Does anyone else get joint pain with gabapentin

[Alilouise]

I have after stroke pain for 12 month since my brain stem stroke last year. I was on gabapentin straight away then moved on to pregabalin which helped my pain but then made my stomach distended Plus weight. So changed back to gabapentin, but I've now been on it for about 2 months and have increasingly achy joints especially knees, also terrible weight gain. How do you all feel? is there an alternative tablet I could try for this neurological problem

[Saracat23]

I’ve been on Gabapentin for a couple of years now and I thought I was getting on really well with it but your post has made me think, as I have increasingly achy joints. I’d put it down to age with hyper mobility but you’ve made me think again. I couldn’t get on with Pregabalin either (made me breathless). Sorry you’re having such a rough time, hope you can find something which suits you better.

[Alilouise in reply to Saracat23]

Ive been on gabapentin since October last year. I tried pregabline for a few months and it gave me a bloated and distended tummy so went back to gabapentin. As of today I'm now on 2700 mg a day 3 times a day i take 900mg. Ive had increasing stiffness of my knee joints and muscle so i looked at side effects and there it was. Joint pain. So i spoke to the gp who said weight gain and painful joints are quite often mentioned as side effects. So what do we do. As i couldn't live without some sort of neuro type medication. Have you tried anything else??

[Saracat23 in reply to Alilouise]

No, I’ve only had the Pregabalin and this. You’re right, what do we do, I don’t think there is another comparable one, is there? I couldn’t manage without anything either. I think I’ll have a word with my neuro. Did your GP have any suggestions? I wonder if there isn’t an alternative, if there’s anything we could take to counteract this particular side effect? That seems a bit drastic but if there’s no other choice that might be all we could do.

[Alilouise in reply to Saracat23]

True. I have wondered about acupuncture but still haven't done it but you are right maybe there is something we could have to stop the joint pain. Im 55 and a little over weight but by joints shouldn't be aching this much. When i get up after sitting for a while im in real pain and look like a really old arthritic person x

[Saracat23 in reply to Alilouise]

I’m 54, so we’re both too young for all this! Yes, I find I’m so stiff when I’ve been in the same position for a while and it does really hurt. I’ve never tried acupuncture either but at least that doesn’t involve taking a supplement. I seem to find every supplement I think might be good for me is a no-no because of my medication. I have tried something called Pernaton, which is a sort of gel, for muscle pain and it was really good for that. Suddenly thought about that and when I checked it says it’s good for joints so that might be worth a go. It’s something extracted from green limpets, so hopefully not likely to interact with anything! I got mine from Amazon. I’ll let you know if it helps x

[antbeech1963]

Hi Alilouise i was only put on gabapentin last year but i am not sure if its helping or making things worse i do seem to have more joint pain but then then i have had pain for over 15 years and just dealt with it myself i did have steroid injections in joints but gabapentin also does,t seem to be making any difference . but have not put on any weight. i suppose it effects people differently . but best to speak with your doctor and tell them about your concerns . and also read the leaflet that,s in the tablet box. sorry but it,s early days for me as well but no side effects . i am 56 and 12 stone i had to control my weight because i had 4 operations and spent 5 years at home in pain and could not work but i did not ask for help until a few years ago. i did put on a bit of weight when i was at home but its because i stopped working.

Good Luck

Tony