Gabapentin for Restless Legs Syndrome User Reviews (Page 2)

• spiff...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2015

Gabarone (gabapentin) "My restless leg syndrome results in cramp-like pains that nothing seems to help. Until I took 300 mg of Gabapentin. It definitely took care of the pain, but it left me feeling drunk the next morning! I was staggering when I walked and had great difficulty waking up. This lasted for several hours after I woke up. Thankfully, this only happened the first couple of times that I took Gabapentin. Unfortunately, it was only effective at 300 mg for about two weeks. I was supposed to move up to two capsules (600 mg total) after the first week, but I hadn't out of fear of the side effects and at first it seemed unnecessary. Once the pain came back, I added the 2nd capsule and the tired, groggy feeling lasted all day! I'm not going to keep taking it."

• Saman...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 20, 2016

"I had bad RLS. It went up my arms and down my legs. I am on Lamictal 300 mg once a day and trazodone 50 mg at night. The trazodone seemed to make it worse. Mirapex did nothing to help the restlessness. As soon as I was prescribed Neurontin, I felt better. 300 mg x5 a day. I would recommend this drug for anyone with RLS."

• Li-Li
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2012

"I have severe degenerative disc disease and arthritis in my spine, and my legs jump at night. I have been on everything, and this medicine was literally a lifesaver for me. I can now sleep through the night and do not wake up feeling groggy or doped. I wish I had this medicine two years ago."

• Kicks...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 5, 2016

"A must-try for RLS. Had RLS for 7 years and was always told it was in my head. After that long leaving my RLS, it was getting worse, and I was showing signs of depression, so I booked myself in with the docs (thought I would be put on antidepressants). I was offered to try gabapentin first to get rid of the cause of depression symptoms. They made me feel drowsy, tired, and clumsy for about 2 weeks, and I started getting used to them. But I slowly noticed my legs weren't driving me insane! They were relaxing for once. When my mind was relaxed, my legs were too! I have been on them a few months now, and it feels great to be able to sleep and not kick around all the time. I feel happier in myself and great to have my legs and brain communicating properly."

• Mysti...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 13, 2013

"I was prescribed gabapentin for neuropathy and off-label for restless leg syndrome. I ramped up the dosage over three weeks to 600 mg three times daily. It did decrease both sets of symptoms. It also sent me into major depression. When I eased off the medicine (all under the doctor's supervision), the depression eased completely."

• Stutt...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 29, 2015

"I am sharing because I have been searching all over to see if anyone else had experience with restless legs syndrome and gabapentin following an injury. Last year, I got hit by a car and broke my femur (in half). Besides the injury, I suffered from EXTREME swelling in my lower leg, which often comes with this kind of injury. I also suffered what is called a Morel Lavelle lesion, a very mean injury by itself. All this caused the onset of RLS, and the surgeon put me on gabapentin. I have tried to reduce it, but no such luck, the sensation without it is crazy. I'm so glad he did, and that there is medication to control it."

• Jillian...
• December 30, 2015

"I feel that this medication has given my life back to me. They increased my dosage to 600 mg once in the morning and at night. Then 900 mg at bedtime. I feel the medication has helped my anxiety and my RLS. I also noticed an increase in sex drive. Side effect maybe. But not a bad one. Now, my RLS has gone down, I feel I can better handle the daily effects of it because it's not fun to have."

• gavinty
• March 9, 2011

Neurontin (gabapentin) "Of different medicines I have tried for the Restless Legs Syndrome, this has been the most effective. I was started with 3 pills per day but have been able to reduce the dosage to 1 pill per day. Have been using this drug for over 5 years now."

• Singl...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 5, 2019

"I had severe RLS, if you have it, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The sleepless nights became unbearable. My doctor put me on gabapentin, and the very first night I took it about an hour before bed, I just slept like a baby. My legs felt like they were just laying there, kind of heavy, no movement, no pain. This must be how normal people feel when going to sleep. This medication is amazing for RLS."

• goduke
• September 3, 2008

Neurontin (gabapentin) "In my research on RLS, I found that iron deficiency could also be a contributing factor. I have found that the combination of 300 mg of Neurontin twice daily and Hemocyte Plus once daily gives me the most relief from the symptoms of RLS than anything in years."

• E Turk
• August 18, 2008

Neurontin (gabapentin) "I also take Neurontin. Initially, it was for Piriformis Syndrome (a pinched sciatic nerve, which replicates sciatica). Then I started to experience RLS and didn't sleep for a week. My doctor told me to take extra Neurontin and I'm sleeping through the night now."

• Chatt...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 9, 2015

"Have had peripheral neuropathy and restless legs for over ten years. I take 100 mg of gabapentin before bed. It worked wonders for my RLS for many years, but I may soon need to increase the dose somewhat. It has not had any apparent effect on my neuropathy."

• Shelb...
• January 27, 2016

"I first started experiencing restless leg when I was 17. I'm 23 now. I immediately went to the doctor as I was wanting to literally claw my face off and stab my leg multiple times. I was put on ropinirole 0.5, then 1, then 2. It began making me very anxious at night to the point I was extremely agitated. It increased my anxiety tremendously right before I was prescribed gabapentin. I have dexter scoliosis and osteoarthritis in my back affecting my sciatic nerve. It sucks for my nerve pain but works WONDERS for my restless leg. I love it. I currently take 600 mg in the AM and 900 mg in the PM. The drowsiness is more at night vs. in the AM, but it still makes me quite drowsy. I don't care. As long as the RLS is gone!!"

