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Misuse of gabapentin/ neurontin

Posted , 9 users are following.

sandra07610
sandra07610

this is a great website for information but personally I am getting tired of some of the postings being printed by ignorant people that find the drugs through the wrong places and prescribe the dosages without physician help. They think they can play with drugs and then crucify the pharmaceutical companies or the doctors because of their own ignorance. Try taking the physician's advice or even try going to one for help. Not every drug works for everyone. But then your doctor helps by either replacing it or adjusting it. There are a lot of these people that use it appropriately and have success. I personally think for me it has been a blessing and I have read other stories that feel the same. But if you are stupid enough to prescribe your daughter with medication, borrow it from a friend, let mom provide it and adjust the mg as you want; then you have no one to blame for your discomfort but yourself. Then stay off this site until you get your degree and really know what you are speaking about. Stop ruining the progress that some of us have made. You have no one to blame but yourself for the way you feel physically or neurologically and you have no right to scare people because of your ignorant behavior.

2 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • susie95034
    susie95034 sandra07610

    Posted

    Hi Sandra,

    You are the first person I have read on this site who has given a positive about Gabapentim.  I have tried this drug but I panicked when I read about the awful withdrawals and felt trapped into thinking that I must stay on this drug otherwise I will end up the same.  Sooooo I too couldnt wait and came off too quickly and got into an awful mess, couldnt stop crying for days.  I suffer from depression too so take Sertraline and Depokate which suits me fine.  BUT!!!!! my pain is unbearable everyday.  T had a spinal neck fusion to stop paralysis then a hip replacement, then a hernia developed on the same side, so you could say my arthritis is pretty active, like I used to be he he he.  I would like to be brave enough to take this medication again, but this site has scared me witless and I am worried I will get suicidal thoughts again.  I have spoken to my GP and she suggests changing my antidepessants? the last time she did that I was a walking zombie.  So do I just keep on coping and snapping my poor hubbies head off from time to time?  Thanks for writing on this site some sense and perhaps you could write to me.  Thanks in advancerolleyes

     

    • sandra07610
      sandra07610 susie95034

      Posted

      Hi Susie,

      i have arthritis so bad and have had five joint replacements. I suffer and I mean that from malabsorption anemia which requires infusions and transfusions and I have a pacemaker. I listen to the doctors. I follow the doctors and I don't abuse this drug the way I have been reading that others gave. If you run into problems, you talk to your doctor and withdrawal must be slow. But I have been on this for years. It controls the restless leg, restless arms and pain. Now I can lay down which I could not do before and I can sleep.the nuts that do their own prescribing and adjusting should not be allowed on a site where people truly want help. Good luck. And I strongly believe in second opinions so don't be afraid to reach out for another thought process.

    • susie95034
      susie95034 sandra07610

      Posted

      Thankyou Sandra I am so sorry for your pain and am glad you find relief from this drug.  I will try another doctor when my confidence returns, my gp is only trying to help but heck she is run off her feet and is not the sort you can chat to.  Our practice is so large now I dont know the other gps anymore as the ones I knew have all retired.  Where have all the good ones gone????????? that listen.  Take care and thanks for replying x
    • sandra07610
      sandra07610 susie95034

      Posted

      If I were you and suffering with pain, I would consider a rheumatologist if it is arthritis. If you are having the pain from the problems you listed, there are pain doctors. But before you fill anything, check with the doctor that treats your depression because a lot of drugs clash with antidepressants. You can find help.
  • annie1963
    annie1963 sandra07610

    Posted

    I was scared of it at first because of all of the negative comments here as well. But I HAD to do something. I was taking opiate based med and it wasn't helping my pain and upping the dose is not an option. As a matter of fact, I'm trying to stop it altogether. My doc tried me on several things and the Gralise has been the best. It's timed release Gabapentin and without it I'm in horrible pain. I have no other options. Thanks for putting a nicer spin on this drug.

