When does gabapentin start to work I'm on 100 Mg 3 times a day and.still in pain...help

[faceache]

[TheAuthor]

Hi faceache

I hope that you are not in too much pain? I am sorry but I cannot really answer your question, I would say however, that everyone reacts differently to medications. What works for one may not work for another and some people only need very small doses to make a medication work. I was wondering how long have you been taking Gabapentin? If it is for more than 2 to 3 months I think I would tell my GP that it is not working. It is one of those medicines that gets upped every couple of weeks so yours might need upping again.

I sincerely hope that you can get some resolution to your problem

Take care

Ken x

[bbstport]

hi, I hope u do start to get some relief soon. what other meds are you on with the gabapentin. I have 3 x 300mg three times a day so 2700mg a day along with lots of other meds.

hugs

belinda

[faceache in reply to bbstport]

Many thanks for that information, I am on sertraline 100 mg daily, this is an antidepressant and ive been on various different ones over the years but find their effectiveness after a while on them is nil. I think when Im stressed the pain gets worse and Im about to start a new job so think this may be affecting the level of pain. I have enquired about acupuncture but this is jot available on the NHS and is quite expensive. Ive been on the gabapentin since Monday so may be havent given it a fair chance to work. Living in hope! x

[Ginsing]

Hi Faceache Good morning hope last night was a relaxing one for you. I too am on the Gaba find it very helpful take it just morning and evening my coice I want to be awake in the afterrnoon.

[Ginsing]

I had not fie helpfulnished when my com decided to be silly and post he message anyway --so I was going to say Pain I am afraid is hard to control we have to find a combination that helps us it will never be gone completely but the things is we need to push the level down as far as we can and then accept our lot.

Relaxation techniques also help and there are a couple of brilliant photos on site at the moment that can be used to drift away with.

Massage can also be good and I found acupuncture enhanced my energy levels and my tolerance levels.

Hope this helps a little

xgins

[Gramma]

Hi, What pain relief tablets are you on? Gabapentin isn't for pain relief on its own. I take one three times a day. The morning and evening dose I take with one moderate release Tramadol plus two paracetamol. The lunchtime dose I take along with two paracetamol. This works for me but it's a case of trial and error I'm afraid. X.

[faceache]

Hi, Im taking Cocodamol a couple of times a day, but because its nerve pain Im told its hard to treat this type of pain. Not sure if the docs know how to deal with this. : (

[Bumblebee in reply to faceache]

gabapentin and amitryptiline are for nerve pain. I have built up to gaba 300mg x 3 a day and amitryptiline 20mg at night. this helps a lot. docs have access to some info and it does reccomend these meds for the conditio. I was there yesterday and she looked up for further info for me. hope you get the help, nerve pain is horrendous

[Bhappy in reply to Bumblebee]

Hi Bumblebee, did not realise that you can also take Amitryptiline with Gabapentin. Thats good to know. Its only my second day on gabapentin and it has done nothing. I have cruciating shooting pain. Also take co codamol and tramadol in the eve.

Thats why I wanted to know how long it takes to work.

I had an op on my hip 23 weeks ago and still on crutches. Inbetween I had som improvement but its getting worse again since about the last 3 weeks.

The doctor thinks that it might has something to do with one of my discs😢

[Fibrofoggiest]

Hi faceache, I think everyone reacts differently to meds, and sometimes they kick in more quickly for some than for others and I think it can be a process of gradually increasing the dosage to the point at which it works for you, if it is going to. I wonder whether you could ask to be referred to a pain management team who can explore more avenues for you.

I agree totally with gins, that relaxation (although I can't do it) and massage, which I find very useful, can be a good addition to the tools in your pain management.

Sending lots of positive healing vibes your way

Foggy x

[faceache in reply to Fibrofoggiest]

Thanks for your good advice.Foggy, great.to share with someone. xx

[mimiwen]

Hi faceache, i'm so sorry you're in such pain, i wish you some relief very soon. My doctors have always told me that the initial dose for gabapentin is 300 mgs 2 or 3 times a day, so you do seem to be on quite a low dose. I think it's worth asking your doctor about it, see if they'll increase the dose. Love, mim

[faceache]

Many thanks Mim, I see GP on Tuesday and mention.this,.x

[Mdaisy]

Hello Faceache,

Please can I provide you with a link to our website for information about recommended medications for Fibro, please see link;

fibroaction.org/Pages/How-I...

