bwreidHave been on this for 6 months. It helps with the pain but I am so depressed I am feeling lost and helpless. Has anyone else had this problem. My Dr. said it would not cause depression and put me on prozac. I seem to be so messed up I am not myself. Help, anyone.
Gabapentin for Peripheral Neuropathy?
- Posted:
- 31 Mar 2010 by bwreid
- Topics:
- peripheral neuropathy, pain, gabapentin
Details:
Answers (15)
mpvt31 Mar 2010
What are you doing as far as work, exercise, marriage, boyfriend ect.
Are you still having pain??
There are so many things here that need to be looked at. Can you give some more info. If you can, answer the questions I asked above, if you want to... Good luck and I hope you start to feel better as depression is a terrible thing to live with, if you want to call it living... Dave
christine...31 Mar 2010
I'm assuming the main symptom of your condition is nerve pain? I feel so bad when hearing stories like yours. Chronic pain causes depression, not the medication he put you on. He was right in that respect. Although my condition is not the same as yours, you deserve to live a pain free, happy life. Hang in there as you are NOT alone. People on this forum are very helpful and knowledgeable in many areas. You came to the right place. Is your doctor a specialist in this area? If not, request a referral to see one! Maybe investigate and find one on your own. Your quality of life is worth fighting for. If you can't get relief from your doctor, find a new one. Take a deep breath, relax, and surround yourself with the people and things you love. Take it one day at a time and find that comfort in knowing that there is help for you! Emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of your life are all being affected by this condition.
mpvt
31 Mar 2010
I agree with Christine, you don't have to sit there and take it. You have worked hard all your life and you sure as heck don't deserve to feel this way. 2 weeks is not enough time for the Prozac to take full effect and you may need to try a few different drugs as it is very difficult for the doctors to determine which chemical you are short on. So unfortunately you do have to give the drugs and the doctors some time on this.
It does sound as though your pain is not really a major factor and the gabapenten is doing it's job. You obviously have a few things that are bothering you and I'm sure this is a big factor with your depression.
Have you done any research on depression??
Also try and eat high protein foods which will help with your low energy.
Sacosam
3 Apr 2010
bwreid & and mpvt
I have experience w' Prozac. It's ok but it's very slow and can take 28 days to 6 weeks to kick in.
Sacosam
fancyforty2 Apr 2010
It works great for the neuropathy. I got depressed also (have been on gabapentin for almost 3 years now) and my Dr put me on prozac and for the 2 days that I took it started hallucinating and having really marked mood swings that I did not notice(my nephews noticed it immediatly). No fun at all. My new pain Dr changed it to amitriptyline and I feel like me again instead of a fish looking out of a fish tank at my life (meaning that I had no control over my emotions and did not know it.). I dont mean to be funny it is just the best way I can think of to describe what I've been through. My depression is still there but now it is in the tank. What helps a great deal is to think that I am not the only one like this and that some people do understand precisely what I am going through. Being alone in an ocean trying to keep my head out of water is 'easier' with company than without. Maybe take another Dr for a test drive may help also... best wishes B
bwreid
2 Apr 2010
Thanks so much. How long were you on Gab. before you noticed the depression, or just started not to feel like yourself? It helps with the pain so much, but I can't live with the way I feel. There is just no joy and I don't look forward to anything. I have an apt. with a new dr. on the 13th. and hopefully she will have some new plans. I will ask her about amitriptyline definately. People tell me it takes about 4 weeks for prozac to begin to make a difference. Are you still on Gab. along with amitr.? I am also on Tramadol, which makes 2 rx for neuropathy. Thanks again BW
bnagoh
2 Apr 2010
Yes it took a while for the Gabapentin to work and start those helpless and sad thoughts, maybe a week to two weeks. When I took the amitrptyline it was noticible in 3 to 5 days and gradually by the time I finished the first bottle I started walking out side went to see my brother, a nice walk 35 to 40 minutes and I started to laugh at his strange jokes that he allways likes to share. Strange thing was the laughter just started spontaneosly and I remember thinking wow I need to go to his house more often. It is a gradual change and let me tell you I really needed to laugh. Another factor was this site. To be able to have a place to air my concerns and share what I have learned to help is a tremendous relief and it gives me a purpose. Being single and disabled certainly adds to the sense of failure and not being able to confide with some one who cares. No matter how dark things may seem a good heart felt laugh will lite up any ones life. I hope I didnt get to far from what you asked. Best Wishes Bertram
itsmetoo2
angel_butterfly
18 Jun 2010
I am a very sever diabetic and also have nurophany I am on 10 mg lorecet and inslulin and gabapentin 800 mg 5 times a day and nothing helps it only makes me tolorate the pain. I think od death every day , but will that even help ? My dr. put me on pain mangment and now I feel tike I have done something wrong I feel as if I am a criminal and in jail. I never beem in pain managment before . And this dr. don't care about my diabetis and had the nerve to tell me I have to suck up the pain. I feel like nobody know how to treat me and don't care. Please what can I do???
