Gabapentin for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome User Reviews

• Lil...
• February 4, 2017

"I have Stage 3 CRPS/RSD. I have struggled with it for 6 years. It is now affecting my heart and lungs. Stage 2 is when it was noticed that it affected my mind. I have noticed while 300 mg tid (3x daily) doesn't seem to help at all, taking 900 mg bid (2x daily) seemed to remove all my pain. However, I have just started the process. I am concerned, though, as I read how many people don't seem to have the proper information on this lifetime disease that affects their lives. How many are aware there are stages? How many use compressions? Are you aware that it causes confusion, memory loss, high blood pressure, troubles breathing, nausea, and so much more? Do you know herbal methods like lemongrass oils can help neuropathy and headaches."

• CRP...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 15, 2021

"I was on gabapentin for over a year, it didn't work on my nerve pain. Found out Pfizer had been misrepresenting it for nerve pain just for profit, and it makes any issues worse over the long term. I had severe side effects and difficulty getting off because of biologic addiction. Dangerous and useless drugs. Once I got off all meds and went back to nature cures and exercise, I felt better. From wheelchair to mountaintop in six weeks!"

• Tuu...
• April 2, 2019

"In 1999, I developed Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy in my right foot, a complication of a surgical biopsy. In 2000, my GP prescribed gabapentin. I tried it three times over two months. Result: gabapentin did not improve my RSD pain at all but did cause side effects of a constant diffuse headache, spiking fevers, and drowsiness. I was sleeping more than 16 hours per day. My GP became enraged when I could not continue taking gabapentin. I know two reasons: symbiotic marketing tactics (kickback to GP ceased when written Rx ceased). And attitudes taught by Pfizer (too long for here, but see UCSF Neurontin Litigation Archive). I kept a Patient Log of symptoms, diagnostics (Bone Scans), and treatments that succeed for me."

• poo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 19, 2015

"I was diagnosed with RSD on Tuesday. The doctor prescribed me gabapentin. I'm only taking 1 pill per day for the first week, then taking 2 a day for a week, then moving up to 3 per day. So far, after only taking this pill once a day for 4 days, I have seen a huge improvement with my affected foot. My range of motion has increased (with the help of physical therapy), and the constant burning pain has gone down from a pain level of 5 to a 2! The crazy electrical 'zaps' and 'zings' have been happening less and are not as intense. I feel way more calm and confident mentally and emotionally. However, the tissue, muscle, and deep bone aches are still severe, but I'm hoping that will subside as I start to raise my dosage. I like these pills so far!"

• Tee...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 1, 2016

"At first, this drug helped my pain. However, prolonged use of this drug caused many terrible side effects. Serious and scary: confusion, dizzy spells, nausea, buzzing noise in my head, anger, hostility, distrust, clumsiness, and on and on."

• Ari...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 17, 2020

"I have RSD CRPS in my right arm and hand. I’ve had it for a year and a half, and it is severe. I was given 900 mg of Gabapentin after going to the ER, it helped! I was then continued on it for 4 months. Then I noticed brain fog, irritability, swelling in legs and face, and extreme drowsiness. Felt it interacted with Wellbutrin, it was giving me headaches too. Went off of it for a couple of months, tried Zanaflex, which helped a lot too, but now on Gabapentin again at 600 mg a day. I couldn’t move my thumb, and the allodynia was extreme. Extended release doesn’t work for me! It also increases my appetite."

• amy...
• March 1, 2016

"Gabapentin does not work for RSD. It must be the name brand Neurontin for this disease. It is so much more expensive, but you will save yourself so much agony by not using the generic form of this medicine."

• goj...
• February 11, 2010

Gabapentin "I have had RSD for 10 years, and during my second year, I used Neurontin, and it took care of 95% of my pain for about 10 months, and then one day it just quit working for me. Most other RSD patients that I talk to have the same result as I did. Every now and then, I will hear that it works for someone that has been taking it for several years."

• Bev...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 8, 2015

"I had hip replacement surgery on my left hip in 2011. Surgery went fine, but I developed RSD in my left foot. It's a long story, with me thinking I was going to die from the pain, to going to the ER one day, on the advice of the home health nurse that came three times a week to my house, to my surgeon sending me to a Pain Management Specialist. He did a nerve block, and most of the burning pain was gone. He put me on a gradually increasing schedule of gabapentin, which works very well. If this awful thing had to happen to me, I'm very grateful that gabapentin works for me and allows me to function. I have some days when I'm feeling a bit of burning, but it's not bad. Most days I'm fine. I have a brace-drop foot-but I manage. Thank God!"

• lil...
• October 1, 2011

"I have had this since I was 19 and now am 32. The doctors I have had in the past always controlled my symptoms with narcotic pain medications. This medicine worked for me at 600 mg, but they just increased the dose because it seemed like the pain was back in full force and worse, but it is an amazing medicine. Just need to find the right dose. The only thing that I do not like is it makes my hormones race, but my husband loves it."

