Gabapentin for Neuropathy

[medtran49]

No offense meant, but if symptoms are looked for, there's a much better chance they'll be found, even if they have nothing to do with a medication, i.e. just having a bad day, low blood sugar rebound, virus, imagination, etc.

I was placed on an antidepressant years and years ago due to extremely stressful issues at the time. Don't remember what it was it was so long ago. After taking it for a couple of weeks or so, I got so jumpy that every little noise, even having my back to a doorway, made it so bad I felt like jumping out of my skin. And hadn't done a darn thing for my depressive feelings. Believe me, I got off that drug as fast as I could, and went back to normal after a few days. I dealt with my feelings drug free after that.

My husband was put on a psychiatric medication after having a bad accident, needing surgery for full length spiral fractures of both bones in his lower leg, down into his ankle joint as well, having a bad reaction to the opiates he was given pre and post surgery, plus the anesthesia meds, and then a small stroke in hospital, all resulting in behavioral issues. The hospital called in psychiatrists against my wishes, who put him on meds, which the hospitalist would cut down or stop, but then hubs would act out in middle of night, psychiatrist would get called, meds restarted, rinse and repeat. This went on for weeks. The meds they put him on caused him to regress in time, thinking it was 15-20 years earlier, not understand, and act out more. Vicious cycle. Very long story, but I weaned him off the drugs as fast as I could once he got home and his mental state cleared as he was weaned.

So, given the above, I do understand your hesitation, but it's more helpful to start with thinking this is going to help me, rather than OMG I'm going to have all these side effects.

 

[Linda0818]

No offense meant, but if symptoms are looked for, there's a much better chance they'll be found, even if they have nothing to do with a medication, i.e. just having a bad day, low blood sugar rebound, virus, imagination, etc.

I was placed on an antidepressant years and years ago due to extremely stressful issues at the time. Don't remember what it was it was so long ago. After taking it for a couple of weeks or so, I got so jumpy that every little noise, even having my back to a doorway, made it so bad I felt like jumping out of my skin. And hadn't done a darn thing for my depressive feelings. Believe me, I got off that drug as fast as I could, and went back to normal after a few days. I dealt with my feelings drug free after that.

My husband was put on a psychiatric medication after having a bad accident, needing surgery for full length spiral fractures of both bones in his lower leg, down into his ankle joint as well, having a bad reaction to the opiates he was given pre and post surgery, plus the anesthesia meds, and then a small stroke in hospital, all resulting in behavioral issues. The hospital called in psychiatrists against my wishes, who put him on meds, which the hospitalist would cut down or stop, but then hubs would act out in middle of night, psychiatrist would get called, meds restarted, rinse and repeat. This went on for weeks. The meds they put him on caused him to regress in time, thinking it was 15-20 years earlier, not understand, and act out more. Vicious cycle. Very long story, but I weaned him off the drugs as fast as I could once he got home and his mental state cleared as he was weaned.

So, given the above, I do understand your hesitation, but it's more helpful to start with thinking this is going to help me, rather than OMG I'm going to have all these side effects.

You're absolutely right about that. But it doesn't sound like you and your husband had any good experiences with that type of medication either. And I'm sorry you had to go through all of that

I'll try to stay positive. But with my past history and reactions to many medications, it's tough to get out of that mindset.

 

[caseydog]

I've taken Gabapentin before for something else, and nothing bad happened. No side effects at all. Thing is, it didn't help the problem either, no matter how much they raised to dosage.

The thing I have found to help with peripheral neuropathy is some simple foot and calve exercises. They do provide noticeable relief. My neuropathy comes mostly overnight, as I sleep, these exercises when I first get out of bed, really turn down the volume, so to speak.

I found them on YouTube videos made by doctors who tread peripheral neuropathy.

CD

 

[Linda0818]

I've taken Gabapentin before for something else, and nothing bad happened. No side effects at all. Thing is, it didn't help the problem either, no matter how much they raised to dosage.

The thing I have found to help with peripheral neuropathy is some simple foot and calve exercises. They do provide noticeable relief. My neuropathy comes mostly overnight, as I sleep, these exercises when I first get out of bed, really turn down the volume, so to speak.

I found them on YouTube videos made by doctors who tread peripheral neuropathy.

CD

Oh! Great idea. Do you have a link to the actual videos? Or can I basically just do a search and find them?

 

[caseydog]

Oh! Great idea. Do you have a link to the actual videos? Or can I basically just do a search and find them?

This one is pretty good. I don't do all the exercises in this one, but do some of them every morning.

