hoping that this gets better with time...

I am taking it for the burning/tingling/numbness that I have.  I am not familiar with any of the other medications for these types of symptoms - the Gabapentin is the first one I have taken.  It is my understanding that the Gabapentin is the one with the fewest side effects...but of course everyone is different, so that may not be the case for everyone who tries it.

Chrisy

[steph74]

Hi Chrisy,

I started out at 100 mg 3X/day and had relatively minor tiredness with that.  I slowly went up to a level where I was getting more relief (400 mg 3x/day, with an extra 100 mg if I need it).  Unfortunately, now I'm having definite dizziness associated with the medicine.  I'm getting used to it, but it doesn't seem to be going away.

Also, my acohol tolerance, while never high, is miniscule.  If I have a drink, I need to have it with a meal or sip it VERY slowly if I don't want to end up tipsy.  Quite honestly, that's kindof what the side effects feel like--being mildly drunk.  It's really no fun.

I'm taking it for trigeminal neuralgia, so the pain is really worse than the side effects.  I'm wondering if I'd be better off with tegretol?

Stephanie