Gabapentin and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Anonymous
• June 10, 2017

For Pain "My husband was given this medication due to suffering long-term knee pain. He took it for approx 6 weeks max and had to stop. The most awful side effects you can imagine for the whole time blighted him. Maybe he was just unlucky, and this med didn't suit him, but its cons certainly outweighed its pros in his case. Weight gain, excess gas, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches... Not a good one for him at all. UK-based."

• Bel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 25, 2021

For Anxiety "I experienced a tragedy three years ago when my husband committed suicide in our home. This caused depression, fear, anxiety, and panic attacks. It is more severe now that the two estates are closing and there are not the administrative duties to keep me “busy” after work. It has been three years of stress and stress-induced health issues. I have taken Xanax on occasion when I feel severe anxiety or have a panic attack. My doctor prescribed gabapentin for my sciatica pain. Right away, I noticed a reduction in my anxiety and depression. At first, it did make me fuzzy-thinking and slightly dizzy, but that stopped within a week or two. I take 300 mg twice per day - morning and night about 12 hours apart. It helps me to feel more positive and be more productive. I was getting to the point recently where I cried easily and felt self-pity. I feel much better on gabapentin and have hope for the future that I will get my normal life back."

• Krh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2019

For Migraine "I have cervicogenic migraines caused by 2 bulging discs and a bone spur in my C5 and C6. I was seen by my new neurosurgeon on September 18, he prescribed Gabapentin 300mg 3x daily. By September 21, my hand and arm numbness, my migraines, dizziness, and nausea had gone away. I had been suffering for weeks. Multiple ER trips and to my primary almost daily for shots of Toradol. I am scheduled for surgery next week, and I am hoping it cures my issues completely so I can stop the Gabapentin. It is most definitely a great drug for migraines caused by nerve issues!!"

• It...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 19, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "I am on 900 mg a day for fibromyalgia. It used to work, but now it does nothing but make me fat and have dizziness. I am always light-headed. If I don't take it for a day, my body is stiff for a few days, worse than before I started taking it. Not cool! I am getting off it slowly. I will find a better way to deal with the pain. This medication is not for me!"

• Ble...
• October 19, 2014

For Postherpetic Neuralgia "After having shingles (the most painful experience I have ever had), the nerve pain came, and I didn't know there was help. Went to a follow-up appointment, and they gave me gabapentin, and it worked. I am still on it and will stay on it as I feel it is allowing me to live life. I have been out of work after 2 weeks in the hospital, and the recovery with nerve pain since 8-6-14, returning 11-13-14, and saying prayers I can live normally. Side effects worth the good effects. Remembering a word, stuttering, dizzy, blurred vision, I'll take it over the pain any day. I am not a medicine person, it is the only medicine I take at 57 years old. Worth a try for sure."

• Scr...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 21, 2014

For Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "I was on Gabapentin, and there were 3 other medications that caused some of the same side effects, and after a few years, it stopped helping. I stopped it for about 2 months, and now the pain in my legs is back. I started taking 2 capsules a day, and the pain in my legs is a lot better. The problem is the unsteadiness, I can't hold things and drop them. This is after I took it for one day, and this is happening on day two. I may just take it when the pain becomes unbearable. I get it from the VA, so I don't know if they have any other medication that treats the same problem, and if so, I will ask to be given it for a while to see if it works. The VA covers my expenses after billing my outside insurance first, then covers the rest for service-connected."

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2015

For Neuropathic Pain "I was prescribed gabapentin 900 mg a day primarily for neuropathic pain generated from several spinal nerves in my cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine. I'm in a lot less pain. I'm a little lightheaded and dizzy, but food and plenty of fluids help with that. I'm also used to it from a brain condition I have."

• Don...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 29, 2017

For Restless Legs Syndrome "My many years of RLS stopped immediately with gabapentin. I'm not crazy about the side effects (I feel like a dizzy zombie). Was prescribed for back pain, hasn't helped that at all, but OMG, a good night's sleep every night for the few weeks since I started taking it. 300 mg, 3 times a day. Probably needs to be much higher for the back/nerve pain."

• Bog...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 24, 2023

For Insomnia "I have been taking gabapentin for a while. I started taking it before bed at 11 pm and would wake up twice a night. In the morning, I feel really bad and dizzy and can hardly stand the whole day until evening. It just makes you feel awful all day. I take it every 8 to 10 hours a day but am going to try to wean off it. I don't want to be like this for the rest of my life. It does help a lot for restless leg syndrome. Just don't want to feel like a zombie all day. So glad I don't work anymore. I wouldn't make it."