CD

 

[Kathleen]

Well, the sciatica came about (and lasted approx. 6 months) kind of recently and was due to a cyst pressing on the sciatic nerve. Went to pain management doc (referred by my primary) and had a couple of spinal procedures and even went through physical therapy. Nothing helped. Then the pain subsided on its own and, knocking on wood, hasn't come back. The pain management doc said it's common for those cysts to 'burst' or drain on their own.

My primary is definitely a good gate keeper, as most of the doctors I see came from referrals from her.

Yes, I can feel my pulse in my feet sometimes. Is that good or bad? LOL

I'm unsure. I know that my podiatrist is always checking foot circulation, which has been solid. *knock on wood* It is a good convo to have with him. Good thing about the cyst going away. It's great when it works out like that!

 

[Linda0818]

This one is pretty good. I don't do all the exercises in this one, but do some of them every morning.

CD

Awesome, thanks so much.

I sometimes, when I'm sitting at my desk at work, twist my feet in circles, mostly because it feels nice.

I have bad days and 'not so bad' days (the good days are completely gone now, so I have to settle for that) and today is a bad day. My right foot feels like someone lit it on fire with a torch. I'm using my cane to walk around the house because it helps to take some of the pressure off that foot. It doesn't help a LOT, but it helps some.

I'm unsure. I know that my podiatrist is always checking foot circulation, which has been solid. *knock on wood* It is a good convo to have with him. Good thing about the cyst going away. It's great when it works out like that!

Yes it is. I wish everything worked out that way.

 

[grumpyoldman]

i took Gabapentin for quite a while and they kept upping the dosage
by the end i was taking 800 mg but the longer i stayed on it, the less it was working , i finally stopped taking it

 

[Linda0818]

i took Gabapentin for quite a while and they kept upping the dosage
by the end i was taking 800 mg but the longer i stayed on it, the less it was working , i finally stopped taking it

Yes, I've read many comments like yours. Plus I know a real case that's very similar - my cousin. She took it for a while for nerve pain in her back, but she said all it did was make her drowsy. She wanted to sleep all of the time.

 

[Roll_Bones]

I have been on Gabapentin for several years now. I have no negative side effects and even wonder if its doing me any good.
I will tell you what has worked the best for neuropathy.
My pain doctor had me try a cream. It has ketamine in it at 10%. I apply it for about three nights straight. Then I don't need it anymore for several days.
It is a compound prescription and insurance does not cover it. But it works and is worth the $75 the cream costs. One cream lasts me about 3 months or longer. Depending on symptoms.

 

[grumpyoldman]

after you have been on it for a while , you have to reduce the dosage slowly over time before you stop it completely or at least thats what my doc told me to do

 

[Linda0818]

I have been on Gabapentin for several years now. I have no negative side effects and even wonder if its doing me any good.
I will tell you what has worked the best for neuropathy.
My pain doctor had me try a cream. It has ketamine in it at 10%. I apply it for about three nights straight. Then I don't need it anymore for several days.
It is a compound prescription and insurance does not cover it. But it works and is worth the $75 the cream costs. One cream lasts me about 3 months or longer. Depending on symptoms.

Do you have the exact name of the prescription so I can ask my doctor about it? I'd rather try topicals first before popping pills. I have the Gabapentin in my possession now. I still haven't taken it. I know I'm going to chicken out again.

I also asked my doctor to please give me a referral to a neurologist. I want to explore other options before taking meds.

after you have been on it for a while , you have to reduce the dosage slowly over time before you stop it completely or at least thats what my doc told me to do

Yes, you have to taper down. Apparently, with Gabapentin, you have to 'taper up' as well, starting with just one pill per day and working your way up to 3 pills a day.

 

[dragnlaw]

I got fed up with both Lyrica and Gabapentin - just quit - no withdrawals at all. (10 years, 900 ml)
Take one 300 ml at night and a slow release Tylenol.

 

[John B Good]

So I may have brought this up a year or so ago because my doctor prescribed Gabapentin for my foot neuropathy. But I never took it. I'm "pill paranoid" and, after reading too many horror stories about Gabapentin's side effects, I decided not to take it.

But my neuropathy has gotten worse, mostly in my right foot. I have a bunion on my right foot as well, which doesn't help the pain any, plus it's my driving foot. So every day I'm putting pressure on that foot and, by the time I get home from work, I'm literally limping into the house. That and I've been getting these awful nerve zaps that wake me up in the middle of the night. Last night was real fun. They started around 4am and I've been awake off and on ever since. I'm now a walking corpse, at work, attempting to function on very little sleep. And this has been happening way more often lately.

