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Gabapentin 600mg. ×3 Daily.

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lou88359
lou88359

I have been on Gabapebtin for at least 2 years. My health is v.poor and I have lost complete faith in Doctors (Practice based NOT hospital consultants. For last 2 months approx I have had roughly 5-6 attacks where I am ok one minute then all of a sudden I am poleaxed by what I can only describe as severe flu-like symptoms. Raging temp (40oc). Burning up but shivering violently with cold at the same time. Raging headache/pains. Agonising pains in joints. Esp legs, jaw, neck and legs. Skin even painful to touch. And an overall feeling of severe illness. I get through these as best I can without getting onto Drs but a prior attack left me in Hospital with suspected Meningitis. I had to ring my Dr last nite as becoming worse and worse. She intimated that I cld have had a reaction to Gabapentin despite my being on them for at least 2 years. This is exactly why I give my Drs a wide berth. I know when something is v.wrong but have lost the will to keep fighting. Has anybody else experienced, or know of, any severe reaction to Gabapentim, despite long-term use. I really need advice as I am v.close to giving up now. Thank you in advance.b

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • neurojohn
    neurojohn lou88359

    Posted

    hi lou. do you take anthing else apart from gabapentin like co-codamal.? were your doctor thinks it relates to a bad reaction to gab medication it sound like the problem is in the autoimmune system as this been checked out lou. i hope the info is of some use in making you feel better soon. and wish you well.
    • lou88359
      lou88359 neurojohn

      Posted

      Hi John. Thanx for reply. Yes, I take Co- Cod aswell. I feel its something worse than just a reaction. But you answered my question however, why 5 seperare attacks over last 2 mths ? Why, if they are a reaction to both drugs together, are they so spaced far apart ? And why now as been in them both for 2yrs at least. I forgot to add that I also had severe lower abdo pain as well. I just feel my Drs trying to fob me off with any old possibility without doing further investigation. Your reply tho gave me some faith as I really thought a reaction after all this time, was absurd of them to suggest ! 😊

    • neurojohn
      neurojohn lou88359

      Posted

      hi lou .thanks for the reply .gabapentin is a nerve block used for pain based conditions part of the alzains group it can lower your immune defences so it seems like your body is attacking itself in away . as you will probably know the medication can do more harm than good.!  but i do not want to worry you. and in some cases the medication as worked well for some but not for all . so a good base to start and i hope you feel better soon. and chin-up. thanks john
    • lou88359
      lou88359 neurojohn

      Posted

      Thanx John. I was admitted to Hosp during one of these attacks and they were leaning towards Viral Meningitis esp as I was on a drug at that time that all but wiped out the immune system. But bcos I refused a lumbar puncture and head M.R.I they cldn't be sure. I came off that drug straightaway and not been on it since. That attack was months ago. And it was only 2 mths ago that these started again despite no new drugs. I can see where you're coming from now and it does make sense. I just thought the Dr I spoke to was trying to fob me off despite me being in tears. I am thinking now because of your helpful advice that maybe I shldn't be too quick to dismiss what she said 'cld' be a cause. Thankyou so much John for taking the time to read my post and for replying. Its helped me open my otherwise closed, stubborn mind ! ? Best wishes for ur good health and happiness. X

    • Rener
      Rener lou88359

      Posted

      Wow Lou mine is also lower abdo and pelvic. Excruciating pain. Made worse per increase of gabapentin. If you find out what the cause of origin please let me know. We are starting to think pelvic congestion. Just hard to find right Specialist. Sherri
  • robert68588
    robert68588 lou88359

    Posted

    Hi Lou.Been taking Gabapetin for nerve block/pain from IBS,anxiety/depression and associated back pain about 5 month now starting at 200mg going up to 600mg(200 am,mid day.pm).I also take Mirtazapine for anxiety/depression(15 am,pm) and Tramadol 50mg twice a day.It's always hard to tell which is the illness and which is the medicine,but it is possible.When they put me on Mirt/Gab combo they also were weaning me off of Paxil after 20 years twice a day and I can here what your saying about being at your wits end.Still have some pretty bad days.But no matter what hang in there! We're destined for a better place if we hang on to the end.Keep us updated and I'll keep in touch.My prayers to you.God Bless You,Bob

    • lou88359
      lou88359 robert68588

      Posted

      Hi Bob. Its true when u say its hard sometimes to determine whether its a medication causing the problem or an illness. I am on a lot of medication. Now being classed as a Chronic Pain Sufferer has made me worry that no matter what pain I am in and even when I have never had that pain before, the Drs are just going to dismiss it and put it down to the Osteoporosis or the Osteoarthritis. Therefore not investigating it further. Its the same with the Meds I am on. The Drs are too quick at times to say that it could be down to the Meds I am taking being the reason for these attacks, abdominal pains, nausea and vomiting daily for a period of 3 weeks. All of these I have suffered with on separate occasions and I haven't even gone to the Drs about them purely because I have lost faith. I am going to try and wean off Gabapentin mainly to see whether it stops these attacks but also, as I am no longer sure how much they help with the daily pain, the only way I can determine that is to come off them. Fingers crossed I never have another of these attacks. Never felt closer to death as I do when I am suffering through one of those ! Many Thanks for reading and replying to my post Bob. Wishing you Good Health an Happiness. Lou. ?

    • robert68588
      robert68588 lou88359

      Posted

      Hi Lou.Good luck and I'll be praying for you.Let me know how you are doing and how you feel on your tapering.God Bless You,Bob

  • Rener
    Rener lou88359

    Posted

    I have been on gabapentin for 5 years. I've come to realize my very poor health all began when I started taking gabapentin. Over the last 5 years My health has slowly gotten so bad that I can't even balance my electrolytes!  I started as a non addictive pain med. lol right there!  Gabapentin is worse in that area then any opiate benzo combo imagineable. Withdrawals are horrible!! I'm currently fighting constant infections. 4 pnuemonias last year and recently menegitis. I'm tapering off as fast as my body will allow. This med has ruined my health completely. Looking forward or praying I can regain some good health. My adrenal glands are basically shot plus every system in my body is just not functioning well at all. Hope I can get on top of this before it gets me. Worse than that is My GP doesn't believe Me!  Good luck to you!  Sherri

  • Rener
    Rener lou88359

    Posted

    Plus diagnosed with Addison's disease!  Auto immune. My adrenal glands just wore out from pain

  • Rener
    Rener lou88359

    Posted

    Lou, I also got bacterial menegitis this past Labor Day. I had pretty good health and 5 years ago started taking gabapentin. I have severe back pain and was told by many Doctors and Specialist this was the best thing for Me. My health is so poor now I don't know what's going to happen next. Chronic upper respiratory infections and now chronic infections. Every single system in my body has been effected. I to am trying to get off this horrible drug as fast as possible. I was too out of it to notice that it was the side effects that were making me so sick. I have no energy and have been in ICU about 12x this year. I can't even keep My electrolytes balanced. I'm praying that I can get off this poison and start to recover. I don't understand why Doctors are not looking closer at these deadly side effects!!  This could have been stopped years ago had any Doctor that I saw said let's go down!  All I heard was go up on mg.  E pain I thought once was excruciating isn't bad compared to what I've suffered for past 5 years!! I wish you luck and pray you don't have menegitis! Sherri

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