Gabapentin ?

[CMOTdibbler]

Neurologist has recommended I start gabapentin for the CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome - nerve pain) in my hand and arm.

Does anyone have any experience of it ? Side effects ?

I'm so hoping it will control the pain better, especially as its getting colder and the pain is worse. Just wearing a coat hurts

My dh takes Gabapentin to control the pain and pins and needles of his MS during the night (he found it hard to sleeep). The only side effect he has is tiredness/fatigue but he gets that anyway with the MS so its hard to know how much is caused by the meds.

Thank you both - Herbietea, is Pre-Gabalin supposed to be better ? Sorry you get people going . No one can get their head around that touching something cold will make my arm hurt for a few hours.

elah, I'm horribly tired all the time anyway, prob cause I sleep really badly. Can't have my arm outside the duvet as its too cold, underneath it hurts from touching the sheet. Or I stick my splint to my hair etc etc

My mum had it as an anti convulsant for epilepsy. She has a slow release version IIRC. I don't know how dosages might vary for epilepsy v neuropathy. She has no side effects now.

I take pregabalin along with 30/500 co-codamol and Nefopam for back pain and do find they help to take the edge off. I haven't had any side effects, but generally find I tend to avoid them. Must be hardened to them with all the pills I take!!

I take 900mg per day for nerve pain from Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. I have had no side effects at all.

CMOT - lots of the people on the TOS facebook group I'm on have CRPS/RSD from their Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. I could invite you if you don't already have a support group you can access.

Its good to hear that people aren't having side effects - I can do without anything else going wrong as about the only thing that has gone right medically is the botox for my only working finger (bloody magic that - went to sleep with finger at right angle to hand, woke up with it in the right place).

Ben10, that is very kind. I could do with some support, as the CRPS only groups are a bit doom laded

PMed you

DH takes it for neuropathic pain, one of his legs is quite swollen but other than that no real side effects. He was also taking amytriptiline (sp) which wiped him out, that was changed and he's much better fatigue-wise now. It's quite effective but he's taking industrial quantities of it. I have spoken to someone else who takes it occasionally, far less than dh, but it wipes her out completely. I think it's one of those medications has different effects on different people.
He asked about pregabalin but was told by his GP that for him it probably wouldn't work any better... he's seeing his consultant in a couple of weeks so we'll see.

Hi, I am also taking Lyrica which is a new type of gabapentin. I am also taking amytryptyline. I take them both because i have nerve pain (TMI) in my vagina after having a TVT/repair operation. I was in the most dreadful pain two years ago and reluctanly started taking firstly amytriptyline and then gabapentin. Gradually my pain has receded. It was a bit like your pain because i reacted to sitting down, could not tolerate wearing trousers, def no sex (poor dh). I have managed to cut down to about a quarter of my dose and am relatively pain free, just soreness at the end of the day.

I did have some side effects. Constipation again sorry TMI. I think they did affect my memory but this might have been because of the ghastly time i was having. Thank fully I feel much better now and in the spring hopefully i can stop taking everything.

Good luck.

I've been on Gabapentin for nearly 3 years now..no problems (and initially I was on HUGE dose). It did make me very sleepy and spaced out at first but once my body was used to it, no problems and it has helped my neuropathic pain where no other medication worked.

Good luck:)

my dd has crps - has had it for 3 yrs now. she's been on gabapentin since June and it has made some impact on her pain. No issue with side effects.

I was prescribed it for nerve pain in my hands, legs and feet. I have CIDP, a systemic neurological disease with numbness and balance loss.

GABA turned me into a zombie. I was useless for anything and getting out of bed in the morning was well nigh impossible, and on 3 mornings a week dh isn't here to help with dc, so it was making life very difficult.

I got prescribed amytriptaline and it's been great.

I know pregablin is supposed to be good too but has to be prescribed via a consultant not a GP as it's sonexpensive.