gabapentin

[dillydally1]

I started on gabapentin 200mg at night for pain, and insomnia 4 weeks ago. the 200mg at night worked at first especially for my sleep. what dosage do some of you take, to mainly help your sleep, and do you take it all at night, x

[BlueMermaid3]

Hi

I take the maximum dose of Gabapentin for chronic pain and take it three times per day. Many people, when they first start taking this medication, feel dozy and a bit spaced out. Generally, when you've been on this drug for a while the sleepy feeling stops.

To my knowledge, this medication is for pain. My personal opinion would be that for sleep Amitriptyline would be a better medication for sleep and pain. I am not a doctor and you would need to discuss this with your GP.

Amitrylptiline is also an antidepressant. The Rheumatologist who diagnosed me started me on this drug but unfortunately it did not agree with me.

Sadly insomnia tends to go hand in hand with Fibromyalgia and there is no easy answer to getting a good nights sleep. In simple terms people with Fibro do not enter the REM stage of deep sleep which is when our cells are renewed and "normal" people awake refreshed.

Sleeping tablets are the only guaranteed way to a nights sleep, but doctors will only prescribe them for short periods of time.

I am not a GP but I suffer with Fibromyalgia, HMS, CFS, GAD and depression, amongst other things, so I have got to know my body well over the years.

Having said all that, I am still sitting here in chronic pain and can't remember when I last had a good nights sleep.

Perhaps a trip to see your GP would be a good idea, to review your medication and see if there is something more suited to you. Medication for Fibromyalgia is tricky, because what works for one person, will be useless to another. It's very much trial and error to begin with.

I hope this helps a little. Apologies for rambling on 😁

Lu xx

[dillydally1 in reply to BlueMermaid3]

thanks for reply, you weren't rambling, I to have had chronic pain for years, and polymyalgia rheumatica, ive had morphine, tramadol, but didn't want to carry on with these because of effects, so gp suggested co-codamol 30/500 x2 up to 4 times day. I am also depressed and on citalopram 40mg, my gp would only give me 200mg gabapentin at the most because of this. have tried amitriptyline but it gives me irregular heartbeat. wishing you well for the future x

[BlueMermaid3 in reply to dillydally1]

Thank you 😊. I tried some Nytol a few weeks ago and found that it helped me at least get off to sleep. I know there was some bad press about it recently, so you might not want to try it.

I do hope you find something that helps soon.

Wishing you all the very best too xx

[dillydally1 in reply to BlueMermaid3]

was going to try it once from chemist, but would not let me buy it because of citalopram. x

[BlueMermaid3 in reply to dillydally1]

Does your Citropalm work for you? As it's so limiting for other meds would it be worth considering changing it? You sound like me and struggle to find meds that work x

[dillydally1 in reply to BlueMermaid3]

to be honest im not sure, probably helps with depression side, but not pain, sleep and fatigue, do you take antidepressant, have any drugs worked for your fibro x

[BlueMermaid3 in reply to dillydally1]

The only antidepressant I can take without massive side effects is Mirtazapine which is quite an old drug. For me personally, Oramorph is the best pain killer and Gabapentin. However, opiate drugs have been shown not to work for people with Fibro! This is a great example of how different things work for different people. Your best bet is to have a look at the fact sheets available on here or from Mdaisy and then chat with your GP to decide what is best for you.

Let me know how you get on xx

[dillydally1 in reply to BlueMermaid3]

will do, thanks x

[Telynores]

I was given Gabapentin a little while ago, it has helped me with sleep. I'm now on 600mg three x a day. I believe the help with sleep may wear off, time will tell.

[dillydally1 in reply to Telynores]

thanks, that's good to know, suppose if it eases the pain sleep may become easier. do you feel groggy taking such a large dose, and do you take any other meds x ps what a lovely photoe

[Telynores in reply to dillydally1]

I did get 'spacey' for a day when I went up to 300mg 3x a day but haven't had ill effects since. It didn't help me sleep last night I've been cutting down my clonazepam (for RLS), I read Gaba helps so no need for both Not last night, had to take C at 4am

Thenks, black and white is very forgiving

[Hidden]

I take 300mg x 3 a day .... Xx

[dillydally1 in reply to Hidden]

xx

[TheAuthor]

I do not take this medication but I want to genuinely wish you all the best of luck with this.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[dillydally1 in reply to TheAuthor]

thanks ken x

[Lesley61]

I take mine for pain I take it 4 x300 a day now plush the other stuff for pain

[dillydally1]

thanks x