Gabapentin

[Geordie-Y]

Answering the question about Gabapentin:-

This painkiller like most of them is highly addictive and if coming off it has serious withdrawal symptoms. I wouldn’t take it everyday but would supplement with paracetamol.

Geoerdie-Y

[Wendy39]

Interesting. Thanks for the tip. GP recently told me that I should consider this or pregabalin. But Dr K said Ametriptyline is first port of call for him. I need to research it more. I know little about any of them. Thank you! x

[mskmb in reply to Wendy39]

My Rheumy prefers Ametriptyline. I have tried that but I couldn’t cope with the grogginess x

[Frosty1960 in reply to mskmb]

I get both and oxycodone aswell. 😞

[whisperit in reply to Wendy39]

I've been on 20mg amitriptyline for ages. It does help me with pain. As with most other drugs like this, it also results in your body becoming somewhat dependent i.e. if you stop suddenly, you will probably suffer! I tried this a few months ago and found it so unpleasant that I went back on. I haven't noticed any bad effects of taking it, but will probably try and wean off it again in the future when other issues aren't distracting me! x

[Wendy39 in reply to whisperit]

Very interesting! Thank you!

I wasn't sure about the G or P. I was thinking that as things are I might just carry on as I am until a time I think I can't cope. I am on 400mg hydroxy, 3g of MMf and 50mg of mepacrine three times per week. I do use pain relief as and when, but it isn't on a daily basis at this time.

Just trying to balance adding another drug and do my level of symptoms warrant it at this time? Can I delay it?

Wendy x

[whisperit in reply to Wendy39]

Exactly, it's such a difficult question, isn't it? I was prescribed gaba about 18 months ago, when my rheumy decided I had developed Fibromyalgia, but at the time I decided not to take it as I had no pain symptoms.

About 6 months ago, I was on the brink of starting it as my chronic fatigue has become so bad that I was willing to try anything. But then I got the myositis symptoms I am now struggling with and decided not to complicate things. It seems like when we have these complex conditions there are no easy decisions! x

[Wendy39 in reply to whisperit]

Very true!

[Angelann69 in reply to Wendy39]

I use Elavil too, the only thing other than opioids that doesn't bother me. It does cause the drowsies until about noon and dry mouth but it works for me and it's the one thing my gp isn't threatening to take away from me for my own safety. Our government is so messed up and in the middle of healthcare. Who knows what's coming up for us U..S, citizens when it comes to healthcare. We have a president who it out to destroy the County. I'm ready to move out of Country.

[whisperit]

My understanding is that if you do not take gabapentin on a regular basis, then you are unlikely to benefit. People vary a lot in their response and some don't seem to benefit at all. Others clear a single dose from their system within a few hours, before any benefit can take hold. So usually it's necessary to take several doses during the day, and to build up to a stable level over several weeks. Likewise, when you come off it, you should taper down over a period of time to minimise withdrawal effects.

According to the conclusion of a recent Cochrane review, "Gabapentin is helpful for some people with chronic neuropathic pain. It is not possible to know beforehand who will benefit and who will not. Current knowledge suggests that a short trial is the best way of telling." x

[mskmb in reply to whisperit]

Yes. My doctor told me to give it a one month trial and build it up each day x

[Frosty1960 in reply to whisperit]

I am on 600mg three times a day.

[Sarahd1609]

I was on 1200mg a day and it did nothing so they had to switch me to pregablin 600mg a day but only by gradually decreasing 1 as I increased the other it’s dangerous to stop it as it can cause seizures. The only side effect I’ve had is weight gain but pregablin has helped the pain slightly x

[Angelann69]

Gabapentin was originally made for people with seizures then all of a sudden it cures everything under the sun. I tried it and like most anti d's and stuff like this, I can't use it. So horrible depressed with it and not willing to gain a ton of weight plus become addicted to it. They never tell you this but is what it is and it's difficult to get off of. When your pain returns your doc will raise the dose to unbelievable high numbers.I have neuropathy and I'd rather have pain than be hooked on this stuff. I know it works for others, so give it a try, I'm just sayin'.

[chrisj]

I've been taking gabapentin for about 18 months. Rheumatology prescribed it to help with sleep and it has, it also helps with nerve pain. Just a couple of capsules each night seems to be enough. My sleep pattern has been disturbed for a long time so I've been glad of the drug. The doctor told me about its use with epilepsy and said it didnt work that well. They did discover it helped better with other things like sleep

I was prescribed amitriptyline originally but with sjogrens the side effect of dry mouth made things worse. The doctor that prescribed gabapentin advised me to stop amitript and I took his advice

I use paracetamol in the day sometimes, not regularly and will take one tramadol if needed, depends how fed up I am with the aches and pains. As someone who's never taken any drugs its all been a bit of a shock but I wouldnt be without them

[Babs511 in reply to chrisj]

I’ve also been prescribed gababentin to help me sleep with my pain & I take two tramadol every night.I too have Sjögrens and as you say amitriptyline makes your mouth a lot worse. It’s odd having to take drugs just to hopefully get some sleep but the pain itself is exhausting. It’s hard mentally to adjust to being a person who needs to rely on medication to exist. But having discovered this site it’s amazing how many people are suffering from various diseases & fighting hard to retain some sort of quality of life.

[chrisj in reply to Babs511]

Hi Babs Good to know its helped you too. Taking tablets is a daily grind for me, I dont think I'll ever get used to taking them. It was something of a relief to find so many people with the same or similar problems in here, makes you feel you're not alone