Gabapentin side effects

[Ephemera]

Update. Husband now on 15mg Oxycodone every night and starting to get 4 to 5 hours sleep (hooray) also taking 500mg Gabapentin 3 times a day. Still getting the lightheadiness side effect of Gaba all day. Does not get it when lying down only when walking. Any ideas how to stop this?? TIA

[SueJohnson]

Is there a reason he is taking it 3 times a day rather than just at night?

[Ephemera in reply to SueJohnson]

Advised by GP to spread the dose across day as was feeling really bad in morning with no dose. Also do not think it makes much differnce to RLS so want to come off it and stay on Oxy. Did not get any relief from Gaba before taking Oxy also.

[SueJohnson in reply to Ephemera]

He might want to try switching to pregabalin. Although they are basically the same drug except he doesn'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. If he takes calcium he shouldn't take it within 2 hours.

[Joolsg]

The dizziness/light headedness is very common with both gabapentin and pregabalin. It does sometimes settle after 2 to 3 months.As SueJohnson mentions, why is he taking it in the day. That will make the dizziness more pronounced. Taking gabapentin at night only will lessen the side effects.

As your husband wants to reduce gabapentin, he should do it slowly to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Again, doctors will tell you to stop more quickly, but go slowly.

4 hour's sleep is not brilliant.

Also 15mg oxycodone is half the average dose. If your GP won't increase it to 30 or 40mg, show him the NICE trial/guidance from 2015 on Targinact ( Oxycontin with Naloxone to stop constipation). The average effective dose was 30mg.

As Dr Buchfuhrer says, any doctor or neurologist who thinks 4 to 5 hour's sleep is acceptable, doesn't know anything about RLS or how to treat it effectively.

(I'm hoping to set up a GoFundMe page for a Buprenorphine trial in the UK soon. That's the only way Buprenorphine can be licensed for RLS and GPs would then be able to prescribe it.

Your husband could then apply to be part of the drug trial and would be able to get Buprenorphine again.

It will take years though as I need to raise over £100,000 & the trial itself will have to go through rigorous compliance.)

nice.org.uk/advice/esnm67/c...

[Ephemera in reply to Joolsg]

Also if we win the lottery you will get the money because we have seen first hand how much suffering this illness causes and it must be looked at. Hopefully one day it will be easier to get Buprenorphine.

[Joolsg in reply to Ephemera]

That would be brilliant!My dream is to win the lottery and set up a special RLS clinic and only allow doctors who will follow the Mayo Algorithm (except only allow dopamine agonists where ALL other options and drugs have failed). I'd ask Dr Berkowski and Dr Buchfuhrer to train them!And do trials of methadone and Buprenorphine. 😕

[Ephemera]

How would he take 30mg of Oxy, would it all be at night or spread through the day. He is going to withdraw 100mg of Gabapentin every 2 weeks.

[Joolsg in reply to Ephemera]

Oxycodone is immediate release so lasts about 4 or 5 hours. He could take 15mg an hour before bed and the other 15mg when he wakes for a loo break or if RLS awakens him at 4am. Or he could set alarm for 3.30am and take the 15mg before the nighttime RLS wakes him.Not ideal, but better than the 4 hour's sleep he gets now.That's why Buprenorphine works so well. It lasts 24 hours so covers a full night's sleep and any daytime flare ups.

[Madlegs1 in reply to Ephemera]

It depends on which form of oxycodone he is being prescribed.Oxynorm is the quick acting form and lasts up to 6 hours.

Oxycontin is a long lasting form - 12 hrs ( for many people)

Most people taking any amount of opioid for just part of the 24 hours period, usually experience withdrawal after the efficacy wears off.

Ideally you would need an equal amount spread out over the 24 hr period.

Good luck.

[Simkin]

Hooray indeed! I am thus far enjoying our American trip to see son on 10mg oxy plus gabapentin.

[Wanman4]

Congratulations on getting on Oxycodone, as it has saved my life. My experience with it, is that it stimulates me at night. I was taking 5 mg every 6 hours with 10 mg at 10 pm. When I cut the 10 pm dose down to 5 mg, it allowed me to be able to fall to sleep much easier. The Oxycodone is working fine for my RLS, but I also take 1000 mg of Magnesium Glycinate, along with 1/2 teaspoon of Potassium Citrate and 1 tablespoon of Magnesium Citrate at 8 pm. The Magnesium Citrate is needed to avoid consitpation that is caused by the Oxycodone. As for the Gabapentin, not knowing his age or why it’s prescribed, but the dosage is very high. Unless it’s for nerve damage, or for mental illness, if you research the recommended dosage for it you may find a different recommendation. I’m 70 years old, the recommended dosage at my age would be 100 mg three times per day. I also, rub magnesium oil on my calves in the evening, along with compression socks sometimes. I also have severe PLMD, which I take 10 mg of Baclofen beginning at 4 pm, then 10 pm, last dose around 3 am. Also, remember if he abuses the Oxycodone they will cut him off of it. He must treat it as the critical medication that he needs, never for the high, that’s why I take only mg every 6 hours. My protocol is based upon a lot a trial and error, based upon studies, and educating my MD. Also, see the Feed here on Medications that make RLS worse from the Mayo Clinic. Also, I’ve been through all the basic meds to treat RLS, such as Ropinirole, Gabapentin etc. Low dose Oxycodone is the only thing that helped me.***Good luck to both of you. Take care.

[SueJohnson in reply to Wanman4]

1500 mg is not a high dose of gabapentin. According to the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS: "Most RLS patients require 1200 to 1800 mg of gabapentin daily."