Possible Side effects of Gabapentin ? This is really getting me down.

[Muftah36]

I’ve been on Gabapentin 1500 my nightly for my RLS for about two years now . I take Tramadol 200 with that and with those latest increases my sleep while not perfect is better than it’s been in a long time. For months or maybe a year , I’ve been feeling weak with shivery legs . I’ve been investigated extensively for the cause but all my tests show up negative. I’ve had MRI, CT scan , seen various doctors but there’s no accounting for the weakness which really limits my activities , gets me down and causes me to want to sit or lay around much too much . I can’t go on like this .I want to walk , hike and be active but am just not able to. I’m wondering if it’s a side effect of Gabapentin . Has anyone else who takes this kind of dose of Gabapentin had a similar experience? While I’m pleased that nothing major or sinister has shown up in my investigations , I really need to get to the bottom of this .

Thanks for reading and any insight would be so appreciated.

[SueJohnson]

Yes it is possible, although it is very strange that it didn't show up for a year. To come off gabapentin to see if this is the cause you need to withdraw very very slowly or you will have withdrawal effects. Of course you will have increased RLS symptoms. Check with your doctor.

[Hope61 in reply to SueJohnson]

What are the withdrawal side affects ?

[SueJohnson in reply to Hope61]

None if one does it slowly. Otherwise they can include insomnia, headache, nausea, anxiety, diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, pain, excessive sweating, dizziness, confusion, and palpitations.

[Hope61 in reply to SueJohnson]

Thank you. Not sure if you read my reply to a post that just went up. Now I can't find it. It is what has been going on with me

[Hope61 in reply to SueJohnson]

The weird thing that happened to me in Gabapentin is this. An incompetent doctor here in NY had me on 1300mg of it. I did a virtual appt at the quality care center at UPMC and she reduced 500. (100mg at 7pm and 400 mg an hour before bed ) worked great !

I listened to an RLS webinar with Dr Earley about a "drug holiday". I decided to decrease Gabapentin and see how much I really needed to stop any RLS symptoms. I had success at 100mg. So...... I stopped taking even the 100mg to see if I even needed that. I had weened of Mirepex slowly and was completely of it I think it was end of Feb or early March.

Anyway , made it 3 night with our any meds for RLS. Had no symptoms, but last night it wasn't good , couldn't sleep , moved from bed to couch etc took the 100 mg of Gabapentin and symptoms pretty much stopped.

Side note I switched from Sertraline to Wellbutrin a month ago as well.

Something was going on though has I did not feel myself and very depressed for over a week. Very anxious and literally worried about myself . Very anxious too.

????????? I really wish I knew why that was and if it was related to these new meds and dosing. I don't want to take medication as it is.

I also take synthroid , and BP and cholesterol medication as well

Has anyone had any of this happen to them ?

Thank you !!

[SueJohnson in reply to Hope61]

It doesn't help that the medicines you are taking make RLS symptoms worse in many people. I am surprised the gabapentin worked at 100 mg. The normal starting dose is 300 mg. Interestingly gabapentin helps with anxiety so possibly going off it increased your anxiety. Is Wellbutrin helping with your depression? If not I can recommend others that are safe for RLS.

[Hope61 in reply to SueJohnson]

Sure I would welcome the suggestions. I have been a bundle of nerves and so anxious lately . I don't feel like myself and that makes me more anxious. I struggle daily to regular household task

[SueJohnson in reply to Hope61]

Trazodone and Pamelor (Nortriptylin).

[ziggypiggy]

Hmm. Sorry to hear that on top of the physical issues it's starting to wear on you mentally. I've never been on that high of a dose of gabapentin (900) while also taking an opiod. Gabapentin does amplify the effects of opiods and many other medications. That's why it tends to be popular on the street as one can get more mileage or a better high by adding it to their drug of choice. I'm not saying this is the case for you. Like Sue mentioned, if you do wean off of it to see if that helps be prepared to give it some time so your body can adjust and give you a chance to evaluate your weak legs sans gabapentin. Got my fingers crossed got you

Keep us updated.

[Muftah36 in reply to ziggypiggy]

Thanks for the response. I am scared about what’s in store for me if I come off the Gabapentin. I’ve been traumatized when I came off Ropinarole. Can’t take a repeat of that .

[Carlettejaque]

Hi, I take 2,400mg split over 3 doses of 800 mg per day. It causes dizziness like feeling drunk all the time and it does cause a bit of tiredness though for me it doesn't promote sleep. It did put a lot of weight on me and my doctor told me I won't be able to lose it while taking the gabapentin. But it's hugely effective for neuropathic pain. I would suggest that your weakness could be due to a thyroid problem. You should ask your doctor for a blood test.

[Muftah36 in reply to Carlettejaque]

Thanks. I have no neuropathic pain. I have had the blood work for thyroid plus all the complete blood count. No problems there.

[Wairahi]

Weakness in the legs can be caused by a blockage in the artery or arteries leading to the legs. I had the symptom, the doctors did investigations including CT and MRI scans, I was in hospital for three days while they did tests, but they couldn’t figure it out. Then I happened to go to another city and another doctor ordered a kind of ultrasound scan that looks for arterial blockages and it was found in literally 30 seconds . So it seems to very much depend on the quality of the doctors. They are now planning to do surgery to bypass the blockage. I didn’t have the shiveriness that you have, just the weakness.

