Gabapentin w/ swelling of hands & feet and Back pain

how long were you taking it for?? and how much????  

Thank you for the info...did not knoe gaba can cause fluid retention....I am down to 200 mg for one more week   then 100 for 3 weeks then every other day....then i think twice a week......hopefully that will be it.....I dragged it out and I still think I was getting withdrawals past 3 days........only lasted one and a half hours today.......this is horrible....then i have depoke to get off off  God help me

Depakote is just as bad with fluid retention... You may need to seek a second opinion.

Your doctor doesn't seem to notice the common problem between the two medications.

Are you taking it for epilepsy?

If not there is absolutely NO reason to be on Depakote.

Magnesium would probably be the best route to go, if you're on it for anti-seizure.

Hyponatremia is very deadly, you need your sodium levels tested and request the doctor to give you a copy of the blood test so you can directly see the results.

Any blood sodium level below 136 is bad.

I almost died from hyponatremia while pregnant... I had several undiagnosed complications. They blamed the weight gain on me eating too much... I was actually eating healthy and working out every day.

It got to the point I had a 2 week hospital stay after having my daughter via cesarean section 16 months ago.

I could barely open my eyes from it.

Fluid got into my lungs and heart causing temporary congestive heart failure which fixed itself as soon as they gave me a few rounds of IV Lasix... 30 lbs came off of me...

While most cases don't get that bad, I want others to be aware it can happen.

Try limiting fluid intake to 50 oz daily max.

Here is some information on Gabapentin withdrawal and common methods used to treat it: http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2014/04/19/gabapentin-neurontin-withdrawal-symptoms-duration/

Here is information on hyponatremia, it often isn't a big deal- And you may not even have it- But it's always great to be aware: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyponatremia/basics/definition/con-20031445

I was recently prescribed to Gabapentin for opiod withdrawal after stopping my prescription pain killers for a severe back injury that I obtained at work.

Once I found out it was an anti-seizure drug and research side effects like weight gain and severe hair loss, I stopped taking it.

I was 2 days in so I am fine.

I am super careful about the medications that I take. I switched doctors and my new doctor took my off of hydrocodone because he "doesn't believe in narcotics" yet won't get me an MRI for a bad injury I've had for 4 months... Why I left my last doctor after he kept promising to setup an MRI but not doing it.

Visited the ER twice last week for extreme pain worse than my contractions when my epidural didn't work, ha. They directly sent an MRI order to my new doctor becuase they did not have an MRI machine directly at the facility.

He did an x-ray instead. I have a total back injury and it started in my lower back but moved to my entire back being worse in my upper. He just did it for my lower back. Obviously I have no broken bones so an x-ray did nothing.

Ugh.

I only planned on taking hydrocodone until something was done for the injury. After 4 physical therapy sessions I told them I had bone pain in my back and neck, they said they think I have a severe injury and were too afraid of making it worse.

Anyway, Gabapentin seems like it has too many problems and not enough positive aspects.

If you were taking it as anti-seizure, Trileptal and Ativan are what I am prescribed to (and stuck on for life, though I no longer have epilepsy if I stop taking either withdrawal would cause a seizure but these medications have been wonderful. No bad side effects. I can't even tell when I've taken them) I do recommend them still, being they have minimal side effects. You CAN stop taking them. I choose not to because I stick with what works for me with medications, I don't want to add to or change.

I hope this has helped.

I live in the US it's hard to find a good doctor.

I left a long comment with more advice but it's awaiting moderation due to the length of the comment and links provided.

Ha ha.

I hope your problems are solved. I personally don't think Depakote is a good medication because it can cause similar issues.

Dear Rita, please if you can keep the leaflet on the box given when they prescribing it for you, in that leaflet there are lots of informations about side effect of the drugs and also the telephone number where to ring if you are really concern about your condition after taking this drug (or any drug)

thank you .......just got a new prescription and its still in the bag...I will check....been reading alot of things online

Thank you for all this information........Yes I live in the US too...  New York....I am seeing aheadache specialist..........I have been getting very dizzy over one year ago.........went to ENTs neurologist etc etc...went for lots of testing  MRI....ct scan... balance test... caloric test.. gaze test rotary chair test...some were even repeated....basically all was good....the rotary chair test at one point something went up a little higher in the est and everything I told the doctor they said it was migraines associated with vertigo.....basically process of elimination...ok I thought great...the find it some meds going to feel great again.... nope  they put me on noretripyline  reaaly didnt work  .......went back to neurologist.....she put me on Gaba in July 2015  mid july  300....then august 400...she said she did not want to increase it....sent me to the headache specialist....Treating me for MAV.........I have to say she did get me functioning much better but..i am still getting dizzy........I have been asking about coming off gaba.......both meds are also used for migraines and this is suppose to get treated as a migraine.......she takes blood tests every two months to four months..and does give me copies.....I have had no weight gain........but I am going to look at the results for the sodium........once I am off the gaba completely for a week or so I want to start decreasing the Depakote even if its by 100...taking 500 one time a day........going to check out links

