Gabapentin for Fibromyalgia User Reviews (Page 5)
Brand names: Neurontin, Gralise, Fanatrex, Gabarone
Gabapentin has an average rating of 6.7 out of 10 from a total of 177 reviews for the off-label treatment of Fibromyalgia. 56% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 23% reported a negative experience.
Reviews for Gabapentin
- 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!"
- Jil...
- Taken for 1 to 2 years
- September 8, 2017
"I was prescribed this medication by my PCP for my fibromyalgia in Feb 2016. I should have known something was wrong when I gained 7 pounds in about a week and a half, and I wasn't experiencing much pain relief. I continued to take it. The doses would need to be increased often, and I was up to 900 3 times a day. I took it for over a year and was taken off of it when Lyrica was started. Lyrica didn't work out due to adverse effects. I recently started this again, and I've gained 6 pounds in less than a week. I've been extremely hungry, so I've been eating more, even though I'm trying to lose weight. This medication has also made my pain and brain fog worse, and when you have fibromyalgia, you don't need that getting worse. Never again!"
Frequently asked questions
- Lyrica vs Gabapentin: What's the difference?
- Gabapentin for dogs: Uses, side effects and dosage
- Is gabapentin considered a painkiller?
- Does gabapentin help treat nerve pain?
- Coo...
- January 20, 2016
"At first, I thought the gabapentin was going to work for my fibromyalgia, but after about a week, I began experiencing headaches from nowhere! Same with amitriptyline, Savella, Lyrica, and Cymbalta. I am sensitive to and get migraines from every medication that is used to treat the pain of fibromyalgia."
- Thi...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- October 25, 2016
"I have taken this medicine several times for fibromyalgia and nerve pain. While I have found it helps my nerve pain a bit, that is offset by major brain fog. I feel paralyzed, unable to move, staring into space. It's really bad and makes me feel depressed. I already have brain fog and a poor memory with fibromyalgia, and this, even at low dosages, is unacceptable as it makes those problems much worse."
Are you taking this medicine?
Your review helps others make informed decisions.- Emi...
- February 15, 2011
"I was prescribed gabapentin at 300 mg three times a day. After one week, I'm feeling some relief from my fibromyalgia pain. My upper arms, for example, used to hurt just raising them to brush my hair. That pain is gone. It does still hurt, though, to be pinched in one of the key areas for fibromyalgia pain, like near the elbow. I've only been on the medicine for 10 days and will stick with it to see if in time, all or more of the fibro pain disappears. As to side effects, dizziness and drowsiness are all I've experienced, and those symptoms are annoying, but I can live with them as long as the pain is gone. I've come to accept that to get rid of the pain, I'll have to deal with a couple of inconveniences."
- 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."
More FAQ
- How long does gabapentin withdrawal last?
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- Does gabapentin cause weight gain?
- How long does it take gabapentin to work?
- din...
- May 1, 2015
"Chronic finger twitching. I use this drug for my fibromyalgia that attacks my face. I cry out in pain when the cycle lasts anywhere from 2-6 weeks. Even my hydrocodone doesn't work on my face. Gabapentin works great on taking the edge off. The only side effect I don't like is the chronic finger twitching."
- Jai...
- February 2, 2018
"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."
- Sop...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- November 3, 2015
"I started feeling deep hot bone pain about 3 months ago, and it got worse and worse. My boyfriend took me to a rheumatologist. All she did was touch my body at certain points. I said, 'Oh, that feels good,' and right away she knew it was fibromyalgia. My dosage has been raised 3 times, and I'm now taking 800mg 3x a day. Then I read it causes weight gain (gasp). I wish I didn't read that part, but overall, today the fog is lifting, and I have little pain here and there, but I take Subutex for that. I am also on dextroamphetamine for the chronic fatigue, and it helps a lot. Besides, I've been diagnosed with ADHD."
- Cra...
- November 15, 2015
"Been on gabapentin now for 5 months for my fibromyalgia. I'm up to 2700 mg a day, and I can honestly say I have absolutely no relief whatsoever from this drug, and my pain seems to be getting worse. My sleeping is shocking, some weeks I'm lucky to have 15-18 hours a week. I have headaches, and my legs, arms, fingers, back, hips, and neck are in agony. It's 2 years since I've been diagnosed, plus the 8 months waiting for the diagnosis, and every drug I've had prescribed hasn't helped."
- Azg...
- Taken for 5 to 10 years
- December 23, 2020
"I have had fibro for many years. I have tried everything under the sun with no results. Also, recently I have been diagnosed with spurs and degenerative issues in my shoulders and neck. Along with chronic fatigue, I can't seem to do what I want. In my mind, I see myself doing so many things I did in my past, but when it comes to trying to do them, I just can't. The constant pain never goes away. The only thing I take is Lyrica, which does not help with pain, but it does help with my feet. My doctor will not prescribe anything for pain. I feel, why would he not give me something? I am 63 years old, it's very disheartening."
- Can...
- January 17, 2016
"I have been on it and other medications for a year and I've been in a mental hallucination.. I now have what I call attacks..I've mentally gone crazy.. I just learned last night that the other medications are interacting with it.. I'm at a lose, my husband and I are scared to say out loud what's happening they would lock me up.. I'm mentally, physically and emotionally drained I'm scared to stop medications never know who or what I'll become everyone thinks I'm faking and now have lost my family mother included. I'm scared for My Life. I was three different persons last night most scariest thing to experience. I've been on the road never a same Dr. "
- Jus...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- March 15, 2021
"I have been suffering from fibro for years along with having MS. I started experiencing pain in my left flank that radiates from between my breast around to the middle of my back. I thought it was implant illness (and it could be). I have been in bed for years because the pain in my legs, elbows and back has gotten so bad I literally cannot function and I can't stay awake. I started Gabapentin 2 days ago and wow I have been up and out of my bed!! Doctor said to take it at night but no way....it would keep me up with the energy I have. Not only that I haven't taken my opioid pain meds all day because I have no pain. I hope this medicine is the answer to my prayers and will allow me to live my life out of bed."
