Gabapentin and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Lyn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2020

For Cough "I was recently put on 300 mg daily of gabapentin. I really didn’t know about these side effects of it. The coughing and the headaches are unbearable, and my pain has increased. I will be asking my doctor to remove it from my med list."

• Anonymous
• September 6, 2020

For Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "I have type 2 diabetes with neuropathic pain in my feet and hands for 12 years. I have been taking a pain medication that worked until my dosage was cut back. Now my doctor has put me on Gabapentin 300 mg two times a day, with severe pain and burning in my hands since taking this medicine that I did not have before, with dizziness, bad balance, headaches, forgetfulness, and not sleeping at night. So I quit taking it for 5 days, I was better, with no pain or burning in my hands. I talked to my brother, and he told me about 3 other people taking the medication with good results, so I am trying it again. Pray long-term effects work, but not happy with this medication right now. Pain medication does control my pain, but they say it’s not good for you. But, comparing pain medication with Gabapentin, I have no side effects with pain medication but have many with Gabapentin. Praying for a better outcome with this medication, I have been taking it for 4 months."

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

For Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome "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."

• Hea...
• March 5, 2010

Gabapentin for Migraine "I have been taking Neurontin (Gabapentin) for over a year now, can't remember exactly how long, but it has helped me to function better, although I still have a headache on a daily basis. That sounds contradictory, but when I don't take it, I can hardly function. I do have memory problems lately, and I'm usually tired, but it's better than not having it."

• Nas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2021

For Neuropathic Pain "Started gabapentin 4 weeks ago for shoulder and neck pain, and it hasn't helped at all. Started off on 3 x 100 mg daily and worked up to 3 x 300 mg daily. My eyesight is foggy, and my eyes flicker. I also have daily headaches, which aren't fun at all, but when I take any headache tablets, they react with the gabapentin and totally wipe me out. I'm coming off them as they're not helping :("

• Elo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 1, 2021

For Fibromyalgia "Took 100 mg for the first time. Been putting off taking it as I don't like drugs. Have fibro, IBS-D - panic attacks, and arthritis in my knees. After an hour, felt really good. Almost like I had a cocktail. Didn't help me fall asleep. Finally went to sleep - had vivid, weird dreams - woke up 8 hours later with dry eyes and a horrible pounding headache. Felt like I had a hangover from drinking too many cocktails. Not sure I want to try again."

• adh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 21, 2022

For Fibromyalgia "My doctor put me on this for my fibro and my seizures. Gabapentin did help my seizures, but everything else? DISASTER! I felt like a zombie, nauseous all the time, HORRIBLE vertigo, brain fog, and a constant, nagging headache. I had to go get a pregnancy test because I thought I might be pregnant and I wasn’t, so I went to the doctor and he said it’s the gabapentin. It sucks because I really wanted it to work out. I’m glad it helps some, but honestly, I’d rather deal with seizures than feel that constant horrible feeling! I’ll find the right thing someday!!"

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2018

For Cough "I was put on Gabapentin 28th December for chronic cough following a very nasty bout of chronic bronchitis. I was not told of any side effects and would not have taken it had I known. I have extreme blurred vision, scared to drive especially at night or on unfamiliar roads. I get very dizzy, I look drunk at times! The headaches are horrendous, almost like a migraine, and appetite has increased. My next appointment has been postponed from 5th March to 30th April, however, I have arranged to go privately to a Respiratory Clinician in the meantime as I want answers that the hospital chest clinic cannot/will not answer any questions. Apparently, Gabapentin is a last resort! My cough has reduced but not disappeared. No tests were undertaken by the hospital, e.g., sputum. Lung function test previously clear but unable to take one since this episode started 9th November 2017 following exposure to secondhand smoke in a neighbor's house."

• Luc...
• February 3, 2018

For Pain "I have been on Tramadol for a number of years and am coming off gradually. Whilst taking gabapentin, I have spinal stenosis and leg pain, which is ruining my life. I am having bad, dark dreams and wake with a headache, my nose and roof of my mouth are painful and I am very drowsy in the morning."

• Sin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2021

For Pain "It helped my severe pain, I need another neck and back surgery. The side effects for me are terrible: headaches requiring migraine medication, upset stomach, nausea, not being able to think or speak accurately. This medication just requires more medications. Over it."

• Gen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2022

"Fluoxetine, sertraline, duloxetine, venlafaxine, and mirtazapine were the antidepressants I tried before I was prescribed gabapentin. Lithium was added to venlafaxine, with no success. I also took aripiprazole in combination with sertraline and risperidone with duloxetine. The aripiprazole, risperidone, and mirtazapine made my symptoms worse. My main symptoms were continuing depression, apathy, amotivation, difficulty concentrating, and exhaustion. My daily gabapentin dosage ranged from 600 mg to 1,800 mg, given in three divided doses. Unfortunately, this medication did nothing to help any depression symptoms, even after escalating dosage over many months. Drowsiness was also worse when taking gabapentin. The drowsiness resolved when I discontinued gabapentin. I also experienced mild symptoms such as headache and nausea when stopping gabapentin, even though my dosage was reduced very gradually. Hopefully, others have a better experience than I did with this medication for depression."