That Gabapentin link I read..........Maybe these 2 days were the worst...I hope......apparently this med is out of your system completely after one or two days after finishing  but some people can get effects for months...but it depends how long your on it and how much you were taking..I was 400 for months and 300 for one month    depakote I satarted Setember 24 2015......need to get off that too

Well best thing is reading from the manufacture directly which is in that leaflet you have got in your bag (LOL)

Going to do that.....Hate reading all this stuff   get so nervous

I know ..me to..but you are incharge of your own health..if we know what this drug do to our body..believe me...you less likely wanting to put it in your moutth..and dont forget..it is there for temporary only..we have to change our lifestyle..by chnaging our diet..eating a healthy food..drinking at least 2 ltrs of water..doing at least 10 - 15 minutes walking each day..stop eating fryied food..junk food..(LOL) then sooner you ll be a bit better and need not taking all that drugs..I used to take 8 drugs all together to include that ''gabapentin'' I stopped now..I only taking paracetomol or tramadol if i can;t put up with the pain..I am waiting for the operation now..but I was struggling..there was one day I was house bound unable to walk..but I was persevere..my health care team were really good in supporting me..they keep advising me..these drugs helping you tmporarily..at the end of the day..it is up to us..whether we would like to get better or not????

so sorry you had to go through all that.....much harder when you are pregnant....ok just checked sodium levels  Oct...142  Nov  141....have to get blood work done again in about a month

I agree with you completely...I drink 8 glasses water a day...eat healthy...exercise when I feel good (Gym)...just pulled my back this morning  lol   but will do my stretches later whatever I can do.........weather here in US going to be cold  alittle snowny all week....Hate this weather......like it when its warm  but I am going to try and walk down the street to the meat store  so I can get a little fresh air........

tHATS GOOD BUT DONT DO TOO MUCH, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY AS WELL, IN UK ITS 6C ATM, WELL GOOD LUCK

I am sorry but with all the people i talk to sometimes I forget.....what meds are you taking????

I used to take lots of medications to include gabapentin, not anyore though, I take nothing ...from 8 drugs to nothing at all if I am desperate i take tramadol..i take supplements and magnesium oil..thats all, eat healthy food, non fried food or junk..drink plenty..walking 15 - 20 minutes each day..and also take omega 3 as well as grape fruit extract

Thats great!!  Really trying hard.....everyday is like ok how am I going to feel today.......If I feel good I take care of alot of stuff....I take calcium Magnesium/D3

Hi Rita, thats the problem with lots of people, when the feel good theyd o too much, you shoul djust accepted your condition, if you feel not that good do 10 minutes, if you good do 15 minutes, instead of 20 minutes..prhaps drink more..try to buy ORAC/OMEGA 3 (mix) take it each day... be soon you will be out of any medication, makesure if you ar going to take out of medi..check with with your doc and dont just stop straight away.. take it half the dosage..hey you can ask Dr Sarah jarvis here on the blog..she is very excellent...she is on this site ..she knows soooo muccch

thank you

Have you considered Marijuana for treatment of epilepsy and/or pain? It is medically used for it in many places. Especially CBD oil with no THC content. I know this isn't a site to promote substances, but it is much safer than what you are taking...

Ashamed in UK we are not able to gt marijuana for treatment

I didn't say legally

I know, I just do not want to go to that route, you never know it might not be a clear one...and if you have a serious mechanical/structure problem is best to buy from the legal site.

agreed

Sometimes you have to keep going to different doctors to find the right answer for you. It can take a long time. Just never give up.

i am literally running out of doctors to go to.........going to see a neuro optometrist on feb 25.......if nothing shows up there....then I have no idea where to look for answers

Hi can I ask at any point having u struggled to breath on gabapentin, I've had loads of the serious side effects but for a year I've not been able to breath i have really struggled to breathe. I've cut them dwn to 100mg now still on a 100, wen I started cutting g dwn my breathing improved uve been on a 100 for 2 weeks and the breathing problems have come back. U mentioned fluid on yur luv gs