Cure all???

He probably gave you the wonder drug for the nerve damage. Usually given for diabetic nerve damage. My doc prescribed it for nerve damage from a botched surgery. Only took 600 a day though for 3 months. Didn't help at all , so I just stopped. Didn't have any problems though. Lots of people on here have had a really bad time conning off it. Guess I was just lucky. Won't try it again though. Don't think they can do anything for nerve damage. Nerve blocks Didn't help either. I'm 71 and guess I just have to live with this. What a miserable way to end things. Best of luck to you sir. From what I've read on here those withdrawals will eventually end but it must be awful for you.

Do you really want the answer to why doctors hand out Gabapentin like it’s a Cure All?

First of all, I want to say I’m sorry you walked blindly into a false advertising scheme.  It began in 1996, when a drug company went off label with their anti-epileptic drug that wasn’t selling well. 

 I’m not going into the entire story but if you want to know, the 2004 trial was filed as: “Franklin v. Warner Lambert.”  Even though Parke Davis and their subsidiary company, Warner Lambert sold their company to become a unit of Pfizer, they pled guilty, and paid a $430 million fine for violation of The False Claims Act.

For some stupid reason, the FDA gave them a reward by giving them approval for Neurontin to be used for postherpetic neuralgia for Shingles, but doctors were allowed to prescribe it for many unapproved uses.

In 2008 I had lumbar nerve pain, and was given Gabapentin, 300 mg capsules. It’s the rapid release formulary.

Within an hour after the 2nd dose, my palms became sweaty and I kept wiping them on my jeans. I  thought I had set off some kind of reaction by causing too much friction.

I suddenly had a visual change of seeing bright dots of light and my left hand started shaking rapidly with an internal burning sensation, then uncontrollable movements began rushing  throughout my body. 

That  may sound crazy, but it seemed even crazier to me when I started having uncontrollable laughing spells, even though I had been yelling, “This drug is ruining me, my life is screwed!”  Ten years later and I still haven’t received any help. 

My doctor’s nurse said, “Side Effects always wear off.”  No they don’t!

I didn’t know my doctor would ask another doctor  to hide my brain MRI results, which showed a 5 mm x 6 mm lesion on my hypothalamus gland, which is probably a stroke. He spread stories that when my husband went on a motorcycle trip, my so called psychological disorder suddenly became a physical problem. 

I believe that Gabapentin / Neurontin has become the most protected RX drug to the detriment of mankind.

Yes, I agree that it causes dizziness, so why would a neurologist give it to you for Vertigo? 

I’m glad that you told your experience, and hope you didn’t mind my answer to your question.

Did you ever see an ear, nose and throat specialist?  Best wishes to finding help.

Oh, I forgot. I have insomnia really bad. Another doc wanted me to take Gabapentin for sleep..I just flat refused it. I'd rather the sleep problems than Gabapentin problems. So , everybody needs to do their homework on meds. I don't think doctors worry much about problems these meds can cause.

Hi Gary, same withdrawal symptoms here.  Was on gabapentin for 2.5 months only, prescribed for mild neuropathy, feet. Low dose, 100mg/200mg, then 300. Hated how it made me feel so I tapered myself off within a week. Off now for 1 month 17 days. Still having those goofy symptoms but lessening. I hear it can take a while for some, I may be one of them lol. 

Bear with it.. a friend quoted a friend of hers saying “All your symptoms will subside in time and you will heal.”