Gabapentin for non-diabetic neuropathy

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I have been dealing  with severe burning in my feet and hands for about three months.  I am currently taking gabapentin 300 mg four times a day, which provides limited relief.  I have not encountered any problems with the gabapentin, but it is certainly a drug that I do not wish to take for the rest of my life!  Does anyone in the forum have burning in the bottom and heel part of their feet? Also, at times my hand are red and burn also.  If so, what have you done for it?  The doctors I have seen so far do not seem interested in finding the reason for the non-diabetic neuropathy.  It is so frustrating.  I would appreciate any feedback!!

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  • Posted

    mine is in my hands, yesterday was the worst day ever, I have taken Gabapentin up to 300 x 3 a day, the side effects were horrible and I had to get off, now I'm not taking any thing but Magnesiun, it worked great for a while but it's worse now , mine is from Lupus 

    • Posted

      mine is in my hands, yesterday was the worst day ever, I have taken Gabapentin up to 300 x 3 a day, the side effects were horrible and I had to get off, now I'm not taking any thing but Magnesiun, it worked great for a while but it's worse now , mine is from Lupus 

  • Posted

    Has anyone heard of CIDP? This can be another cause of the neuropathy.My insurance has denied the infusion of the medication for this. This has worked very well for people and i want to give it a try.Some say it has reversed the neuropathy. This is for people who have non-diabetic neuropathy and are diagnosed with this  by your neurologist .
  • Posted

    Have u had your B12 checked?  Burning feet are also a sign of low B12 and/or pernicious anemia which is what I have.  
  • Posted

    Destiny, did you get past the withdrawal symptoms? I've been off Gabapentin just 5 1/2 weeks. The worst 5 1/2 weeks of my life. 10 doctors, 3 ER trips, No one knows what to do about it. It would be helpful to know if you had any lasting damage done from Gabapentin?

  • Posted

    Yes I have same problem it's my first day taking gabapentin does it take away the burning in hands and feet?

  • Posted

    Hello Destiny7,

    I have similar symptoms to yours (burning hands and feet, decreased sensation in toes, and now perhaps some Raynaud's with it)), and was eventually diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy (SFN)at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.  SFN is different than diabetic neuropathy. DN is in the large nerve fibers, whereas SFN is in the small fibers. It is diagnosed by skin biopsy. I've been on gabapentin for about 3 years now, and had tolerated it fairly well.

    Until recently, that is.  I keep having ophthalmic shingles and trigeminal neuralgia (TN). My GP increased my gabapentin and I was put on huge doses of steroids and Valtrex to try to knock this thing out before I end up having to take something long term for the TN, or even resort to surgery.  Now I am finally having issues with side effects  - the steroids leave me unsettled and unable to sleep, and the gabapentin in causing me to exist in a stupor (as much as one can be in a stupor between jolts of severe facial pain). It's almost impossible to do anything for any length of time. 

    To top it all off, I recently had a UTI. The bacteria was cultured for sensitivity and the prescribed antibiotic killed the bacteria, only to be replaced by two new bacteria, one of which is "difficult to treat." I've been on a new antibiotic for 5 days and no relief at all yet. So I have painful urinary symptoms in addition to the extremely painful TN, and of course the gabapentin side effects.

    If  you have found any methods of coping with the gabapentin side effects, I would love to hear what you have discovered. I will likewise share with you any ideas I come across. For now, my best advice is patience, and be gentle with yourself. You are going through a hard time.

     

  • Posted

    I have non-diabetic neuritis with burning of heels with the right heel burning more than the left that began in 2014 just before my husband and I moved to Spain.   I consulted doctors in Spain and was prescribed Gabapentina but one doctor did not agree and I did not take it until now in 2018 the burning has become more severe and I again consulted a neurologist who prescribed it again just a few days ago.   I soak my feet in water with Epson salt and vinegar and scrape off the hard skin especially on the right foot and that eases the burning temporarily.   I have no other symptoms other than the burning.  Started taking 300mg. morning and night for 3 nights now but right heel is still burning.     What else should I do to get rid of this burning?    Thanks for any assistance in stopping this burning.   
  • Posted

    I have burning feet since several years. I consulted physicians -Nurologists-Diabetologist-ENT specialists also. I am prediabetic from the past 10 years but controlling with diet and physical exercise.

    one month took Gabapentin NT (Nortriptyline) 400 mg and got great relief. But immediately after stopping burning started. It comes in night time and I have to put my feet under cold water to get some relief. I have dry mouth during night time and consume lot of water. But sugar level is within 115 fasting and 135 after food. Now I am taking Melmet 250 mg at night as a precaution. My TSH also normal.

    Can any one tell me , whether long term prediabetic condition might cause Burning sensation in feet. No good sleep since long time. Appreciate your comments and discussion.

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