• Ell...
• October 25, 2011

For Migraine "I have suffered with constant daily headaches and frequent debilitating migraines for the past couple of years. In the beginning, the only relief I could get was to go to the ER for IV medications. It was to the point where I was either constantly in bed in pain or at the ER. Finally, I was referred to a neurologist who started me on zonisamide. That helped at first, but then the headaches became constant again. Also, I was losing too much weight on the zonisamide (I was already underweight and had trouble gaining). Finally, my neurologist switched me to gabapentin, and it has helped a lot. I still get some headaches, but they aren't as often or as severe. The side effects were some loss of balance and forgetfulness. And I'm finally gaining weight!"

• Wil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 21, 2019

For Migraine "I was prescribed Gabapentin by my pain management physician - one in the morning and two at bedtime. I woke up this morning with a terrible headache - not a migraine, just a bad pressure headache. I took my morning pill and started getting ready for work. By the time I was ready to walk out the door, the headache was gone. Two at night helps me sleep but makes me off balance. One in the morning eases the pain and puts me in a happy bubble. This medicine has worked well for me."

• n00...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 23, 2015

For Anxiety "15 years old, severe anxiety. My doctor prescribed this medication for me to take on occasion when I needed it. It worked beautifully, and I could go to dances and loud bars and restaurants again. Although it did not remove my anxiety completely, it did get rid of at least 90%, and that was enough to get me through these situations. However, very recently I have noticed that it has stopped working and instead gives me horrible dizziness and lets my anxiety roam free. I do take another medication for anxiety as well as another for depression. Anyhow, my gabapentin has been fought off by my body, and I am going to have to switch meds again (I was on another medicine that I became immune to 4 months ago and have to switch then). Sigh."

• Sad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2018

For Insomnia "I began taking 300 mg gabapentin a few weeks ago for severe insomnia and anxiety disorder. This was prescribed to me as an attempt to wean me off of Xanax, which I had built up a high tolerance to. My doctor suggested to me that I start taking 300 mg at first at night and begin taking it during the day as a way to aid my anxiety. I haven't taken it during the day because of the side effects I am experiencing at night (dizziness and anxiety). Instead of relaxing me, it makes me somewhat anxious and also foggy. I continued taking it only at night, but even hours after taking the drug, I still wouldn't become relaxed enough to fall asleep, and my ruminating thoughts had amplified. My doctor suggested upping my dose to 600 mg before bed, but I am wary of doing this since I had a couple of nights of sleep out of weeks of being on this med, and even on those nights, it took hours until I fell asleep. It leaves me feeling numb the next day, and I have a very hard time concentrating at work."

• M R...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2014

For Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "I take 900 mg a day. It makes the burning sensation in my hands and feet go away. But the pain in my shoulders and arms is still present, and the side effects are worse than the disease! I experience tremors, blurred vision, loss of memory, dizziness, and drowsiness. I'm a mother of three, and I can hardly function, but I do anyway. I still have very little use of my left side. If my neurologist thinks it's best, then who am I to argue? It does work. But for me, the side effects are a tad bit annoying for a full-time mom."

• jus...
• November 5, 2013

For Anxiety "I was taking 300 mg 3x daily. The drunk, dizziness, overall sick feeling was just too much. Took for 3 weeks. The doc then lowered my dose to 100 2x a.m. and noon and 300 5 p.m. I was still getting that drunk feeling on it two weeks. Somewhat helped with anxiety but not like all the good reviews I'm reading. (I'm jealous) :) Developed a severe rash and went to the doc, and blood pressure was 170/92. I have always had great blood pressure. Doc said stop and stop now, call your psych, and let him know. Don't know what else to try. So many SSRIs make me sick as I am allergic. Sucks, I know the anxiety and depression will be back soon and just don't know which way to turn???"

• Anonymous
• November 25, 2011

For Anxiety "Gabapentin has relatively few side effects - I can be a little dizzy - not much, plus it makes my eyes a little puffy. But it does take the edge off anxiety and can be taken as needed, unlike so many other medicines. I take 600 mg twice a day."

• Hap...
• September 3, 2016

For Hot Flashes "My doctor prescribed gabapentin to me for my hot flashes and night sweats. They were so bad I couldn't sleep at night and was having hot flashes all day long. Now I only get very few during the day. The only thing I don't like is that it causes me to be dizzy and lightheaded during the day, but I've only been on it for a week. Hope that will go away. I take 2 at night."

