Gabapentin Update

[riverislow]

I am up to 1600mg gabapentin now taking 400mg at 5pm, 600mg at 700pm and 600mg at 9pm, I go to bed between 10:30 and 11;00, I sleep for 1-1 1/2 hours and then am awake mostly all night and am lucky if i get some sleep around 5 pm or 6pm for few hours, should I back off or should I take some at 3pm.I would appreciate any help as this is miserable, I increased slowly her a month. Thanks.

[SueJohnson]

You probably need more gabapentin. If you had been on a dopamine agonist before (ropinirole, pramipexole) that would explain why it has not yet worked for you but you weren't so it should work. Add 100 mg every couple of days to your 4 pm dose. If 1800 mg isn't working then switch to pregabalin at 300 mg and add 25 mg every couple of days. It can be taken in one dose at 9:00. If you get to 450 mg and it doesn't work the you need a low dose opioid. If that happens post back here and I can tell you how to withdraw from pregabalin and which opioid to ask for.

[riverislow in reply to SueJohnson]

I’ve never taken a dopamine agonist and I assume you mean my 5 o’clock dose note 4 o’clock dose. I seem to have done better at around 500 or 600, should I decrease and try it again? Thanks

[SueJohnson in reply to riverislow]

Yes I meant 5 pm (my mind had the 400 mg in it so said it wrong).

I am confused by what you mean when you said "done better at around 500 or 600, should I decrease and try it again"

[riverislow in reply to SueJohnson]

Sorry to confuse you. I meant I seem to have got more sleep when I was taking. 500mg to 600 mg, I have kept a diary so I can see how I did sleep wise at every increase. I never do any leg exercises apart from walking and yoga but I do quite strenuous upper body weight training, is it possible that that is the problem?

[SueJohnson in reply to riverislow]

Yes any strenuous exercise can make it worse. Lifting heavy weights isn't a problem but doing repetitions quickly could.

[riverislow in reply to SueJohnson]

Thank you so much, I will make sure I go slow and I will keep going up to 1800mg gabapentin.

[Eryl]

youtu.be/acEZNSabrgY?si=Yc3...(Not working as expected?)

[riverislow in reply to Eryl]

Thanks for this informative video.

[CathyJoH in reply to riverislow]

Agree that video was worthwhile watching. I am 66 and her recommendation to make sure we hydrate especially if over 60 to help flush out the liver was a good reminder. Thank you for sharing!

[Carlettejaque]

Hi, I take 2,500 my per day split over 3 doses. My last dose of 800mg is at 9pm. I take it for a neuropathic condition. I also have ERM wich keeps me awake at night. The high dose helps me sleep. It doesn't seem to make me sleepy during thd day though.

[SueJohnson in reply to Carlettejaque]

Taking more than 600 mg at a time reduces the absorption of gabapentin. For example if you take 900 mg at a time it is like you are only taking 540 mg.

[Carlettejaque in reply to SueJohnson]

I've read that o here before but I feel a big difference between 600mg and 800mg. 600mg for me is not that effective but the higher dose is. So why is that?

[SueJohnson in reply to Carlettejaque]

Strange. I don't know the answer.

[Legquake]

I'm on Ropinirole, at least for now, and my sleep pattern is similar to yours. Have a sleep study done or download the Mental or similar app which can give you an indication of what may be going on. You could, for example, have developed sleep apnea. I would consider this before going down another road.

[Truthsword]

I would consider going off any foods with glutamine or glutamate. My neurologist at the Mayo Clinic suggested I do that and it is better. Any food additives, soy sauce, some are bothered by coffee...not me.I take usually 600mg Gabapentin and 50mg Tramadol and sleep well. But if I accidentally eat bacon with nitrates....I don't sleep at all! Even with the meds!

I pray the best for you....and a solution for all of us.