Gabapentin User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

• Ms ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "It's changed my life. I can finally function with bipolar. I'm sleeping, calm, productive, and I am not indecisive about everything every day. I'm not drowsy, and I can get up on time for work. I'm 45- it's been a 20-year struggle without it."

• Ama...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2017

For Anxiety "I take 300 mg 3x a day and I feel the best I've felt in 10 years. Nothing has worked to calm my anxiety like Gabapentin, including Klonopin or Xanax. I'm happy, relaxed, motivated, and most importantly, my appetite for alcohol, which I used excessively to calm my anxiety, has completely disappeared. I hope I can take this medication forever. Life is finally good again."

• bob...
• October 24, 2018

For Anxiety "Diagnosed with bipolar and put on Lamictal. First panic attack sent me to the ER at age 27. Had anxiety for 2 years. Doctor added Lexapro, which eliminated all anxiety and panic attacks. In 2017, I had another panic attack that sent me to the ER. My panic attacks felt like I was going to pass out and die. Doctor switched me to Paxil (40 mg) & Klonopin (1.5 mg) and continued to take Lamictal (300 mg). I continued to have milder panic attacks and anxiety, which felt like I was being choked. I tried Buspar, but it didn't help. My doctor mentioned gabapentin, so I came across this forum and gave it a shot. My doctor started me on 100mg 3 times a day, and I am 260 lbs. It totally eliminated all anxiety and panic. I can drive and live life without fear of having a panic attack or dealing with daily anxiety. There are zero side effects for me. I am off the Klonopin and carry it with me just in case. I eliminated all caffeine from my diet. Gabapentin has been a miracle drug for me, and I hope it helps you too."

• MRT...
• October 4, 2015

For Anxiety "I started taking Gabapentin three months ago for bulging disc and nerve pain. I'm currently on 300mg a day. This dosage helps about 90% of the time for pain. But I've always suffered from social anxiety. I noticed after taking Gabapentin for maybe a month or so that my crazy, continuous worries were going away. Now three months in, I feel so bubbly and chatty, and I'm not afraid to talk to people, and I'm not afraid to take part in social activities that used to terrify me. I was reading about Gabapentin online, and when I found out that it's sometimes prescribed for anxiety, it hit me: Wow. Since I've been taking this, I've been feeling so much better. This drug is amazing. I feel like now I'm the person I was always supposed to be."

• Meg...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 16, 2014

For Peripheral Neuropathy "I was put on gabapentin right after back surgery on my L4 L5 S1 S2 lower lumbar spine. After 2 years from surgery, I still remain on this medicine due to permanent nerve damage. This medicine managed to calm my nerves at night and get rid of the pain allowing me to fall asleep. I am on 200 mg a night but sometimes only need 100 mg. It has been a lifesaver. I don't take this during the day due to the drowsiness side effect but it works wonderfully. I do wake up extremely thirsty though."

• Ari...
• April 23, 2012

Gabapentin for Peripheral Neuropathy "After visiting a neurologist for burning and tingling pain in both feet, I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy and pre-diabetes. (I'm slender, always ate a well-balanced diet, and exercised.) I tried various medications, but the side effects outweighed any pain relief. I have been on Gabapentin (Neurontin) 200mg at night for four years. It doesn't relieve all pain, but it does allow me to sleep through the night. I wake up every morning in pain, which continues on and off all day. However, I have very little side effects (occasional sadness, irritability, nausea). Neurontin allows me to have a reasonable quality of life and is very inexpensive."

• wbr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 21, 2014

For Anxiety "I'm an MST and PTSD survivor, and this stuff, along with Lyrica, restored me in about a week. Medication that affects SSRI cannot even compare when it comes to treating my condition. I feel like myself again! I don't even need alcohol anymore! I'm still depressed, but I can finally breathe again without having a panic attack. Highly recommended to those with severe anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. The side effects are mundane at best."

• Gar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 1, 2016

For Anxiety "This is a miracle drug as far as I'm concerned. I have struggled with depression, addiction, and bipolar disorder most of my life. Until Gabapentin, I was not living a full life most of the time. Since Gabapentin, I have more confidence, energy, and am able to deal with stress so much better. I also sleep like a baby most of the time. I can't say enough good things about this drug. It has given me hope and taken away that terrible feeling we all struggle with."

• Jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 31, 2019

For Alcohol Withdrawal "I'm not exactly sure why I have had little to no alcohol cravings. Spent 2 days in the hospital to deal with the shakes and initial horrible alcohol withdrawal. Was prescribed Librium and 100 mg of Gabapentin x 3 times a day. I'm off the Librium and down to Gabapentin once per day after 8 days out from being in the hospital. However, I've had little to no withdrawal symptoms. I don't crave alcohol at all, and it seems that the combination of Librium and Gabapentin have staved off the worst. I'm forever grateful for this second shot at life. It's miserable being a barely functioning alcoholic destroying your own life..."

• Did...
• August 28, 2020

For Neuropathic Pain "Started on gabapentin 100mg three times a day in March 2020, had no feeling in my legs and feet and terrible pain in back. It helped a little. Now I am on 300mg three times a day and I am much better. Feeling back in legs and feet. Back occasionally painful. These have helped me so much. Side effects: nothing really. Sometimes cranky, but then it could be my age, 68. I am so grateful to my consultant. I at least can walk with sticks."

• PMW...
• July 29, 2016

For Peripheral Neuropathy "Do your research. If the lowest dose of gabapentin does not work, higher doses will not either. I was prescribed GABA as soon as I was diagnosed with PN due to a side effect for a biologic I had been taking for rheumatoid arthritis. I experienced rapid weight gain, disorientation, and my short-term memory was non-existent. My neurologist increased my dosage 2x, with no success. I did some research on my own and spoke to my rheumatologist and pain management doctor. They both agreed: if the lowest dose doesn't work, then it won't work... It'll just cloud your mind. Stanford University published a study deterring the prescribing of this medication for neuropathy, as did the University of Vancouver, British Columbia. The efficacy rate is 10%."

• ben...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 13, 2024

For Alcohol Use Disorder "Gabapentin cured my severe alcoholism (2-3 pints of liquor a day for years). I always tried meetings, I went to them for years as they were touted as the only way to quit alcoholism. The longest I could go with meetings was a month, and then there would be another bender. However, my doctor finally recommended (after several hospital visits and near-death experiences) gabapentin. I took 600 mg 3 times a day. There was a week or two of drinking with the medication, but at some point, the drinking made me so ill, it just wrapped around in my head physiologically that this alcohol was, in fact, causing this severe ill-at-ease sensation, and the medication made me feel amazing, used to treat withdrawal symptoms, anxiety, sleep, etc. My first couple of weeks the medicine hit really hard, felt like I was on benzos, but these aren't nearly as bad for you or to come off of. I took them for a year, tapered off, and it has now been 2 and a half years with no alcohol."

• JMF...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 28, 2018

For Fibromyalgia "I've been taking Cymbalta to relieve my fibromyalgia pain for about a year now, but due to the colder temperatures, my pain started to significantly increase. I met with my doctor and she prescribed Gabapentin. I currently take 300 mg at bedtime and will eventually titrate up to 900 mg a day (three 300 mg doses per day). After taking my first pill at bedtime, I noticed that my legs felt odd. They were sort of warm. It was more like a calming sensation than anything else. That's when I realized that I wasn't in pain. After one 300 mg pill, I was relatively pain-free 20-30 minutes after. I was shocked! I kept hopping out of bed to walk around, do squats, etc., because I was so amazed by the lack of pain. This drug may not work for everyone, but I saw significant relief almost immediately!"

• Jee...
• April 11, 2016

For Anxiety "Battled with anxiety and depression for almost 30 years now. Was on Xanax but got addicted to it and ended up in the hospital recently. Tapered me off the Xanax and gave me Gabapentin 600 mg twice a day. Started seeing a difference in a few days, amazing. Works better on my anxiety than any benzo that I have been on. And I have been on most of them at one point or another. I wake up in a good mood. The only drawback that I have is that the morning dose makes me sleepy till about 11 am but that is it. But I am not complaining because I would rather be sleepy than anxious and depressed."

• Tri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 27, 2016

For Anxiety "Like many of you, I have tried several SNRIs and SSRIs. None work after a certain time period, and nearly all cause weight gain. I am thrilled that I might have actually found a solution to my chronic depression, especially given this med is meant more for bipolar which is not my diagnosis. I have energy for the first time in years, no weight gain, no increase in appetite! Sleeping great and waking up with energy. I'm almost afraid to write this because I may jinx it, but I feel great. I am only on 200 mg, split up twice a day, and I don't need to increase at this point, so I'm sticking with this low dose. Very happy so far. I hope this review helps others who have struggled with finding a solution to chronic depression."

• RA ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 2, 2015

For Pain "I suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis and I've been in constant pain since my diagnosis 4 years ago. The rheumatoid arthritis medications curbed the pain, but it was still 7 on a scale of 1-10 and it was debilitating. I've been on gabapentin for just 2 weeks and the pain is now down to a 2 on a scale of 1-10. Why didn't any of my doctors suggest this before now?"