• Tra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2016

For Migraine "Suffering from chronic migraine vertigo or silent migraine so poorly was getting 3/5 attacks per day, loss of balance, vertigo, dizziness, spaced out, visual disturbances. Saw my optician several times as it felt like my eyes were strange, always feeling off balance. Ended in A&E, saw my neurologist who confirmed it was migraine vertigo and put me on 300 mg at night time and gradually increased this dosage to 1800 mg (600 mg 3 times a day). Felt dizzy, spaced out, confused, lasted 5 months and neurologist advised me to wean off the drug. The gabapentin did help at my well beginning, it never went away. My GP has prescribed propranolol, not started yet. Side effects of gabapentin: dizzy, off balance, pain in head, tired, confused, memory issues, avoid."

• sam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2022

For Insomnia "Tried for a few days 50-100 mg gabapentin as a low dose add-on to 12.5 mg zolpidem for insomnia. I took zolpidem and gabapentin 30 mins before bed. Gabapentin improved the deepness and satisfaction of sleep at 100 mg, muted quite effectively my daily headaches after meals, but made reaching orgasm completely impossible even at those low doses. I'm a middle-aged male and have difficulty reaching orgasm, but gabapentin took that to a complete impossibility. The anorgasmic effect is described in the medical literature, but I was hoping it wouldn't spill over during the day since gabapentin is alleged to have a short half-life of 7 hours. Its effect on the nervous system seems to last the whole day - I've read somewhere that it boosts the production of GABA in the brain, in which case, the 7 hour half-life does not apply."

• Nee...
• December 23, 2016

For Nausea/Vomiting, Chemotherapy Induced "I had a very horrible experience with this medicine. I was prescribed 900 mg for tingling and numbness in my hands. I was good with this medicine for a few days when I started to have horrible back and neck pain and a severe headache. Other doctors did prescribe me other pain-killing medicines, but nothing worked. I had it for fifteen days when a doctor said to consult with a neurologist. Then the neurologist said that I should be admitted into the hospital since they had found an infection in me. I was in there for at least one and a half weeks. It was a horrible experience."

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

For Insomnia "My hubby has been on the med since Sept 2015. It is not working. They put him on the Gaba to remove the morphine. In the last 4 weeks, by 11 pm, he is wide awake in pain and in tears. In the last 2 weeks, the heavy pressure on his right side just below the shoulder is worse each time. He has developed a cold that will not go away, starting in Nov. We see the doc on Feb 3rd. He is taking a sleep aid and med for really bad headaches. I am so afraid of what will happen when the next dose falls. We have been married for 24 years. He has had problems with drugs and drink all his life from 9 years of age on. Yep, people, 9 years of age. Started smoking pot and drinking."

• mhm...
• March 9, 2014

Gabapentin for Postherpetic Neuralgia "I am on Gabapentin for nerve damage due to chemotherapy. I am now up to 600mg three times a day. I am not having a lot of relief and have a lot of dizziness, joint pain, headaches, and unsteadiness."

• Bil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2013

For Pain "Gabapentin has not helped with my pain situation, in fact it has been giving me headaches, dizziness, unsteadiness, and pain in my side."

• Anonymous
• November 19, 2008

Gabapentin for Fibromyalgia "Side effect for me is headaches."

• Fay...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 18, 2022

For Anxiety "I gained weight, about 30 lb, have headache, I feel heavy."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 29, 2018

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I am having to get off of this gabapentin. I'm having headaches, dropping things. I guess it is back to not sleeping."

• bhu...
• December 22, 2009

For Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "This did help a little with my nerve pain, but I got severe headaches and tremors from it. Unfortunately, the side effects were far worse than the little bit of relief it gave."

• Rag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "Upon taking the first dose, I became extremely agitated, got a terrible headache, and hot flashes. I'm currently angry and sweating in bed."

• bhu...
• December 29, 2009

Gabapentin for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "Side effects I had were light tremors in the morning and bad headaches, they eventually went away, but the medicine did not do anything for my pain."

• Bam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 19, 2021

For Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "Horrible, it caused swelling in my legs and feet. Horrible. I also had side effects of headaches, my tongue swelled up. I'll never take this again."

• Anonymous
• November 15, 2008

For Pain "Our dog got it for the pain caused by syringomyelia. It improved its condition, but sometimes he needed additional painkillers for his headache."