I've had back surgery and have degenerative disease in my lower vertabrae. Surgery is probably going to happen again but in the interum my Docs have put me on Gabapentin 300mg and Nortriptyline 25mg 1 pill each at night. I am now suffering from intense headaches late in the afternoon & evening. I do not see anything about this? Please help!
Gabapentin and Nortriptyline causing intense headaches, any advice?
- Posted:
- 16 Jun 2012 by davids2443
- Topics:
- headache, gabapentin, nortriptyline
Details:
Added 17 Jun 2012:
thank you all...
my surgery was in 2011 and it seemed to go very well. L3-L4 and L4-L5 discectomy. Several months later I started experiencing severe pain in my right leg and foot and toes. It was discovered that I had excessive scarring on the S1 nerve?
Since then I have gone through many injections etc... Just had another MRI and it was definitive that I still had mild disc bulge at L3-L4, an enhancing scar which contacts the traversing right L5 nerve and mild disc buldge at L4-L5 and disc bulge at L5-S1.
Did my surgeon miss something?
I now suffer from pain in my back, leg and foot so I was started on the Gabapentin along with occasional Tramadol for pain. They have experimented with other drugs; Cyclobenzaprine and Methocarbamol but I didn't tolerate either too well. Now we're using the Gabapetin and Nortriptyline for the past 2 weeks and I'm getting the headaches...
I will contact my Physicians this week to find out what can be done.
Again, thanks all.
Added 18 Jun 2012:
Once again I thank all for their answers.
I didn't take the Nortriptyline this weekend and guess what, no headaches. I started on the Gabapentin about 3 months ago but I wasn't getting the relief we had expected in my legs and feet, so as I wrote previously we have been "experimenting" with other meds. The Nortriptyline was just started 2 weeks ago.
I have put in a call to the Docs to discuss the headache issue. I did see that as a possible "side effect" but it didn't seem to be a prevelant issue?
I'll see what the Docs decide.
Thank you all.
Answers (6)
balbanese17 Jun 2012
Tell the Doc about it and they'll switch you. I would advise you take a good long time to consider surgery. I have 5 disintegrated discs and still would rather deal with it than have them possible cause more damage with surgery. That's just me though, hope this helps.
Delila
Anonymous 17 Jun 2012
Gabepentin can cause headaches as a less serious side effect. You are at the starting dose of it at 300mg. Usually the doctor will steadily increase the dose until you get the desired effect from it upwards at 300mg increases to 1,800 mg. I am giving you the link below to read about his drug, & it's side effects. At the low dose you are on, & if you didn't have the headaches before starting this medication, I would suggest you contact your physican about this new side effect. Just my thoughts... Mary
http://www.drugs.com/gabapentin.html
Anonymous 17 Jun 2012
Well,
Both meds are head meds and can and do cause headaches, common side effect . The gabapentin is supposed to help with nerve pain, I take 300 mgs twice a day and my arms and hands feel better, pinched nerve in neck is my problem. The other med is a tricyclic anti-depressant that usually helps with sleep. Like with all meds, there is always the possibility of side effects. If they are aggravating enough, call your prescribing doc and let him know what's going on.
Peace,
Sweet Hippie
HeadStarter
17 Jun 2012
Always good explanations, Laura, with great advice!
Mary
8 Jul 2012
I'm currently on gabapentin 300mg twice daily and nortriptyline 50mg before bed. I too suffered from headaches but discovered if I nap late morning to early afternoon, they subsided significantly. When I get one even after a nap I take Excedrin Migrane and it seems to help.
9 Jul 2012
I'm interested in the scarring and nerve problems you are having. Have you had a rhizotemy for the S1 nerve and the other nerves that they believe are the source of your pain. It's also caused radio frequency ablation I believe. Steroid injections never did anything for me but these rhizotemy's were what has allowed me to be able to sit these last 10 years. They are done in a surgical procedure room with a Flouroscope so the pain specialist/surgeon can see your anatomy and nerves, etc. They put a needle/pin to the nerve and apply heat to it and it burns the nerves that are causing the pain. You're given IV anesthesia for "twilight" sleep and it takes about 20 minutes, then 20 min in recovery room and you walk out. someone has to drive you home but you're back to normal that night.
davids2443
9 Jul 2012
All avenues have been discussed. At the present the focus is on the underlying causes, the degeneration, and impediments from the spinal problems. But I thank you for your thoughts and ideas.
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I should also have included the info on nortriptyline. iI can also cause serious side effects as headaches, & you should consult your doctor immediately about this. Below is the link on it too... Mary
http://www.drugs.com/nortriptyline.html