Gabapentin doses

[SueJohnson]

I recently emailed Dr. Buchfuhrer and asked:

"Which is the best way to take gabapentin if one is taking 1500 mg at night?

1. 300 mg 6 hours before bedtime, 600 mg 4 hours before bedtime, then 600 mg 2 hours before bedtime or

2. Split the dose 1/3, 2/3 which would be 500 mg 4 hours before bedtime and then 1000 mg 2 hours before bedtime."

This is what he answered:

"The issue with gabapentin is that most people (like 75%) do not absorb doses of this drug in doses above 600-900 mg. When you take more (in a single dose), you absorb only a part of the extra (above 600-900 mg) so the extra does not add that much. As such, your first plan is better but you may not absorb a significant amount of your second and third doses as they will likely compete for absorption with the earlier doses."

I then sent another email to DrBuchfurer and asked him: "If one wanted to stick with gabapentin, would perhaps 600 mg 4 hours before bedtime, then 900 mg 2 hours before bedtime be better than my first plan below? " He answered: "Unlikely"

[Madlegs1]

If you can get Horizant covered by your insurance, it may well be an option.

[SueJohnson in reply to Madlegs1]

It is not covered by insurance in the US and it is very expensive. It can cost $6,000/year.

[Madlegs1 in reply to SueJohnson]

Fair enough. We can't get it at all this side of the pond. Maybe that price is the reason!!

[SueJohnson in reply to Madlegs1]

Also I am very happy with the gabapentin as it completely controls my restless legs.

😀

[cicek in reply to SueJohnson]

So pleased to hear this. It's nice to know some are getting relief. Hopefully not long for me now 😀

[LanaCSR in reply to SueJohnson]

I know you said you're happy with the gabapentin, but since you mentioned Horizant not being covered by insurance in the US, I wanted you and anybody else out there who lives in the US and may be considering taking Horizant to know that I am currently taking it and I get it from a local pharmacy in the US that has a coupon they applied to it on their end each month to make it affordable for me (I don't have health insurance). So if you live in the US and want to try it, ask your neurologist and call around to your local pharmacies to see if they have a coupon they can apply. Good luck!

[SueJohnson in reply to LanaCSR]

How much was the coupon and what did your price become for the year?

[LanaCSR in reply to SueJohnson]

The coupon brought it down from about $550/month to $120/month. I take 1200 mg per day. Still expensive, but way more affordable than without the coupon.

[Memmy in reply to LanaCSR]

Meds are amazingly expensive in the US. My cousin who lives in Chicago was taking a cream for her skin. On prescription she was paying close to 200 dollars. Then her medical insurance decided not to cover it. She asked me if they sold it in Greece. I checked with my pharmacy. Guess what it was 2.5 dollars for the same thing exactly. So now when she comes here she goes back with her supply.

[SueJohnson in reply to Memmy]

Yes they are. I get one of my prescriptions from Canada.

[SueJohnson in reply to SueJohnson]

WOW That is quite a reduction. So it was not Walgreens nor CVS? Was it a store coupon then?

[WideBody in reply to SueJohnson]

Horizant is ridiculously expensive! I went from 1500mg of Gabapentin to 300mg of pregabalin, I ain’t going back. It’s two pills and it works, fairly consistently. Plus it is not that expensive.

[Joolsg]

Thanks for posting this Sue. It will really help those on gabapentin to take their doses in the most optimal way.

[cicek]

This is very interesting. I know Gabapentin is a similar drug to Pregabalin and I was asking about how to increase that (thank you for responding). I may just do the same thing. What is Dr Buchfuhrer's email address please? Thank you in anticipation.

[SueJohnson in reply to cicek]

[e-mail]

[cicek in reply to SueJohnson]

Thank you very much.

[SueJohnson in reply to cicek]

I have since learned from YodaDog below that that one doesn't work anymore. (3/3/2022) The new one is [e-mail]

[welschrispy in reply to SueJohnson]

Sorry to cut in here Ccek. Please excuse me. Sue, I have spoken with your wonderful lawyer daughter in Vancouver. We both agreed that you should be ... celebrated Yes....! Honoured... yes! Loved Yes. We admitted to having some slight element of bias. THANK YO!

[SueJohnson in reply to welschrispy]

You are too kind. I am only glad I could help. Did you decide whether to report your doctor or pursue a law suit?

[dickJones]

Very helpful info, Sue. Thank you very much.

[Hope61]

Very helpful thank you !!!

[Muftah36]

So is there an ideal dosing schedule if you’re taking 1500 mg, or is it useless above 900? I am also taking 1500 mg , taking 900. 4 hrs before bed and 600 2 hrs before bed. I’m still up several times a night which is an improvement .

[SueJohnson in reply to Muftah36]

300 mg 6 hours before bedtime, 600 mg 4 hours before bedtime, then 600 mg 2 hours before bedtime. This is what I take. If you need more, add it to the 300 mg. If you get up to more than 1800 mg, switch to pregabalin.

[YodaDog]

Hello Sue - I would like to email Dr Buchfurer, would you be able to give me his email address?

Thanks

[SueJohnson in reply to YodaDog]

[e-mail]

[YodaDog in reply to SueJohnson]

Great, thanks

[YodaDog in reply to SueJohnson]

Hi Sue - that email you gave me didn't work, but it looks like this one did - [e-mail] (it's from the rlshelp.org website).

[SueJohnson in reply to YodaDog]

Ah - one other person a few days ago said she never got a response from him at that email, so I guess he has changed his email address. Thanks for the new one. I will make a note of it.

[Scuffydogs]

About 40 years ago my Restless legs made my life hell I did start in cocodamal, gabapentin it didnt touch it my 3pm I was like a cricket rubbing one leg them the other tramadol we cant go out in the evening noone wants me I've walked the streets at 3am it does calm down till you stop them I found ropinirole 4mg which I took with tramadol but I have some control now when it kicks in or boots it's way in my fingers and toes curl up elaine