You can download this information and easily print it as factsheets, which you can take with you to the GP if this will help. If you feel your GP is struggling to suggest ways to help your symptom control you may wish to ask for a pain clinic referral. Here is some more information about Pain Clinics;

healthunlocked.com/fibroact...

There are other ways they may help the symptoms of Fibro, complementary therapies for instance. Here's the link to the FibroAction website for more info;

fibroaction.org/News/New-Co...

Some people get benefit from other medications like topical creams, heat therapy etc, here's a link to a post about creams;

healthunlocked.com/fibroact...

I hope you find some relief very soon

Best Wishes

Emma

FibroAction Administrator

[weetheresa]

i was on it for months it never worked for me i was on 300mg 3 times a day now going 2 pain clinic

[Hidden]

I am also going to ask for a referral to a pain clinic,as I cannot take pain medicines of any kind.(because of some of the side effects).

I can only pace myself,and take hot relaxing baths,that help for about an hour,also use a gel rub Voltarol,that gives relief for about half an hour.

I do take half of a sleeping pill at night,to try and get some sleep,with awful restless legs syndrome.

I am hoping the pain clinic can offer me some physio,and hoping my new doctor will refer me back to the Hydro-pool. Fibro is very debilitating,have had it for about 7 years now,plus Osteo in joints,(fingers toes and shoulders,neck)

Take care all.

[Hidden]

I think they say you need to take for 8-10 weeks to really see the benefit of any new medication…

[nrskris10]

I'm two years late but I found this on google so anyone who finds this, could potentially find this and my comment/info helpful. So I'll reply. 😊

Your dose of 100mg, 3xd is a very low beginning dose to see how you respond to gabapentin. If you tolerate it, the dr bumps you up. Usually after a month. Then if the second dose isn't effective, they'll bump you up again. Usually a total of 900-1200mg daily (divided in 300/3xday or 400mg/3 times a day.)

When you start gabapentin, it may make you drowsy. So a low dose is how it's started. You'll adapt to it. That low dose may not have pain reliving benefits. But next md visit (hopefully one month) the dr will bump you up. Then you may see some benefits. If not, the next month, you go up again.

Usually I've found that primary physicians (in the U.S. At least) won't go higher than that beginner dose that you're on. If you're tolerating it, they may bump you up or refer you to pain management. The pain medicine overdose and addiction is an epidemic here and physicians are very cautious! The US is so litigious, I don't blame them one bit!

I've given up on gabapentin three times. Never making it to a therapeutic dose for me (probably 400/3 times a day.). I give up because I don't notice any relief. I know better. But damn I just want relief. Now I'm wishing I'd stuck with it the last time I tried! So, here I sit, trying it again for the fourth time. I'm impatient. And I'm a nurse. I know better! This time, I promise I will stay on it at LEAST 3 months. It's cheap for me and if it works eventually, it'll be worth it.

I hope this info helps someone out there. Pain is hell and ppl who don't have chronic pain can never understand how depressing, stressful, and crazy it makes you.

But you are not alone.

You can also find support groups on FaceBook. Type in pain and/or your diagnosis. "Pain fibromyalgia" and you'll find great groups. The support is so nice. You can vent and they actually understand what you're going through. You can also ask questions like this and get a good conversation going.

I hope you've got the relief you deserve!

[Joyce65]

Hi hun it's weird I take 900 a day, it's funny I always think it's rubish it doesn't work, but wen I forget to take it and dancing round the house in agony I realise it must be doing something towards the pain.

Little story......

I have a miniature Yorkshire Terrier named Prince Sooty he's 9, for years he has slept with me on my bed, but recently my nerve pain has done my head in and I kick my legs here there and everywhere so now of a morning I usually wake up and Prince is fast asleep on coach

I find REFLEXOLOGY is great for the pain but sadly expensive, lucky me there a local women only centre called the SWAN CENTRE IN LITHERLAND, LIVERPOOL and if u are on certain benefits they only charge £12- instead of a whooping £40- these beauty parlours charge