When best time to take gabapentin

[dahon]

I am taking 1200mg of gabapentin spread over two doses between 8 and 10 o clock in the evening I don't get rls until about 11 to 12 at night but still get mild RLS intil 2 to 3 o clock in the morning, then I get some sleep but feel very dozy in the morning when I get up. I wonder if I'm taking the gabapentin too late in the evening and would welcome any advice on the best time to take gabapentin or maybe split the dose up further.

[SueJohnson]

You are taking it correctly. I assume 600 mg at 8:00 and 600 mg at 10:00 and bedtime 11:00 to 12:00. Are you taking any other medicines or over the counter supplements?

[dahon in reply to SueJohnson]

No over the counter supplements but of interest if I'm desperate for some sleep having none for about two days I cut a 0.25mg ropinerole tablet in half and take that and it gives me a decent night sleep. I did notice I did not have any ropinerole withdrawal symptoms when changing to gabapentin so I wonder if a combination of about 0.125mg of ropinerole with 1200mg gabapentin would be better for getting me to sleep but then there is the spectre of ropinerole augmentation so not sure what to do really.

[SueJohnson in reply to dahon]

You might want to increase your gabapentin since your RLS isn't under control and you aren't getting enough sleep. 1200 mg is still on the low side of what most RLS patients need according to the Mayo Clinic updated algorithm. Whether that will make you more sleepy in the morning I don't know.

[dahon in reply to SueJohnson]

Been prescribed extra 300mg gabapentin, now 1500mg per day but my doctor says take 2 x 300mg tablets at 8 o clock in the evening then 3 x 300mg tablets at bedtime. Does this sound right as I thought gabapentine is not well absorbed over 600mg doses.

[SueJohnson in reply to dahon]

You are right, it is not well absorbed above 600 mg. Take the extra 300 mg at 6 pm

[K2D2]

1200 wasn’t enough for me. I take 1800 in 3 doses at 4 pm, 6 pm, and 8 pm. Works really well and I’m so grateful to have found relief.

[haterofrls]

I also deal with RLS and have found gabapentin to be very helpful. Based on your situation, you might benefit from adjusting the timing and splitting your doses further. Since gabapentin usually takes about 1-3 hours to start working, you could try taking the first dose earlier, around late afternoon (e.g., 4-5 PM), and the second dose closer to your usual evening time, around 9-10 PM. This might help reduce the RLS symptoms earlier in the night.

Another option to explore is splitting your dose into three smaller doses throughout the day (e.g., afternoon, evening, and bedtime) to keep levels steady. However, it’s essential to consult your doctor before making any changes, as they can tailor the schedule to your specific needs.

Good luck—managing RLS can be tricky, but fine-tuning timing often makes a big difference!