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 24, 2018

For Anxiety "The only thing gabapentin did for me was make me a zombie. It gave me horrible problems with balance, memory, and blurred vision. I also had a major problem finding words. My old doc refuses to hear it and would yell at me when I mentioned the gabapentin giving me side effects. I mentioned everything to my new doc, and he decided to wean me off of the gabapentin and onto Ativan three times daily, as well as a supplement called L-theanine three times daily. The weaning process took about a week (I was taking 600 mg gabapentin 3xD). I have never felt calmer, more sane, and more relaxed!! All of this without any balance, vision, or speech problems! Gabapentin is garbage! So glad to be free at last!"

• GMA...
• August 7, 2019

For Migraine "I have developed post-herpetic neuralgia since May. I have seen both my internist and pain management through CRNA specialists. I have been on gabapentin since the beginning at various doses. I am now on 300 mg three times a day and an extra dose at noon if needed. I went back to my internist last week, and he asked me how my headaches were doing. (I have had intermittent headaches 6-8 times a month for years.) After looking at my headache log, I realized I have not had a headache that needed more than over-the-counter meds since the middle of June! I have been taking 3-4 meds a day for prevention, but they didn't keep all of my headaches from occurring. I am soooo happy that I am not dealing with headaches anymore, and I know it is due to the gabapentin. It makes the side effects (dizziness, a little brain fog) seem pretty insignificant. I wish I had found this sooner but happy that I have it now."

• lyn...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 5, 2015

For Neuropathic Pain "I had an intermittent stabbing pain in my thigh that was so painful that it would drop me to the ground. It was so intense that I would stress about it coming back. The only way I could describe it was like being struck by lightning for 10-15 seconds. When I saw my doctor, I was prescribed gabapentin for nerve pain. After the first time I took the pill, the pain was gone. It was a miracle for me! I was worried about possible side effects, even though I knew they were minimal. I took the pill at night so I wouldn't be affected by drowsiness. I had no side effects until I tried going off of the medication a few months later. A couple of days after my last pill, I had a few intense dizzy spells, but it was short-lived and worth being pain-free."

• rab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2016

For Migraine "Got Botox and been through all the meds for 8 yrs, finally got the nerve decompression surgery and thought I was well on my way, then WHAM, hit with a massive migraine with vertigo, was horrible, lasted for weeks. Then Dr. gave me Neurontin, and WHAM, it pulled me right out of my migraine!! So I'm confident now, hoping for great results."

• Jai...
• February 2, 2018

For Fibromyalgia "I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 1994. A rheumatologist had me try gabapentin. Twenty minutes after the first dose, I became dizzy, couldn't handle any noise, became angry and shaky. Went to bed, pulled the covers over my head until hours later when things calmed down. Will never try it again."

• Nan...
• May 15, 2017

For Fibromyalgia "My doctor put me on 300 mg Gabapentin three times a day, did not help the chronic pain, made me feel extremely dizzy and unable to focus. He then increased the 300 mg capsule/1 three times a day. Even after I told him of the debilitating side effects, he then increased it to 2 capsules three times a day, and now I suffer from severe nausea daily. It's as if he has poor listening skills. Why he gave me that when I knew it would not work for fibromyalgia, but increased the chronic fatigue greatly."

• Sar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 13, 2023

For Trigeminal Neuralgia "I have had trigeminal neuralgia on and off for about 8 years now. The pain would normally come on slowly, and I would usually use Allegron, which did completely get rid of the pain but took weeks to start working. The last time I had TN, it came on very quickly, and the Allegron was too slow to start working, so I got to the point where I could not eat, talk, walk, or do facial expressions without extreme constant pain. I went to emergency, and they prescribed me Gabapentin, and within 3.5 days on 300 mg, my pain was reduced by 90% - couldn't believe how fast it worked (I thought all the drugs took a long time to work). The pain did start to get worse after a week, so I am now on 600 mg, but I think I will have to increase it again to 900 mg soon. But I highly recommend it - although the Allegron was very good as well, the time it took to start working was too slow. I did get a bit of dizziness, but only when laying down. I had a small amount of brain fog but no other side effects so far."

• Vln...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2021

For Spondylolisthesis "100 mg 3x daily. A miracle! Have horrible nerve pain in the left leg to the toes. Burning, tingling, icy, hot, numb, pain all at the same time. Cannot sit or lay flat. Not sleeping. I’m amazed this worked. What a relief. Now I can do physical therapy. I experience a little dizziness 10 minutes after ingestion. I was happy to note others have trouble remembering words, slight forgetfulness. I was becoming concerned. Glad it's a side effect and not something else much worse."