I tried two pills yesterday and got dizzy and nauseous and none of the neuro symptoms went away. I had to take a Zofran. It was okay for sleep but I woke up with a really mild headache.
Do I need to keep taking it on a schedule and let the side effects dissipate or should I assume gabapentin is a bust?
Posted by me (Member # 45475) on :
I would call dr. J on Monday and ask his opinion.
In the meantime: "How long does it take for Gabapentin to work? While some people notice the antimanic and antidepressant effects within a week or two of starting treatment, others have to take a therapeutic amount of gabapentin for up to a month before feeling a significant improvement. You should notice that your pain starts to alleviate over 1-2 weeks after starting gabapentin, but it may take a little longer in some people. On the other hand, some people feel the benefit straight away." from http://www.emedexpert.com/facts/gabapentin-facts.shtml Posted by me (Member # 45475) on :
Most websites and comments on websites say that side effects usually lessen or go away w time. Nonetheless, I would still give dr. J a call on Monday if you are concerned and prior to stopping it.
Posted by SickSam (Member # 45330) on :
The effects should go away within a couple of days. Two pills though? Do you know what milligrams they were? Mine are 600 and taking just 1/2 of one has a major effect on me. I love Gabapentin but I could never take two.
I have taken a whole one at one point and it really threw me for a loop. 1/2 a pill is a great dose for me though.
Posted by Jordana (Member # 45305) on :
They're 300. So I took one in the afternoon and one before bed.
I don't really have pain or mania. It's all weird neuro stuff and that seemed worse somehow yesterday on the G.
I've been working on a theory that it's better with benedryl of all things. At least in the past two days it has been. Maybe it's blocking histamine from immune complexes? Ugh who knows.
Posted by foxy loxy (Member # 47053) on :
give it a try... When I first started taking it I took both 300 mg pills at once... I was quite doped up... couldn't walk straight and running into things...
My neuro head jazz felt weird too.
I think I got some mild headaches and was super sleepy. This seems to have gotten better and this is only like my third week!
After taking it I seemed to have better head times and I got whizzed up thinking it was the Gabapentin. It still may be helping but my Dr thinks... (and I think too) that it is the Mepron helping the most.
All the best!
Posted by Jordana (Member # 45305) on :
Taking benedryl and bactrim ( babs?) today I actually did not have a nightmare day. We might be in the same boat .
Posted by SickSam (Member # 45330) on :
I'd definitely try just 300. That's what I take every night now. And Bactrim has definitely been one of my favorites. (:
Posted by Jordana (Member # 45305) on :
Yeah for sleep it seems like it might work, from one day's experience with this drug.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Interesting. Thanks 2.
Posted by SickSam (Member # 45330) on :
That case report was after Lyrica use. Lyrica is much more dangerous than Gabapentin from what I understand (but of course everything has risks). I have a Lyrica prescription but after reading horror stories I never took it.
Posted by Jordana (Member # 45305) on :
This is such a massive crapshoot. The psychotropics adjust neurotransmitters in the brain. If that hammer of a drug hits the nail of your brain imbalance; then you get a hit, sometimes a home run.
If not then it's best to stop. But if you've got the script, a three to five day trial wouldn't do anything irreversible.
Posted by SickSam (Member # 45330) on :
Yep, a massive crapshoot. I'm just now starting to come to grips with that and be ok with it. I think I'll stay away from Lyrica though. If I remember right, it has a long half-life. And it's really expensive. I think it had more (scary) interactions with my other meds too. Mostly heart stuff if I remember right.
Posted by Jordana (Member # 45305) on :
Nah you could probably try it if you're ambivalent about feeling worse/potentially ER worthy for eight hours.
For us that's a big if.
The other side is it could be a hit. There are good things about Lyrica. Some people, millions, are grateful God made Lyrica.
But -- if you're a cardiac Lyme person it might be the wrong bark entirely to eat.
Posted by SickSam (Member # 45330) on :
Yeah, you're right. But at $350 a month for lyrica, it's gonna have to stay on the bottom of my list. (My insurance doesn't cover prescriptions). Gabapentin only costs me $4 per month. One of my cheapest meds for sure. (:
Posted by Jordana (Member # 45305) on :
Want my Cymbalta? I paid 425 dollars for it and never touched it.
Posted by SickSam (Member # 45330) on :
Lol I think I'll pass on that one. I actually bought the Lyrica and never touched it either. I've done that with way too many expensive meds. I just paid $300 for tetracycline and only took it a few days. I started IV vancomycin so I quit the tetra. It was too many antibiotics all together.
I think next time something is that expensive, I'm gonna ask the pharmacy to only give me a one week supply. That way if I don't take it I won't be out nearly as much money!
Cash is depleting quickly, so I'm having to be extremely careful with what I buy at this point. Yea Lyme. /:
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I tried Lyrica and Cymbalta .. NO GO for my body. I think the Lyrica made me feel terrible and the Cymbalta made my pain worse.
I was very worried about getting hooked on Cymbalta and then have to get off of it.. (horror stories).. but I never lasted long enough.
Posted by Jordana (Member # 45305) on :
That's why I never took it. Now I'd take anything that helped but it seems like nothing really does.
Posted by madisongrrl (Member # 48682) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jordana: They're 300. So I took one in the afternoon and one before bed.
I don't really have pain or mania. It's all weird neuro stuff and that seemed worse somehow yesterday on the G.
I've been working on a theory that it's better with benedryl of all things. At least in the past two days it has been. Maybe it's blocking histamine from immune complexes? Ugh who knows.
I'm on 2400 mg of gabapentin for severe nerve pain, so I have a bit of experience with it
You should be very slowly titrating up on this drug. A common titration schedule would be to take 300 mg/day for 5 days, then titrated up to 600 mg/day for 5 days etc. Your problem might have been - too much, too soon.
Posted by Kerryblue (Member # 4077) on :
Hi, I had 100mg. tried 6 times had terrible effects. Finally cut to 50mg could do it. Now on highest dose go figure.
It helps about 5 of my symptoms from migraines, cluster headaches, neuropathy, finding words was unable to get out complete sentences at 1 time.
Have to be patient. Lyrica seems to be a problem here. It has gaba also many additives. I will not take either.
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