question about pain and gabapentin

[Mightnot]

Hi

I have just started today on 300mg of gabapentin and plan to add one tablet every day or two until I reach 1800mg (3 x 600mg). I have neuralgia (pain in my jaw and teeth) and have already seen a dentist, who confirmed it’s not a dental issue. I’ve read or scanned the first 10 pages about gabapentin. Does anyone know of any research or comments about its use for general pain? Additionally, could it trigger AF (atrial fibrillation)? I have had AF in the past but am not currently in it.

I’ve also been prescribed amitriptyline 10mg, but I’ve seen some comments linking it to AF. I may hold off on taking the amitriptyline for now and discuss it further with my doctor. However, I plan to take gabapentin, as the pain is very severe.

I’ve had several cardioversions and am not currently in AF, though I’ve been in it frequently in the past. My concern is whether these two medications could cause me to relapse into AF. I’ve checked for drug interactions and was initially prescribed carbamazepine, but I decided on gabapentin after weighing the pros and cons with my doctor, as gabapentin has fewer interactions with rivaroxaban and the other heart medications I take.

I’ve had a cardioversion and am not currently in AF (I’ve had several of these).

I take bisoprolol, flecainide, rivaroxaban for my heart, and allopurinol for gout.

I’ve recently had 4 weeks of pain in my jaw and teeth, which has been diagnosed as general neuralgia and is not related to my teeth.

Any comments on using gabapentin with heart issues or any other related experiences would be much appreciated. I usually post on the AF threads.

[OSTEOARTHRITISRA]

Hi always get a .message on repeat that This and the pregablin

Is not for normal pain

And only nerve pain

And they have lots of side effects

And for the nerve pain

They only help 1/7

If you can take to them they tend to start with gabepentin to see if helps if not then they may try the pregablin

Or vise versa

The dose can work up the way for some to usually 2700 mg

The pregablin up the way to 450mg or 600mg

That's wot docs told me

They do help lots as well good luck there

I tryed gabepentin then now switched to

Pregablin Now 600mg or 200mg and 400.g early evening this is my docs instructions

200mg 3 times daily

My side effects where a bit tired take larger dose early evening now ,

And weight gain can be a issiue ,I try work round that with tools ,I,e diet and not by treats etc

Research there will be some out there

1 with a wee research

Think the name maybe

Cochrane library

[Mightnot in reply to OSTEOARTHRITISRA]

thanks for the reply - my pain is nerve pain so trying gabapentin and increasing to 1800

[Onslow729 in reply to OSTEOARTHRITISRA]

Pregabalin at those doses will turn you into a “Zombie”

I have taken the recommended dosage to try and control my Neuropathy and although it did reduce the nerve pain it left me in my own little world and not aware of anything going on around me.

Believe me it’s not a way to live.

Good luck.

[OSTEOARTHRITISRA in reply to Onslow729]

I've been on on it over 5 years I'm fine

It helps, dont get me wrong can feel a bit tired at times hence take more early evening, and also need to work and watch diet and dont keep treats etc as weigh gain can happen ,I am allowed to adjust to 400mg, I also get pain relief along side it

Everyone different though

Wot suits one does not sure another etc

It or gabepentin max dose also helps others a lot

It does unfortunately have lots of side effects for some

[Defenders in reply to OSTEOARTHRITISRA]

I’m on Gabapentin and it doesn’t help my peripheral neuropathy pain.

[OSTEOARTHRITISRA in reply to Defenders]

It happens with lots usually first line,of that doesn't help you usually then get to try pregablin, happened to me and lots and wots doctor said ,Then see if pregablin works or not

I'd go back to docs and tell them its not working ,usually you go upto 2700mg with gabepentin but depends wot for abd the individual

Pregablin usually up the way to 450mg 600mg if severe again as above ,do go to docs though and tell them its not helping

[Mightnot in reply to Defenders]

what does help? I have been on gabapentin for a few days and a little better but still pain

[Defenders in reply to Mightnot]

Nothing helps my pain! I was put on it by my GP for severe leg pain caused by the antibiotic CIPROFLOXACIN, one of the family of toxic drugs, called FLUOROQUINOLONES. Pregabalin helped a bit but I read how very addictive it is, so I stuck with Gabapentin, which I think they give us to keep us quiet! I know of nothing else except Opioids!

[Defenders in reply to Defenders]

I’ve been on Gabapentin for about 6 years and it doesn’t help my nerve pain.

[Mightnot in reply to Defenders]

what do you use to help nerve pain?

