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Neurontin (Gabapentin) - Reviews, Ratings, Comments by Patients

 
 



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Below are Neurontin (Gabapentin) reviews, ratings, comments submitted by patients and caregivers. Based on a total of 38 ratings/reviews, Neurontin has an overall score of 6.03. The effectiveness score is 6.84 and the side effect score is 6.63. The scores are on ten point scale: 10 - best, 1 - worst. This information is not vetted and should not be cosidered as clinical evidence.
 

Neurontin review by 52 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Ineffective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   NEUROPATHY BACK PAIN
Dosage & duration:   300 MG UP TO 3000 taken 3 x day for the period of 6 MONTHS
Other conditions:   NERVE DAMAGE
Other drugs taken:   PERCOCET
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   ABSOLUTLEY NONE FOR ME.
Side effects:   I TRUSTED MY DOCTORS AND KEPT INCREASING THE DOSE FROM THE INITIAL 300MG, 3 X DAY TO A TOTAL OF 3,000MG PER DAY. MY JOINTS BEGAN TO ACHE AND SWELL AND EVENTUALLY I COULD HARDLY WALK WITHOUT EXTREME PAIN. MY HUSBAND HAD TO ACTUALLY HELP ME IN AND OUT THE TUB. MENTALLY, I FELT WOODEN AND SPACEY. EVENTUALLY, I DECIDED TO DISCONTINUE THE DRUG AND UNLIKE DENIALS FROM MANY DOCTORS, THE SIDE EFFECTS FROM WITHDRAWAL FROM THIS DRUG WERE HORRIBLE. I EXPERIENCED EXTREME ANXIETY, INTENSE SWEATING, AND TERRIBLE NIGHTMARES. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS BEFORE I BEGAN TO FEEL HUMAN AGAIN, EXCEPT FOR THE EXCRUATING PAIN FROM THE NEUROPATY IN MY BACK.
Comments:   I SUFFERED A THORACIC HERNIATION WITH SPINAL CORD COMPRESSION AND UNDERWENT A DISCECTOMY BUT UNFORTUNALY 3 MONTHS LATER SCAR TISSUE GRABBED A NERVE AND I UNDERWENT A RHIZOTOMY TO SEVER THE NERVE. I WAS LEFT WITH SEVERE DEEP NERVE ROOT NEUROPATHY OF THE SPINAL CORD. THE TREAMENT WAS NARCOTICS AND AN ANTI-SEIZURE. THE NEUROTIN WAS BEGAN IMMEDIATELY BUT AS DESCRIBED ABOVE WAS NOT EFFECTIVE AT ALL FOR PAIN RELIEF. IN FACT, IT EXACERBATED MY PAIN. I AM NOT BEING EVALUATED FOR A SPINE STIMULATOR.

 

Neurontin review by 52 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Marginally Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   chonic pain
Dosage & duration:   600 to 2400 mg per day taken once a day now, was tid for the period of 5 years
Other conditions:   DDD (severe), Interstitial Cystitis, nerve entrapment,endometriosis
Other drugs taken:   Advil, Elavil, Vicodin
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I did see improvement in numbness and tinglng in upper extremities. Helps marginally for sleep.
Side effects:   Poor concentration, drowsiness, dizziness, memory problems. My physian tried to titrate dose to 2400mg per day. The side effects were intolerable to the point that I was having prolems at work. I currently take 600mg hs.
Comments:   I plan to discontinue this medication as the side effects are not worth the marginal benefit

 

Neurontin review by 45 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   difficulty sleeping because of nervous system prob
Dosage & duration:   500 mg at bedtime taken daily for the period of 6 years
Other conditions:   thyroid disease, allergies
Other drugs taken:   thyroid medication
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Helped to promote sleep without side effects, hangover or any of the other problems associated with other sleep medications. The sleep difficulty was caused by a horrible reaction to another medication called Celexa, which appeared to sensitize my nervous system even after the Celexa was stopped. Ever since taking the Celexa my nervous system has been exquisitely sensitive, with symptoms such as pain, heart palpitations, restless legs, and other such things that totally interrupted my ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Side effects:   None
Comments:   Used 400-500 mg at bedtime.

 

Neurontin review by 55 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Moderately Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Chronic pain (neck and migraines)
Dosage & duration:   300 mg. taken 3 times per day for the period of 2 years
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   Seroquel, Maxalt, Fosamax
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Less frequent and less severe migraines
Side effects:   dizziness and fatigue
Comments:   I took this drug as a prophylactic treatment for chronic pain in my head and neck, and frequent migraines. The dose was started and increased gradually up to the maximum. The side effects seemed to wear off over time.

 

Neurontin review by 61 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   chronic pain
Dosage & duration:   1200 mg/d taken 400 am, 800 pm for the period of 12 years
Other conditions:   ADD
Other drugs taken:   Dexadrine, premarin, norflex, hctz
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Definite lowering of pain levels. Very gently, not like a pain pill. Several times I got off it, and about 48 hours later was in severe pain.
Side effects:   It makes me less tolerant of heat, sun. I have a problem with this anyway, and when the dose was increased from 800 mg/d to 1200 mg/d, I came near to heat stroke when outside.
Comments:   I was put on this by Rheumatology, 12 years ago. Dose was 800 mg/d until spring of 2007, I asked for it to be increased. After the near heat stroke from riding the riding lawn mower less than an hour, I decreased the dose back to 800 mg/d until cooler weather, then went back to the 1200/d.