(I’m on gabapentin 1800. I take it in the afternoon and by 6 pm I am feeling tired and heavy, and by 8 pm I’m asleep.)

[SueJohnson in reply to Wairahi]

You could take less gabapentin by dividing it up into 600 mg doses, since it is not well absorbed above 600 mg. Take 600 mg at 6 or 7 pm, 600 mg 2 hours before that and 600 mg 4 hours before.

[Muftah36 in reply to Wairahi]

Thanks for your reply. I have had CT’s and MRI plus echocardiogram . No issues there that could cause my problems.

[sylvanwanderer]

Tramadol is not a "no-no" in the treatment of RLS. It is a suggested medication in the Mayo Clinic paper, mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...

Maybe you were thinking of another drug? Toradol, perhaps? I often confuse the two.

Cheers back

[1kferg]

All of above have great input. As for myself l take 500mg of Ropinerole for RLS and spread it out throughout the day and evening. HIGH doses of anything can create what l call a JOLT to your system.

[SueJohnson in reply to 1kferg]

Have you thought about coming off ropinirole and switching to gabapentin since ropinirole is no longer the first-line treatment for RLS? Up to 70% of patients will suffer from augmentation which believe me you don't want. It used to be the first-line treatment which is why so many doctors prescribed it but they are not up to date on the current treatment recommendations. Check out the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS which will tell you everything you want to know including about its treatment and refer your doctor to it if needed as many doctors do not know much about RLS or are not uptodate on it as yours obviously isn't at

Https://mayoclinicproceedings.org/a... Also have you had your ferritin checked? If it is below 100 improving it to 100 or more helps 60% of patients and in some will completely eliminate their symptoms. If you haven't had your ferritin checked, ask your doctor for a full iron panel. Stop taking any iron supplements 48 hours before the test and fast after midnight. Have your test in the morning when your ferritin is lowest. When you get the results, ask for your ferritin and transferrin saturation numbers. You want your ferritin to be over 100. If your ferritin is less than 75 then take 325 mg of ferrous sulfate with 100 mg of vitamin C or some orange juice since that helps its absorption. Take it every other day at least 1 hour before a meal or coffee and at least 2 hours after a meal or coffee since iron is absorbed better on an empty stomach and preferably at night. If you have problems with constipation switch to iron bisglycinate. If your ferritin is between 75 and 100 or if your transferrin saturation is below 20, you probably need an iron infusion since iron isn't absorbed as well above 75. If you take magnesium take it at least 2 hours apart since it interferes with the absorption of iron. Don't take tumeric as it interferes with the absorption of iron. It takes several months for the iron tablets or iron infusion to slowly raise your ferritin. Ask for a new blood test after 8 weeks if you have an iron infusion or after 3 months if you are taking iron tablets To come off ropinirole, reduce by .25 mg every 2 weeks or so. You will have increased symptoms. You will suffer and may need a low dose opioid temporarily to help out with the symptoms. But in the long run, you will be glad you did. On the gabapentin, beginning dose is usually 300 mg gabapentin or 100 mg if you are over the age of 65. Start it 3 weeks before you are off ropinirole although it won't be fully effective until you are off it for several weeks. After that increase it by 100 mg every couple of days until you find the dose that works for you. Take it 1-2 hours before bedtime. If you need more than 600 mg take the extra 4 hours before bedtime as it is not as well absorbed above 600 mg. If you need more than 1200 mg, take the extra 6 hours before bedtime. Most of the side effects of gabapentin will disappear after a few weeks and the few that don't will usually lessen. Those that remain are usually worth it for the elimination of the RLS symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS: "Most RLS patients require 1200 to 1800 mg of gabapentin daily." If you take magnesium take it at least 3 hours before taking gabapentin as it will interfere with the absorption of the gabapentin.

[Hidden]

Yes, I had the same feeling on gabapentin along with swelling of feet and ankles. I could not tolerate it. I stopped taking it and started lyrica which has helped immensely. So you are not alone in that response to gaba.

[Hope61]

The weird thing that happened to me in Gabapentin is this. An incompetent doctor here in NY had me on 1300mg of it. I did a virtual appt at the quality care center at UPMC and she reduced 500. (100mg at 7pm and 400 mg an hour before bed ) worked great !

I listened to an RLS webinar with Dr Earley about a "drug holiday". I decided to decrease Gabapentin and see how much I really needed to stop any RLS symptoms. I had success at 100mg. So...... I stopped taking even the 100mg to see if I even needed that. I had weened of Mirepex slowly and was completely of it I think it was end of Feb or early March.

Anyway , made it 3 night with our any meds for RLS. Had no symptoms, but last night it wasn't good , couldn't sleep , moved from bed to couch etc took the 100 mg of Gabapentin and symptoms pretty much stopped.

Side note I switched from Sertraline to Wellbutrin a month ago as well.

Something was going on though has I did not feel myself and very depressed for over a week. Very anxious and literally worried about myself . Very anxious too.

????????? I really wish I knew why that was and if it was related to these new meds and dosing. I don't want to take medication as it is.

I also take synthroid , and BP and cholesterol medication as well

Has anyone had any of this happen to them ?

Thank you !!

[TajarTales]

Have you had any x-rays done on your hips? I experienced similar symptoms, and found that I had severe arthritis in my hips. They didn't hurt, but my lower legs were weak and painful.

[Muftah36 in reply to TajarTales]

Thankyou for your response. I have had my hips x- rayed. No problems there.