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Gabapentin for Peripheral Neuropathy User Reviews (Page 4)

Brand names: Neurontin, Gralise, Fanatrex, Gabarone

Gabapentin has an average rating of 6.3 out of 10 from a total of 185 reviews for the off-label treatment of Peripheral Neuropathy. 48% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 24% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Gabapentin

  • 2X...
  • November 4, 2010

Neurontin (gabapentin) "Neurontin has been a lifesaver for me. My chemo left me with severe neuropathy in my hands and feet. I couldn't feel anything but needles and pain. I take 1800 mg a day in three doses, and the pain begins to start again just before it's time for my next dose. I don't know what I would do if I had to live with the stabbing needle feeling every minute of every day."

9 / 10
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65 Report
  • Lucy
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 29, 2017

"I was prescribed gabapentin for mild peripheral neuropathy. Doc had me build up from 100 mg week 1, 200 mg week 2, then 100 mg 3 times per day thereafter. Severe side effects even with this low dose! Losing balance, dizzy, memory problems, coordination problems, foggy. I hate it, and weaning down, I take it twice a day now and will go down to once a day for a week, then stop."

1 / 10
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37 Report
  • Kille...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • May 24, 2012

"Took for several months with no improvement to the peripheral neuropathy. In fact, the symptoms have increased in severity. It does make me drowsy, which helps with insomnia, but I really need something to control the spreading numbness."

1 / 10
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58 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Night...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 19, 2017

"I was prescribed Gabapentin before because I was having nerve pain in my right arm. Without that medicine, I couldn't go one second without being in pain. Now my doctor prescribed me Gabapentin again because I'm a Type 2 diabetic who was recently diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy. I can barely walk without taking this medicine. It helps make the pain more bearable. This medicine is a lifesaver."

10 / 10
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36 Report
  • GabaGal
  • May 13, 2018

"I've been on it for over a year, and here's the scoop: I was doing 300 mg 3x a day, but taking it in the morning made me 'uhhhhhh' at about noon. Since I have intermittent insomnia, the doc said it's okay to take all 3 (900 mg) in the evening. You can bet that helps me sleep! About 3 hours after I take it, I can feel it kicking in. I start to feel spacey, and by about 4 hours after I've taken it, my thoughts get more disconnected, and my speech can on occasion get slurred. Some nights it seems to hit me much harder than others, and I'm not sure the determining factor. I think if you don't have as much in your stomach, maybe? Some nights, wow, I get so loopy that it's home and straight to bed. An interesting side effect, too, is that I've found myself getting a vague compulsion-like thing if I don't make myself power down when I'm really feeling sleepy. I do want to add that also -- I have severe cervical spine stenosis, and this also helps for that pain, like a lot. A lot."

8 / 10
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34 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • GaryG...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 19, 2019

"Was put on Gabapentin 600 that I cut into 4 pieces. First 4-5 weeks it was great! Wonderful med. I have knee pain and in Physical Therapy. At PT they were amazed how well I was doing. BUT at week 6, take a quarter and sick to stomach, acidy and HIGH AS ONE CAN BE! Almost passed out in grocery store. Cutting back and seeing the doc on Monday. NO THANKS find something else and it will not be Lyrica."

2 / 10
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28 Report
  • Anonymous
  • February 5, 2012

"I have been taking 1200 mg twice a day for approx. 10 years for peripheral neuropathy. The doctor that gave it said that some days it works very well, some days just so-so, and some days not very well. She was a user and told me that was her findings. She was right on the money. But I'm going to go up to 3000 mg a day. Best medicine that I ever took!"

9 / 10
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57 Report

More FAQ

  • Kiki
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 18, 2019

"I have numbness on my lower legs and feet, but no pain. My PCP referred me to a neurologist who prescribed Gabapentin 100 mg. Take one at 8pm first 7 days then increase to 2 a day, 1 in the morning, 1 at night. After 2 weeks no improvement at all, afraid of side effects, will stop taking it."

2 / 10
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27 Report
  • Goldie...
  • August 23, 2017

"Had surgery 17 months ago, L2-S1 bulging herniated discs and severe spinal stenosis. Doc scraped too close to the spinal canal; had to repair the spinal fluid leak. Ended up with foot drop and severe neuropathy below the knee to toes. Surgeon ordered Gabapentin before surgery; increased gradually out of desperation after surgery as pain was unbearable. It is still bad two times; often a sign I've missed a dose. I take 200 mg two times a day and 900 mg at bedtime, total daily dose 1300 mg. I also take Baclofen and Meloxicam. I'll say I would be out of my mind from pain if not for Gabapentin. I've had some blurry vision early a.m. that hangs on for a short time, probably from the higher bedtime dose, but otherwise no problems. I'm so, so thankful for this medication."

