Questions regarding meds

[glbrooks]

(1)  Why do doctors prescribe Neurontin?  
(2)  Is Neurontin a narcotic?

[clean_in_ks]

The generic name for neurotin is gabapentin.  I've been on it for about 3 yrs.  I had two discs in my back totally rupture and were pressing on my sciatic nerve on the left side for 2 yrs until I got insurance and had surgery to put cages in there instead.

Since I'm w/drawing from pain meds and muscle relaxers, I haven't given up the gabapentin.  It works with the electrical area of our brain in the gaba receptors.  I have a permanently numb foot from the long wait for surgery and the nerve damage that was done while I waited.

I was leary of taking it at first because I knew it was primarily, at least at first designed for, anti-seizure as nurse girl said.  Now I am off lortabs, perocet, somas, antidepressants and didn't feel i should go off my neurotin right now.

It can make you tired.  It sure isn't helping me sleep at night tho!
Hope that isn't TMI (too much info) as my hubby accuses me of.

[nursegirl6572]

*shingles*

[nursegirl6572]

Neurontin is not a narcotic, it is actually classified as an anri-seizure medication.  It is prescribed for many other different reasons...for neuro related pain (from nerve damage, shingle, peripheral neuropathy) , sometimes for depression and anxiety and other psych issues.

While it is not a narcotic, it needs to be slowly tapered when discontinued.

[Stacy_Lynn]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000940/