gabapentin side effects

[Hublot]

I’ve been on gabaoentin approximately 16 weeks, I’m on 2 tablets 3 times a day, my restless legs are much better and am able to get some sleep.

Unfortunately I cannot cope with the bad side effects, I have rung the doctor and am still waiting for a reply, I want to reduce the amount of tablets to see if it makes any difference, if not I may have to try another medication.

Any advice on reducing, ie one aday for a week then increase, any help please.

[SueJohnson]

You might want to try switching to pregabalin. Although it is 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. You can switch directly.

If that doesn't work to come off the pregabalin you need to do so very slowly to avoid withdrawal effects. Reduce by 25 mg pregabalin (100 - 200 mg gabapentin) every 2 weeks.

[Loopylegs]

I worked my way down from 1200mg to find a dose of gabapentin that suited me, I'm currently taking 600mg with little to no side effects and it does help me sleep, I take a single dose around 7pm as it takes a bit of time to get into your system, if it is helping you sleep try gradually reducing it by 100mg a day until you find a dose that suits, if this doesn't work perhaps a switch may help, pregabalin gave me awful side effects but may suit u if gabapentin side effects are difficult to deal with.

[Greekstudent]

I've been on Gabapentin forabout three months and it has stopped my RLS in its tracks. But I fear that it is now adversely affecting my sleep. It seems that in older men (I'm 81) Gabapentin acutely increases the apnea-hypopnea index. I've not had this index measured, but there's no doubt I'm sleeping very intermittently if at all. I assume that my frequent re-awakenings are due to interruptions in my breathing. I'm going to adapt my Gaba timings and see what happens.

[SueJohnson in reply to Greekstudent]

I may have mentioned this before, but taking 300 mg at 5 and 300 mg at 9 is not the way to get the most effect. Normally one would take 600 mg 1 to 2 hours before bedtime.