I've seen a neurologist who prescribed 300mg gabapentin at night for a month to be increased by another 300mg in the morning if it seemed helpful and side effects not too bad. I've been taking the night time dose for 16 days and have noticed no positive effects yet just negative ones - worsening insomnia and unsteadiness on my feet and sometimes dizziness during the day.
I know from reading posts here it takes time to kick in, but I'm wondering whether I should keep going with it. At present, the balance between positive and negatives is very much in the negative corner. I thought of trying to phone the neurologist, but then thought I'd appreciate your advice most.
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Yes it does take 3 - 4 weeks AND an effective dose before it fully starts to work. 300mg is not enough, 600 mg may not be enough. The minimum.effective dose is generally 900mg.
I have no idea why the neurologist suggested increasing it so slowly. You can increase it much faster than that. I increased it by 100mg a day, that's 300mg every 3 days.
The official UK guidance for prescribing gabapentin (the BNF), says you can increase it faster than that.
NOTE also, the BNF says nothing about gabapentin for RLS. The neurologist doesn't seem to be using it anyway.
Gabapentin for RLS is recommended to be ONCE a day i.e. at night. Adding a morning dose is NOT recommended. I guess the neurologist is NOT a RLS specialist.
Side effects do include drowsiness, gait problems and dizziness. These fade after a few weeks.
No point in being drowsy and at risk of falling during the day by taking a morning dose, plus it not lasting you through the night when RLS is worse.
You can take it all at night, up to 1600mg. (see BNF).
You may find this article helpful, written by RLS specialists (not just neurologists).
YES, keep it up, but I suggest the neurologist hadn't given you the best advice. I'd hate for you to go, say 2 months and decide it's not working because a) you're only taking 300 mg at night and b) you're aware of side effects during the day due to an ineffective morning dose and c) it may not be working because your total daily dose is insufficient.
Just in addition to what Manerva said, was/is there a reason for taking the morning dose, seems very strange to me if you have the usual RLS symptoms i.e. onset in late afternoon/evening, why would you need a daytime dose when you want to be steady on your feet?
Hello YodaDog and Manerva, thank you for your very helpful replies.
The neurologist I saw was supposed to be a rls specialist. I went to see him because of augmentation with pramipexole which I'm trying to reduce (with only moderate success). He might have suggested I take a morning dose because my rls can start as early as 1pm, though usually only if I've had a really bad night - and I've been having plenty of those!
Good sleep is the most important thing, so I'm going to take your advice and go up to 600mg at night and see whether that helps. The only other thing I've found helpful is kratom, which may daughter got for me - and sticking religiously to a low carb diet. My rls really punish me if I let that slip!
1) nerve repair 2,) seizure medicine, 3) shingles. Capsules 300 mg.But PILLS in large doses for RLS.Question? what are the reasons you are taking. Did you ask your Doc? Be your own advocate with RLS
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