Gabapentin

[babs1234]

Anyone use gabapentine as an abortive for headaches

[Cat00]

No, but I was on it for years for fibromyalgia while also having chronic migraines. I don't see how it would work as an abortive? It is generally prescribed for nerve damage etc.

[babs1234 in reply to Cat00]

Did it stop your migrain. I felt terrible after taking one 100 mg

[troy04 in reply to babs1234]

It was prescribed to me as migraine prophylaxis (prevention) - no prophylaxis works for me, neither did Gaba - but some people say their migraine became less severe and less frequent after using this. The side effects obviously unpleasant to say the least.

On another note - if you are able to do some brisk walking across the park (if you can't run) it will do a lot of good.

Cat00 - you are right, it is often prescribed for nerve damage. Also sometimes before a minor operation, this is prescribed by surgeons so that pain does not become severe after surgery. But it has a wide range of usage including as anticonvulsant (for epilepsy).

[babs1234 in reply to troy04]

Thanks Troy. I do plenty of exercise and yes it does help with the after fog. I have hemicrania continua which is almost daily , usually starts early hours.

[Cat00 in reply to babs1234]

No it didn't stop my migraine but I wouldn't have expected it to, not as an abortive maybe as Troy04 has said as a prophylaxis however . At one time I was on Gabapentin and Pregablin at the same time and that was quite effective at reducing my overall pain levels although the doctors were not happy about me being on both at the same time. I don't know if that was the concern was medical or financial however as the Pregablin was new at the time and was very expensive. Once the Gabapentin was removed the Pregablin didn't work on its own. I did put on weight though, I was incredibly thin at the time so this was considered to be a good thing but I would be unhappy about being put on it now for that reason. It is also a nasty drug to come off and has to be done very slowly. Saying that I'd be very surprised if one tablet having a bad effect on someone was anything other than psychosomatic, you normally need a loading dose of these things to feel any different. Also if you are taking it as an abortive presumably you are having a migraine now ( hence feeling bad ) and its not an abortive medicine so I can't see it as having an effect on your migraine right now?

[md5299]

Yes, it didn't work for me, after 2 weeks my headaches were worse and I had a headache for the next 2 weeks every day, but it may work for you.

[Monty123]

I was on pregabalin which is similar and it was amazingly effective at 150 mg bd but I had side effects of really poor short term memory - was really good for migraine , sleeping and anxiety ( major trigger for me ) . Gp not keen to prescribe now as it’s become a controlled drug .

Good luck !

Alternative is topiramate which a friend has just been prescribed by neurologist .

Jax

[kayki109]

I used it as a preventative for about 2 years. I was on a very high dose for it to work... I think 3600mg per day. It worked brilliantly.. You have to titrate up slowly. Unfortunately it stopped working and now after years of trying virtually everything, I have botox injections which diminish the quantity and severity of the migraines.

[Lipstick2020]

I tried 600 mgs for quite awhile and it only made me very sleepy but didnt prevent my migraines unfortunately.

[Jesse1801]

Yes myself and my brother both. I tried it for almost a year with no relief from migraines but did gain unwanted weight and constantly tired. My brother tried it for 3 years and no help either. In my opinion not worth side effects. Best results from diet change and nerve block shots.

[babs1234 in reply to Jesse1801]

Hi Jesse I had the GONB but they didn’t help me at all. Glad you got relief from them