The following information is NOT intended to endorse drugs or recommend therapy. While these reviews might be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care.
I took Neurontin (Gabapentin) for three months as a treatment for chronic pain following a herniated lumbar disc a year and a half ago. Anti-inflammatories and other medicines such as Oxycodone, Tramadol, etc. had minimal effect.
After increasing my dosage over the course of three weeks, Neurontin completely eliminated the pain. However, I gained weight rapidly (nearly 20 pounds in 2 months), retained a tremendous amount of water, to the point where my jewelry wouldn't fit and my shoes were very tight, and the constipation was awful and even laxatives didn't help. Also, I was fatigued all the time. Unfortunately, the side effects were just too much for me. I still haven't found a good replacement medicine for the pain. All the side effects!
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After spinal cord injury and fractured vertebrae (T10) in 05', I had rods inserted to hold spine together and repair spinal cord. After long stay in hospital and rehab facility in Adelaide, Australia I was prescribed Oxynorm and MS Contin for the pain. But as this did not relieve the nerve pain in my legs (okay for back) I was put on to Neurontin 300mg. I've since had to increase my dosage to 1200mg x 3 times per day. I've found Neurontin amazing for the nerve pain. I've had a few side effects (minor). I'm still taking the opiates still but hopefully will be able to ween off them in the not to distant future and see if just the Neurontin will be able handle all of the pain.
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I take it for my nerve pain and it helps tremendously. I usually don't have to take any pain pills due to it anymore. I also take it for migraine prevention. I have not noticed much of a difference yet with that, but works great for nerve pain.
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I have herniated disc as well as severe arthritis in my shoulders and arms. I have had many days of severe pain and restless nights, very painful mornings while being on many different narcotics that didn't help very much. After starting Neurontin the pain has almost completely gone. I am still on Roxicodone but the Neurontin has made all the difference in the world. I can raise my arms above my head, something I haven't done in months. It does make me a little sleepy but I am sure that will go away, I have only been taking it for a week now. My opinion it to take it at night, everyone needs a good night sleep anyway. It is great for me.
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This stuff is great for nerve pain. I have 2 herniated discs in my lower back and 1 in my neck along with a pinched nerve. It takes away my neck pain when narcotic pain relievers and muscle relaxers combined didn't. Taking it alone causes drowsiness.
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I have been taking Gabapentin the generic for Neurontin for about three years. I am having really dramatically disturbing dreams about all of my dead relatives. This is really disturbing me. I have had all tests possible on my neck and back. I have had one surgery on my neck and am waiting on another surgery on it. They keep giving me injections I am sure just to pass time. The injections have done nothing for me. Neither did the RFS (Radio Frequency Stimulation) for carterizing the nerve endings. They now have me on Skelaxin as well but there is no difference. This has been going on for six years after an accident at work.
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I have been taking Neurontin now for 2 years for nerve pain associated with paralysis if my right leg. I now take 300mg 3 times a day and honestly don't think it does anything at all. I also take 30mg of morphine 3 times a day not to mention a handful of muscle relaxers as needed. If you truly have pain the only thing that works is oxycontin combined with morphine. My advice is to take care of your body and 2 stay off of 4 wheelers that run over 100mph because when you crash you will brake and end up with a crappy life like mine.
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I just started taking 100 mg twice a day five days ago. I have degenerative joint disease, osteopenia, arthritis, etc. Mainly, my neck and hips just kill me! Sometimes I can't get to sleep, sometimes I wake up feeling absolutely pitiful. I've only been taking ibuprofen 600 mg 3 x day. Since starting the gabapentin (ALSO started effexor same day) I am able to sleep and it doesn't hurt all the time. I am sleepy a lot. It's worth it not to hurt.
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It is prescribed to my father-in-law because he lost his legs in a fire. He has phantom pain and he was given Neurontin. It doesn't really help his pain.
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After the timing of using this medication is adjusted correctly (activation time for myself takes 2 hours for peak performance), it has helped allow me to sleep, and to take away the pain caused by nerve damage. Though it was not meant for it, it has also helped with chronic back pain, and pain in my hands. A fairly effective drug. Please understand that my use of this drug is not related to seizures, and so I cannot comment on it's effectiveness in that particular field.
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Couldn't sleep at night because of back pain, doctor gave me these along with regular pain medicines. Besides being a little over weight, I'm as healthy as a horse. These gave me the best nights sleep of my life. I couldn't lift my arms and just felt as relaxed as I have ever been in my life! Didn't feel groggy in the morning, totally awesome! I don't take them EVERY night as prescribed, but after living with this pain for so long, I know when there is going to be a bad night (say, after mowing the lawn). I take one before bedtime and VIOLA! I have a great nights sleep and still feel awesome in the morning! It's a miracle drug!
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I have tried this drug 2 separate times in a 6 month period and it did not help. It made me extremely tired for the entire time. I had a very active 2 year old at the time. It would be better prescribed as a sleeping or calming pill but I suppose it depends on the individual needs.
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I suffered with spinal stenosis and sciatica in my right leg for years. I tried pain pills, spinal cortisone injections, acupuncture, to no avail. About a week after I started gabapentin 3 times a day, the pain was better. Eventually I was pain-free. Side effects were minor for me.
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I have suffered with chronic pain from staph infection for the last 30 years. I finally got relief with Medtronics Morphine pain pump. After trying Neurontin for break through pain I have high hopes to replace the Morphine with the Neurontin, which has recently been approved to be used in the pump by the FDA. After staying on the Neurontin slowly but surely all side effects were gone. Just the dry mouth continues but that's okay.
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I had a work accident over a year ago. I have taken every pain medicine, had the spinal shots therapy. Now I'm taking this and have virtually no pain. However, if/when you are taking this, be careful - about 2-4 hours after taking it, you will feel extremely drunk or high for a while. Don't drive on this stuff. But overall, it has worked better than all the other medicines I have been on.
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I live with chronic back and neck pain from an accident. I have been on every narcotic available and now use fentanyl patches. The patches work for everything except the nerve pain in my neck, shoulder and left arm. I couldn't get any relief from the pain, especially at night trying to sleep. My doctor put me on Neurontin about 2 weeks ago and what a relief. Amazing that Neurontin took away that pain.
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I have chronic pain in my thigh from degenerative disc disease in L4-L5. I have tried a couple dozen medications and this and Robaxin are the only things that help.
I agree with the previous posts about the dopey feeling and would further suggest that you do not have to drive anywhere, even the next morning. I still felt like I was drunk about 10 hours after taking this medication.
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Do not be put off by initial dopey feelings you may get when you start this medicine. For me, these feelings diminished after a day or so. I needed to have the dose increased to 3600mg daily to make my pain almost disappear. Each time the dosage was increased, I felt dopey for a bit, but it was only temporary. The reduction in pain and the good sleep I get is well worth any side effects. In my case, side effects are minimal. I have nerve damage resulting from ankle surgery for arthritis. Before I was put on Neurontin, my outlook on life was pretty bleak. I couldn't sleep and the pain was excrutiating. This drug has really helped me.
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I am taking Gabapentin for nerve pain from an accident many years ago. I had been suffering with it for a long time. This drug has decreased the pain 10 fold and has given me back part of myself.
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capper said: 
Stormie45 said: 
