My brother-in-law went to see Dr. P in WV recently and was ordered to get some blood work done, presumably through Igenex. In the meantime, she prescribed Gabapentin for his brain fog. Does this sound right?
My brother-in-law told me that she seems to be very nice and spent about two hours with him. But some of the things she said alarms me.
When asking about if Lyme can be cogenitally transmitted, she was alarmed and mentioned something about she would be afraid to make comments because she has other colleague in the same practice.
If anyone has any experience with Dr. P, please PM me.
Posted by hope4sofia (Member # 20577) on :
I don't know Dr P but Gabapentin is for nerve pain as far as I know - and it works well for that. I took it for a long time and it was the only thing that relieved my pain. I don't recall it helping my fog. Maybe it does.
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
My brother-in-law reports that he felt sick all over (flu like, he describes) only an hour after he took the first dose. It has been 4 or 5 days now and he is not gettign any better.
he called the doctor to ask if he could stop the med, and has not yet heard back.
Posted by dmc (Member # 5102) on :
Gabapentin, which I use for nerve pain, actually gives me brain fog. I'm at a low dose of 100mg.
Some people tolerate it well even at higher doses.
Maybe your BILaw, misinterpreted the doc, since he has "brain fog"
Posted by Peedie (Member # 15355) on :
Brain fog, blurred and double vision, spacey, panic attacks - this is what happened to me on Neurontin (Gabapentin).
Many people experience these side effects - is this doctor a Neurologist by any chance?
Some people are helped with nerve pain - I have never heard of it Rx'd to help brain fog? Can imagine it would make things worse! -p
Posted by Truthfinder (Member # 8512) on :
I agree with dmc and Peedie - if anything, it will probably CAUSE brain fog.... and the blurred vision happened to me, too. Never had the flu-like symptoms..... are you sure it's gabapentin?
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
OMG...
Yes, I read the bottle of his med and it is gabapentin. He takes 100mgx3 a day. Whatever his side effect is, it sounds like that's the opposite he needs.
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
I got the doctor's name from the Lyme Disease Association but I am not sure if she is ILDAS educated.
Posted by Cass A (Member # 11134) on :
Neurontin is a drug that has been widely promoted for "off-label" uses--meaning uses that are not approved by the FDA.
The original maker has been successfully sued over this, as the methods used violate Federal law.
The motive--PROFIT OVER PATIENTS!!!
Neuronin became a block-buster $$$$$$$$$$$ maker, due to the illegal advertizing that promoted it for just about every "neurologic" symptom that had no definitive cause.
I would get off that stuff as soon as possible!!
It has horrific adverse effects.
Best,
Cass A
Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
This doesn't sound like the best LLMD. It's much further, but there's Dr. J in SC---very well-known.
Posted by Selection10 (Member # 19578) on :
Gabapentin helped me with my brain fog. Great medication.
Posted by jtavares76 (Member # 19216) on :
I currently take 300mg twice a day to help alleviate some of my muscle pain.
It is a fairly low dose and it has given me enough relief that I can exercise a few times a week without being in excruciating pain.
I do find, however, it has made my brain fog worse. I am more forgetful, mix up my words, etc.
JT
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
Sounds like the concensus is that this med will ease some pain, but make brain fog worse for most. I will pass the info. and let him decide what he needs more.
Posted by Blackstone (Member # 9453) on :
That entire classification of drugs, originally anti-convulsives, is now prescribed for nerve pain and for "RA or fibromyalgia pain". They work for some, but are known to have increased tiredness, brain fog, and moderate to severe weight gain. Personally, not enough of my pain is nerve pain, to be worth the tradeoff.
I would not advise neurontin/lyrica or any of those drugs for most lyme patients that have a problem with fatigue, brainfog and other common symptoms.
Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
I started taking gabapentin which was prescribed by my primary doctor.
I am sleeping through the night now for the most part.
AFter going a decade or more of not being able to sleep this is big for me and I feel much better for my health.
I also am finding I am able to be a bit more active which is also a good thing for me.
ON the negative, I am concerned about the weight gain but not enough to want to stop the gabapentin and go back to not sleeping and being a couch potatoe.
I also am able to do a bit of the household chores but still have a ways to go before I am constantly able to take care of things around the house.
I asked my lyme doctor's assistant about how she felt about gabapentin.
She said that they use it also with their lyme patients.
I would suggest he try it. If it doesn't work out he can always back off of it.
Hopefully others will contact you about the doctor. Also, hoping your brother in law will start posting himself.
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
quote:Originally posted by kam: Hopefully others will contact you about the doctor. Also, hoping your brother in law will start posting himself.
That's a good thought, only I have so far set up computer and internet connections for him 5 times, and he is not particularly close to me, you know? 2 hours drive.
He just called to ask what his password is to log on to his internet. So I think it is going to be a while before he figures out where this site is and, again, how to log in and post.
I am amazed with the "brain fog"...What actually happens there? Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
WTL..I too use to wonder how the gabapentin worked.
But, then I take excedrin and they still don't know how that works to help but it does so I stopped wondering.
At this point, I am just thankful for something that helps and the down size is not a deal breaker for me.
I understand about just being able to communicate whatever way you can at this time. It is good he is able to be on the phone.
I still have trouble with that both processing wise and due to weak arms...I use a headset.
I can't imagine trying to use a computer for the first time and having lyme too!!
![[confused]](graemlins/confused.gif)