  • yiggie
    yiggie sandra07610

    Posted

    This is a great site sandra and when you are in pain and you need something to ease it, I was desperate for my sister to give me some of her meds.  Yes I took this not knowing and I'm not blaming anyone but myself for this, so keep your opinions to yourself.  Sites like this help people like me who are too scared to go to dr.  People on this site have had experience of this nasty drug and there help is a blessing to me..  Ignorant person 

  • kimberly45582
    kimberly45582 sandra07610

    Posted

    Hi Sandra...thank you for starting this discussion. I too have had success with gabapentin and I have stated this on some of the other discussions that have developed on this site. Gabapentin was prescribed by a pain doctor who has been working with me since October. I suffer from a hereditary nerve disorder and I have spinal stenosis caused from degenerative disk disease. I have had very good results since taking gabapentin. I was not able to take hot baths or showers prior to taking the gabapentin and now I can which is a big thing for me. There is no way I would ever take this medication without the direction of a doctor. If someone is having severe side effects and stops taking this medication do so under the care of your doctor...it is the safest way to do so. I read an incident where a doctor told her patient to stop cold turkey which was very scary. My advice is if you suffer from a specific health condition then ask your general practitioner if there is a specialist you can get referred to for special care. I went through hell when my previous doctor tried to manage my pain. It was so much better with my new doctor who immediately referred me to a pain clinic and now I trust the doctor who is managing my pain because he is a pain specialist.
    • sandra07610
      sandra07610 kimberly45582

      Posted

      I am so happy for you Kimberly because this is exactly what I experienced but with my specialist knowledge I am much better. It pays to listen. 
  • annie1963
    annie1963 sandra07610

    Posted

    Also, I told my doctor about my fears because of the internet input, and she told me that everything isn't always what it looks like.  Most people write only parts of the truth. And you are right about people self diagnosing and self medicating, but they are going to do it.  I personally wouldn't know how to go about getting meds that aren't prescribed to me.   Anyway, my doc said she took the med that she gave me and that is what sealed the deal for me, because I also work in healthcare and need something that isn't narcotic based.    

    • sandra07610
      sandra07610 annie1963

      Posted

      Thank you Annie and Kimberly for using common sense. I will continue to be the ignorant person who goes to bat for the person who may or may not have a medical backround. Most of the people that you read about who have had a negative response have self diagnosed and self prescribed. So trust your doctor or clinician as they went to school a long time for your benefit. 
  • 1Warbonnet
    1Warbonnet sandra07610

    Posted

    Wow sandra07610.....if you are unhappy with all of the "ignorant" and "stupid" people on this site, please do us all a favor and skip over the posts that upset you so much. Most people on here are struggling to find relief, and we don't need to be reprimanded by you with all your insults!! It's wonderful that it has been so a "blessing" for you, but as we all know, medicine works differently with each of us. If you don't have anything positive to say or have a suggestion to help someone, please scroll on to another post. There is no sense in anyone behaving so irritably as you have.

    • sandra07610
      sandra07610 1Warbonnet

      Posted

      Wow! You really misread my statement. People are in pain and my heart goes out to anyone that has to live with it. And I have suggested options to consider. But the people that are using it incorrectly or self prescribing need to get advice from professionals before they really harm themselves. And what they are doing is scaring those of us that turn to the medical community for advice. Read some of those moments. 
    • kimberly45582
      kimberly45582 1Warbonnet

      Posted

      I don't understand why you are taking this comment so personally...the title is called misuse of gabapentin/neurotin. I clearly wouldn't condone the misuse of this medication even if a person was in severe pain. It's the type of medication that should be monitored by a health professional.

  • sharon65520
    sharon65520 sandra07610

    Posted

    I just want to state that gabapentin has been a life saver for me.  The pain in my thigh was unbearable.  I couldn't even let my bedsheets touch it at night.  I was taking vicodin 2 tabs every 3-4 hours with no relief.  I was finally prescribed gabapentin.  I titrated up from 100 mg 3X a day to my present dose of 700 mg 3X a day.  My diagnosis has gone between pinched nerve at L2-L3 and meralgia parenthetica.  I am hoping for some permanent relief soon.  I have severe arthritis in my arms and the gabapentin doesn't do anything for that pain, but the nerve pain, Yes!  The only side effects I have experienced are swelling of my hands and weight gain.  A small price to pay for a drug that has given me my life back.

  • elizabeth_69902
    elizabeth_69902 sandra07610

    Posted

    Amen! For withdrawals from hard drugs this is a life saver! For chronic pain this really does help some people, I take gaba and have for two years! My mother in law lyrica worked better. For me Lyrica didn't help. If someone wants to get high off this med is stupid because after one day your body adjusts and a high isn't possible. It is for us that need this daily OIL as I call it. It doesn't stop my pain but gives me the oil to be active. Without it I'd be not moving and and bed bound. And I have been without and it's not horrible just uncomfortable. People withdraw from high power opiates and see what real withdrawals are! This is legit!!!

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