Gabapentin and shaking

[Ephemera]

When waking husband has terrible shaking in arms and legs. This goes on most of the day. We think it may be linked to the Gabapentin but do not want to stop it. Anybody else experienced this, any ideas please.

[SueJohnson]

In looking at the side effects of gabapentin there is a .1% chance of involuntary movements. However I would think that would occur soon after he takes it, not the next morning and all day. The half life is 6.5 hours. He should discuss this problem with his doctor and review all the medicines he is taking. If he thinks it is the gabapentin he might want to try switching to pregabalin. Although they are basically the same drug except you don't need to divide the doses, and the side effects are basically the same, some people find that the side effects that bother them on one don't bother them on the other. Divide the gabapentin amount by 6 to get the correct dose.

[ChrisColumbus in reply to SueJohnson]

Sue: when you typed .1% did your source mean that (i.e. 1 in 1000) or did it mean 1% (i.e. 1 in 100) as per NICE/CKS?

[SueJohnson in reply to ChrisColumbus]

1 in a 1000.

It was for involuntary movements, not tremors.

For tremor I have 0 to 7% but I also have it appears early whereas for involuntary movements I have it is delayed.

[SueJohnson in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Source Https://pdr.net/drug-summary/Horiza...

[Fingerandus in reply to SueJohnson]

gabapetin to my mind is a anti anxiety pill, its for nerve problems i took it first for periphial neuropathy caused i think from radiation therapy. my feet just got worse numb for most of the time until i couldnt drive because i couldnt feel the brake pedal. when i stopped taking them my feet got better but my anxiety got worse easing as soon as i took my dose of lyrica i took 400mg a day and was popping them whenever i became stressed i believe lyrica to be a dangerous drug also brain fog.... sure they help lots of people lots of times but one to be wary of just my opinion of coursexxx

[ChrisColumbus]

NICE in the UK lists 'tremor' in its Clinical Knowledge Summaries (CKS) as one of the many 'common' side effects of Gabapentin.

'Common' = more than 1 in 100 frequency.

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/neur...

[Ephemera in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Morning, the shaking in right arm is not rythmic but going all day. Speaking to GP today. Shaking over most of body but not when asleep. It seems to be Gaba high doses from previous experience.

[SueJohnson]

Interestingly when I looked it up: "A tremor is a rhythmic, involuntary muscle movement that causes shakiness in one or more parts of the body." So who knows which applies.

[67Waterman]

It may be a good idea to find a "tremor" specialist who may be able to diagnose what is actually wrong ... be it something like "essential tremor" or even "dystonia".

[LotteM]

Hi Ephemera, not good! It must be difficult for you to observe and of course even worse for your husband to experience.

Your previous post was about buprenophine, does he still take that or had he to stop due to running out of tablets? If the latter, the shaking may be withdrawal.

Do try to ring a doctor. If your gp or (triage)nurse at the gp office is unavailable, you may consider going to A&E when the shaking is bad enough or does not relent. You'll have to judge, but... better safe than sorry. I hope it stops soon. But I imagine you would want to know what may have caused it.

Wishing you strength. Xx

[Ephemera in reply to LotteM]

Morning, waiting to hear from private consultant about Buprenorphine. Have lowered dose back to 0.2 to make tablet supply last, but he is still getting 8 hrs sleep so that is good. He has had this problem before when on high doses of Gaba before he took Bupr so we think it is Gaba side effects. One step forward, one step back. Maybe one day it will all fall in place.

[Moonwalker1967]

I have started with my toes twitching and teeth grinding. GP told me it's a side effect. I am in 150 mg Pregabalin.