Gabapentin and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 12, 2018

For Hot Flashes "For the night sweats/insomnia, I started taking one 300 mg gabapentin in a.m. and one in the evening - still had night sweats, so changed timing to two at 8:00 p.m. Worked great for a couple of months, then gradually, the sweating and insomnia are creeping back. Doctor said to try three gabapentin, one in a.m., one at lunch, and one at dinner - wow, what a bad idea. Had sweats all night (one per hour), so didn’t get any sleep. I’m going to try taking three at 9:00 p.m. tonight. Can’t bear another night of no sleep and sweats! I see a wide range of dosages that women have been taking, so I’m going to go with their suggestions and not my OB/GYN."

• Dia...
• June 1, 2020

"I have idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri). I took this medication, gabapentin, for 3 weeks. It caused terrible insomnia, and I already don't sleep much due to pain as it is. More nausea, more vomiting, more tiredness than I already had. Horrible stomach cramps. Racing thoughts, like my brain was on hyper mode and wouldn't shut up, yet I felt lethargic all the time. I had really shaky hands and was dropping/spilling things all over, precision movement was difficult, I couldn't even write properly. Legs were also very shaky, I had trouble just standing up, and my balance (which is already affected) got worse. I passed a lot of kidney stones during the time I took this medication, similar to what happened when I was on Diamox. I fainted more frequently. I experienced some involuntary eye movements, like my eyes would skip side to side at random, causing disorientation and more dizziness."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2022

For Insomnia "Twelve years ago, my grandpa died, and that was a huge trigger for me. I started to have anxiety and later insomnia and depression. I tried many meds and was also addicted and created a tolerance. I have also bipolar type 2 and am taking lamotrigine in the morning. Today, I begged my doctor to prescribe me GABA after many good reviews here. He said that I will not sleep and was very skeptical. :( But I hope it’s not true. Even if it will need a bit of time to find the right dosing, I will sleep one day. Fingers crossed! Does somebody have the same experience? Would be helpful!"

• pup...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 21, 2022

For Peripheral Neuropathy "I was originally prescribed this drug for neuropathy in my feet. I had quit taking it for a while. I then started feeling like I was rolling in fiberglass and had some kind of itchy, stingy feeling. Benadryl did not help at all. The stingy type feeling felt like it was very deep. I started doing some research and just typed in 'feeling like I was rolling in fiberglass' and came up with to start using gabapentin. I can tell very definitely if I miss even one night. This only happens when I go to bed. I take two 600 mg. I am originally prescribed 600 mg twice a day, but what I take works best for me. I have never had shingles and have had the shingles vaccine. Gabapentin does not seem to help with sleep. I have been suffering with that problem for many years. Taking 150 mg of trazodone makes me want to sleep all day the next day when I can finally get to sleep the night before, and half of that does nothing. I have been on gabapentin for many years. I also take 3 seizure meds for epilepsy."

• 10T...
• May 8, 2016

For Hot Flashes "I have taken 1600 mg of gabapentin since 12 years before menopause. It was the medication that completely controls my cervical dystonia. Noticed that I did not have hot flashes post-menopause as my friends complained of, but did finally start to have sleep disturbance. So, after several tries with OTC supplements, non-soy genistein takes care of that. From the first pill, I just don't dare miss taking it. It lets me know. Wish one or the other or both would help everyone."

• San...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 27, 2019

For Hot Flashes "Have been on three 100 mg Gabapentin three times a day for stroke prevention for many years. Had a hysterectomy years ago. Right now, hot flashes/goose pimples are driving me crazy. Hot flashes have never really stopped, sometimes as often as every half hour. Also take Atorvastatin 20 mg, Amlodipine 5 mg, Levothyroxine 75 mcg, Aspirin 325 mg, Magnesium 1000 mg once a day. Furosemide 40 mg, Potassium 20 meq, Oxycodone 10-325, all as needed. Cold goose pimples usually accompany hot flashes, lasting about 20 minutes. Terribly uncomfortable, disturb sleep. Would like some good suggestions. Thyroid removed due to cancer four years ago."

