Worried about starting Gabapentin

As far as I know the answer is no. You need to take this med as prescribed.  Yes it does that to you.   Make you very very tired where you want to sleep all day.  

Read the comments on this site before you get more involved with this drug. We've all been where you are now. If we had know more about it and I only speak for myself I would have never gone on it.

Dear 🐱 lover, I know you’re trying to make an informed decision. 

Have you read the comments on this site called  “Gabapentin Withdrawal Horror?”

I didn’t go through withdrawals since the 2nd dose of the 300 mg capsule form caused me to have an adverse reaction. It caused me to develop a sudden onset of a movement disorder ten years ago.

I found another lady under the question “Anyone else having issues with uncontrollable eye movements with Gabapentin?” who developed daily episodes of stiffening muscles, called Dystonic Storms, after less than a month.  

I posted a video on YouTube called, Gabbing about Gabapentin, to help warn others about the dangers and how doctors will handle your case if you fail on this drug.

 

There have been two recent studies released showing that gab does NOT work for back pain. Doctor's give this out off-label constantly. Please, do not start this drug. As you mentioned, sciatica will go away with PT etc. Yes, it's miserable, but this drug is worse. I can't believe that I now sound like those people who are doom and gloom and trying to use scare tactics. Here it is: Gab was approved for one thing, epilepsy, as it affects the brain. Later they felt it worked for PHN, Post Herpetic Neuraliga i.e pain after shingles (that's why I was given it), then in a very specific type of diabetic nerve pain, it seemed to help a bit. BUT, doctors did NOT understand the side effects and most still don't. They also don't realize the serious problems one has during withdrawal.

I couldn't drive for 3 months as they increased my gab. I eventually had to quit work as I still had the pain, but I had so much confusion, memory loss and cognitive issues that I couldn't do my job. Mine is a common story.

You can not take this like Advil, IF you take it, you need to take it as directed, as it a short half-life, meaning the length of time it takes to get out of the body. But ironically, once the body starts using it, it may take months before the side effects go away.  As stated, read other comments before you continue the drug.

If you stop with it, realize you may already have some slight withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, confusion and increased pain.

Had debilitating pain from post herpetic neuralgia (Shingles outcome). Went through amitriptyline and nortriptyline first. they both whacked me out for most of the day. Nortriptyline to a lesser extent. But it stopped working after several months. Switched to gabapentin. Titrated up to 1800 mg per day over several weeks. Fatigue and sleepiness eventually wears off to a liveable degree after a few weeks. Stayed on it for 2 years.with good results. Then continued chasing zero pain and added a synthetic cannabinoid. Got messed up badly. Ended up hospitalised for an unrelated damaged femoral nerve and depression from a divorce. The treating physician cut off all my medication. My mind ending up clearing after several weeks and I've been pain free for 2 years. Pain and pain meds had messed up my mind. Was always foggy to a degree and was feeling pain that was no longer there. I prefer a good anti-inflammatory for sciatic pain. Have had good experience going this route. I'm just a very experienced patient, not a doctor but I don't believe in gabapentin for sciatica. Too high a price to pay. If your stomach can tolerate a good anti-inflammatory, I would go that route. There is a product you can take with the anti-inflammatory to protect your stomach.

CL88  I took it for years. Been off for 7mos an still have trouble with thinking, remembering, and emotions  

Wish I had never taken it.  

 

I would read all that you can first before continuing this is a addictive drug it took me al least 8 months to get off and horrible withdrawal. Had i known then what I know now I never would have started it. I see a chiropractor now and get relief with him.  Good luck.

Also I think that the drug is worse than the pain I felt.

No please dont skip a dose. The sleepy will go away. I'm on 3 pills a day