Gabapentin issues

[Andyroo66]

Hi

Been on this about 9 days. Started 100mg but for the last week been on 200mg at nite.

I'm really not sure it's for me quite stimulating feel like im wired to a battery with buzing legs and it's killed my mood to bring tearful.

Is a higher dose better. I'm due to try Pregabalin but I guess that would be much the same?

I'm taking it for leg jerks in the night and migraine aura.

[Hidden]

Yeah those sort of drugs can play merry havoc with our moods. I always operate on the assumption that if I can bite down and tolerate the side-effects at the beginning a lot of the time they fade or you get used to them.

It's that age old battle - what can you tolerate more - the discomfort from the condition or the treatment!

[runningbear1]

I have been on Gabapentin for nearly 12 months with out the side affects, you talk about. My current dosage is 300mg in morning, 600mg Lunch, and 1100mg at night.

[RosieRow]

Hi

I'm on Pregabalin, not Gabapentin so can't answer your queries specifically. But when Pregabalin started playing havoc with my physical symptoms (and not on a high dose at all), I reduced it and the symptoms immediately improved. So why not try it one way and then the other - try increasing it to see if things get worse - then you know it is the Gabapentin. Or you can reduce it and see what effect it has.

I know we sometimes need to persevere as our bodies get used to a particular drug, but only we can judge when it really is not right for us or whether we've just not given it long enough. It certainly sounds like it's not right at the dose you're taking unless, as Raffs says, you think you could get used to the side effects.

I hope you find a way through this soon.

RosieRow

[Andyroo66]

thanks can you switch directly from gabapentin to pregabalin? My neuro wants me to stop for 3 days but not sure I can as the gaba helps with my sleep issues

[Joolsg in reply to Andyroo66]

I switched straight from Gabapentin to Lyrica ( pregabalin) without problems- I’d been on Gabapentin for about 3 months.

As you’ve only been on for a short time it should be fine. No idea why neurologist wants you off Gabapentin without replacing it with pregabalin.

Dr Early in the USA insists 10 days free of all drugs so he can assess baseline RLS but that seems barbaric to me if you’re still going through withdrawal and need rest/sleep.

But 3 days? Ask him/her why.

[LotteM]

Gabapentin at similarly low doses also made me depressed. It took me quite a while to find out. Now I take only 100mg to help with sleep, as the oxycodon I take that quells my RLS symptoms tends to give me insomnia. I haven’t tried pregabalin.

As Jools says, ask your neurologist why the 3 days without. How one reacts to a medicine is very personal, unfortunately. Thus it takes some trials and errors. And above all listen to your own body and take it seriously. Often a combination of two meds at low doses proves more efficient that one med at a higher dose. To discuss with your neurologist?

[Andyroo66 in reply to LotteM]

Thanks . If I switch over is the treatment likely to be continuous or is it likely i will be starting from scratch with new side effects?

Thanks

[Andyroo66]

Thanks I might see if I could mix with v low dose amitriptyline. I have long QT syndrome so pretty much all the antidepressants are not allowed including amitriptyline but a low dose might be OK.

I tried a higher dose of gaba Saturday and on Sunday I was a mess crying on and off all day. It completely ruined me. Back on 200mg today still slightly tearful but not too bad Does the emotional aspect wear off or is it permanent. Hope not