Gabapentin for Fibromyalgia User Reviews (Page 4)

• cra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 11, 2017

"Doesn't drain me at all, quite the opposite-once I got the dosage right, I was more awake, motivated, and out of the dreaded 'fibro fog,' perhaps from less pain that seems subtle. This medication does nothing for 'as needed' pain, but without realizing it, I dropped opioid pain medication use by 75% and enjoy a near-steady sense of calm. Be careful with ambitious dosing, 300 mg at a time really is enough. One too many pills in doctor dosing trials put me right back in a fog. Legs and arms no longer have 'pins and needles,' my body parts 'fall asleep' significantly less, and that sense of widespread nerve pain has diminished. Loses some major points in its 3x a day dosing. I don't skip a beat, but nobody wants to be tied to a pill."

• Myk...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2015

"I am on 100 mg of gabapentin. When I read on the drug info that it may cause drowsiness, I took it before bedtime. Well, it was four hours before I could fall asleep! So I skipped a day and started taking it in the morning, much better! It has topped my tingling in my toes and fingers, as well as the aching in my legs. I do notice it comes back late afternoon, so I will have to start to take a second pull then also. This medication has my stamp of approval so far."

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2017

"The only reason I haven't rated this drug higher is because it's relatively new for me. Having been completely incapacitated and unable to do anything physical for more than an hour or two a day for several months during a bad relapse of fibromyalgia, I was prescribed gabapentin. Initially, I was more lightheaded than usual (get that as a symptom anyway) and couldn't drive as I was extremely disoriented. I slowly increased the dose and can tolerate it well. Yesterday and today, after three weeks, I had the first 'normal' days for years. I am putting this down to this drug, and if it lasts, I will be extremely happy! That's coming from someone who hates taking medications and believes in health via diet... suits me (so far) ☺"

• Vol...
• February 13, 2010

Gabapentin "I have had lumbar and cervical neck surgery. I tried to go without medicine and suffered anxiety/depression and was at times overly ruminating on body symmetry, checking myself for lumps, bumps, and whatever- I guess after the surgeries and being home, I was now switched on to be ever so vigilant to an anxious degree. Well, anyways, I went onto Cymbalta, and that helped greatly with my chemical imbalance that was causing my depression, but I needed a little more to simply be in a relaxed mode. I had tried Lyrica 75 mg, which was fantastic, but the insurance company wanted me to go with gabapentin (Neurontin) 600 mg for cost savings. So far, gabapentin has been very effective in reducing my pain and my anxious responses. Fantastic!"

• Anonymous
• April 15, 2012

"Well, I have a variety of issues. Specifically, I have 3 herniated cervical discs and a dozen disc bulges down the thoracic into lumbar back. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 6 months ago, and I am still not certain it just wasn't my back issues now that I had several MRI scans this past month. I was given a cortisone injection in the spine and prescribed this medicine along with Percocet, which I find I only need between dosages of Gabapentin if I let it wear off. Amazing, this medicine, the very first dose kicked in 2 hours after taking it. I felt clearer in the mind than ever since I have ADHD as well. I didn't get tired, but I did have a very clear calming effect. My pain reduced 10-fold. I really feel great and extremely happy with the result."

• dee...
• February 13, 2017

"I have been experiencing symptoms of fibro and chronic fatigue to the point where I had to stop working a year ago. The most incapacitating was when I could not use my right hand, and this kept recurring for a few days at a time, so the doctor suggested gabapentin. It has helped to stop the experience of the nerve pain in my shoulders, and it helps with the other pain in my legs overall. I do keep up my exercises and stretches and have to be cautious and aware all the time of my positions so that I don't sit too long as this aggravates the problem. Also, I have to sleep on my back, or it will flare up. It is worth trying this medication, it helps with pain, and possibly that helps with fatigue."

• Esk...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 28, 2015

"I have been taking gabapentin for relief of fibromyalgia for two and a half years. At first, the medication worked tremendously well. However, in the beginning, it relieved my migraines, but now my migraines are back so badly and are so much worse than ever before. I also have horrible vision now, cannot sleep, and my depression is severe. I go back to my neurologist on May the 11th, and I am going to insist that he change my medication and get me off this gabapentin as it is not effective anymore. I believe from experience long-term use is not a great idea!"

