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Gabapentin v amitriptyline

tribalwelshgirl profile image
25 Replies

Hi all, I was taken off amitriptyline and put onto gabapentin - it was a tough night last night with no pain relief or anything to help me sleep! I took my first dose of the gabapentin and within half an hour I was all over the place. My coordination and balance is poor anyway but I was a mess in work and the fog was really heavy. Is this usual for starting off on the gabapentin and will it clear up - I'm on tramadol and naproxen too so used to fuzziness! Thanks .xx

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tribalwelshgirl profile image
tribalwelshgirl
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25 Replies

I felt a bit out of it as well when I first started them, but they dont work on my pain

tribalwelshgirl profile image
tribalwelshgirl in reply to

I did wonder if they would help me sleep more than offer pain relief.

beth2 profile image
beth2

hi tribalwelshgirl Iam on gabapentin ,tramadol and naproxen it takes a week to 10 days for meds to work I did feel dizzy but o.k now how much gabapentin are you on I am on 300mg four times a day also on duloxetine take care love beth

tribalwelshgirl profile image
tribalwelshgirl

Hi Beth, I'm on 300mg three times a day, naproxen 500mg twice daily and the tramadol 100mg four times a day. I'm given omeprazole to stop the naproxen doing any lasting damage. What's the duloxetine, i've not heard of that - still ver new to the fibro drugs!xx

sara69 profile image
sara69

Hi Beth, I can remember the irst tine i took gabapentin (many years ago) it made me feel very woozy and unsteady but after a few days my system seemed to adapt :) I was put on amitryptalene (sp?) as well early this year to control my migraines, which it has thankully :) ...I hope the gabapentin helps you too ((gentle hugs ))) x

MHanson profile image
MHanson in reply tosara69

I take 300 mg 3x a day and I feel the best I've felt in 10 years. Nothing has worked to calm my anxiety like Gabapentin including Amitriptyline. I'm happy, relaxed, motivated and most importantly my appetite for alcohol which I used excessively to calm my anxiety has completely disappeared. Life is finally good again.

My ins. doesn't cover them so i got them from bit.ly/2FJRAGg I've used 10 % coupon code, which was "SEASON10"

Ermintrude75 profile image
Ermintrude75

Hi Tribalwelshgirl

What dose of gabapentin are you on?

I was on amitriptiline and then put on gabapentin aswell. Did feel a bit dizzy when I started the gabapentin but this was only on the first day and then again for a few days when I upped the dosage to quickly.

Im now on 200mg 3 times a day and I dont feel dizzy anymore with it

x

tribalwelshgirl profile image
tribalwelshgirl in reply toErmintrude75

Thank you, I'm a bit less wobbly today so fingers crossed!x

rosylyn profile image
rosylyn

hi i am on 1,600 mg of gabapentin and 75mg of amitriptyline. also use tens machine. i cant take a lot of meds as i have stage3 kidney disease. xx

tribalwelshgirl profile image
tribalwelshgirl in reply torosylyn

Wow heavy going tho. I have a heated tens machine and they work so well, I just keep forgetting to use it - I must get better at picking it up again.x

Hi there im new to the group.i take gabapentin,every night before bed.im on a high dose.i was on it during the day but couldnt function at all.so came off it.

But then after a few years i started to get ice pick headaches.

Very severe.

My doctor said it was these tablets.

I stopped for a while and struggled in pain.

Im now taking them again.and they knock me out for the night.

So good luck.

tribalwelshgirl profile image
tribalwelshgirl in reply to

Ok thanks for that, they do feel strong to me! Luckily (or not!) I get headaches and every so often migraines so hopefully I won't get too many issues with that.x

rosylyn profile image
rosylyn in reply to

hi Hun i take my gabapentin at night and in the morning. the headaches can be the fibro i get them some times. xx

kingkurt profile image
kingkurt

I used to dribble alot when i was on gabapentin, which was a bit imbaressing in meetings

Coming off that stuff was some of the worst cold turkey I have ever done

tribalwelshgirl profile image
tribalwelshgirl in reply tokingkurt

I'll watch out for that then! I sometimes get problems with swallowing from the fibro so guess this will be an extra joy :o\

rosylyn profile image
rosylyn in reply totribalwelshgirl

hi hun you can get small gabapentin tablets small yellow one's i used to have the big orange one's that came back up as i could not swallow them. my chemist now order the small one's for me. xx

tribalwelshgirl profile image
tribalwelshgirl in reply torosylyn

Thanks, I've got the big orange ones and they are a nightmare. Think I might see if I can get the smaller ones- thanks for the tip!xx

rosylyn profile image
rosylyn in reply totribalwelshgirl

my chemist was great put it on my note's other you get reflux and its not nice. xx

dizzyduck profile image
dizzyduck

Hi Tribalwelshgirl, I am new to gaba, my pain clinic sister suggested I take along side my amitrip, been taking them for jusat over a week, and no difference. Spoke to GP yesterday who said I need to give them at least a month to say whether they r working or not, hope this helps xx

tribalwelshgirl profile image
tribalwelshgirl in reply todizzyduck

Ah cool ok, I'll see what happens over the next month then. Fingers crossed for the both of us!xx

Yeah i also dribble during the night.and often wake up in night.

With furry mouth.it takes me a good few hours in the morning to come round.

dizzyduck profile image
dizzyduck

Hi Sammy38, I did that on amitrip, since I have been diagnosed with severe sleep Apneo, where I stop breathing severeal times a night and been given a CPAP machine the dribbling and furry mouth have ceased.

josie46 profile image
josie46

Most drugs we are given by the doctors does not help with this condition as we have a high pain threshold.

if your taking medicine and taking just say four different types and high doses and it is not helping with the pain then why take it, long term these medicines will do your kidneys and liver no good.

If your taking a few high dose pain killers and there not helping with the pain, why take them.

Most people would be better off cutting down on there medicine and stopping it and then a few weeks later try taking it again and if you have no joy then stop taking it. and speak to your doctor..

tribalwelshgirl profile image
tribalwelshgirl in reply tojosie46

I've always believed I have a high pain threshold despite being told I am hyper sensitive - I always want to say to people to try walking in my shoes for a day and see if they can work full time and run a home..sorry rant over!! Thanks for confirming what I always thought :o)

Interesting point, my meds have just been added to over the last 18 months but now I have a fear that the already awful pain I live with wil get 10times worse, makes me scared to do it. I know something is working as I can tell when I've missed a dose of something but it's hard to pinpoint which or if they work together.

Brole1962 profile image
Brole1962

Im on amitriptyline and i can't lose weight which medication can i substitute for amitriptyline so i can lose weight

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