Medication ?

[paul078]

My doctor has put me on gabepentin im a bit scared to take them but my pain is threw the roof

[Cazza2612]

I took Gabapentin many years ago which is an anti epilepsy drug but does help fibromyalgia pain.

It did cause me a bit of weight gain and a few other symptoms which I can’t remember now since it was so long ago but if you look at the information leaflet it will tell you what to possibly expect but remember the chances are that you will only get a few symptoms which will gradually reduce as your body gets use to the medication.

It can help with pain for some people really well and for others not as much. It just depends on the person to be honest. When I was on it I wasn’t getting a great deal of relief so the pain nurse in our practice just kept increasing the dose.

Although It is an anti epileptic drug it only works for people with certain types of epilepsy and as I do have epilepsy it turned out I shouldn’t have been given it in the first place so had to come off it straight away.

I hope you have some success with the gabapentin for your pain as many do experience great relief.

Take care

[Crugar2005]

Hi I'm a man aged 59 years, I fell ill instantly in January 2017 with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, very similar to Bells Palsy, which affected the left side of my face. Although the muscles in my face recovered after 3 months it has left me with partial deafness in the left ear and extreme tinnitus, however the most painful part is being left with Trigeminal Neuralgia which as you say the pain can be through the roof.

I've been on the maximum recommended dose of Gabapentin for 2 years now.

I used to have a combination of Carbamazepine and Gabapentin, both anticonvulsants. The effects of the Carbamazepine was brutal so the consultant stopped it and increased the Gabapentin. I do have some residual chronic pain but by and large the acute "suicidal" pain is vastly reduced. My advice is try the Gabapentin and don't be afraid of it, I've got to say it has greatly improved my quality of life and has left me in a better position to manage my various levels of pain. If you get half the benefit that I do from it you'll be pleased.

It's just a small part of my medication regime but it gets my vote. Hope it works for you.

[Hidden in reply to Crugar2005]

Hey Crugar

Gabapentin works quite well in combination with a pain med such as Tramadol and with Rivitril it goes by a number of names. If you try it on a trial basis, it can't hurt. All the best and good luck, living with chronic pain is such an isolated experience.

Anna

[Izzybiz]

Hi,I have took Gabapentin for quite a few years now,for burning pain I have in my feet and hands,as I have cmt.It helps to reduce the pain,so I can sleep some nights,it is worth giving it a try,to see if it works for you.

[Hidden]

Hi Paul

I have just posted this reply to someone who is in a similar situation to you. I thought it may help. I have lived through your hell. I found a brilliant Doctor who put me on medications to take as needed. His knowledge of pain is the best I have come across. Far better than the Pain clinics I have been too. I hope the following helps.

In 2005 I started to get unexplained Neuropathic pain in my thoracic 6/7 region. I also had pain in my lumbar spin but I just lived with that. The thoracic pain was aggravated by stranding and sitting. It felt like undergoing child birth on a daily basis. Other than the other night when I had a dreadful attack that my Tramadol would not touch, I eventually took some Lyrica, a hot water bottle, wheat pack and a number of boiling hot showers. It worked. Somebody commented that stress can aggravate the pain and they are 100% correct. I call Lyrica 'the silent wonder'. I have been taking it since it came off clinical trials. I could barley afford it but it eventually made the Australian PBS Government funded list and now instead of $180, $140, $118, I pay around $39. I have recently halved my dose so I now take 150mg each morning in combination with 200 mg long acting Tramadol which I have also recently reduced down from 300 mg. I also take rivitrol, I only need it when the pain in my thoracic region flares up. It doesn't take all the pain away but it is the best control I have ever had. I don't sit or don't stand for long simply because it aggravates the pain. When first starting Lyric it has serious side affects. I recall my face would drop into my dinner. Preserve, in combination with a pain med it may work for you. You will need to go to a pain clinic, doctors are not generally to well informed on chronic pain. I was told that the cause could be a small clot in the vain restricting oxygen to the nerves in the spine. All the best.

Anna

[Saracat23]

Hi, I’ve been on Gabapentin for about 4 years now and it means I can sleep at night rather than being in agony. I know the possible side effects look scary but you might not have any at all. I can’t remember having any at all when I started taking them and I haven’t put on weight. They are definitely worth trying. They don’t seem to work for everyone but when they do, they’re really helpful. Good luck!

[katieoxo60]

Well Paul078, my freind was in extreme pain and the GP suggested Gabapentin. She read the patient leaflet and was worried about the side effects, GP suggested she try it and if no success they could try something else. She has been taking it for three months now , it does work for her but does not eliminate pain only reduce it , from screaming pain to bearable. So I would suggest its worth a try. I can't take it as it worsens my lung symptoms. Take care and good luck if you try it.

[la40]

I take Gabepentine at night to help me sleep, I have neuropathy , Parkinson's . I was scared of taking it but has proved to be OK, try it and see how you get on with it, like most drugs it reacts differently to the person taking it. Hope it works for you.

[greekqueen]

I find gabapentin works really well for me with no side effects, I am on 1200g a day. You may feel dizzy for a week or so but don't let it put you off, it soon goes.

[PainConcernHelpline Moderator Community Champion Pain Concern]

Hi there paul078

It's completely understandable that you might be a bit worried about taking Gabapentin. Below, I have attached a link with some useful information about Gabapentin; specifically about how it works, what it's used for, and the common side effects that people experience:

painconcern.org.uk/gabapent...

Additionally, there are alternatives to medication for pain management. Depending on the nature of your pain, other pain management strategies can include physical therapy, or psychological therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). These alternative therapies may also play a significant role in helping people manage their symptoms and lead a fulfilling life.

Take a look at the following link for more information about alternative strategies/techniques for pain management:

painconcern.org.uk/resource...

I hope you find this information useful.

Moderator 4, on behalf of Pain Concern.

[Hidden]

I tried it for a few months but it never done anything for me I was taking 2700mg a day it does have some scary looking side effects try it see if it works for you