• vvi...
• October 1, 2008

Gabapentin for Pain "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 excruciating. This drug has really helped me."

• Pea...
• June 28, 2015

For Fibromyalgia "After a nightmare of narcotic meds for my fibro, I was put on 900mg a day of gabapentin. It didn't work right away, and I wanted to stop taking it. My doctor explained that it sometimes works like an antidepressant: slowly. She told me to keep at it. Slowly, I began to realize that I felt way better! My pain had eased, my sleep was more regular. I haven't experienced any side effects at all. It is such a mild medicine and one I thank God for every day. I am at a 1200mg a day dose and will probably increase that slowly as the need arises. I encourage anyone with fibromyalgia to try this med. It may not be narcotic, but it helps! And that's all that matters."

• Ant...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 11, 2018

For Alcohol Withdrawal "I am now coming up to 6 months alcohol-free after taking this drug. I am 54, and I was a very heavy drinker. Spirits were my drink of choice, and I started early in the morning and easily polished off a liter bottle. I went to see a specialist, and she prescribed me Gabapentin/Neurontin. I took my first pill (300mg) in the evening before going to bed and actually slept all night without waking early. No night sweats and grabbing for the bottle to get my first drink of the day. I was a bit fuzzy-headed for a few days, but that faded, however, my alcohol cravings had gone. I still have problems being in groups of people socializing when it's booze-related, so I tend to leave early. I am now the official taxi driver! I am going back to see my specialist next month so I can cut down slowly on the pills if needed. Currently, I am on 300mg x 3 a day. Good luck to you all, and I hope this helps and gives some encouragement and hope."

• Btp...
• February 22, 2014

For Anxiety "Until I was fifty, I dealt with life and fear the best I could. Going through Catholic school in the sixties was pure hell. But I learned to deal with generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder the best I could. I became a perfectionist, resulting in what others would call a very successful life. At fifty, my wife divorced me, throwing me into a ten-year spiral of uncontrollable anxiety. After trying almost every pill made, I tried Gabapentin, one in the morning and one at lunch. I felt better for the first time in ten years. I have taken it for nine months, and most of the time I feel better than I have ever felt. A controlled calm I have never felt. I hope it continues to work."

• Ltb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2020

For Pain "NOT happy. Was given this to take at night only for nerve pain. Have bulging disc and pinched nerve. Did absolutely nothing positively, but am having horrible side effects and am going to stop it. Memory loss, grogginess throughout the day, fuzzy thinking, headache, eye pain."

• Zen...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 23, 2019

For Insomnia "I'm taking 1200 mg of gabapentin for severe back pain. Since taking the drug, I find I talk all the time, like I'm so hyper. People ask me what I'm on. My major complaint is I can't sleep. I'm literally up for days at a time. I need sleep. Does anyone else suffer this terrible problem? The doctor says keep taking them."

• Wen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 3, 2013

For Anxiety "I have severe anxiety and have been taking Gabapentin for a week, gradually building up to 3 x 300mg a day. Within an hour of taking it, I notice a heady, slightly drunk sensation and feel a little 'high', but this passes and I'm finding my thoughts are more organized. I have more energy and I can get more things done. Because I'm more active during the day, I am sleeping better and longer at night. My heart is no longer continually racing, and my chest pains have diminished. Another good thing is that these tablets do not make you feel desensitized or like a zombie. All in all, I would say these are definitely working for me."

• Bun...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 12, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "In my opinion, gabapentin has been a lifesaver. Conventional drugs for bipolar never have worked well for me. I have bipolar 1, OCD, GAD, PTSD, and a picking disorder. With my bipolar, I have mixed mania and rapid cycling. Since taking gabapentin, my family has noticed a 100% improvement. I am more patient, less irritable... just more in control overall."

• Kle...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 14, 2018

For Peripheral Neuropathy "I see there are many reactions to taking Gabapentin...some bad and some good. I can only report my experience which, to me, was a miracle. I have had pretty bad neuropathy in my feet and lower legs, with severe restless legs which I'd been taking Trazodone for for several years, but it was reaching a point where even that wasn't helping the RLS. My new doctor put me on Gabapentin and it truly was miraculous for me. I am 75 in a couple of months and in what I consider fairly good health. I no longer have RLS at night, and the numbness and pain in feet and legs has greatly subsided. I told my doctor I loved him (which probably frightened the young guy!), but I feel better than I have in years. Guess we all react differently to meds...just have to keep in touch with our docs when we notice something wrong!"