itsmetoo2
18 Jun 2010
If you have access to a heated pool try doing what you can in excercise. This will help bring life back to your body.
prism20 Apr 2010
Hi,
I've been on both the Gabapentin and Prozac- and They Will be different for every person, but sometimes you'll notice a trend in the comments of others that help you to pinpoint exactly what you're experiencing.
On Gabapentin, my pain and tremors were lessened- or so I thought! But somehow it didn't seem to agree with my ticker (heart). At one point I was up to 3000mg a day- when I finally went off I had to admit that I should have trusted my gut instincts from the start as it was the main factor in my grandmal seizures. I was on several meds that depressed the central nervous system, but this one in particular made me kind of spaced out (from other's POV)
bwreid
20 Apr 2010
Thanks for the comment. I am now on 40mg prozac from my new dr. and do feel better, but have only been on 40mg 1 week. She said I could double that after a few weeks if I needed it. Will wait and see how good it really is and hope for the best. She said the gabap would not cause my depression. I guess a divorce, the loss of my dad and dealing with my mom's alzheimers has finally gotten me down! Really need something to lift me up, do pray, but need a little more help!! Thanks again
rockermom5128 Apr 2010
First of all, gabapentin has nothing to do with helping depression. It is an antiseizure med and also has been prescribed as a mood stabilizer, which works pretty well for me. I get it from my neuro for neuropathy pain, brought on by fibromyalgia. I take a high dosage, it's 600mgs three times a day. At first, i had some dizziness and drowsiness but that quickly went away. Now i have no side effects at all, and the nerve pain is treated very well. in fact, if i don't get the refill in time i can tell a big difference in how i feel physically if i miss my dose.
i wish you luck in finding the right med and dose for your situation.
sheryl
Thebyrdman7 May 2010
I've taken 800mg of neurontin(gabapentin) before, and yes it does work well for nerve pain. However, continued use had mild delusional properties and occasional depression. My grandfather was taking 600mg neurontin all of last year and he also had these two side effects. A very good friend of mine had these two side effects too, and he was on 1200mg. Kinda funny because a friend of mine who is a physician told me that "neurontin is as safe as water". I think it works for short-term use only. Neurontin is a great example of how initial excitement about a medication can be misleading.
Anonymous 26 May 2010
If he said it would not cause depression then why the hell did he put you on a depression pill? i just dont understand doctors sometimes i do know they lie alot though. I never found gabapentin to be beneficial at all for me if it is causing problems try swithing to an actual pain medication like darvocet or norco,vicodin etc... You shouldnt be feeling this way off a non-narcotic pain reliever.
mushroom ...26 May 2010
bwreid,
hi,sorry you are feeling so bad.i am new to the group too. and believe me i have been there to.and i will again. i am bi-polar or so they say. i will be 60 in june and my first bout with it i was 34 and did'nt know what hit me. i have the very very lows. no highs ever. anywhy i quit talking and would'nt leave the house. and would'nt answer the door to family or friends . i had two young son's and we would hide in the closet till they left. finally i ended up in the hospital. i knew i could'nt do this to the boy's i was sick they were't. this illness runs in my dad's side of the family.
they finally got something that would work for me. plus the groups i went to. i was'nt alone. it helps it really does.
anyway my boys grew up and my dad died. so mom came to live with us. she shared our home for 10 years. she had c.o.p.d. and heart problems.
itsmetoo2
18 Jun 2010
In this question blogg I see allot of depression. I want all of you to hang in there. I too have had major depression and allot of pain in my life. I do not like to read. But I bought a book written in the 40's and it is a book of thoughts. When depressed I pull out a word and read what it has to say. Surprising enough I have found every word I have read up on has a saying that has helped me so much. As many of you know I have also avail myself of a heated pool and that has helped my pain so much. I walk and do what I can in excercise.
As for losses of a loved one. I think about a man, I knew that was dying of cancer. He wrote a letter to his sons, it said. " I think of the wonderful times we had together and do not dwell of the times we could have had together."
