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Original poster

Nerve pain experiences with Gabapentin?

23 replies

GemmaPearl97 · 02/03/2023 13:11

I have had bad nerve pain for several years, improved with amitriptyline but still bad & have bad flares often. After pregnancy it was also much worse.

Dr has suggested Gabapentin next - i'm terrified from what I read online that it has huge withdrawal, because I am already very sensitive to amitrtyline withdrawal. However, at the back of my mind is the possibility that it could help. Can anyone please share experiences?

OP posts:

Orangesandlemons77 · 02/03/2023 18:57

I have just started pregabalin in the last few weeks which apparently is the same type of drug.

I'm finding it quite helpful with the pain however it's making me quite sleepy and hungry- hoping this will change with time

I was also offered amitryptilline as an alternative but have taken in the past and wanted to try something different.

Soubriquet · 02/03/2023 18:59

I’ve been on this for years. It’s a good drug

whirlyhead · 02/03/2023 19:00

I had nerve issues in my face years ago, similar to trigéminal neuralgia. The only thing that made the pain bearable was gabapentin. It was a life saver! The cause of the problem was found and I stopped taking it. There was no issue with withdrawal whatsoever. I’ve never heard gabapentin is addictive. One of my cats was on it for a while too and he was fine when he went off it.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 02/03/2023 19:02

I've been on it for 8 years now for nerve pain and have good pain relief on it.

SeulementUneFois · 02/03/2023 19:03

As pp - I had terrible pain in my jaw, finally gabapentin stopped it.
I happened upon a non medicine (...) later which actually got rid of it. Obviously stopped the gabapentin, had no withdrawal symptoms at all.

Jux · 02/03/2023 20:01

I have ms. Started on amytryptiline years ago and then went on to dosulepin, then gabapentin for a short while. Have been on on Pregabalin for years now, which I have found much more effective than any other med I've had. BTW, continued with dosulepin alongside both of those until a year or so ago when they changed it to duloxetine. So duloxetine and Pregab for pain, now.

This has been over the course of 20 years. I am beginning to find the pain is getting the better of the meds now, but don't know the next step.

Marylou62 · 02/03/2023 20:10

I damaged a nerve in my shoulder/chest after breaking my shoulder and ribs...pain was excruciating... I was prescribed Pregabalin..it was great..! I was quite 'high' for a while but on morphine too.. after a few months I successfully weaned myself down to minimal dose and eventually stopped after 6 months.. no side effects from stopping... I hope you find relief...

MissConductUS · 02/03/2023 20:18

I was on a low dose of it for sciatica and had no trouble coming off of it when surgery resolved the problem.

cansu · 02/03/2023 20:21

It worked really well for me. It made excruciating pain from a compressed nerve bearable.

AloudAlot · 02/03/2023 20:21

Reading up on the side effects stopped me getting the prescription for several months.

Starting gabapentin actually gave me my first nights sleep for around 3 years. I have considered reverse titration, and did reduce my dose for a few weeks with no side effects, but tbh I like being in less pain and sleeping. Withdrawal would only be a huge issue if you stopped suddenly.

110APiccadilly · 02/03/2023 20:30

I had it fairly briefly for sciatica caused by a slipped disc. Worked really well and I didn't have issues coming off it, but I wasn't on it long term, under a month I think. IIRC you do have to come off gradually.

In contrast when I came off codeine (same incident, though I think I was on the codeine longer in total) I found it much harder to give up!

Maraudingmarauders · 02/03/2023 22:13

I was on gabapentin for 8 years and it was the only thing that touched my pain (ME). Amitriptiline sent me into zombie mode. Gabapentin did give me some horrible slurring though, that I've not completely lost even though I've been off it for 6 or so years.

Original poster

GemmaPearl97 · 03/03/2023 11:45

thanks so much eveyrone

OP posts:

Gilead · 03/03/2023 16:49

Cannot function without gabapentin. I have EDS and arthritis, my hips are bone on bone as all connective tissue is useless (think over stretched elastic band), gabapentin has made an enormous difference to my life!

Original poster

GemmaPearl97 · 03/03/2023 21:13

Gilead · 03/03/2023 16:49

Have you been on it for a long time ? I worry about having to keep up tbe dose ?

OP posts:

Gilead · 04/03/2023 12:01

I’ve been on it for a year and it’s been a real lifesaver! I have cut down now and then but can’t be dealing with the pain.

Original poster

GemmaPearl97 · 04/03/2023 16:50

do you get immune to the amount & have to keep increasing?

OP posts:

Gilead · 04/03/2023 17:14

No, have stayed on the same dose. Built up to this dose and stayed here when it started working. I take 3x300mg a day. It’s not a huge dose.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 04/03/2023 20:42

I had to build up my dose to 3 x 400 before I got relief from untriggered attacks, then 3 x 600mg before I got full relief from the TN attacks.

But after a while I was able to reduce that.

There are stories of it wearing off after a while, but I'm 9 years or more in and doing fine.

Orangesandlemons77 · 05/03/2023 11:54

How does it compare with Pregabalin out of interest? I'm taking that for nerve pain and it seems quite helpful but seems to wear off a bit.

I'm on 150mg 3 times a day atm.

Orangesandlemons77 · 05/03/2023 11:55

(but sometimes taking an extra one in the night)

StillMedusa · 05/03/2023 20:49

I've been on it for about 9 years now. Life saver.. literally as I had TN and was almost insane with pain (and Carbamazapine made me vomit). I was on HUGE doses and it did make me very spaced out at first but after a week or so it was ok.
Gradually titrated down as the TN subsided but had to remain on a low dose to prevent it returning. Now I also have other nerve pain and take a low dose (usually 200mg a day) to keep it manageable. I don't think I'm remotely addicted to it, but frankly even if I was.. it works!

Orangesandlemons77 · 06/03/2023 06:33

In case anyone is interested I found this which seemed useful about the differences and similarities with pregabalin.

www.pharmacytimes.com/view/how-gabapentin-differs-from-pregabalin

As an aside has anyone found problems with alcohol and these meds? I think for me it is a no-no although the docs didn't specifically mention anything.

It seems to cause me breathlessness, quite bad. Maybe a good time to give up alcohol for me

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