Gabapentin

[OneLump22]

Is it safe to try talking my Onc into taking me off the Ganepentin? I asked the dr's assistant nurse once & she didn't say yes or no. She asked if I was sure I wanted to & somehow, I ended up staying on them. The thing is, there was never any pain with my neuropathy after the mastectomy/lymph node removal, just numbness. My meds list looks like a phonebook almost (well, only 3 pages) & it would be heaven if I found proof that I don't really need them all & could drop a page / 2 (or even half). Any advice?

[Red1246]

I used Gabepentin for awhile but it never helped with pain. I know others for whom it doesn’t work either. I’d absolutely talk to your oncologist about dropping it. Pretty sure you have to do it gradually though and not just stop all at once.Why take drugs you don’t need?!? Take care!

[OneLump22 in reply to Red1246]

Thanx! & you too. 👍

[kearnan]

I am also on gabapentin. I have been on 3 300 mg. per day. It was supposed to help with the breast pain but it doesn't work. All I know is that my palliative care doctor (I am also on opiods and fentanyl pain patch) had told me when she first put me on the gabapentin NEVER to just stop taking it bc I would have seizures. So do not just stop taking it. I do not really want to continue but I do not have the patience to wean off it at this point.

[OneLump22 in reply to kearnan]

Thank you. Yeah, I got the same warning. "Don't go cold turkey." No problem there. I think somewhere out there is someone who has benefitted from this drug, but mostley, I wonder if it isn't just their standard go - to drug prescription. You know, standard operating procedure (SOP) after surgery that might damage nerves.

[kearnan in reply to OneLump22]

My oncologist did not prescribe me this medication. I started having real pain when it spread to my spine, so my onco referred me to palliative care. So I still see my onco every three months now. My last CT scan showed it is now also in my liver. Anyway, my palliative doctor (I call her my pain doctor bc she is in charge of all my pain medication). My tumor is still in my breast and although I am on oxycodone and now fentanyl pain patch that is for the pain in my bones (spine, primarily). But occasionally, I get very severe breast pain in the breast with the tumor. The opiods meds do NOT work for that at all so my pain doctor prescribed me the gabapentin but that was only supposed to be for the nerve pain that the tumor in my breast is causing me.

Quite frankly, it doesn't do much. So I would have to be weaned off and quite frankly, I do not have the patience for that. I really do not need it at this point bc I still get the breast pain. I may talk to my pain doctor (I speak to her every month) about weaning me off of it.

[USIrishcolleen in reply to kearnan]

Hi Kearnan,

I was put on gabapentin for neuropathy associated with my Guillan-Barr Syndrome. I was taking an 800 mg in the A.M. and an 800 mg in the P.M. Mine is not painful neuropathy, mostly just “numb and tingling.” My neurologist recommended taking less gabapentin, and to take acetaminophen if/when I had pain. Yes. It is a medication that one has to taper off of. I was fine going from 1600 mg a day to 800mg a day.

Best,

Colleen

[OneLump22]

Good luck my friend! Let me know, when you're up to it, how it goes. 🙏

[Hidden]

Hi thereGabapentin is used to relax muscles. It is used for migraines, for muscle spasm and as a pain relief in things like back pain. Anything to do with nerve pain really. It takes time to work and that is why Dr’s up the dose slowly. I would certainly try to wean down off it, as one less drug is always good. The Dr will get you to reduce the dose slowly. This way you can always stop if you feel it is benefitting you. I think you will probably find that you don’t need it, as many people I know have found after being on it for years.

Good luck

Clare

[NPmary]

Take a 'holiday' from this med and figure out for yourself if the benefits outweigh the side effects.

[kearnan in reply to NPmary]

One should NEVER just take a holiday from gabapentin. A person needs to be weaned off of it. Cold turkey stopping it can cause seizures.

[NPmary in reply to kearnan]

My apologies.

[OneLump22 in reply to NPmary]

I understood you meant different than it sounded. 😉

[kearnan in reply to NPmary]

With these kinds of meds they give out for cancer, one should never take a break from it without checking with their doctor, OR adding any supplements either. You do not need to apologize. I would hope that most would check with their doctor anyway and not take anyone's advice from a forum board regarding any type of medication.

[LadyKatarina]

I too tried gabapentin for muscle jerks, tingling and numbness in one foot due to where my brain tumor sat--on the sensory ridge controlling the foot. I took it before bed. At first it was great--and then two days later I needed a stronger dose. Or I woke at 3 or 4 AM wide awake! Talking to others who have used it--it wears off very rapidly--and one needs more and more to be effective. That might explain why it does not seem to not be useful for you any more. I'd say ask them and taper off it. I was never taking more than 300 mg--my pills were only 100 mg--so I just stopped it myself. Went back to using THC--much better for my needs. Best to you! Kay

[OneLump22 in reply to LadyKatarina]

Thanx Kay, yeah I'm going to. Everyone's been saying the same thing.

[mbcfnp]

If you are having side effects of garbage, you should wean off of it. I have a hypersensitivity in my feet from Taxol when I was first diagnosed in 2011. I'm on Ropinorole now. Many less side effects. It's used for restless leg syndrome but it REALLY helps my neuropathy better than gabapentin or even Lyrica. It never hurts to at least try decreasing your dose.

[mbcfnp]

Gabapentin, not garbage. Stupid autocorrect

[OneLump22 in reply to mbcfnp]

🤣🤣🤣🤣, it IS garbage.

[hurricaneheather]

this mind-body does not care for the gabapentin. it was used after the pleural effusion, in July 2015. it was recommended to restart it, for the intercostal pain in the ribs, from the procedure. i chose differently.