[Mightnot in reply to Defenders]

so gabapetin did not help - I have been researching - some suggest medical canabis products and company called "Releaf" - have you tried that?

[Defenders in reply to Mightnot]

Thank you! I have contacted Releaf and have a consultation on 23/1. I will let you know how I go on.

[Mightnot in reply to Defenders]

I have an appointment on the 22 Jan LOL - I got this info from another user and might in this thread or another to do with pain relief. Lets hope it helps

[Mightnot in reply to Defenders]

I also checked the company releaf on trust pilot and looks ok and legit etc - I have never heard that about this in the uk

[Defenders in reply to Mightnot]

Watch this space! We’ll report back. It doesn’t say how much the C is!

[Mightnot in reply to Defenders]

the company for legal products says a lot but not clear

what do you think it will cost to pay based on the website ?

[Defenders in reply to Mightnot]

I will send a reply on Chat.

[Onslow729 in reply to OSTEOARTHRITISRA]

Thanks for replying

As you say we are all different and these meds can affect everyone differently.

I’m so glad it works for you.

[OSTEOARTHRITISRA in reply to Onslow729]

On my repeat prescription all the time it says It only helps

1 /7

And there is lots of side effects

And also says

Not for other pain ,nerve only if your getting prescibed it for that see gp

[Booklover66]

Though the dentist has ruled out teeth, what about TMJ in jaw? I wear an appliance to prevent me from grinding, especially at night. Temporomandibular joint can cause tremendous joint pain in jaw.

I take muscle relaxant Baclofen for jaw pain

I do not have heart trouble, but I do have hypertension and take seven medication’s for that.

In addition, I have a lot of pain with my jaw, migraines, arthritis, fibromyalgia, occipital neuritis, torn tendons in shoulders, left hip and right knee meniscus along with stenosis in my neck and lower back. I take gabapentin. My doctor said I could take up to 3600 mg but I said I wanted to stay on low doses as it makes me very groggy and spacey. I started out with 100 twice a day and it took me several months to work up to 300 and then 400 in one day in other words, 200mg in the morning and 200mg in the evening and it really does help with my pain. I also take a NSAID twice a day called Dolobid (generic diflunisal).

Though it hurts to, I do as much as I can. Even if it’s to walk a few houses and back I also try to get up out of my chair every 20 to 30 minutes. I spread out my cooking into 10 or 15 minute increments because my back hurts so badly. I have four different types of migraines and have to navigate those throughout the month. I think the gabapentin helps the length. I do take rizatriptan for the migraines.

I don’t know if this is of much help, but you are not alone in your pain and use of gabapentin. I cannot address Afib as I do not have it.

[Mightnot in reply to Booklover66]

thanks - I will look into baclofen, TMJ yes - I might have and dentist says a splint might help as grinding but for immediate pain relief I am taking the gabapentin and not the amitryline. You say you have taken 100mg at first moving slowly to 400. My doc says to start on 300 then go to 1800 in 10 days. I am doing 300 x 3 today and feel ok so far and i think the pain is less constant . thanks for the reply and comment

[Mightnot]

I have had stress after operations and my uk dentist says it might be grinding and to take the gabapentin and see if that works and if it does then don't do the mouth splint. I might get one anyway. I am also going to clean my teeth at the dentist and get a through check under conscious sedation so costly but worth it. I have had this issue 3 years ago and I did the same and cleaning teeth helped. Long run - I think muscles in jaw causing issues and so i need to rebuild bite at the back but that is costly

[Onslow729]

As I understand it Gabapentin is prescribed by many GP’s as a Pain Killer which I feel is wrong as it’s not what the drug was designed for.

It’s down to the fact that if the doctor needs to give you a drug that can help reduce the pain the only option is to prescribe an Opioid Drug.

But due to the serious addiction issues doctors are being told not to prescribe Opioids, so the doctors are prescribing Gabapentin or the later drug Pregabalin.

Nerve pain can be a life long condition and can be difficult to control.

Hope this helps.

[Mightnot in reply to Onslow729]

thanks - I have made a longer post about pain and in general - opiates will help but as they are addictive it is a worry. Have anyone had opiates eg tramadol and oxycodon or stronger pain relief and what for.

[OSTEOARTHRITISRA in reply to Mightnot]

Hi yes was on tramadol along side others got tramadol halted and pregabalin increased same time ,has helped everyone different though I am on

fentynal patch does help

Low dose

And dehydracodine

Your work up the way

I had to go back the way with the fentynal

When i thought it became too strong

Sometimes for some

Lots of pain relief low dose can do the trick as well

Also if you can take

Paracetamol longterm

Paracetamol helps other pain meds work better

All through doctors instructions and prescription

A pain course or wellbeing courses may help as well

[Jaff1 in reply to Onslow729]

Opioids do nothing for nerve pain. I believe that's the main reason they refuse to prescribe them.

