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Just wondering what the results and side effects were and how long you've been taking it. I read that side effects can include drowsiness, nausea, etc. I also read to not take caffeine with it if you have epilepsy. I don't so I think having coffee with it should be fine. I just got it yesterday for chronic nerve pain. I was trying to avoid medication for this but it's been pretty bad and not much is helping. I hope this helps but I hope I won't need it long-term.
I tried Gabapentin a few times for my peripheral neuropathy and I just cannot take it. It makes me so dizzy that it is hard to stand up. The side effects are supposed to lessen with time, but after a week I gave it up.
Neuropathy is hard to correct. If mine is not under control with meds I am in a lot of pain. I am now on 3 different drugs for it and it is under control. Good luck with finding something that works. I would also recommend a neurologist if you do not already have one. They will really work with you to get your pain under control.
Gabapentin is a wonder drug, it really helped my nerve pain. BUT (this is a very big BUT) it can make you foggy and forgetful. Over time it impacted my ability to do my job. The wonder drug turned into a nightmare for me. I had a coworker with the same experience. She called it 'Gabastupid'.
I would suggest if at all possible that you persist in trying to find out the root cause of your nerve pain. I was in treatment for years with various nerve pains (peripheral neuropathy and a chronic headache) and tried countless remedies for my pain. I paid a neurologist a lot of money to try to stop the pain. Finally I went to a good old fashioned GP who said "You need to stop eating wheat" I thought she was crazy. I fought it kicking and screaming. Finally saw a nutritionist who gave me an IGG food intolerance test which said, sure enough, that I was allergic to wheat (Not the same as gluten intolerance). I stopped eating wheat and within days my pain was gone.
That drug was prescribed to my dog for anxiety and to a person I know with substance use issues as an anti-anxiety med during withdrawals. It doesn't sound like your use is exactly appropriate, but I'm not a doc (obviously).
Gabapentin is a wonder drug, it really helped my nerve pain. BUT (this is a very big BUT) it can make you foggy and forgetful. Over time it impacted my ability to do my job. The wonder drug turned into a nightmare for me. I had a coworker with the same experience. She called it 'Gabastupid'.
I would suggest if at all possible that you persist in trying to find out the root cause of your nerve pain. I was in treatment for years with various nerve pains (peripheral neuropathy and a chronic headache) and tried countless remedies for my pain. I paid a neurologist a lot of money to try to stop the pain. Finally I went to a good old fashioned GP who said "You need to stop eating wheat" I thought she was crazy. I fought it kicking and screaming. Finally saw a nutritionist who gave me an IGG food intolerance test which said, sure enough, that I was allergic to wheat (Not the same as gluten intolerance). I stopped eating wheat and within days my pain was gone.
Lesson learned.
What made your gp say that?
I have read a lot of bad side effects with this drug which makes me afraid to take it. My doctor started me on two 100mg pills a day for a week and it slowly goes up from there. I'm already foggy and forgetful :/
How did you get to a nutritionist? Are they covered under insurance? I think I tried speaking with one of doctors about getting a food intolerance test a long time ago and it was shut down.
I have read a lot of bad side effects with this drug which makes me afraid to take it. My doctor started me on two 100mg pills a day for a week and it slowly goes up from there. I'm already foggy and forgetful :/
How did you get to a nutritionist? Are they covered under insurance? I think I tried speaking with one of doctors about getting a food intolerance test a long time ago and it was shut down.
You can start with a process of elimination. Just forgo wheat for a month and see what that does. I tried all kinds of diets to see if anything contributed to easing the pain. If it could be something as simple as that you are indeed a lucky person.
I would still see a neurologist however. They are pain experts and can try different medications. It took me a full year to find the right combinations of drugs.
My sis-in-law has been having lots of bad side effects from it, and it isn't helping her chronic leg pain. So she's going back to the doc. I found this:
OP
When I first started gabapentin I was soooo sleepy; it took a couple of weeks to "even out".
Strangely, when Lyrica became available I tried it but had better relief with gabapentin.
I would ask your Doctor for an allergy panel (especially since it has been years since you last inquired about one).
Call your insurance company and inquire if a nutritionist is covered. If it is it should be easy enough to have your Doctor write a consultation (double check that the chosen nutritionist is in your network).
I took gabapentin for about 6 months for nerve pain due to a herniated disc in my lumbar spine. After having surgery which corrected the condition, my pain went away, so I discontinued the Gaba (but I tapered it down slowly over a period of about 3 weeks). I was taking 300mg twice a day, once first thing in the morning and once before bed. It did make me slightly drowsy at night at the beginning (which I found helpful TBH) and took the edge off my pain. I had no issues with brain fog, dizziness or anything else. I tolerated it fine and from what I understand, most people tolerate it well with few side effects.
I had no issues with it interacting with caffeine and took it just before drinking my coffee. I will, however, strongly advise you not to consume alcohol too closely to when you are taking the gabapentin. I made that mistake once, and felt quite ill. Anything outside of about a 2 hour window, and I was fine.
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