Gabapentin

[Calixthecat]

My Osteopath told me to stop taking Gabapentin as it damages the liver. After two weeks of not taking it I was in agony and when I went back on it the pain became tolerable. Has anyone else been told to stop taking it because of the damage it may do?

[Bananas5]

Sack your Osteopath. There is no evidence of liver damage whilst taking Gabapentin.

You should NEVER just stop taking any drug and this one in particular. You have to come off it slowly under medical advice.

You don't say what dose you were on but it is normal to start taking a low dose and increase. Coming off it is a reversal of that.

Pat x

[jules37 in reply to Bananas5]

I agree with all of Patons remarks. nothing to add.

[sianr in reply to Bananas5]

Hi Paton there is information recorded about a possible chance of liver failure along with many other possible side effects however the percentage of this is low and would not be licensed for use if the drug had such a significant effect on liver function . I agree the osteopath has given inaccurate advice causing pain and anxiety without appropriate knowledge very reckless indeed.

[Jhar in reply to sianr]

In my small opinion, any drug that binds to the receptors in your brain or has any sort of effect on neurotransmitters should be classified as a controlled substance, and patients should be warned that gabapentin is such a drug. Doctors deny there are any withdrawal effects from it, and refused to help. It had many debilitating side effects for me, and when I tried to stop taking it on my own, the pain from withdrawals was exchruciating. When I was in great pain from it, my doctor prescribed Lyrica along with the gabapentin which caused my legs and feet to swell so bad I couldn't get my shoes on and was very painful to even walk. I experienced many other horrible, debilitating side effects from it, but won't list them all here. Just wanted to warn anyone considering this drug, and also let others that might be experiencing some of the same problems I had with it, they are not alone.

[ToniPainPositive]

Do your own research, trust your own instincts, everyone has differing opinions of EVERY course of treatment!

[Bananas5 in reply to ToniPainPositive]

Not always Tony. It can be dangerous to stop taking meds.

[ToniPainPositive in reply to Bananas5]

I don't think I implied stopping meds? If anything, the opposite, it seemed that Calixthecat stopped immediately on the advice of the osteopath. I'm saying that whoever you talk to about the course of treatment you're on, someone will think it's wrong. I would not have stopped taking it (or started it, in fact) without making my OWN decision. My experience of living with pain tells me that things go better when I take responsibility for my own decisions (albeit with advice), even when they don't turn out to be right for me, I feel better that I am steering my own ship rather than drifting from one bit of advice to the next feeling lost.

[Calixthecat]

I am taking 300mg three times a day. I did come off it slowly. I also told my Doctor (New Doctor as I have just moved and the surgery has a very bad reputation) but she made no comment whatsover just just up-dated my notes. I have tried to find another surgery in my area but to no avail. So I will wait to see the consultant at the hospital this month (follow up appointment after having facet joint injection.

I have only just found this forum and it is great to be able to discuss all these issues.

Thanks

[Bananas5]

Hello again Calixthecat

Sorry i jumped in when i should have asked you for more info. Some people do just stop taking meds cos they find they disagree with them and withdrawal effects can e worse than taking them.

You sound like you have done it right though.

Pity your new GP isn't the least understanding. This can be common although there are many who work well with the CP clinic.

Is there a more sympathetic one withing the practise?

You are welcome on board here. None of us 'experts' but with many years od experience between us there is always someone going through similar. No we don't diagnose just help where we can.

A noisy relatively well behaved bunch! Moatly!!

Pat x

[lou1065]

Not sure an osteopath is medically trained enough to advise such a thing, it is a matter for your GP and as others have said you should never just stop this medication I came off this with lots of input from my GP over a period of three months, very slow going. Lou xx

[jules37]

you could ask your doctor to do blood tests to rule your concerns out.

[Piggysqueak]

Hello calixthecat

Nice to meet you, I'm on max dose of gabapentin 1200mg three times a day no idea if it affect the liver but I am hoping to go on pregabalin (lycria) my pain consultant told me as did a prof of pharmacy that it's a good drug as it does not affect the liver I can only trust there words . Your GP or pain Dr will know or pharmacist they are excellent . I have got liver disease but I'm on loads of medicines and can't function without pain relief,this was before the gabapentin .sorry can't really help

Take care squeak 🐷🐭xx

[phil4u]

I have been told to "consider stopping this medication" by another Doctor but when I asked why he evaded the answer.This was at a review of pain,one doctor prescribes it and another said stop.I think all doctors like people have their opinion's that's all.In my case I take 300mg x 4 daily and I have problems with my liver,however,the body has a way of coping with it's problems,the medication is just assist it.

