Gabapentin

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Gabapentin

Postby chachacha » 20 Dec 2016, 08:39

I am going to be starting Gabapentin in the new year for a non-fissure related issue (dental neuralgia), and since several people on this board seem to have already taken it, I was wondering what it's like. The side effects seem to be quite scary and I also wonder if it is actually effective at relieving pain (other drugs like Oxycodone and Morphine haven't worked for me for other types of pain, so I'm kind of skeptical).

Any opinions on this drug, its effectiveness and side effects would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks!
Fissure since about 2007
Fissure diagnosed in 2011
Diltiazem for two years - didn't work well
LIS January, 2015
Hemorrhoidectomy December, 2017
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Re: Gabapentin

Postby Mypoorbutt » 20 Dec 2016, 08:56

Hi Chachacha,
I only recently started taking it for my fissure...my friend who has trigeminal neuralgia recommended it.
I can honestly say it is the only thing that worked on my fissure pain went down from an 8 to a 4 in less than an hour. I can't say I have experienced any side effects apart from I do get a bit sleepy...but hey cocodamol does that to me so, that's probably just me.
I know Becka has been taking it for a while so she may have much more info than me.
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Re: Gabapentin

Postby Becka456 » 20 Dec 2016, 09:27

Hi, I've been on it for about a year now, it really does help with the pain made me a lot more comfortable, it made me more tired and a little bit constipated as first, I found the side effects were bad when coming down on them but were fine when I went up on them hope that helps x
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Re: Gabapentin

Postby chachacha » 20 Dec 2016, 09:36

Very thrilled for you that they helped with your pain. I don't understand what you mean by coming down and going up on them though. Could you explain that bit?
Fissure since about 2007
Fissure diagnosed in 2011
Diltiazem for two years - didn't work well
LIS January, 2015
Hemorrhoidectomy December, 2017
chachacha
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Re: Gabapentin

Postby Becka456 » 20 Dec 2016, 10:07

I started to come off by a 100 mg as I wanted to come of them to see how my pain was, so I weaned off them by a 100 mg each time I'm done to just 100 mg a day now so as I was coming off them I got horrible withdrawal side effects x
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Re: Gabapentin

Postby chachacha » 20 Dec 2016, 10:20

Very good to know. I suppose that I will come down by smaller amounts and also maybe go slower. May I ask which side effects you suffered from? And also, what was the highest dose you got up to? I'll be discussing all of this with the neurologist in the new year, so want to be armed with as many relevant questions as possible. Thanks!
Fissure since about 2007
Fissure diagnosed in 2011
Diltiazem for two years - didn't work well
LIS January, 2015
Hemorrhoidectomy December, 2017
chachacha
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Posts: 1111
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Joined: 16 Jun 2013, 16:00
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Re: Gabapentin

Postby Becka456 » 20 Dec 2016, 10:30

I went up to 800 mg at one point, side effects coming off them were my anxiety seemed to be worse. Tummy pain, headache and just feeling low and not being able to sleep but everyone is different so might not be the same for you. The main thing is it helps the pain And it really did help me, hope that helps x
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Re: Gabapentin

Postby chachacha » 20 Dec 2016, 10:58

It really does! Thank you.

And MPB, do you know if your friend with trigeminal neuralgia has been pain-free while using the Gabapentin? I had the atypical version (what else is new?), so am not sure that it will help me if it returns after these upcoming extractions though. Both your improvement and Becka's though, lead me to be a little bit optimistic.

:afsmile:
Fissure since about 2007
Fissure diagnosed in 2011
Diltiazem for two years - didn't work well
LIS January, 2015
Hemorrhoidectomy December, 2017
chachacha
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Posts: 1111
Topics: 19
Joined: 16 Jun 2013, 16:00
Location: Canada
Has thanked: 28 times
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Re: Gabapentin

Postby Mypoorbutt » 20 Dec 2016, 11:03

Yes she was much better was able to go back to work and go out and be normal again...she obviously has to be careful with the cold but the gabapentin helped her lots
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Re: Gabapentin

Postby chachacha » 20 Dec 2016, 11:35

My neuralgia (being atypical) had no triggers (cold, touch, etc.), and would just come out of the blue and throw me to the floor screaming in agony as the electrical shock went through my face, so I am really hoping that the Gabapentin will help with that kind of thing too, if it returns, rather than just softening what most TN sufferers have to deal with. I am SO terribly happy to hear that your friend is in a much better place now, thanks to the Gabapentin!
Fissure since about 2007
Fissure diagnosed in 2011
Diltiazem for two years - didn't work well
LIS January, 2015
Hemorrhoidectomy December, 2017
chachacha
Moderator
 
Posts: 1111
Topics: 19
Joined: 16 Jun 2013, 16:00
Location: Canada
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