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Original poster

Gabapentin/ Pregbalin

26 replies

Runaround50 · 19/09/2022 21:27

If you take these for nerve pain, how do you find them? Do they work? Side effects? Currently on amitryptyline 25mg and it's useless.

OP posts:

Hotpinkangel19 · 19/09/2022 21:36

Gabapentin works for my husband.

Purplecatshopaholic · 19/09/2022 21:38

My friend takes it for nerve pain - it works really well for that, but she has put on a lot of weight with it.

rosael56 · 19/09/2022 21:38

I don't but my grandma has been on gabapentin for a few years. She developed neuralgia after shingles and was in extreme agony. It did take awhile to work, but her pain is now completely controlled. She says her only side effect is feeling brain foggy and more tired.

Haybo26 · 19/09/2022 21:40

I tried both for nerve pain but didn't work. Nothing seems to work.

Menopants · 19/09/2022 21:41

I took it on and off for a year or two. It’s great once it kicks in and then you can sleep and move and generally get on the road to recovery. Downsides are you need to balance the dose, too much and you will be off your face, too little and it won’t work. I also put on weight but it was worth it I was in so much pain. Another plus is it made me v calm. Good luck I hope it works for you

TheCanyon · 19/09/2022 21:42

Makes me feel sick, drunk, sleepy, brain foggy. Didn't help much either.

BCBird · 19/09/2022 21:43

I had Pregabalin and they hoped me. I could not tolerate Gabapentin nor Amitriptyline. Think Pregabalin might cause problems if u are pregnant or intend to be in the future. Hope you get some relief.

NightfeedsandNetflix · 19/09/2022 21:45

I had gabapentin for back pain, it worked really well but my boss thought I was stoned and I pretty much felt zoned out.

Biscuitandacuppa · 19/09/2022 21:47

I take gabapentin for nerve pain and amitriptyline at night. It does work but does make me sleepy. I am working in reducing the dose but then I’m awake at night in pain so it’s a balancing act.

CatsLikeBoxes · 19/09/2022 21:48

Gabapentin has helped reduce the pain for me - it made me feel a bit dopey to start, but then that eases once you get used to it. I usually take it in the evening anyway

jessieminto · 19/09/2022 21:51

I took Pregabalin and it was great for the pain. The brain fog left me unable to hold down a job though. I've come off it so I can keep working and just live with the pain now. It's pretty shit.

sjpkgp1 · 19/09/2022 22:01

I was prescribed Pregabalin for potential sarcoidosis of the lungs and heart coupled with high blood pressure. Completely the wrong drug in my opinion. My blood pressure is not caused (particularly) by anxiety or stress. When I took it I was mainly sleepy, but if I tried to do anything "normal" I was dizzy, felt sick, or fainted. Stopped taking it a week after being prescribed. Probably one for the right circumstances, but a definite no from me.

LindyLou2020 · 19/09/2022 22:27

@Runaround50
Firstly, 25mg of Amitriptyline is a very low dose. I THINK the maximum dose is 75mg, but that needs verifying.
A friend was prescribed Gabapentin for neuropathy in one of her feet.
She then began to suffer from debilitating tinnitus, hyperacusis, and hearing loss, and is certain these conditions were caused by Gabapentin - it was just too much of a coincidence.
At times, she feels almost suicidal, that's how badly she has been affected. And there's no sign of these issues abating.
I've done a bit of VERY cursory Googling about Gabapentin, and some research does suggest that Gabapentin can cause tinnitus, but I haven't as yet looked into this thoroughly. Neither am I in any way medically qualified!
Other PPs on this thread haven't had such awful experiences, just the opposite, but I just wanted to tell you what happened to my friend.
Good luck with your pain

TigerRag · 20/09/2022 08:09

Gabapentin just gave me a blocked nose and never actually worked.

I've just come off Pregabalin because it's stopped working and is just causing weight gain.

Wagsandclaws · 20/09/2022 08:17

I take gabapentin for neck nerve pain and peripheral neuropathy in my feet due to diabetes.

It's amazing stuff, it does take a while to work but when you get the correct dose it's fantastic.

OnTheRunWithMannyMontana · 20/09/2022 08:52

I've just come off Gabapentin after I reacted quite badly to it. I had hallucinations, could hear music coming from my living room fan that nobody else could hear, was sleep talking and acting out my dreams (like flailing arms dreaming about throwing things, hallucinating plates of food that weren't there and stroking DHs chest whilst dreaming about cats). The final straw was recounting an entire conversation with my MIL that I had in the downstairs loo that never actually happened.