10 / 10
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36 Report
  • Not...
  • December 18, 2015

"I have been taking gabapentin since the 22nd of November and am currently on 900 mg 4 x a day along with co-codamol (30 mg of codeine & 500 mg paracetamol) for neuropathic nerve pain and damaged nerves in my left ankle. At first, it worked really well, but it's been almost 4 weeks now since I started taking it, and the pain has returned both during the day and breakthrough pain at night. The pain is horrendous, with shooting pain up and down my leg, with a burning sensation, especially at night! It is really making me fed up and is affecting my work - is there anything else out there that would be better to take and will work for this problem!!! It's driving me mad as I have to work, and the pain can be just too much."

4 / 10
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42 Report
  • Busta...
  • January 11, 2017

"It was given to my 91-year-old mother 3 times a day for the nerve damage in her feet. The medicine relieved her pain, but she became very lethargic. There were days when she was so out of it she could not sit 5 minutes without falling asleep. She had swelling in her knees, hand tremors, and was not able to communicate properly. Only after I read about the side effects did I realize her condition was possibly because of the Neurontin. The doctor changed it from 3 times to 2 times a day, and in a matter of 2 days, my mother was back to herself, and her foot problem was much better."

7 / 10
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38 Report
  • Bob...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • August 28, 2024

"I am taking this medication for nerve pain. It seems to affect my thinking and memory. I started taking 75 mg before bedtime for neuropathy. I had nerve pain in my wrists and feet. I have managed to cut down on the dose now and only take 25 mg twice a day. It still affects my memory, but without this medication, I am in pain all the time, and I cannot sleep. With this medication, I can lead a fairly reasonable life. It worked 100% for me."

10 / 10
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1 Report
  • kmave...
  • April 6, 2012

"I suffer from paresthesia in both arms, sciatica, and anxiety/PTSD. I am currently taking 1500 mg gabapentin/day. Results have been amazing. Numbness and tingling in arms reduced by 70%, sciatica pain gone, and as a bonus, the sedating effects are incredibly effective for my anxiety. Also has improved the quality and quantity of my sleep. The biggest side effect, which if it gets worse, I will discontinue gabapentin, is the weight gain. I gained 15 pounds in 8 weeks. Slight blurry vision. Great medicine overall with some mitigating side effects."

10 / 10
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52 Report
  • Ken...
  • August 26, 2016

"Gabapentin tends to dull the sharp pains of peripheral neuropathy, but it doesn't actually get rid of pain. That said, the more generalized sensation can make it easier to do ADL tasks as needed since you *might* be able to feel other things in the same area as the neuropathic pain. That said, mine is related to MS... on bad days, it seems the gabapentin does nothing at all."

6 / 10
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37 Report
  • Anonymous
  • April 23, 2016

"I have neuropathy from chemotherapy treatment. The neuropathy is so bad that I can barely walk. I started this medication about 3 weeks ago. At this time, it has done nothing for me. I am taking 100 milligrams three times a day."

1 / 10
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38 Report
  • luvy
  • September 2, 2016

"i have fibromyalgia,oa as well as ra.i had been on morphine 1800mgs daily for almost 8yrs.and it helped me escape from the abusive man i was married to(now divorced) and went thru the total hell of withdrawl ive never experienced since that 20 yr marriage!!the withdrawl of the opiates were worth it to get myself and my 2 teen sons lives in order.im currently on gabapentin 300mgs a day,and what a miracle drug its been without the hateful narcotics!! "

9 / 10
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37 Report
  • MTPoc...
  • February 5, 2014

"Pain relief is limited and barely noticed. I take 1800 mg a day and still need 6 Percocet per day to get enough relief to function. I've tried to stop the gabapentin and couldn't do it without withdrawals. I have forgotten to take medicines with me while out for a long day and also had withdrawal symptoms, which include severe stomach pain and diarrhea."

4 / 10
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45 Report
  • Andy
  • March 5, 2016

"I tapered up to 1200 mg/day, starting in September of 2015. I have noted some stabilizing of my night restless leg syndrome and a near total absence of stabbing pains in the lower legs that would occur at intervals. I don't note adverse side effects; just happy my sciatic nerve pain has markedly decreased in the process. Some constipation noted at first, but that has resolved. I've had bladder incontinence for some time and that continues as I had no expectation of that being altered by Neurontin. Life goes on and I'm functioning slower now, but still get out."

