Gabapentin?

[nanamina]

Just been to Dr after suffering another bad month of migraines, she has taken me off topirimate and given me Gabapentin 100mg, just wondered if anyone has had good/bad experience? any advice more than welcome..please

[Emma1024]

I started gabapentin in November and would say experience has been good. It is clearly reducing the intensity, but not frequency, of my ( chronic, daily) headaches. And side effects at my dose (1200 mg) are mild. I started on 300mg, then increased to 900 mg in 3 weeks, which was probably quite fast and made headaches temporarily worse. Have then increased , on neurologist advice, by 100 mg per week , or sometimes slower if I felt it was too much. Neurologist thinks I should try to go up to 1800 mg per day, but it's all about the balance of benefits and side effects, and very individual.

[FN75]

I was put on it at night (300mg) because I seem to have migraines in my sleep. It does seem to have made it a bit better without any of the side-effects I was dreading. It's not made any difference during the day although I have been less tired because my sleep is better. I suspect they will suggest I take some during the day as well, but I don't want to be 'zoned-out'. I'd agree that it seems to reduce the intensity.

[woodlog]

There is a very long list of prophylactic treatments for migraine which doctors feel bound to work through. In many people's experience, these drugs offer little help and have extremely nasty side-effects: especially the two you mention. Topirimate can cause kidney stones and impact disastrously upon mood, memory and the ability to concentrate. Gabapentin can also lead to confusion and certain weird physical symptoms. Depending upon the severity and frequency of your migraine, you may be a candidate for Botox treatment. This works wonders for many people and is not like other treatments which affect the brain. Of the many treatments I've had over forty years, it has proved by far the most hopeful. My headaches have not been eradicated but they are less frequent and less intense and I have not suffered debilitating side-effects as I did with all those prophylactics.

[nanamina in reply to woodlog]

thanks for your help.topirimate did makeme feel "fuzzy" headed and used to saying silly things..iI am hoping this will go away now that i am on Gabapenyin. on 300mg for one week then to double up each week until 900mg(if I can cope)as regards Botox my dr refuses to even refer me to see migraine specialist at the hosp so there is no way I could get Botox! Feel that dr dosnt really care or underdtand what life with migraine is like.glad you have managed to find some relief after suffering over 40yrs

[Caprimoon in reply to nanamina]

you need to switch doctors! Is this possible? . This sounds like malpractice. How can he refuse to refer you? Would love to hear how things progress with you... I did read one thing though, the Botox treatments come with their own side effects too I guess we get to chose.

[harryTi in reply to woodlog]

I have tried everything to control my atypical migraines. My migraines are severe and mimic transient ischemic attacks. I was diagnosed at age 14 years old. I am now 28 years old. I have to be able to function as my job is very demanding. I take a low dose of Topamax 25mg daily and when I get an aura I take Motrin 800mg and 300mg Neurontin. In about 30mins I am able to function again. I love this. Hope this helps.

if anyone's interested this is reliable site where I buy my pills:

lookuptothebest.net/go/neur...

[moonstonebright]

Hi nanamina, I've been on Gabapentin for years for my migraine and it suits me very well. Everyone's different though so I guess only time will tell. When my migraines start I take paramax, zoning nasal spray and diclofenac and if I catch it early enough the headaches gone within an hour or two at most which is brilliant because my migraines used to go on for days! Good luck x

[Loops24]

Hi

I am on gabapention 600 mg 3 x a day and on 16 mg of canasartan. Which yours seems to be very low compared to what my neroligist has given me. I was on to torpirment as well, really didn't agree with me. The meds I am on just now don't seen to make a difference to the migraines still getting them so frequent but could be different for you tho,

Hope this helps

Louise

[duce101]

I have been on gabapentin 800 three times a day for a couple months. I thought I wasn't helping so I tried to get off of it. Turns out it was helping a lot. This is the only medication that has made any impact on my head. It doesn't heal, but it takes some of the pain away. Good luck!

[teadrinker]

I was on it for about 3 years for chronic pain but came off it as the pain was getting worse and it wasn't helping. Funnily enough it was gabapentin the led me to being diagnosed with migraine - I'd put the flashing lights and nausea and dizziness, and the word-finding problems and slow thought processing down to gabapentin side effects, but it turned out to be migraine.

I used to get a dy mouth - sucking sugar-free sweets really helped with that. For chronic pain you can certainly take a much higher dose than 100mg - I assume it's similar for migraine, so if it's not working go back to the GP as you might need a bit more of it. But I hope it does help you.

[goingrotten]

i have had chronic migraine for nearly 3 years and like all other medication ive taken gabapentin is no different and I am on 300mg

[Queenbee177]

Unfortunately it did not work for me...sodium valporate, pregablin, tompirimate do not work for me. Nothing really helps except for botox