Neurontin, long term use

[maxj]

I have been taking Neurontin for 12 months now, since nerve damage occurred during total hip replacement surgery last year.  I am currently taking 3600mg/day (900mg x 4) and have been at this dosage for 6 months, previously at 2400mg/day.  I have recently had a neurostimulation system implanted for the neuropathic pain, but use of Neurontin is still called for at this point due to symptoms.  My concern is with long term use and side effects of Neurontin (mid-forties male, 170 lbs).  Can you please enlighten me regarding this question?  
Thank you in advance.

[n2flying]

Hi folks...I appreciate this nice forum.  

I have been taking neurontin for six months for polyneuropathy at low doses and it reduced my pain and increased my endurance without discomfort.  My side effects were just a little nasal dryness and initially (first two weeks or a month) some slight fuzziness just after taking the dosage.

Does anyone know what would be a natural (herbal, supplement) replacement for this drug?  I read above that Magnezium might be one.  Has anyone tried this, or know of something else that would work?

Thanks

[DryInTexas]

I have been on neurontin now for 11 months. My use of it is a little unorthodox. In January of this year, my psychiatrist preprescribed it (along with other meds) to ease my anxiety after stopping drinking alcohol. She ramped me up on it slowly and I eventually reached about 2,000 mg/day. Currently, I take 600 mg in the a.m. and 300 mg again at noon. I don't know when or if she plans to get me off it. She says it's a harmless drug and that a patient can be weaned off of it at any time. The only side-effects I've experienced (and still do, but to a lesser extent than in the beginning of treatment) is dizziness and sleepiness, but both are manageable at this point. I found this site because I was concerned about long-term use of the drug. Does anyone else here take it for reasons other than pain?

[Bunni]

I had a menengioma brain tumor (5.3 cm) frontalobal removed in August'03 - it was benign and completely removed.  The neurologist placed me first on Dilantin for seizure control, although the only seizure I ever had was one prior to finding out I had a tumor - Dilantin adversely affected my liver so I was removed over a 2 week transition period to Neurotin - 1600 mg per day and 25 mg of Topamax per day. I keep reading that Neurontin is not particularly good for seizure control so why am I taking it? It is very expensive and I am expected to take it for up to one year- I have been told that I need to take this to normalize my brain waves that are presently too active.  I'm reading about Neurontin as a pain reliver but I'm experiencing constant aches and pains, particular in my legs - also have swelling in my right leg, and ankle, painful left toe, what is this all about - the doctors say it is not related.  I also have mood swings and can't seem to tolerate much stress.

[Bad Billy]

I experienced Neurontin withdraw symptoms back in March similar to those described above.  It took me 2 months to get off it.  I suffer from Bi-Polar Type II and think that maybe that had something to do with the problems I experienced.  A couple weeks ago I woke up with the same feeling that the abscence of neurontin presented back in March.  Now I went 6 months without a problem, then wham.  Has anyone ever heard of that occurring?  Can the neurontin withdraw be protracted or cause permenent damage?

[DrHelp]

Did you know that MAGNESIUM (a very vital natural nutrient)
attaches to the SAME EXACT chemical receptor as NEUROTIN and exhibits its mode of actions?
magnesium can be used in place of neurotin in many persons for many different reasons with dramatic results.
i was AMAZED at what magnesium supplementation did for me.
most persons are deficient in this nutrient (it is easily excreted) and there are many disorders that magnesium will help.
do your research!!!!
there are many "rules" about magnesium!
i did over 90 hours of research on the subject. it is fascinating-- to think people are on neurotin and they could just try something natural that produces the same effect by attaching to the same receptor as neurotin.

PLEASE-- if you have any muscle rigidity, tremors, twitching, ANXIETY, depression, AGITATION, mitral value prolpase, heart palpatations, panic attacks, asthma, restless legs, and more-- PLEASE DO A SEARCH FOR YOURSELF ON MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY. YOU WILL BE AMAZED.
you may even find yourself the answer you have been searching for for so long.
i cant go into all the important facts on this post-- so PLEASE READ AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ABOUT IT!!!!
some important points****
-you cant take a blood test for it-- its innaccurate-- will come out normal. you need intracellular measurements-- not blood tests!
-do not take magnesium supplements with calcium-- it interferes!
-slow-mag is magnesium chloride-- its a good over the counter supplement that favors better absorption (it has a small amount of calcium but not enough to interfere-- aviod calcium- mag combo supplements
-it is verysafe to take mag-- except in persons with kidney disease
-by taking it orally, it may take 2 weeks to get tissue levels back to normal and decrease your symptoms
- it is a very common deficiency and so widely OVERLOOKED!
- diuretics, caffeine increases magnesium loss-aviod these
-in severe cases you can get injections

it makes me so sad that A LOT of people will never realize this and never research or find this out-- and suffer for so many years.

[Demiguise]

Thanks for your great info. Earlier I said the verdict is out in
my mind & you explained why. If `Kit' did a search here, the FYI
by this forum even states sudden stop can cause a seizure in non-
epileptics. It's great if it works & in pain you'll try or pay
anything. That's my point. Once hooked, they up the dose. I'd
like to know if it's so great, why is dose 300 up 4000 mg a DAY?
In other countries it's sold in generic form `Gabapentin'. It's
safe? If you don't stop slowly your brain & body can go into a
permanent spiral. Non-addicting? Your body didn't crave it but
I wouldn't want what happened to you. The docs aren't monitoring
tests. I know someone on 2000 mg & they woke in pain. A call to
the ofc. put them up an extra 1000! Why so many thousands of mg?
Why not 100 or 300? Those #'s scare me. Doesn't sound like all
are pain free either. I read:`it seems to help'. An MD said,`if
it's not really noticebly working in 60 days, something else less
costly should be tried.' Once this is off patent, we'll see if
the hype is there. I really hope Neurontin is the magic bullet
for many. Just be sure the Dr. is paying attention to you & still
looking for the source or evaluating w/ follow-up. I'm hurting
now w/ neck-nerve damage, numb hand & essential tremors. After my
EMG, maybe I'll ck. back.