• Anonymous
• December 13, 2010

"I was started on 300 mg at night for a week, then 600 mg, up to 1800 mg at night. I loved it in the first week and a half (it erased most of my pain and my anxiety!), but then I got headaches from the 600 mg dosage. I stopped for a week, then began again with 100 mg in the morning, 100 mg in the afternoon, and sometimes 100 mg at night. It works! A lot less pain, a lot less anxiety, and my negative thoughts seemed to have mostly disappeared. I exercise, work, and live like normal. I recommend this medicine highly, but start slow. I like taking it midday when my pain starts to kick in, taking a huge dosage at night makes me groggy in the morning."

• Syd...
• June 7, 2009

Gabapentin "I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, but I've always thought it was something hormonal, and the doctors never paid attention to that. I have found a doctor that listened to me, and I am now taking Neurontin for my severe PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder). It works! I have my life back. I never nap anymore. I am going all day-quite unlike me for the past 5 years."

• Fib...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 12, 2018

"After having an operation to remove my appendix, I started getting pain in my legs, a burning sensation in my arms and back. I saw the muscular bone consultant here in the UK who put me through test after test. A month later, I had my first full-blown fibro flare-up to the point I was hospitalized. The same doctor quickly diagnosed me with severe fibromyalgia. I have been on gabapentin 400 mg, 3 times daily with room to adjust dosage in case of flare-ups. If I miss a couple of doses, I'm in trouble. Gabapentin is a wonder drug, but guys and girls, this drug should be a CD class drug as it can easily be used for recreational use. It is wrong for people to abuse it as it can have severe effects on your liver and kidneys, which could lead to them failing - then you are in trouble."

• Red...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 27, 2018

"I’ve been using gabapentin for 15 years. I was on 1200 mg, all I did was sleep and lived in a brain fog. I am on 900 mg now, and I can’t sleep. Of course, still brain fog and in pain. Not quite sure what medication is good for fibromyalgia. I have tried several other medications, for me, nothing has really helped - unless I want to sleep all the time, in which case the gabapentin is fantastic."

• Coo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 5, 2016

"I've had fibromyalgia for 14 years. I was prescribed Gabapentin, and within days I had a horrifying headache, and it felt like my brain was going to explode. I have the same issue with Lyrica, Cymbalta, Savella, and amitriptyline. Maybe my brain chemistry doesn't like to be altered with this type of med? I only know the reaction scared me badly, and the only medication I can use for my fibromyalgia is Tramadol. Fortunately, it keeps the edge off my pain, and I can work full-time. If only it would work on the soul-crushing fatigue! :-)"

• Anonymous
• October 25, 2011

Gabapentin "I started taking Neurontin for fibromyalgia pain about 2 weeks ago. It has made such a huge difference in my life already! I have energy now, and I am actually sleeping regularly, the first time in over 3 years. The only side effect I am experiencing is clumsiness. I keep dropping everything and tripping. But I think that's a small price to pay for relief!"

• dre...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 30, 2015

"UPDATE: It worked for about a month and a half and then stopped working. Fiddling with the dose didn't help. Then I tried to stop taking it and felt bad, so had to go back on and taper off very slowly. I had terrible withdrawal symptoms, including mental issues and increased pain. I started in April and now it's almost December. Most of that time I've been withdrawing. I've gained 70 pounds!!! Reducing the dose has not reduced the weight. This is the only drug I have ever had dependency issues with. I will never take it again."

• Nac...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 17, 2016

"It honestly helps a lot for my nerve pain. I get it super bad in my arms, and it helps so much. I only notice the pain if I don't take it. I take right now 900 mg. I would be in so much more pain without this. It's a blessing. Also, I, for some reason, never get tired from this. I never get tired or anything and can take it in the morning if I forget. It does nothing for my insomnia. Idk if I have a rare reaction to it or what, but my doctor finds it funny. Ha ha."

• Sky...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 18, 2019

"Gabapentin was prescribed for nerve pain and anxiety. I experienced horrible joint pain, confusion, and it suppressed the signal to know when I had to urinate or have a bowel movement. I have permanent damage due to this medication. Seek professional help if you decide this medication is not right for you. The withdrawal is a nightmare."