• Poorly...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 5, 2015

"I'm answering a question from a lady who has recently detoxed from drugs, and as an ex-user myself (all opiates & tablets), I offer my sympathy. Restless leg syndrome is a horrible condition that I have struggled with for years. Gabapentin hasn't helped for me, so I was put on Pregabalin 300 mg twice a day. I must say it has been heaven to sleep through the night, although they can make you drowsy if you are on a high dose, which I am. But I'm sure your doctor will find the correct dosage that suits you best. I certainly hope that I have helped in some way. Good luck."

• janed...
• July 15, 2009

"I take 200mg of generic gabapentin in the early evening and have had my restless leg syndrome symptoms greatly reduced. I sleep through the night now, something I have not done in years. Side effects have been sleepiness, dizziness, and memory loss, but are minor compared with the benefits."

• NNAAMM
• November 10, 2015

"I am in my late 20s and have had restless legs since my late teens. I have been on gabapentin now for about 2.5 years, and it has been wonderful. RLS stopped almost immediately (to my memory). For whatever reason, the RLS comes back periodically, and I have to tweak the dosage a bit. At first, I increased (at the doc's request), but soon reached my 1800 maximum dosage, 600 mg 3x a day. When symptoms popped up again, I stopped taking the GP altogether, believing that it had stopped working. Later, in desperation, I took some leftover GP, and it worked again. Now I try to stay at a low 300 mg dose and take another 300-600 mg if I feel that familiar RLS itch as I’m settling in."

• Bird2E
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 26, 2019

"I have had RLS off and on most of my adult life. I tried every drug that was prescribed as being specifically for RLS. None worked. An article on an RLS website mentioned Gabapentin as a medication that works. My doctor at the time refused to prescribe it. So I found another doctor. Started out at 600 mg as needed, and it worked! Then I had the first of seven back surgeries, and the RLS became a nightly problem. He upped the dosage to 1200 mg daily, and I haven't had a single twitch since and sleep well for about 5 hours. Then it stops helping me sleep, but no twitches. No side effects, no problems whatsoever. It has been a miracle for me. I am going to try 600 mg when I awaken after 4 or 5 hours and see if it will help me sleep through the night."

• Lawro
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2015

"Suffered from severe RLS and hyperactivity for most of my life. It affects all of my immediate male family members, and initially, clonazepam was like a miracle cure. However, I'm not happy taking benzodiazepines daily, so I self-prescribed gabapentin with my doctor's knowledge. It works even better than the clonazepam and gives me absolutely amazing sleep too. Only drawback is it can negatively affect my cognition, so I have to get the balance right with the dosage. NHS has now agreed to prescribe."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 9, 2019

"I have had RLS (restless leg syndrome) for 32 years. I have been using pramipexole and gabapentin for many years to help mask the symptom. I have been aware for quite some time that the sensation has been breaking through. Just recently, it has completely stopped working, and the sensation in my legs has become unbearable. I also have the sensation in both arms. Sleep evades me, and exhaustion has become so prevalent in my life. The symptoms now occur in the daytime as well as the night. If I sit or lie down, I am in agony. Although it is not pain, it is as bad as being in extreme pain. I don’t know what to do."

• rohan...
• April 7, 2013

"My restless legs syndrome was actually a whole body sort of vibrating and came on very suddenly. 100 mg gabapentin, and I could sleep again! But every month, I had to add 100 mg, got to 1000 mg, then tried reducing 100 mg a month, realized after 2 months that I really needed the 900, not sure if that was withdrawal, but felt like I simply needed that much - so I had a really good month. Then suddenly, symptoms flared up, and even 1300 mg only just works."

• daniel...
• April 29, 2016

"I have severe restless leg and have taken a succession of medication over the years: Requip, other medicines, baclofen, and gabapentin. I am now on 4-20 baclofen and 4-600 gabapentin. When I get the right amount of medicine, I sleep. Without the right amount, I do not sleep. Life without sleep is very difficult. Yes, I minimize my medications, but this seems to help now."

• Mamas...
• May 13, 2017

"I was put on gabapentin after two other meds were not working for my restless legs. All I can say is, where has this med been my whole life? It really has helped me. I take 300 mg at 5 PM and 300 mg around 9 PM, and it helps with my restless legs. I also have suffered from severe back pain for several years, which I suspect is a pinched nerve, and since I have been on this med, I have not had the debilitating pain I was having before starting this med. I do not know if this is from the med or not, but I had read it helped other people's back pain, so I suspect it is the med that has helped."

• Jayja...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 9, 2017

"Hoping my experience may help those with both nerve pain and restless leg syndrome. I've been taking this medication now for about 3 years and am on 1800 mg a day. I had back surgery (4 plates), my spine is like an accordion and can collapse at any time. Anyway, it was prescribed for nerve pain originally. This medication also helps tremendously for my restless legs. As for the nerve pain, it doesn't do anything for that anymore. I'm afraid the doctor will add another dose, but I want to stick to the minimum amount I can get away with. I do recommend it to people, though it is a very helpful drug. There are some side effects that can be a nuisance for some, though, if you can get past them, the benefits are worth it."

• gen
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2018

"My son was having restless legs and was taking gabapentin for it, and he wanted me to try it. I got some from my doctor. I was being told by everyone that there was nothing for restless legs, but looked this up, and it is for restless legs. It works. I have had RLS for over 50 years and am so glad I can get rid of it now."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 2, 2015

"I just took my first dose of Gabapentin. I experienced severe reactions from tongue and throat swelling, slurring of words, headache, swollen glands and face, blurred and double vision. My Dr. is trying to wean me off Mirapax and Neupro patch as they have augmented. Now on a steroid and Benadryl to counteract that, still have blurred vision, and it is 24 hours later."