Gabapentin - Slow Learner!

[Lineker]

Good day everyone. I have been taking 2 Gabapentin during the day for pain in my thighs, probably the result of very little sleep. In the evening I was taking 300mg at 7.00 and 300mg at 9.00 - result no sleep. I thought what's the point, I might as well do without. Big mistake. I have suffered mightily over the last couple of nights.

OK, stick with me. The RLS is telling me I need something. I am now thinking perhaps I never gave Gabapentin a proper chance and that I need a much stronger dose. Can Sue or another regular spell out for me a stronger dosage with the best times to take them. I should have cracked this by now, but I am struggling to get it right. I would love to think that I can make Gabapentin work.

Many thanks to the guidance given by people on this site.

[SueJohnson]

Yes the total of 600 mg you are taking at night is a low dose so it is no wonder it is not working. According to the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS: "Most RLS patients require 1200 to 1800 mg of gabapentin daily." And although it says daily, since it is usually taken at night, that really means at night in addition to what you are taking during the day, Ask your doctor for 100 mg capsules and increase it by 100 mg every couple of days until you find the dose that works for you. Take your current 600 mg 1-2 hours before bedtime. Since 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. If you take magnesium, take it at least 3 hours before or after gabapentin (it is OK with pregabalin) as it interfere with the absorption of gabapentin and if you take calcium don't take it within 2 hours for the same reason (not sure about pregabalin).

[Lineker in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks as ever Sue. This is great advice. I asked for 100mg tablets with my last prescription , but still ended up with all 300 mgs. Maybe I’ll move to pregbalin in the future.

Given I only have 300 mg tablets, do you think it would be ok to take 600mgs at 7.00 and 600mgs at 9.00? Can you tell I’m desperate for some sleep?

[SueJohnson in reply to Lineker]

I wouldn't increase by that much. You could go up to 300 at 7 pm and 600 at 9 pm and then 2 days later to the 600 mg at both 7 pm and 9 pm

[Lineker in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks Sue. I’ll follow your suggestion.

[SaltyUK]

I have only just fond this website through a link in the RLS-UK website and find your post most interesting. I have had RLS for many years and was taking Ropinirole for a few years whcih worked initially. I changed to 100mg (over 65yrs old) Gabapentin due to Augmentation but found that the Gabapentin stopped working after about three weeks. it seems like I should have stuck with it and maybe increased the dose. My RLS is now worse than ever. I hope that by increasing your does of gabapentin it works for you.

[Lineker in reply to SaltyUK]

Thanks for getting in touch. Early signs suggest a stronger dose is helping with my sleep. Not perfect but a definite improvement.