[Mightnot]

Hi - here is some personal info and if you have any experience about anything I write about here then let me know please. I am in England

My doctor refused to give me opiates, I asked him for the next level pain relief up from co codamol which was tramdol and oxycodon. He said "we need to be sensible" and repeated this a few times. I am well awell of the opiate addiction in the USA and I have seen documentaries and news reports so I think this is what he meant.

So far I am on 1200 of the gabapentin and raising it slowly and for a day or two the pain was less constant but today still here and almost constant which is the issue. Unrelenting.

I will try the mouth guard suggested ( called a splint to stop grinding).

I also see my dentist and other website have cerezen and TMJ treatments but I have heard that cerezen is not longer used. This is something that goes in the ear and helps jaw pains but I think discontiunded and maybe was a gimmick?

I think my bite has changed and will ask the dentist to make an applicance that separates my upper and lower jaws a little. I used to have one that was worn down and now over years maybe this is causing pain.

I have had ears checked three times and teeth but the pain seems to be in the jaw bones, the ear and the jaw muscles. Then the teeth are very sensitive. If it is the teeth and it might be then this will have to drill into crowns and explore and as the pain is over all teeth then not practical. Pain moves around the roots of the teeth from top to bottom to back to front and on either side. Predominantly on one side , I have used this site to help get info about drugs for AF when I got diagnosed a while ago and it helped so trying here about this new problem. Thanks for any advice you have.

[Jaff1]

I suffer from neuralgia and initially took 10mg of amitriptyline. This got rid of the pain for 5 years. Totally got rid of it. When they stopped working I went on to pregabalin. Can't remember my exact dose now but I always felt like my brain was clouded. They stopped working after a few years and i'm currently back on amitriptyline but 20mg daily. I've had no pain for around 3 years now. I feel alert and normal on the amitriptyline. I have no idea about effects on the heart but, I do know I had no pain.

[Mightnot in reply to Jaff1]

thanks for the reply

the thing about amitrityline is I read it can cause Atrial Fibrillation in people like me who have been in and out of AF for years. I am currently not in AF and therefore want to avoid anything that might put me in AF as it is incapacitationg. I take gabapentin and increasing dose each day or two as instructred by my doctor up to 1800mg a day and on 900mg now and tomorrow. I am supposed to take 10mg of amitriyline at 1900 eg now each day but I have now. What pain relief does this give you? What type of neuragia do you have? My pain is in jaw and face and consequently affect nerves in teeth so you can imagine pain type. I am not sure if I should take amitryline for the AF reasons. I read low dose 10mg is ok but I fear AF as if you don't dont you heart starts beating irregualarly and fast and is obviously not good.

[Mistygreyhound in reply to Mightnot]

I too have AF and have been taking amitriptyline for nerve pain(sciatica)for about 6 months and I must admit it definitely helped with my pain and can't say I had any more than usual problems with AF,mine is Paradoxical so only usually get it every few months or so

[Mightnot in reply to Mistygreyhound]

thanks for the reply - when i get af i stay in it until a cardioversion then I last as long as I can in nsr

[DogHospiceMom in reply to Jaff1]

I have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, Sjogrens, Vasculitis, small fiber neuropathy and degenerative disc disease. For years I have used alternative treatments because the first medication prescribed, hydroxychloroquine, trashed my eyes. For years I suffered with pain in my head, neck and shoulders until diagnosed with TMJ. The treatment was long and at times I wanted to give up, however, I am glad I stuck with it because it worked and made a world of difference. Recently I have gone on the lowest dose of gabapentin and meloxicam daily and hydrocodone as needed because the Vasculitis put me in the hospital and the small fiber neuropathy in my legs was becoming unbearable. I have always refused to go on blood thinners for Afib, however, during a routine out patient procedure under anesthesia I went into Complete Heart Block during recovery and was implanted with a pacemaker/ defibrillator despite my written DNR. What I want to advise is always doing your own research and you are in the right place for getting as much information as possible. I have learned so much by joining forums for everything I have been diagnosed with and I have learned so much more than the information from my doctors.

[Mightnot]

good advice - it is tricky weighing up the pros and cons - in summary amitryline can cause arithmia but likely 10mg won't and it may help my pain and sleep. I am sure my doctor who will take a week to see will say just take it but I don't like AF