Dosage

[Keith1231]

I have been taking 300mg gabapentin for 7 days, can I up my dose to 600mg as I only have 300mg capsuals?

[SueJohnson]

Yes but it takes 3 weeks to be fully effective.

[Keith1231 in reply to SueJohnson]

Do I need to stay on 300mg for 3 weeks then increase after that, if I need to? How do I increase the dose, how long between doses?

[SueJohnson in reply to Keith1231]

You could go up to 900 mg but I would stop there until 3 weeks have gone by. After that increase it by 100 mg every couple of days until you find the dose that works for you. Ask your doctor for 100 mg capsules.

Take it 1 to 2 hours before bedtime as the peak plasma level is 2 hours. If you take 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.

Most of the side effects will disappear after a few weeks and the few that don't will usually lessen. Those that remain are usually worth it for the elimination of the RLS symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS: "Most RLS patients require 1200 to 1800 mg of gabapentin ."

If you take magnesium even in a multivitamin, don't take it within 3 hours of taking gabapentin as it will interfere with the absorption of gabapentin and don't take calcium nor calcium-rich foods within 2 hours for the same reason .

[Keith1231 in reply to SueJohnson]

I took 300mg at 6pm could I take another 300mg at 9pm?

[SueJohnson in reply to Keith1231]

Sure, but in the future take only 2 hours apart.

[Keith1231 in reply to SueJohnson]

You are so helpful, thank you.

[Keith1231 in reply to SueJohnson]

Sue as you know I took 2 x 300mg of gabapentin last night which knocked me out last night and most of today can I revert back to 300mg tonight?

[SueJohnson in reply to Keith1231]

Yes

[Keith1231 in reply to SueJohnson]

Thank you.

[Mightnot in reply to SueJohnson]

Hi I wrote to you in another thread and see you are commenting - I am in the UK and here is my regime - started today and you seem well informed - this is not for RLS and it is for pain in jaw and consequently in all teeth nerve endings - dentists advised this as well and checked the right version and decided on this gabapentin as interacts with all the other meds I have for heart issues

I have just started today on 300mg of gabapentin and plan to add one tablet every day or two until I reach 1800mg (3 x 600mg). I have neuralgia (pain in my jaw and teeth) and have already seen a dentist, who confirmed it’s not a dental issue. I’ve read or scanned the first 10 pages about gabapentin. Does this sound right? The doctor was very specific

day 1 300mg

day 2 2 x 300

day 3 to 5 - 3 x 300

then day 6 and 7 - 300 then 300 then 600 - 3 times spread out

reflex and if no major side effects then go

day 8 9 and 10 600 300 600

day 11 onwards 600 600 600

Do you know when side effect kick in in general. I have taken 300mg today for the first time and feel tired and a little dizzy and it might be in my head but pain bit lesson alredy - had 4 weeks of constant pain

thanks

[SueJohnson in reply to Mightnot]

It takes 3 weeks for gabapentin to become fully effective and it is best to wait until then before increasing by 100 mg every 2 days. The reason for this besides not ending up taking more than you need is to let your body get used to it and any side effects to lessen. If you don't have 100 mg and you can't get a prescription from your doctor, you can get an inexpensive jewelry scale that measures down to .01 gram from Amazon ($11 in the US) and open up the capsule and measure out a third.

Sleepiness and dizziness are common side effects. They should get better after a few weeks.

Looking at your other posts. Gabapentin can make AF worse which is another reason to go slow in increasing it.

Bisoprolol makes RLS worse for most. A safe substitute is propranolol (Inderal, Hemangeol, InnoPran) a beta blocker that may help RLS.

Clonidine a blood thinneris also a safe substitute.

Amitriptyline makes RLS worse for most, Safe substitutes are trazodone and Wellbutrin.

You might want to discuss these with your doctor.

The flecainide, amiodaranan, rivaroxaban, allopurinol you mentioned are safe.

[Mightnot in reply to SueJohnson]

thanks for the reply - I am in the uk - you mention 100mg and this is very small doses compared to my advice from my doctor who is very good. The routine is day one 300mg , day 2 600 mg , then day 3 900 and then adding etc until day 11 on 1800mg which is ideal dose and after day 6 review the symptoms/side effects and stop or continue if not unwell - I am on 900 today as third day and no side effects ( maybe a bit of blurred vision for a second or two) and pain is less constant and I can focus on other things easier - for 4 weeks the pain was constant and always present. It might be in my mind but better. I am not going to take the amitrypline for now .

[Mightnot in reply to Mightnot]

I am going to do 3 x 300 now today day 3 and day 4 and day 5. Then I will add another 300 so 1200 for day 6 and 7. Then I will have a review of side effects. If ok the doc says add to 600 then 300 then 600 in day 8 9 and 10 then day 11 600 600 600 ( 3 times a day) and stay on that? When the pain goes ( fingers crossed ) I might stop raising the dose but still here now but better

[Simkin]

I have 300mg tablets & divided them out as Sue suggests with no ill effects.

[Keith1231 in reply to Simkin]

I only have capsules...but thanks.

[SueJohnson in reply to Keith1231]

You can get an inexpensive jewelry scale on Amazon ($11 in the US) that measures down to .01 gram and open up the capsules and measure 1/3 to get 100 mg.

[Simkin]

Mine are capsules.