• Ksk...
• September 25, 2017

"I was prescribed gabapentin for pain due to fibromyalgia. I was in severe pain. My pain doctor told me she thought I should try gabapentin for relief for the fibromyalgia. It actually worked very well. The problem was that before I started taking it I had no problems with breathing or water weight gain. After only a month of being on that medication, I had to go to my normal PCP because I felt like I couldn't breathe. I could feel water all the way up my thighs and into my belly. I had gained 30 pounds in one month due to water weight. I ended up being diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension because, I believe, of gabapentin. I will never use it again. I'm still on oxygen 5 years later."

• Bev...
• February 11, 2017

"I was prescribed Gabapentin this past September for sciatica caused by a herniated disc. It worked incredibly well for about three months, with no real noticeable side effects. After that, they got crazy. Body zaps, foggy brain, numbness in extremities, etc. Now I hurt from head to toe ALL the time and have every single one of the listed symptoms of fibro. I wonder if the gaba is actually either causing or amplifying low-key symptoms that I didn't realize I had? If anyone has any feedback, it would be appreciated. :)"

• sls...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 12, 2016

"I took Lyrica for 10 years until the copay went to $100. So I began Gabapentin at 100 mg twice daily. It helped with the pain, but not enough. My Dr. increased the dose to 200 mg twice daily, and I began having the following side effects after only 2 days: cold symptoms, bloated feeling, constipation, cough with mucus, excess gas in the stomach, excessive eye tearing, feeling dizzy and lightheaded, indigestion, passing gas (a lot, plus stomach pain from it), runny nose, tender glands in the neck, headache, bad taste (like eggs). I'm back to 100 mg and the side effects are going away, but pain has increased again."

• Dea...
• March 31, 2019

"I started taking gabapentin 6 years ago for my pain, nerve pain, and fibromyalgia pain, and it is good. I learned to not skip a day because the withdrawals are horrible. The pain is worse than ever. I take 600 mg 4 times a day."

• pan...
• November 8, 2016

"I have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome for 30 yrs. I have, like most, tried every drug under the sun, and none have really worked. Even at very high doses, pain meds do nothing for my pain. I decided to try gabapentin because I read it would help with the insomnia and hopefully stop some of the pain. I stopped all pain meds and started at 100 mg at night. Yes, I have slept, yes, it has relieved some of the pain, yes, I am like a zombie during the day, no, I will not continue it. But I feel it is worth a shot for everyone with FMS or CFS, as I see it has helped many."

• Bip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2019

"Gabapentin is a wonderful drug. I have restless legs, joint pains, pain pains, stingy pain, etc., and it really helped. Oh! and anxiety! Gabapentin helped with all of that. The only problem I had with Gabapentin is it made me hypomanic (then I heard stuff that wasn't there, got angry all the time, etc.) before the drug went about destroying my memory and making my hands swell. So, uh, be careful taking this if you have BPD or bipolar."

• sur...
• May 25, 2009

"I was prescribed gabapentin in the hospital after enduring two back surgeries. I was given it to help rejuvenate the nerve in one leg that was severely compromised. An unexpected bonus for me is that my excruciating fibromyalgia pain has all but disappeared. I only notice faint pains if I am late for my next dose. I was previously having pains all over my body, and each day a new joint would feel like it was broken. I am so thankful and am hoping this is a long-term solution. I have been taking it for about 10 weeks, 300 mg 3 X per day."

• Gyp...
• June 9, 2016

"I have a love-hate relationship with this drug! I have been on and off this medicine multiple times in the past 5 years. At the beginning, I saw tremendous relief in my FM symptoms that only lasted about 3 years. It was up and down with changing the dosage because, for me, weight gain on this pill is ridiculous, so my doctor kept me on the lowest dose until I needed a little more. So my dosage was anywhere from 300 mg x 2 or x 3 daily. All this changed in year 4 when I went into a horrible flare-up during winter, and not even gabapentin could fix it. I noticed that it just stopped working for me. P.S. Withdrawals are horrible: anxiety, insomnia, hot/cold spells, stomach issues, fatigue, nausea, muscle cramps. Best wishes to all withdrawing, hang in there, it gets better!"

• che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2016

"I have been taking gabapentin 100mg, 6 pills a day, and my pain has gotten worse. I'm so sore and stiff, barely wanting to move because it hurts too bad and gaining weight like crazy. Please help, I have been so depressed. The pain, at times, is unbelievable. Can't handle much more."