Neurontin/Gabapentin for sciatic/nerve pain

[DisplacedManc]

I'm struggling with my 5th week of acute sciatic pain and have been prescribed 100mg of neurontin x 3 days per day. Has anybody else used this for nerve pain? Did it work? And did anyone experience any of the awful side effects that are listed😔. Advice please 😊

Check out Cochrane.org

I'm on Lyrica for nerve pain, and it is great. Gabapentin didn't suit me, but with all the nerve pain drugs you have to gradually increase the dose and some of the side effects will ease off after a week or so at each dose. They aren't like a painkiller with an immediate effect, but have to build up, so be patient

I'm on 1800mg of gabapentin a day for my nerve pain (tigeminall neuralgia) and find it great. Much better than the first drug I was put on which left me like a zombie. I find it effective with minimal side effects and have been on it for 4 years.

I tried it for a few months but there were more effective medications for me. Stopping the gabapentin was awful though, even after being on it for such a short time, I had to slowly taper and still got full blown withdrawal symptoms. I've had friends say similar and nine of us would touch gabapentin again. One of my friends has been on it for a few years and says it is good....dread to think what his withdrawal will be like if he ever needs to stop it!
I've found amytriphiline to be the best. One tablet ( up to three, but only ever needed one) at night and within two days the nerve pain was gone. It calms down ends of nerves and allows them to return to position and not be trapped anymore apparently. I keep some handy and only need to use it for five days each time with no withdrawal or tapering needed for that time.

I was on pregabelin which was great for the nerve pain, meant I could actually sleep. Withdrawal is though but worth it for the improved quality of life when I needed it

RubberJohnny - I like the sound of the medication repairing the nerve endings. Is that what all these nerve pain meds do, or was that just the one you were on? After initially fighting going on this with my nurse practitioner, I was in tears to her on the phone this week with the pain. So that showed me I have to bite the bullet and see it through. And deal with withdrawal when I get to that point. But if anybody has any tips on coping currently and when it comes to withdrawal??

Meant to include - thanks everyone for sharing their story 🙏