Melinda - foot help

Hi Sandi, to be honest, since I had my splenectomy in 2007, I have side effects to almost every medicine. One though that I swear by, is Neurontin (gabapentin). I take it for a few different things, anxiety and sciatic pain. It has done wonders for me. It is non-addicting and is well worth the try. Some people get dizzy and sleepy from just 100mg but I can take 300mg tid with no adverse effects. Give it a try, I know a lot of diabetics who use it for their neuropathy.

Thanks Melissa. I'm just afraid to add it to the other meds that I take. I have others that cause sleepiness, so adding one more might make me even more groggy.

I have thought about it before and will probably think about it again at some point. I haven't been able to get to a good balance with meds. I do realize that maybe if I take that one, I can eliminate one or two others. I don't know.

If you look at a nurses drug reference book, even online, look up the gabapentin and see what drugs contraindicate with it. It doesn't cause to many people drowsiness. It mostly interferes with the patients who do not take other meds. I am in nursing school right now and this was one of my drug of choice to work on, so do some research. It may be worth the relief of pain. Good luck and keep us in touch. I really hope you get the relief you deserve.

Hi Melissa - that is a very low dose of Neurontin [gabapentin], that's what I take & do not want to increase it. No addiction to it, but if on a higher dose it can't be stopped without a taper - my neurologist told me that with the low dose I'm taking I can just stop it when I want.

My nurse friend said it has a short life span in the body so I should take it at least twice daily.

Sciatica isn't fun, have a friend with it - glad to hear you are getting relief for it.

Yes the 300mg 3x's/day is a low dose. That being only 900mg/day and you can take up to 2700mg. I was on 600mg 2x's but it was numbing my bladder.....NOT PRETTY! My little ones thought it was quite funny though. Now to figure out my other problems. If you girls get time check out my questions on the general discussion topic. Maybe one of you could give me some answers...?

MELISSA.BOLSTER wrote: It mostly interferes with the patients who do not take other meds.

Sorry but, huh? I would think that if Neurontin causes drowsiness for a person who has no other meds, it could certainly raise that drowsiness for someone on other meds as well. I know a few people on Neurontin, and they all complain of drowsiness. I'm not all that interested in contraindications at this point because even if there are none stated, I could still have a problem. I know a lot of people who take Cymbalta with no problems and I tried it. I took one pill the first night and was unable to wake up the next day. When I finally did, all I could do was sit on the couch and stare all day. Luckily I knew to start it on a night when I didn't have to work the next day.

I have tried so many different drugs the past 8 years and most of them have caused nasty side effects. I do have Neurontin on my maybe list, but not quite ready to take the plunge yet.

Sorry Melissa I didn't pay attention to the tid after the 300mg - that isn't a low dose really. I only take 300mg a day which is a very low dose, and I don't want to increase it because of the side effects that are possible.

Now the PCP I fired in October implied during my physical last year being sleepy from gabapentin when I first started it was in my head - I should have fired him when he said that but it took a few more months before I did. He also told me that gabapentin doesn't help neuropathy pain - and that I needed to take nortriptyline which would help me sleep and help the neuropathy pain. I researched it and found it can cause PN, and the side effects that can be had aren't something I would want. Not to mention if it helps so much why hasn't my neurologist mentioned it to me.

There are people on the neuropathy group I go to that have had nasty episodes with gabapentin/Neurontin - oh shoot who was it here who had like a psychotic episode while on prednisone? well a couple have had that but from gabapentin - and most will say it does not help with their PN.

there's things to get relief from siatica.

Well that really sucks. I guess I have had good luck with the patients around here in my area. I just hate seeing people suffer.

Out here in NY the doctors are no longer allowed to prescribe narcotics. Only administer them while in patient. So they say. I can not have ASA, or NSAIDS. Since my splenectomy I have allergic reactions to ALOT, ex: Risperdal and Geodon for bipolar, Rituxan, IVIG last time, Latex..and I am sure I am missing some. So, so far Neurontin has worked plus helps with the anxiety and no side effects, so I will take it.

I'm delighted you have found a medication that works and no problems with it!