Good luck for your future Catixthecat.

[earthwitch]

An osteopath is NOT a doctor and shouldn't be giving you instructions to change your medications. If you are worried, ask the doctor who prescribed it for you.

[Calceolaria]

An psychopaths has no right to give such advice.on fact it's dangerous and he is in breach of his professional guidelines.

[Calceolaria in reply to Calceolaria]

Hilarious spell check error there!it should of course, read osteopath, not psychopath. Or should it?

[Bananas5 in reply to Calceolaria]

Was wondering !!!

Pat x

[Poppy_Ann]

Hi Calix,

I use to be on it but was moved over to Pregabalin partly due to the possibility of liver damage and partly due to I was getting a reaction that it was increasing the pain I was feeling once I started using Pregabalin the pain was reduced to a level I could cope with, I am also taking several other pain medications at the same time and I doubt I will be able to stop or cut down in the future this is a list of them:-

Dihydrocodein 120mg twice a day.

Nefopam 30mg 2 X 3 times a day.

Pregabalin 50mg twice a day.

Paracetamol 500mg 2 x 4 times a day.

Amitriptyline 50mg 2 once a day at night.

Morphine sulfate as and when required, (every time I want to leave the house)

The one i consider my main medication is the Dihydrocodein which is a slow release one I know that I cannot manage without it as once I was running out due to my medication going missing in the post and I tried cutting down but within two days of taking half the dose I was lay on the floor not able to move due to pain and sweating buckets due to withdrawal in the end I had to go to a local doctor (I was in St Martin in the Caribbean at the time) and he tried to say I was getting the ones I was on via the internet due to he was not allowed to prescribe such a high dose in the end he gave me some other Codeine tablets which covered 5 days and the cost was $25 to see him, $25 for him to wright a script and the tablets cost $10 each at the chemist at the end of the visit with the doctor he asked where I was getting the ones I was taking and I showed him the empty box showing the doctors and the chemist in UK and also that they are made in UK by Cambridge Pharmaceuticals he took all the details and said he was going to try and find out how he could prescribe them for his patients.

Good luck in finding something that will give you the relief you require.

Regards Poppy Ann.

[sianr]

Oh my you soul did you stop taking these abruptly? The advice from your osteopath was reckless , gabapentin as well as many other medications have side effects however we don't always get them, these are recorded from research and patient use , if your GP thought you were a risk of liver failure he/she wouldn't of prescribed it or would be taking blood from you regularly to check your liver function. Sounds like this osteopath has maybe heard of the worst case scenerio from someone who was on it . I would take little advice and speak to the medical professionals who have the knowledge base to back up any claims they may make. Sudden withdrawal from meds can give you side effects like anxiety insomnia nausea pain sweating etc . I hope you've started taking gabapentin again ? I hope you've spoken to a GP to settle your anxiety this osteopath has caused?

[Boozybird]

Has anyone ever had any benefit from Osteopathy, chiropractic or the rest of the snake oil people. This is a great example of what they do. I hope you don't go back! No doubt he/she wanted you to replace the gaba with actual snake oil on sale from the front desk... 😱

Hope you recover from this nasty experience soon. 😃

[Freshteh]

I am aware it can cause liver damage and must only be in for a short while . I am I absolute agony without it. But hopefully I will see my consultant surgeon middle of Sept and have my nerves injected.

[Freshteh]

It is WRONG to just stop taking this drug, it must be done gradually.

[Bananas5]

I'm sorry Freshteh but there is no medical evidence this drug causes liver damage.. It can cause extremely minor condition which is so negligable as to barely be mentioned. Any damage to the liver has been proven to be other underlying health conditions and not gabapentin.

The Osteopath was not qualified and wrong to say otherwisw.

Pat x

[Chawner]

Hi there, I have been taking gabapentan for four years now at different doses and I get blood work done every six months to see if livers are holding up ok and I have had no problem what so ever. Everything comes back clear.

Gabapentan dosnt do anything more or less than any other pain meds, there all bad for you in so many ways. I was told by a fellow crps gale lately that why stop taking what helps you, it's your life and if it makes it that bit better for you to enjoy it then take the meds that help you.

Good luck and get back on what helps and get your blood checked regularly.

Good luck

[Fwizzi]

Hello, I have been taking gabapentin for a long time and have never been told it can cause liver problems. I know someone who swapped the gabapentin for progabalin and found it better than the gabapentin. Has your Dr ever mentioned the possibility of swapping it? Not sure if this is any help to you but if your worried about taking the gabapentin, ask your Dr if progabalin is more suitable, it still addresses the neurological pain. Hope you get some answers and some relief from your pain.