Interested to hear others experience of Pregablin as my nerve pain is being treated with cocodamol only at the moment.

AnnaMagnani · 20/09/2022 09:52

25mg of amitriptyline is a perfectly appropriate dose for nerve pain. Can go up to 50mg but it's not common to do this and after that you are just risking more side effects.

The biggest issue with Gabapentin/Pregabalin is the brain fog. Some people don't get it, some people find it wears off, others just don't tolerate it at all. Gabapentin and Pregabalin are v similar so if you have a v bad reaction to one, you will probably have it to both.

My DM tried Gabapentin and decided the brain fog was worse than the pain. On the other hand I've prescribed both drugs to many patients who are delighted with them.

DollyDaydream55 · 23/02/2023 08:02

Joining.

I was prescribed Gabapentin 6 weeks ago. Have cervical C1-T2 degeneration. Some disc bulges and stenosis (narrowing) of cord. I’m in agony. Last MRI scan showed it had worsened significantly in the past two years. Also have lumbar spine pain but the neck’s the worst. Up to now I’ve been on paracetamol and occasionally, codeine 30mg at night if desperate.

The hospital consultant told me to take Gabapentin but ten days in, I was very woozy still and the pain hadn’t changed. I stopped. Can’t see GP till March and I’m struggling massively. I also have a very physical job so, that’s beginning to be a big problem too. I’m 60. Am active. Walk miles with the dog. Eat reasonably well.

Would anyone recommend I give Gabapentin another try? Will the dizzy/wooziness wear off. I drive as part of my care job.

nooboos · 23/02/2023 08:16

@DollyDaydream55

Registered Nurse here, who has also used Gabapentin in the past for nerve pain.

How much are you taking in total a day? Gabapentin and Pregabalin were originally designed as Anti-Epileptic drugs which are designed to be titrated upwards, depending on response. It's not a good idea to suddenly stop them and should be weaned off slowly,which your GP or Consultants should advise you on.

The dizziness/drowsiness does improve after a time, but can come back if the dose needs to be increased. I was taking 200mg, three times a day some years back due to nerve problems caused by a demyelinating lesion, but I did wean off them as it only improved a little.

Also are you awaiting to have surgery?

DollyDaydream55 · 23/02/2023 08:31

Thank you for the reply. No not awaiting surgery. I’m prescribed
but wonder whether I could take both in the evening a couple of hours before bed? That way, I’d be safely tucked up and it wouldn’t matter. I’m prescribed 100mg twice a day.

nooboos · 23/02/2023 08:43

@DollyDaydream55

It is best to take as you are prescribed as it does have a half life - basically if you took 100mg at 8am, by around 2pm your body has made use of half of the drug, so by the time you're ready to take the next one, your body will make use again. Every medicine has it peak time in which it works, hence why they say so many hours apart.

Again there is no harm taking both at bedtime, but I must stress that you should talk to your GP first. I am a Registered Nurse, but it is always best to seek advice from the person who prescribed them.

I wish you well, I hope you get relief soon.

DollyDaydream55 · 23/02/2023 11:43

Oh dear, I feel stupid now. Have just retrieved the box, ready to give Gabapentin another chance and… it’s TAKE INE 100mg AT NIGHT. I was confused because the consultant said take morning and evening. No wonder I felt dizzy/spaced out by lunchtime, taking one at breakfast.

I will give it another go but… I don’t think I have “nerve pain” as such. I think my bones are degenerating and it’s more “mechanical” than nerve.

OnTheRunWithMannyMontana · 23/02/2023 11:43

Catching up as I was prescribed Pregablin 5 weeks ago after my interesting (lol) experience with Gabapentin.

So far I've had the drowsiness and brain fog but that only lasts a couple of weeks. The 75mg twice a day wasn't helping with pain so increased to 150mg twice a day last week. The drowsiness and brain fog is back but I am seeing an improvement in pain levels so fingers crossed that continues!

Orangesandlemons77 · 23/02/2023 13:24

I have just asked to change to 150mg 3 times daily as 75mg was wearing off quite quickly.

Very tired on it and getting the brain fog but hoping it may wear up with time.

It's really helping with the post shingles pain though, that was horrible as on the nerve in the face this time

So for me it is worth the side effects to get the pain relief

Original poster

Runaround50 · 23/02/2023 13:31

I've reduced from 50mg amitriptyline to 25mg again. I can't stand this drug, it gives me vivid dreams and a dry mouth.

I've no idea what's wrong with me, but I've developed Horners syndrome as a result of some nerve damage somewhere and I'm very fed up. Amitriptyline is just masking the issue now.

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