• sb0...
• April 22, 2017

"I have had RSD for approximately 12 years. I have been on every med out there. I was taking Lyrica, Gabapentin, Cymbalta, and Ultram at all different times. This is from a work injury. I had nerve blocks, trigger point injections, steroid injections, and acupuncture. I stopped all treatment years ago. I just dealt with pain. I haven't had problems and managed to do anything possible. Just recently, I had a flare-up and went back on Gabapentin."

• BJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2021

"Have had RSD since 1994. Handle it with constant movement, Aleve, and Tylenol (don't use narcotics because they slow everything down in your body and numb your life!) Severe wrist injury caused the onset of RSD. However, prior back and pancreas injuries put me way over the edge. With this combination of visceral injuries, my life has been difficult to say the least. Have handled it for years with numerous medications, meditation, biofeedback, and just pushing through the pain! Now my routine has all of a sudden become unbearable by affecting my sleep habits at 3:45 am. I wake in severe (10) pain with burning, sharp, and dull pain in my arm, back, legs, and stomach area. Used to take Neurontin years ago (10 yrs). Got 7 hours of sleep and feeling some relief after taking 1 300 mg capsule added to my Aleve and Tylenol (I'll take it!) Feel like a new person right now. Getting a break in that pain cycle is great! I know it won't last, but nice right now."

• Asp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2016

"I've got lupus and RSD from a recent total knee replacement surgery. It's only been 8 weeks that I've been on it. I started out on 200 mg 2x a day, then to 300 mg 3x a day, then to 600 mg 3 times a day and now 900 mg 3x a day. Still waiting on some relief. Every week they keep raising it. Before I had the RSD, it worked fine, now it seems like I have to go higher. How much is too much?"

• aug...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2017

"I was recently diagnosed with chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type 1/RSDS in my right foot, and the following regimen has alleviated most of my symptoms: - gabapentin: 600 mg, 3x daily - tramadol (Ultram) ER: 200 mg daily - Tylenol: 500 mg, 3x daily; Tylenol potentiates the effectiveness of tramadol, and the combination thereof has proven efficacy in the relief of neuropathic pain. - ketoprofen ER: 200 mg daily; they say all NSAIDs are alike, but for me, ketoprofen is the most efficacious. It also treats a wider range of pain conditions than naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, meloxicam, etc. - Voltaren gel 1% and Aspercreme with lidocaine (4%): as needed. On the occasional day when pain is refractory towards my oral regimen, I apply these two topical analgesics."

• Pur...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 24, 2017

"I've had complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) in my ankle/foot for about 9 years now, work injury. The first thing tried was cortisone shots directly in my ankle. Then, after diagnosis, I was given extended-release morphine and Vicodin for breakthrough pain. Due to one of my more unpleasant and turned out dangerous side effects I have, which is the random feeling of lots of ants or spiders running all over my foot and leg, biting me. It feels so real that twice I ignored the feeling and found I was really being attacked by dozens of ants. The doctor decided to add gabapentin, and even though that side effect has tapered off, I had no real improvement. I stopped taking it after 4 months. For about 5 years now, I've been taking Exalgo, Dilaudid, Flexaril, and Cymbalta. This combo has helped the most for me so far."

• Noo...
• November 29, 2017

"I have mild complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) now, but it used to be quite severe. This is the only drug that removed my rest pain. I also got rid of most of the over and undershooting pain, and sensory disturbances have become less severe. This allowed me to focus on other things in life. Temperature disturbances have improved, but I am unsure if this is linked. I had some side effects in the beginning: drowsy and like my tongue would twist and words came out wrong, but that slowly went away. I was at 3600 mg and now I am down to 1500."

• Boo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2021

"At 900 mg (this was my second try in 4 months) major insomnia last night. Major pain and swelling in left foot. Laid down all morning, I extreme pain not taking drug tonight. Informed nurse practitioner. It is Sunday. Will hopefully hear tomorrow. What options are left?"

• Kim...
• June 5, 2016

"Has been very helpful. However, I have experienced some side effects. I have had some problems with chest pain. After a heart cath, which was normal, I was started on metoprolol. No further cp. Also have problems with memory loss and an inability to focus, however, I was on Lyrica for a while, and this was much worse then. Does eliminate all my pain, but overall, this is the only medication that has helped with the RSD at all."

• nur...
• October 28, 2009

Gabapentin "Have stage 3 RSD. This medicine has helped manage my pain as well as can be expected without the side effects."

• sid...
• September 21, 2010

Gabapentin "No such side effects. Take 4 per day, every day."

• spa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 11, 2013

"Gralise, an extended-release form of gabapentin, made me so sick that I could not attend school and function at all normally. It made me extremely drowsy, and I couldn't think clearly."

• Gdu...
• April 24, 2015

"Took this med for 4 days. It made me dizzy and tired all the time. On the third night, I started to have nightmares, which I never had before. So on to another med to try for my pain."

• Anonymous
• June 3, 2011

Gabapentin "I have had reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome for 11 years, and I now take 2400 mg of Neurontin a day with very little side effects. I would rate it a 6/10."