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Gabapentin for Migraine User Reviews (Page 2)

Brand names: Neurontin, Gralise, Gabarone, Fanatrex

Gabapentin has an average rating of 7.9 out of 10 from a total of 110 reviews for the off-label treatment of Migraine. 78% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 13% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Gabapentin

  • scarlet
  • March 16, 2013

"I started having having headaches everyday then boom migraine. I was on Topamax they kept upping it. I would wake up with a headache go to bed with one. Then I had a horrible migraine lasted 6 weeks, so they added gabapentin I currently take 1600 mg and 200 mg Topamax but the gabapentin saved me. I do experience side effects like word issues or mood.. but without it I couldn't go to the store even with sun glasses without throwing up. I had to leave my job of ten yrs. I am disabled and I have the side effects but I can go outside now and the pain is manageable. "

9 / 10
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  • BadLeg
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 27, 2012

Neurontin (gabapentin) "Neurontin was prescribed for migraine. After taking 1 x 100mg capsule my migraine was gone within 8 hours. The downside was my lymphedema leg developed a cellulitis problem. The cellulitis was due to the allergic reaction to Neurontin."

5 / 10
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  • MiaLu
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 31, 2013

"My 11 year old was prescribed Gabapentin for chronic headaches, but several days of this medication seemed to exacerbate his problem. He had many more headaches and rated them as very painful on this medication. We had to stop taking it after about a week because he had so many headaches."

1 / 10
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64 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • HiThe...
  • January 18, 2013

"In August 2012 my migraines suddenly got disabling! It was constant and horrible! I saw a neurologist in early Dec. and he ordered Gabapentin, starting at 1 pill and then increasing weekly up to 4 pills. It's mid January and I am still only taking 2 pills because I am always tired and a little nauseated. I need to increase it though because, as another reviewer said, it makes everything "muted" but not completely. I have had some migraines but nothing horrible like before. So for that reason - this medication is wonderful! But I have one side effect that I wonder if it is from gabapentin - I feel extremely mean and annoyed. It's very noticeable to my family. Has anyone else had this side effect?"

8 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • March 5, 2012

"I tried Imitrex, Fioricet, propanolol all to no avail and then my doctor prescribed me gabapentin 300mg a night. It helped with my sleep and more importantly helped with migraines. I haven't had a migraine for three months now and this medicine has helped me so much. Definitely worth it."

10 / 10
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68 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • tDani...
  • January 15, 2015

"I have been taking this for 2 months now. The first month I still had several horrible headaches. This second month I have yet to have one. Which is fantastic for me. I am having a slight problem keeping my emotions down. I seem to be very sad and lack energy. I am hoping that this will level out with time, because it works fantastic on my headaches."

9 / 10
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  • SChri...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 8, 2018

"Really pessimistic about starting these for episodic cluster headache, but tried in desperation. Ignored the “build up slowly from 300mg” advice and took 3x300mg straight away - spacing them out about an hour at a time over an evening. Effects were significant, but not unpleasant (a bit spacey and very relaxed). Had all the sensations of a headache that night, but without the pain. Since then, taking 300mg around 3 times per day and headaches completely under control. Again, still have sensations of headache, but the pain is down to a 1-2 from 8+. Sleeping like a baby, a little spacey in the morning the first couple of days, but pretty much no noticeable side effects now (other than I’ve been in a really good mood!) All-in-all - very impressed and would highly recommend for cluster headache / migraine."

9 / 10
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More FAQ

  • Jake
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 19, 2022

"Tried gabapentin after a bad reaction with Lamotrigine. It was very effective at helping me with my migraines, and it reduced both their severity and frequency. But this drug nearly put me in outpatient care of a mental hospital. At first I thought my anger was environmental due to a toxic roommate situation, but the anger only worsened even after I moved out. Intrusive thoughts of hurting this person or of harming myself are what caused me to stop taking this medication. I literally had what one on-call psychiatrist described as a medication induced psychosis. If it wasn't for mood stabilizers and the courage to stop this medication (despite knowing it would increase my migraines again) I might have either harmed myself or hurt someone. Every day I literally screamed in my car so hard it hurt my voice. The morning after stopping my nighttime dose was when the anger stopped. BE CAREFUL with this medication."

1 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • January 2, 2015

"I was taking Topamax 200 mg every day for my monthly migraines and it was working well until I went to my eye doctor and he checked the pressure in my eyes. I had a high pressure in my left eye so my doctor put me on gabapentin. I take 200 mg every day and its been great. Even when I do get a migraine its very muted and very tolerable. Great medicine!"