• Joe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 29, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Gabapentin (Neurontin) made me sleepy, helped only a tad bit with my anxiety, and did nothing to help with my mood swings. I might as well have taken a sugar pill as a mood stabilizer. When I stopped gabapentin, I threw up/was nauseous, dizzy, had chills, could not sleep, and my whole body was in pain for weeks - and I even tapered off it, not cold turkey. Stay away from this evil stuff."

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

For Neuropathic Pain "Great for nerve pain in my knees. Gabapentin is the best. But sleeping at night is terrible. Then I take 300 mg of that med, and I crash. All day then the cycle starts all over: up all night, really sleepy all day. I am at the end. I even take Benadryl and Xanax at night, still stay up."

• Nor...
• December 28, 2008

"I found this drug to be quite effective in controlling the burning pain in my feet and legs due to nerve damage caused by three lower back surgeries in which they removed four discs. I found that if I missed a few doses or just took it as needed to control the pain and not as the doctor ordered, that it would cause me to have severe cramps in the calf region that were extremely excruciating. I would also like to add that I have taken this drug while 'detoxing' from alcohol. It did a fantastic job at controlling the 'delirium tremors' or 'shakes' as well as controlling the 'sweats' and 'insomnia' associated with alcohol withdrawal."

• Sue...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I had high hopes for this medication after trying a lot of different meds with terrible side effects. The first five days were good, then I don't know what happened. I started getting really irritated, and at night, absolutely could not get a good night's sleep. Did not want to take any sleeping meds at night. So I decided to stop this medication. It's nice it works for some people, but not me."

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

For Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome "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?"

• Ali...
• September 3, 2021

For Insomnia "I take 900 mg of gabapentin at night with other meds due to sleep issues after a traumatic event in 2016, which caused me to be hospitalized for 7 weeks of insomnia. I am so scared to sleep on my own and am followed by a psychiatrist, but I can’t function. Does anyone think that is too much? I think I have to slowly try to detox from it."

• Lau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2025

For Anxiety "I've been prescribed gabapentin, and I started tomorrow. I had a lot of loss and tragedy, a loss of my whole family: two of my grandchildren and horrific deaths followed by my mentor of 32 years, two months after their deaths. My grandchildren were very young, and my mentor died. Two months after that, my whole family. Everyone blamed each other. Running out of money, or I've always been terrified to leave my house. I quit driving and everything, and after I read the reviews, I'm optimistic. I didn't think I really wanted to take it. And I have the worst insomnia and constant panic. And I'm eager and looking forward to the positive results I'm seeing from other patients. I'm finally, maybe there is actually hope, that's what I'm seeing. At least I'll keep you posted, Laura from Texas."

• Anonymous
• December 1, 2016

For Insomnia "I find this odd. I came across this thread while looking up if gabapentin causes insomnia. Since I started taking it for nerve pain, I haven't slept in days."

• num...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 21, 2020

For Pain "Didn’t help with my nerve pain and gave me intense side effects (twitching, nausea, increased dizziness, eye spasms, and made my insomnia worse). Really not worth it."

• udd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 1, 2015

For Alcohol Withdrawal "Excellent for alcohol withdrawals and also for abstaining from alcohol, as far as I'm concerned. Though it does not help me sleep better... maybe I'm just too hyperactive."

• slo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2013

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I got side effects of numb feet, hands, and lips, does not work longer than 6 hours. Causes sleepless nights and anxious symptoms. Itchy nose area."

• Pre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 9, 2021

For Insomnia "Took too long to get sleepy. Still woke up at least 3 nights a week."

• Wla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2021

For Hot Flashes "I took gabapentin at bedtime for hot flashes. I still had flashes, insomnia, and I woke up with extreme sadness and mental anguish. I will stick to CBD drops."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2016

For Insomnia "This is my first night taking gabapentin, and I can't sleep. I took it at 9, it is now 12. I'm going to keep trying it for a few more days, I will let you all know."

• Jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 29, 2017

For Anxiety "Stay away from off-label meds. Had anxiety, now suffer random muscle twitching, tingling, and insomnia. The nightmares when you do sleep definitely don't help the anxiety!"