That said, my doctor, once again, sent in a script for Gabapentin, which I'm picking up today after work. I'm going to try it because I have to do something. I can't function like this day after day. This neuropathy is affecting the quality of my life. I'm pretty much in constant pain. But I'm still scared of possible side effects and wondering if the medication will even help me.

Has anyone here taken (or currently taking) Gabapentin? Did you have bad side effects when starting the med? Has it helped you?

I realize that everyone is different and what may work for one person won't work for another. But I'd like to hear your experiences with this medication. Or maybe you've tried a different medication for nerve pain and it worked better?

I tried gabapentin years ago for my neuropathy. It does numb the tingling somewhat - no side effects but for me I was looking for something that could lessen the numbness - so far no luck so I currently don't take anything.

 

[Linda0818]

I got fed up with both Lyrica and Gabapentin - just quit - no withdrawals at all. (10 years, 900 ml)
Take one 300 ml at night and a slow release Tylenol.

Do you mean 300 ml of Gabapentin with the Tylenol?

I tried gabapentin years ago for my neuropathy. It does numb the tingling somewhat - no side effects but for me I was looking for something that could lessen the numbness - so far no luck so I currently don't take anything.

I was told there's nothing that can really be done for the numbness. Once the nerves are damaged, there's no coming back from that. This is the way I understand it.

I have considerable numbness as well. I have tingling, as well as a burning feeling. But what wakes me up in the middle of the night (or very early morning) are the 'nerve zaps' that feel like electrical shocks going through my foot. My right foot is worse than the left. And those zaps, once they start, come about every 5-6 seconds and it drives me crazy. I have to get out of bed and walk around for a few minutes to get them to stop - temporarily. Once I go back to bed, the zaps start again in 10 minutes or less. Which means, most times, there's zero chance of me getting back to sleep.

 

[grumpyoldman]

my last back surgery left me with a burning sensation in my upper left thigh
that often wakes me up in the middle of the night , wish i could find something to help that

 

[dragnlaw]

Do you mean 300 ml of Gabapentin with the Tylenol?

one caplet of 300 mg gabapentin, one tablet of acetaminophen slow-release 650 mg. Before going to bed.
If within one hour the pain/tingle in feet still keep me tossing I also might take 1 tablet of hydromorphone 1 mg. But that is not often, maybe 2 or 3 times a month.

But that is only what I do - I do not think any doctor would approve.

 

[Linda0818]

my last back surgery left me with a burning sensation in my upper left thigh
that often wakes me up in the middle of the night , wish i could find something to help that

Maybe talk to your doctor about that. Have you tried any of the OTC arthritis-type creams? Maybe some Icy Hot or Bio Freeze? I don't know if that would help or make the burning sensation worse.

one caplet of 300 mg gabapentin, one tablet of acetaminophen slow-release 650 mg. Before going to bed.
If within one hour the pain/tingle in feet still keep me tossing I also might take 1 tablet of hydromorphone 1 mg. But that is not often, maybe 2 or 3 times a month.

But that is only what I do - I do not think any doctor would approve.

Gotcha

 

[Roll_Bones]

Do you have the exact name of the prescription so I can ask my doctor about it? I'd rather try topicals first before popping pills. I have the Gabapentin in my possession now. I still haven't taken it. I know I'm going to chicken out again.

I also asked my doctor to please give me a referral to a neurologist. I want to explore other options before taking meds.



Yes, you have to taper down. Apparently, with Gabapentin, you have to 'taper up' as well, starting with just one pill per day and working your way up to 3 pills a day.

No. No name. It is a compound that is made to order. Your doctor has to decide on ingredients. Frankly, I have never had a general practitioner ever give me a compound medication. It is only my pain mgmt doctor that suggested I give it a try.
The medication that made the cream very helpful was the ketamine. It was useless until we added ketamine to the prescription compound. I can get it in cream form or roll on. I prefer the cream.
Like I said, I have been on gabapentin for years with zero side effects. There is no addiction possibility and there is no withdrawal. It is not an opioid.
Personally, I would rather take a pill than rub cream on my feet.

 

[Linda0818]

No. No name. It is a compound that is made to order. Your doctor has to decide on ingredients. Frankly, I have never had a general practitioner ever give me a compound medication. It is only my pain mgmt doctor that suggested I give it a try.
The medication that made the cream very helpful was the ketamine. It was useless until we added ketamine to the prescription compound. I can get it in cream form or roll on. I prefer the cream.
Like I said, I have been on gabapentin for years with zero side effects. There is no addiction possibility and there is no withdrawal. It is not an opioid.
Personally, I would rather take a pill than rub cream on my feet.

Okay, great. Thanks for the information