9 / 10
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  • Beran...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 4, 2015

"I've had migraines for about 6 years. I take Fioricet for pain management, which works well, but I wanted to try preventing migraines altogether instead of treating them with painkillers, so my doctor prescribed Gabapentin. After about 2 or 3 days, I started to notice side-effects of blurred vision, so much that I couldn't read text in my web browser. It wasn't drowsy or light-headed, but more as if my eyes simply couldn't focus at the correct depth. I also noticed I was extremely clumsier, banging my knees, elbows, and shins on everything until I was covered in bruises. After a month of taking it, I saw no change in the frequency nor intensity of my migraines (I keep a pain log to make sure), so I stopped"

1 / 10
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  • FoundIt
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 2, 2020

"Suffered from hemiplegic migraines with triggers. If I didn't take medicine immediately after the trigger, I suffered from symptoms that resembled a stroke. Also, had on going foggy eyes and vertigo not caused by cataracts nor inner ear. (Al tested.) Prescribed gabapentin after I realized avoiding triggers was not feasible. So, started: 100mg/night and 100mg/morning. Took a healthy dose of magnesium & B12 4 hrs after the morning dose to prevent any adverse side effects. My foggy vision and vertigo have disappeared. During the holidays, didn't pack it, the foggy vision appeared with a frontal lobe headache, was able to fix with Tylenol. (My hemiplegic migraines are typical lower back of head and cannot be cured by any ibprofen.) Needless to say, it's working. Went back to take medicine and everything cleared up. I am on a gluten free diet for an autoimmune disorder. Gabapentin helps me lead a normal life without worrying about potential triggers. It works."

8 / 10
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  • cluel...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 22, 2012

"I just started taking this medication as a preventive migraine treatment this month/August 2012. I am so impressed. I did have one migraine starting and what is usually a 10 on the pain scale was only about a 3-4, and all I did was take a Percocet 5mg for the pain, got a really hot shower to relax my muscles, took one of my Imitrex Nasal Sprays, laid down, went to sleep and it was totally gone when I woke up in a few hours. YAY! Another positive for Neurontin for me is that I get a lot of neck, shoulder, back pain and with this medicine I have not had to take additional pain pills (Vicodin, etc.) as everything feels 'muted' and very tolerable. Also, I have cut down from 10 mg to 5 mg on my Ambien and I am working to get off this."

9 / 10
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  • Cavs...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 9, 2015

"Suffered from headaches for 4 months as I tried Topamax which did not work, and with horrible side effects. Been on Neurontin for 10 days, 300 Mgs 3xday. Headaches are virtually GONE. Kidneys functioning better now that I'm off of Topamax. Increased appetite and slightly blurry vision are manageable side effects. My life is back. So far, the headache suffering is OVER. 4 months of hellish headaches ended in one week."

8 / 10
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  • Zaylynn
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • January 1, 2019

"I've suffered with chronic pain and headaches/migraines for 20yrs as many probably know after long term narcotic use for pain it eventually stops working.(Happy to have found a non narcotic solution!)went to the hospital with a migraine so bad, nothing worked for 7 hours at home and 4 hrs at the hospital with several injections of goodness knows what even in my stomach.They gave me this capsule less than an hour later my migraine was so much better, dull enough to finally get some rest. My pain management Dr ended up prescribing them for the nerve damage I have as well as a daily basis med to control my headaches/migraines that occurred. For 7 yrs Gabapentin has helped me to live without headaches/migraines on a daily basis. I still get one every once in a great while nothing compared to 5 of 7 day's I did prior. I didn't honestly have or notice any side effects the 1st time I had it as I was given many thing's the first time but no side effects once it became apart of my daily medication."

10 / 10
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  • D2thee
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • November 23, 2016

"I have been taking gabapentin and was initially very skeptical when my M.D. prescribed it. I had already tried so many drugs and was admittedly very pessimistic. I was incredibly surprised after taking it for two months that I had way less pain, pressure, rear eye pain and auras. I had thought it was just coincidental, but when stopping the medication - the headache with all its fury, came creeping back. I have since tried stopping the medication during the day and now just take it at night (300 mgs) and though I have auras once in awhile and stingy eyes, they are super more tolerable compared to my sad life prior. I totally recommend migraine suffers out there, to give this a try. It takes awhile, but stick with it and adjust accordingly!!"

