Gabapentin wears off?

[johnmarg]

Can anyone advise if this Rx wears off after a while?anyone on it long term? I take 400 to 600 mg for my RLS. About a year so far?

[nightdancer]

In the pharmaceutical industry and in the RLS community, also the Epilepsy Foundation, Gabapentin is well known to just stop working. I do not have the scientific explanation for that, but it has a reputation , IF it does work for you, of ceasing to work altogether. Could very well stop working after a year, easily. rxlist.com is one of the best web sites to look up meds, interactions, and also side effects. I know many people who have taken it for years and have no issue, and also many more that had to switch for a while. Did this dose used to work for you? AND, do you take any other meds that could be making the RLS worse, therefore blanking out the effects of the Gabapentin. having said that, you are on a low dose and can go up higher. In my 20 years of groups, though, once it stops working, it is time to try something else. But, you also have to look at ALL the factors, like RLS is progressive, you are on a fairly low dose, and lots of other things can interfere. For example do you take any antacids or meds for the tummy? If so, you should leave at least 2 or 3 hrs in between those and the gabapentin. The tummy meds break down the acid in your stomach, but also will break down any med you take with them. That is just one example.

[johnmarg in reply to nightdancer]

If it stops can u go off it and after waiting a period of time go back again?

[Joolsg]

I'd also love to know the answer to that. I've been on it for 6 months. I see from Nightdancer's response that it can just stop working so I will need to do my research to consider other options if that does happen to me. Having said that, I still get the jumpy legs every single night, although the Gaba lets me get about 6, possibly 7 hours in 2 or 3 separate sessions.

[Bajatom]

GABA worked about a year for me. Doc told me to go from 300 to 600 when it stopped working. But I was just diagnosed with osteoporosis and gabapentin and other anticonvulsants contribute to OP. I quit gabapentin for 6 months and took plant-based calcium/magnesium/vitamink2 for OP. It also helped with RLS. Did a program of yoga for OP that also calmed legs. After 6 months back on 300 mg gabapentin and it has been working fine now for two months.