8 / 10
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38 Report
  • pbano
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 17, 2020

"I had a bone spur on my back causing pain and gabapentin helped but I felt my feet going numb. I read it CAUSES neuropathy and tried to stop taking that drug. My one spot on my calf is still numb. Now I have been prescribed it again.....I thought I recognized the name and began looking it up.....there ARE NO LONGER THOSE COMMENTS ABOUT IT... I am positive I read this! I am now taking it short term for nerve pain in my jaw and my feet are getting tingly. Hopefully I won't have to take it much longer."

8 / 10
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24 Report
  • JayRo...
  • February 9, 2017

"I am 43 years old. I was recently prescribed gabapentin for morphine withdrawal maintenance. I'm kinda happy with gabapentin, it really calms me down and helps with nerve and bone pains. I really only have one major side effect from gabapentin, which is if I stand up too fast, I feel kinda lightheaded. Sometimes I have to sit back down or I might fall down, but that's something I can learn to live with. This side effect, I'll stay on it for a while to see what long-term use is like. I've had a lot of friends prescribed gabapentin, and they seem okay. One thing I really enjoy is how calm I am on them."

6 / 10
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33 Report
  • CatsPaw
  • February 2, 2017

"I take 800 mg of gabapentin 4 times a day plus Savella 50 mg x2 plus a special B complex 2x a day. While my pain is better, I can't exercise, walk any real distance and dread evenings when my legs hurt worst and feel like lead. I am a tightly controlled diabetic with an A1C of under 6 and yet the neuropathy is at times unbearable. I was diagnosed with diabetes 4 months after my symptoms started and was checked for diabetes regularly. I don't get it. I have done everything I can to control this disease. I also had 17 spinal procedures including ablations to kill the nerves. Nothing helps. Any suggestions? Don't know how much more I can take."

5 / 10
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33 Report
  • TJano
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 14, 2017

"I have arthritis in my neck, which causes severe nerve pain. I am not a fan of medications. I normally use only alternative medicine. I am taking 300 mg at night. The first night I was knocked out. When I opened my eyes, my first thought was no pain. I got up, and everything started spinning. The dizziness lasted until 3:00 PM. I was glad it was Saturday. I hated the feeling! I thought, okay, I give it a couple of days... During the day, the constant pain was almost not persistent. It started hurting only in certain movements. Overall, pain was a 3. I was able to do all my exercises. 2nd day, dizziness reduced, pain level 3. Still not comparable. Mood is better without the severe pain. I was given an anti-inflammatory, celecoxib 200 mg."

8 / 10
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33 Report
  • RobMi...
  • March 5, 2011

Neurontin (gabapentin) "I've taken Neurontin for many years now, and I know without it I wouldn't be able to walk. I know this because I tried not taking it, and after 18 hours I was climbing the walls, and I was in horrible pain. I'm not exaggerating either. I've tried Lyrica, and it didn't help at all. I'm still in a lot of pain, but I know without it the pain would be a lot worse. I do have a few side effects with it: some confusion and loss of words at times, but I'd rather live with the side effects than the pain I'd have without it."

10 / 10
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50 Report
  • Popeye...
  • January 20, 2012

"I have taken it for a week now on a start-up schedule for my peripheral neuropathy in my feet, hands, and face, and even my tongue. I have had great relief of the pain in my face and hands. My feet are much better, I still have to increase the dosage yet to cover the in-between pain that comes back in the afternoons. Currently, I am at 1500 mg a day, I expect that my dosage will be most effective for me at 2100-2400 mg and should not be more than I need for the elimination of the pain we all experience. My sleep has been better, usually, I would be up all night in pain. Creams and NSAIDs don't help as well as the gabapentin has. My motor skills have improved greatly, freedom of movement. I use a cane for balance."

7 / 10
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47 Report
  • Haggy...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 3, 2019

"Started on 100mg at nite. Went to 100mg three times a day. Now at 200mg 3 times a day. Missed my afternoon dose and about 8:00pm my heart started beating 110bpm. I believe it was because I missed that dose. Wondering if your body gets so accustomed to it your heart runs fast without it. Day after no issues after taking my Gabapentin. Think I may wean off and cut back. I do not want to get into a rabbit hole and end up at 3600mg a day and no way to get off it."

4 / 10
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23 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.