This wonderful man full of thought died the next day with a heart full of life and wisdom. Thank You, Hal for leaving me such wonderful thoughts.
prism
5 Jul 2010
Interesting to read that my doctor was not the only (crazed) person to say that I could take neurontin "like water"!!! (grand mal seizures people!!! )
JuanitaLilli
jyatx27 Aug 2010
I have been on gabapatin for years now. I was prescribed it by a neurologist. got better due to it and now my primary care Dr. prescribes it. I had nerve problems when they did not give anything to relieve the symptoms. That was a pain filled time. Gabapatin has reduced the pain. I have nuerapathy in both legs and 1 arm. Sometimes you have to do some research on your meds. I read where gabapatin could cause depression. But I could hardly move with out it. So you may have to deal with the side affect of depression. I take wellbrutin and took zoloft for years. They worked for me. Just hang in there and be determined to challenge yourself to deal with your individual problems. And remember doctors can be wrong.
23 Apr 2011
Gabapentin may cause depression and also suicidal ideation (thoughts) so you must discuss this with your Dr or another Dr if you are not finding the one you are seeing understanding.
When a Dr dismisses your concerns as yours seems to have done it can make you feel its " your fault" you are feeling this way.
There are many other drugs for Neuropathic pain that you could try if you feel the depression may be caused by or increased by Gabapentin.
It is all trial and error and everyone responds differently to different drugs.
I am sure you will find the right combination for yourself if you keep asking and trust what YOU FEEL, you deserve to be treated as a individual and to ask for help to get the best quality of life you can.
Wishing you all the best.
hays03
6 Apr 2012
what happens to the new formulation of opana-er 40 mg. tablet if you try to crush it or chew it?
maxpat14 Apr 2012
Gabapentin has a side effect, unfortunately, one of the common one is "feeling depressed"; but what I would like for you to do is contact your Doctor to see if you can get a "Medically Necessary" and try Neurontin (brand name).
Why?
Because generic drugs have a formula differences which their compounds can range greatly than that of the original brand name formula.
I was on Gabapentin but had to revert to Neurontin and *BOOM* it made a tremendous impact and have been on the brand name since. Our bodies sometimes just do not tolerate the chemistry formula of a generic so that does not mean the medication is a failure. Don't give up; give it another try to see if it makes a difference.
ossabawjoe21 Apr 2013
Hey there I have that lovely neuropathy in my legs big time I take 300 lyrica 2xs a day it does work at nite before i take nortriptyline and I can sleep ok, When the sun goes down the pain is the worst, ful moons and no moon is the most intense time. I use meditation when I can concentrate it s hard when the pain is real bd say 8-9 in a 10 scale. After so long I ignore any pain from 5 on down. I am type 2 diabetes and my sugar runs maybe 220 average its had to get my sugar down which is thw key for neuropathy. Ditch the prozac if you can that stuff is scary. Good luck!
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I am divorced (7 1/2years) after a 34 yr marriage. Yeah he found a younger one. Never thought I would ever face this. I am slowly getting over the pain, but very slowly. Neuropathy started 5 years ago, no reason found, and I was put on Tramadol. That helped somewhat but still had bad pain. I tried Cymbalta but that didn't work and was too expensive for me anyway. Last Oct my Dr put me on Gabapentin and I have been going in a downward spiral ever since. Even in the midst of the divorce I was never this down. The drug helped my pain a lot but I'm scared to stay on it. I have been on prozac for 2 weeks and cannot tell any improvement from that. Maybe it hasn't had time to work yet. I am retired after selling my business 2 yrs ago. I keep my 3 yr old grandson most days. I have not been able to find anyone I am interested in spending time with, and that has been hard to accept. I don't execise and I know I should but just don't have the energy to.
Expand this post...
I have always worked in my yard and now with spring here I can't even get myself up to do that. If I didn't keep my grandson I wouldn't even get out of the bed. I have just never felt like this, don't want to go on to the next day. If the prozac doesn't help I don't know what I will do.
Iam on it for withdrawls from xanax for seizure and pain havent had good experience with it i was on 300mg 3 times day 100mg 3 times day...
lowering it now to 100mg 2 times day i was on it for about 5 months i felt it took my anxiety away at 300mg but made me numb and depressed i still feel depressed i hate it personally and its used to sedate people the withdrawls from it are awful... i would switch to something else its not worth it .
Have you had your thyroid checked?
I take Gabap. 800 mg , 3x day so a big dose for my trigeminal neuropathy. It actually helped my mood, so I doubt your depresed feelings come from that med. I had anve depression and the SSRIs including Prozac never helped me. I now take Wellbutrin ans just after 5 days on a low dose I already feel better. And it is a circle. Since I feel better I want to do more things, and then I feel good about myself. I am 64 and also divorced after a 25 yr marriage.
I'm not a DR but maybe you shuld try a different AD. Best of luck and love, Ph