Just started Gabapentin and going well so far

Thank you so much for your response. I have found that even after less than a week of Gabapebtin 300mg 3 times a day but with a comment from my neuro that I can double the dose to 600mg, weirdly enough it seems to have given me more energy. Side effects are virtually zero. After taking Lyrica 75 mg twice a day for 3 weeks it was terrible and so Gabapentin is fantastic after those side effects.

Well done! I am glad it is working for you!

Yes, its a 50/50 thing with pain control and taking meds constantly. I am taking it for neuropathic pain for multiple sclerosis. Now, 2 weeks in, I am noticing weight gain! I really don't want to increase my weight at all and I follow a very healthy diet and exercise regularly. (Have even given up alcohol about 2 months ago due to weight gain from that ). I will have to weigh (no pun intended, lol) up whether the weight gain is worth it. I am finding Gabapentin is not dealing with all the pain and I certainly don't want to double the dose if its going to increase my weight further. I am still a little drowsy on it intermittently, but will just see how things go over the next couple of months.

I did not have that problem with weight. I do remember being drowsy and in all honesty I can't tell if that is the drug or the anemia which is bad for me. I do protein shakes for lunch but I am not a breakfast person so that is usually a slice of cheese and coffee. Supper is balanced well. When I feel tired, I go walking. I swear the air wakes me up. It is only 2 was for you. I do remember it took me several months to really feel a change in pain. Hang in there and see if time helps or ask your doctor what the drug expectations are!

Thanks Sandra. Yes, its only early days for me, so will give it a good chance. And will have another chat with my neuro when I see him for review in a couple of weeks. Hopefully the weight thing might stabilise too..I don't need a slowing down of metabolism that's for sure and I also have to realise that as an "old" girl in my early 60's, this can occur with age. Grrrrr.

You sure said that right. I have been trying to loose 20 lbs for two years and I told you how I eat and walk a lot. I am pushing 70 and have noticed age makes it difficult. Just be patient and let your neuro make good decisions  for you. I have so much going on but I am a positive person and try anything advised. So far for years the specialists have helped. Maybe do your diary with columns and include date, time, activity, pain, food etc. anything helps them get to a solution. I did all that and that is how my physician figured the timing of the med. my doses are split morning, afternoon and bedtime. That way I am not so drowsy but can sleep good at night. Not all the pain has disappeared as there are days when the barometric pressure changes with he oncoming of a storm an believe me I feel it, but it is no way like it was before I was given G. You just have to find the way it works best but that is how the diary helped. I still see the rheumatologist and pain doctors every 3 months and they consider me plateaued. I am also facing heart surgery so the cardiologist sees me monthly but he approves of the drug too. Try real hard to concentrate on the daily gains as I think that helps a lot. Keep in touch with progress.

Thanks Sandra. The diary is a great idea and many years ago I did keep such a diary. I think I will follow your suggestion and begin to do that again. My neuro is regularly reviewing me and I am due to see him in 2 weeks as he wanted to see how I was going with Gabapentin. Its the dreaded weight gain that will make me decide to go off it. The pain is not at huge levels for me but G seems to help me sleep better and I have lost that "wrapped in barbed wire" feeling and no more restless legs...just have to sort out the pro's and con's further down the track.

I thought a lot of the comments were about coming off it. I agree that it is very effective in treating neuropathic pain. I am on 1800mg and they work well for me. 

I am using it to deal with the effects of my lower back surgery. It's only been six weeks so it isn't fair to say all should be well. But when my surgeon suggested gabapentin I just took his advice. He said he had seen lingering leg pain from going into the S1 area but in his opinion gabapentin after a 5 day steroid treatment has been very effective with the majority of patients with which he has worked. So I'm operating on his success rate which, given his reputation, is phenomenal. I don't see me being on it long at 900 mg a day and I haven't had an oxycodone pill on a few days now. No withdrawal from that so far. I still have the bottle and will take one if I feel the need but so far, so good.

I wholeheartedly agree with you and have tried in the past to state this. If you read the self medicating, over prescribing, obtaining the drug without a physician, self adjusting, mixing with alcohol etc, it is a wonder we don't here about episodes similar to opioids. Me...I have been on it for years no problems at all but I do follow the advice of my physician and I am a nurse. Great news today, I gardened for four hours,cooked supper, babysat and feel wonderful. Tired but no pain! Says a lot.

I'm very comfortable with my surgeon's advice. I also maintain a pain doctor for additional advice. Between the two of them I usually arrive at a solution. One thing I will say is that I will never use a Butrans patch again. 24/7 opioid induction was a disaster for me.

Hi Sandra sounds like you are doing great. May I ask how many mgs you take of gab many Thanks

I take 800 mg 6-7 times a day. No side effects except for drowsiness

I take 600 a day broken down to 2 when I wake up, 2 in the afternoon and 2 at bedtime. I used to be higher when my blood was bad as it created more pain. Now that they have gotten my hemoglobin up, believe it or not pain has decreased. I went to my specialist today and talked to her about everything I am reading on this site. She told me to continue my visits so can talk and if at any time I decided that I wanted to decrease to check with her first and she would help me. She told me she had a patient on 1000 and went off cold turkey and had some seizures. She said this doesn't happen for everyone but it has been known to happen. So I am stressing again for everyone to stay in touch with their prescribing doctor and avoid an unnecessary happening. Years ago I was in so much pain because of no circulation, low blood counts and five joint replacements. I started a pretty good regimen for exercise, lost a lot of weight and I eat healthier so I was able to decrease. Don't get me wrong there are days the pain hits but all in all, I thank God for the new me. When I was on higher doses, I was constantly tired and afraid to drive and my job was driving. Now I start the day with coffee and it helps. I wish I could beat the drowsiness but if that is all I will stick with it. I never had other side effects except an occasional headache.  It those went away with retirement so I wonder if it was a true symptom. If I don't take the drug at set times, I swear my legs will walk away from me and then my arms shake but that goes with restless legs/arms. Hang in there, workith your doctor because the better feelings don't happen over night.

I see no need to increase my 900 mg as everything is working well.

I didn't say to increase. All I said was stay in touch with your physician and I was answering Yy inquiry.