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  • Anonymous
  • January 12, 2012

"I was starting to go into Migraine Transformation (getting migraine pain almost every day). Starting this medicine shot this down really quick. Now I'm getting about one a week. I'll be increasing the dosage soon (right now I take 300 mg a day). If you get chronic migraines, this may be your answer. I think it's mine."

10 / 10
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55 Report
  • Anonymous
  • January 6, 2010

Neurontin (gabapentin) "I started Neurontin 3 weeks ago for my migraines. I started at 400 mg per day and now I'm at 1200 mg per day. I'm supposed to go up to 1600 mg next week. These are taken in divided doses. At first I didn't notice anything but today I woke up and I didn't have a headache (I've had daily headaches along with frequent severe migraines for the past 3 straight months). A mild one came and went a few times today but I feel better. I'm a bit sleepy and I've been having some trouble remembering things (words, what I've done, etc.) and I've noticed that I've been a little more moody (not by much) but overall I'm happy that my headaches have improved. They were ruining my life."

8 / 10
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  • Vbeck...
  • March 9, 2014

"I read the other comments and decided to try it. It was wonderful! I've been using Neurontin for nerve pain down my leg for 3 months. It's great to know it serves more than one purpose. Thanks everyone."

10 / 10
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44 Report
  • heada...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 10, 2016

"I actually started taking Gabapentin as a mood stabilizer. This morning I woke up and thought to myself "man I haven't had a headache in forever." I was never diagnosed with "migraines" per se but I had daily, excruciating headaches for sure. Light was intolerable, any sound would make me want to vomit. I have been on Gabapentin 100mg 3x per day for 6 weeks now. I started at 100 mg per day and worked up to 300. I won't lie- there WERE side effects (at first). I got extremely car sick, semi-dizzy, and really tired- but all of these side effects have worn completely off with getting used to the medication. The only SE I still have is slight clogginess/occasional ringing in my ears- but other unrelated factors may be involved w/ that."

9 / 10
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  • Jonny...
  • September 24, 2009

Neurontin (gabapentin) "I started to use this in June of '09. I was skeptical about the use for treatment of migraines. I have used it successfully for 3 months to treat my episodes, with Imitrex to back it up. I was using Imitrex up to 4 times a week, but I have only used it a few times since starting the Neurontin. It has really made a difference in the way I live my life."

9 / 10
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57 Report
  • Suzz
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 18, 2020

"I started on Gabapentin for my migraines because Amitriptyline made me a bit of a slow thinker and I still had pain. I had a lot of energy on the Gabapentin, but was easily agitated. My migraine was not a typical headache, but more of a head sensitivity which made wearing glasses really hard. On the gabapentin medication I started getting regular headaches along with my other pain. I also had stomach bloating and gained 6 pounds in a month. I had high hopes for this medication, but unfortunately for me it didn’t help."

3 / 10
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  • Bear
  • September 25, 2020

"This drug gabapentin did nothing for my migraines. It was quick to get in my system and when I tried to get off the drug it made me have more migraines. I'm now slowly working my way off and dealing with the increased daily headaches. I DO NOT recommend this drug for anyone. I was only taking 300mgs. I'm finally down to 100mgs. A few more weeks and I will be off it."

1 / 10
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20 Report
  • Cryst...
  • July 25, 2017

"I haven't been taking this medication for long but it's helped so much. Neuro started me off on 300mg at night and now I'm at 600mg at night. It doesn't make me sleepy or drowsy. Before starting gabapentin, I was having migraines just about every day. I started having aphasia and vision changes with my migraines, so I decided to take action. I've only been on it for almost 2 weeks but I've been migraine free and my triggers are no longer triggers at this point, which is fantastic. I should note it has reduced my appetite but this is not a negative thing."

10 / 10
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32 Report
  • seaya...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • August 22, 2020

"Helps with migraine and anxiety. I was on 600mg at night. I quit taking it because of side effects. Unfortunately my headaches and anxiety have come back since I quit. I'm going to see if my doctor can give me a lower dose this time, maybe the side effects won't be so bad. Side effects were dry mouth, blurry and eye pain, memory issues, dizziness and weight gain."

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  • ssste...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 22, 2017

"In the last 5 years my migraines got really bad. Weeks would go by that I would have a headache almost every day. After trying a few other preventatives that either didn't work well or had too many side effects I asked to try gabapentin. At 1800mg a day it has significantly reduced the frequency and intensity of my migraines. Gabapentin has been a life changer."

9 / 10
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29 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.

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