- Tgr...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- January 2, 2017
"The nerves in my legs are aching, and so is my back. Doctor put me on gabapentin. I took one pill that night and had nightmares all night, then, the next day, I was a zombie. I could not make any decisions at all, and my head was ready to explode. Also, I started getting hot spots on my hand, foot, and arm. I cannot and will not recommend this medication to anyone! Call the doctor, he told me to not take it anymore!"
- Jes...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- October 12, 2015
"I am a 22-year-old female. I have been on gabapentin for a few months now, and I am taking 600 mg three times a day (I just had my dose doubled), and it does help with some of the pain. I still have trouble with speech, motor function, pain in my joints and tissues, occasionally breathing, lifting anything over 15 pounds, chest pain, and issues holding myself up. This has been going on for two years, and it fluctuates from tolerable periods to barely able to get out of bed periods."
- Ang...
- November 20, 2015
"I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a little over a month ago. I originally went in to see my rheumatologist to check up on my RA. My doctor prescribed me the 100 mg gabapentin. At first, I had absolutely no problems with taking it besides the fact that it didn't help with any pain or muscle/joint tenderness/weakness. Now, after a little over a month of taking it, I have been experiencing a lot of chest pain/tenderness and pressure, like it's tight. It makes it feel so hard to breathe, making the tightness worse. I have gained about 5-6 pounds, and my stomach has never felt so bloated and ridiculously uncomfortable. I've also been staying up all hours of the night because when I take this medicine, I can't sleep."
- Chr...
- March 29, 2017
"Recently diagnosed and put on this ~ has helped considerably. I know from my doctor that nothing will be 100% helpful, so with that in mind, I feel it has taken me from being unable to do anything to giving me a few hours a day to function (cook, laundry, pay bills, etc.), which was more than I had and gives me hope. I take the time-released formula (300 mg)."
- Rus...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- October 2, 2012
"Side effect of cluster headaches. Gets worse if I don't stick to every 8 hrs dosage. I'm frustrated because one neurologist and my pop are treating me for nerve damage, but another neurologist says my pain is muscular. He can't explain why I have tingling in my arms and legs. I was considering tapering off the gabapentin (3x 300 mg) based on the 2nd neurologist, but the pain is unbearable."
- Mic...
- August 1, 2016
"I hate it so far. Been on it for less than a month. The irritability, stomach, gas, don't feel much pain relief... I'm hot, my skin, my face, ears, chest, sometimes legs. Especially if I don't take regular. I'm more than a bit grumpy on this drug. I'm more depressed and upset. Cry easier. I do not like it, but I promised doc I'd try it. 300 mg 3x a day. I can't hardly stand it at all, but I promised. I'm on fire now too, even after the dose. It's awful, but... I promised."
- It...
- Taken for 2 to 5 years
- December 19, 2016
"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!"
- Pam...
- March 29, 2017
"I had the best results in relieving the pain with gabapentin. I was able to work through the other symptoms. The etodolac helped with the inflammation. I was doing well until the muscle spasms started again. I suspect the mold allergies exacerbated the symptoms. So, cyclobenzaprine was added. I don't know what happened, but I was jobless, homeless, and very sick by the time a CVS pharmacist recognized the V.A. had put me on another toxic prescription drug cocktail. When I brought it to the V.A.'s attention, as usual, it was ignored. The medications that help are the ones the V.A. will not prescribe to veterans like myself. They say speak up, if you do, expect to be classified as mentally ill, violent, aggressive, involuntarily committed."
- luv...
- February 4, 2012
"Sadly, after over a year of severe pain, I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. PCP started me on gabapentin about 2-3 weeks ago. At first, I thought it was wonderful, as after 300 mg at bedtime, I was able to at least lay in bed without tossing and turning in constant pain, and during the days, I was able to feel nearly normal again. But for the past week, my pain seems to have come back with a vengeance, and now there are shooting pains in my legs and forearms mostly. Also experiencing some vision issues and some orbital eye pain. Maybe this is to be expected with fibro, it's all new to me."
- Anonymous
- October 20, 2009
"People ask me if it works. All I know is that when I miss a few days, I feel awful. Within hours of getting my refill, I feel human again. I wish there was a drug that would give 100% pain relief, but that's not realistic. At least with this, I can function."
- Luc...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- December 25, 2016
"I have fibromyalgia, severe muscle pain from a twisted spine/congenitally deformed vertebrae. I was getting better with yoga, but hurt my back/rib muscles overdoing. I developed depression on gabapentin after a few weeks. At first, it dulled the pain and made me feel lightheaded, and I had memory problems. Then my anxiety increased and the pain continued, and I hit a real low. I spent two weeks in a psych ward until a brilliant psych nurse who believed in treating muscle pain. I am now recovering on a mix of robaxin, a muscle relaxer, a low dose of valium for rib spasms, and Prozac and Remeron (for sleep) and hope to get off all of them once I can exercise again. Similar reaction to Lyrica four years ago."
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"I started gabapentin a few years ago for fibromyalgia @ 100mg three times a day then it was increased again a year later to 200mg three times a day, this spring my dr increased it to 300mg three times a day as I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, 3 bulging disc and stenosis with sciatica. Again my gabapentine was increased guess what it’s NOT working on my 24/7 pain nor my fibromyalgia. Complete garbage drug"