Neurontin and throat issues

[Nerve_Wrecked]

Ok, I guess I'm looking for some input as to WHY this could happen, because it makes no sense at all to me, but as stands, it's happening!

I have been on and off Neurontin for 2 years or so. I'm terrible at taking medications, and I hate to, so often I go off of it for months at a time. In August (while I was on Neurontin), I quite suddenly lost the ability to swallow solids. They would lodge in my throat for 24+ hours.

Now my throat problems have been intermittent since. But 2 things seem to be happening. 1) Oddly, as soon as I start Neurontin, my throat problems dissolve and 2) as soon as I go off (by 3 missed doses even) they start back up again.

Now Neurontin is for neuropathic pain, so how could it possibly be effecting my throat.

Could it be that the problems with my throat are only sensory?

I just don't understand, does anyone out there have any ideas about the science of this?

Christine
(Undiagnosed)

[DMW2004]

DMW2004

i CHOKE WITH SUCH FREQUENCY THQAT SOMETIMES  I JUST GET SO TIRED IT DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.  I COUGH OVER FOOD, DRINK, TOO ,MUCH WIND IN MY FACE, ALLERGIES, AND STRONG SCENTS.  MY FRIENDS HAVE ALL LEARNED TO COPE WITH ME WHEN I AM OUT AND WHEN I JUST SIT QUIETLY AND TRY TO RELAX IT SETTLES DOWN.  I WISH SOMEONE COULD SUGGEST SOMETHING TO CONTAIN THIS, AS I FIND IT VERY EMBARRASSING WHEN I AM OUT.  

[spankyandrex]

YAY, on Saturday it will be 3 FRIGGEN WEEKS WOO HOO!  I am so proud of myself, BUT it has not been easy. Even my coworker is helping me out.  When I say "oh gawd, I need a ciggy", she says, NO - ask me in 5 min or take a deep breath or run to the bank" and we both forget about it LOL!  She even smokes!  Yes, I am doing well, but I still WANT one, I just don't NEED one. There's a HUGE difference.  GOOD JOB to you !!  CONGRATULATIONS to you too.  I am so excited this is one way I am getting healthier and doing something for myself and my health. NOW, at some point, I will have to face the whole weight thing.  YUK! LOL!

[Rena705]

OH MY GAWD!! Spanky...you quit smoking??? Me Too!!  CONGRATULATIONS MY DEAR!!!

Lots of Hugs,

Rena

[spankyandrex]

OH MY GAWD!  I have this problem too!  I am not diagnosed with MS, but Fibromyalgia (see most recent post).  On 12/05/07 my neuro put me on Gabapentin (Neurotonin).  A few days later, my throat became sore and swelled a bit.  THought I was getting an infection.  I continued the drug for a while and decided in late January I am stopping it because 1 - it was not working for my burning feet and 2 - was making my throat swell and IS ONE of the side effects of this drug that if it happens, stop it immediately (didn't know until later.)  My neuro agreed and taught me how to down dose to get off of it.  That was end of January and still to this day I am having problems with tightness at night and in the morning and soreness all day.  I quit smoking because of these problems (YAY) about 3 weeks ago, but they have continued. I am definately going to talk to my Dr. about this tomorrow. At night it becomes constructed and I can't breathe, it's kind of scary.  I'll let you know what he says.  THANK YOU for posting this, I thought I was just me.

[Rena705]

I forgot about that...at Christmas when it was the worst,  I would put a pill on my tongue and take some water in my mouth and it was all I could do to swallow..it was like my brain had forgotten how to do it!

I too am choking on my own saliva frequently still and it's as though the food or the pills get caught on a ledge at times and I have to drink a lot to get it down.

This is all pretty wierd if you ask me!  ha ha

Rena

[Wobbly]

I too am not Dxs yet...possible MS.. I have the same issues as above that Erica wrote... I sometimes start choking in the middle of the night, or daytime...when I'm eating or not eating...my throat goes funny?  and I feel like I have to make myself swallow...I sometimes drool...yek...I did have two different doctors...one specialist tell me when I was having a check up...that my throat was swollen,,(did I have a sore throat) I said NO... but all problems have started since then.. weird eh..

andie

[ELT]

Yes, my throat does seem confused.  Like it has forgotten how to make the muscles work to cause the food/liquid to go down.  I choke on my own spit frequently.  LOL

I have to relax everything and try to breath slowly and easily through my nose at the same time.  When it gets stuck, or slowed, like that.  

Erica

[jensequitur]

That's not a bad idea, Erica...  I've had my throat lock up on me several times, but nothing bad enough to make me gag or make the food stick in my throat.  But it does feel like a 'confusion' of the throat.  When my throat locks up, what I do is think of something else - try to distract myself - and let the autonomic stuff kick in and take care of it for me.

[ELT]

I too am undiagnosed.  I have had a lot of symptoms, over an extended period of time.  No lesions on mri, all other tests within normal realms.

Probably four times which I remember, my throat acted up.  It would last anywhere from a week to three.  I had difficulties with it on and off, but it was always uncomfortable during the times it was misbehaving.

Sometimes my throat seems to shut down in mid swallow.  Food, or liquid gets partway down and stops.  I aspirate liquids all the time.  I had to stop using water with my toothpaste when I brush my teeth, because my gag reflex has increased.  So, I'm mostly careful about chewing stuff well, not taking too big a swallow, going slow.  Or, I entertain my fellow eaters with a coughing spell, hopefully not onto their food, clothes, whatever.  But, it's happened, sigh.  

The worst is wasting my beer, as I try to inhale it, instead of swallow it.  As quix said about the leg buckling thing?  Muscles not coordinating together to make joints work?  Maybe this is throat muscles not working together to make us swallow?

I've no idea, that just popped into my head.  LOL

And there is nothing visibly wrong with my throat.

Erica

[Nerve_Wrecked]

That would be great. I was also ON neurontin when my problems started, and was forced into stopping it when my throat went bonkers.

I too had a barium swallow, which showed a possible "esophageal web" and an ulcer, but the scope showed absolutely positively nothing abnormal. Maybe there was a mix up of some sort, with my films or paperwork. The scope was actually normal though, no paperwork to mix up there!

I'd love to hear if you have any issues, too, having been through the same thing (sort of, mine was less severe than yours). It's just so strange, and makes NO sense to me!

Christine

[Rena705]

Hi Christine...I have been on Neurontin 1600mg since last October or so and I have had swallowing issues most around Christmas time where I had the heimlich performed on me a few times due to pills or food that "stuck".  I did have a Barium Swallow in January and nothing was found but since then the swallowing issues have subsided.  I have stopped Neurontin cold turkey as of yesterday so I will let you know if anything changes ok? I am on Lyrica 75mg/day until yesterday I increased to 150mg/day.  Don't know if that will make any difference but I will be sure to let you know ok?

Rena