 

Neurontin review by 53 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Moderately Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Chronic pain (neck and migraines)
Dosage & duration:   300 mg. taken 3 times per day for the period of 2 years
Other conditions:   insomnia
Other drugs taken:   Seroquel, Maxalt, Fosamax
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   The course of treatment reduced the severity and the frequency of the neck pain and migraines by about 50%.
Side effects:   Dizziness and fatigue
Comments:   the dose was started small and raised gradually to monitor side effects. It was only moderately successful and the side effects were quite a challenge. It was used as a standard prophylactic treatmemt against frequent migraines.

 

Neurontin review by 38 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Moderately Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Nerve disorder
Dosage & duration:   600mg taken 3 x day for the period of still taking it 1+ year
Other conditions:   Migraines
Other drugs taken:   Maxalt, 800 mg of Ibprofen as needed
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I'm taking Gabapentin to treat nerve disorder. My nerves are inflamed and causes to experience pelvic pain and other pelvic disorders. The Gabapentin sometimes works but I do experience relapse. For the migraines I find that the 800mg of Ibprofen works better with no side effect for my migraines, but the maxalt has a better track record.
Side effects:   I have no side effect while taking Gabapentin but if I miss a couple of dosages or run out and wait for my next refill, I have moderate withdrawal syptoms. These syptoms include itchness, irrability, moodness, axiousness, and headaches. Maxalt side effect for me is throat feels contristricted shortly after taking medicine.
Comments:   I take 600mg of Gabapentin three times day. It seems to be effective but I feel I need a hire dosage as the longer I take it the more I experience relapses.I first started out with 300mg three times a day but it was ineffective.

 

Neurontin review by 33 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   pain relief for arthritis and sleep aid
Dosage & duration:   900 mg a day taken four times a day for the period of two weeks so far, and still taking it
Other conditions:   psoriatic arthritis, interstitial cystitis, migraines, depression, psoriasis
Other drugs taken:   fluoxetine, enbrel, hydrocodone, piroxicam, imitrex
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   This has enabled me to take half the amount of hydrocodone that I used to take. The gabapentin potentiates the hydrocodone wonderfully. It allows me to sleep better also. It doesn't knock me out, just allows me to go to sleep when I want, dream, and wake up not groggy. I've also had fewer migraines since I've been on the gabapentin.
Side effects:   Very very mild and occasional dizziness, usually when used in combination with imitrex.
Comments:   I take 100 mg three times a day, with hydrocodone, and three hundred mg at night before bed.

 

Neurontin review by 49 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   chronic daily headache
Dosage & duration:   2400mg/day taken three times daily for the period of 6 weeks
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   reduction of daily muscle tension headaches to about one headache every 6-7 days with decreased severity
Side effects:   sleepiness and mild lightheadedness that diminished over time
Comments:   Initial dosing of gabapentin of 300mg on day one, 600mg on day two and 900mg on day three with increase to dose of 2400mg at which headaches have almost completely subsided.

 

Neurontin review by 35 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Moderately Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   low back pain, radiating to left leg
Dosage & duration:   4000 mg a day taken 4 times daily for the period of 4 to 5 months
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   muscular relaxant (Norflex), NSAIDs (Ansaid, Airtal, Diclofenac) (one at a time)
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   To tell the truth, I did not benefit very much from this medication, even though I was taking maximum doses, the pain remained almost the same with or without medication. Maybe some people are more responsive to these kind of treatment, unfortunately not in my case.
Side effects:   I did not experience many side effects, even though I was taking many pain medications at a time, I could say very little drowsiness, but compared with other people taking the same medication, I would say I tolerated quite well the medication.
Comments:   My medical condition was the result of a disc herniation at L5-S1 level, with no compression of the nerve root, besides use of NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, and Neurontin, I had little response. I underwent also Phisiotherapy, Ultrasonograpy and other therapy. I have to say that finally I decided to receive alternative therapy (Accupunture) and started practising Qi Gong and that in a few weeks I abandoned all medication and the pain began to ameliorate to a total recovery. I still believe that drugs are effective and are indicated in specific conditions, but I also Know that not everybody responds in the same way to medication.

 

Neurontin review by 45 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Restless Leg Syndrome
Dosage & duration:   1,800 mg 2x daily taken morning and at bedtime for the period of 9 years
Other conditions:   Lower back arthritus
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Reduced pain in legs and forearms, and blocked the pain from the arthritis in my lower back. The pain in my legs from the RLS is considerably lessoned. I also was in chronic pain from my arthritis, but can now move around without any pain, (unless I lift or do any type of work that is strenuous), but I used to be in so much pain that I would cry, so it was definitely worth it for me to take Neurontin.
Side effects:   None.
Comments:   Three 600 mg. tabs in the a.m. and three 600 mg. tabs at bedtime.

 

Neurontin review by 41 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   migraines
Dosage & duration:   1200 mg. per day taken 3 times per day for the period of 4 years
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   Imitrex injections upon start of migraines
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   My migraines did decrease significantly while on this medication. There was a clear inverse correlation between my Neurontin dosage and my migraine frequency and severity (more neurontin, fewer migraines)
Side effects:   I was a zombie. Some aspects of this subsided over the first year, however others did not. My vocabulary suffered horribly and never really recovered. I went from being a very well spoken person to someone struggling to grasp some words over three letters. Coworkers even mentioned to me that they noticed this effect. My memory suffered horribly as well. I would have to cut back on my dosage during exam times (I was in school as well as working at the time). There seemed to be absolutely no way for me to memorized the volume of work I needed to while on this drug. The sleepiness I experienced was awful. This diminished somewhat but never entirely over the four years I took it. A couple of times I had to pull over while driving; staying awake seemed to be out of my control entirely. The sleepiness was overwhelming at times. I once fell asleep while speaking one on one with a coworker. While on Neurontin I also had an annoying tendency to forget what I was saying mid-sentence--very embarrassing in a professional setting. Since abandoning Neurontin and switching to Lamictal I no longer have this problem.
Comments:   Used as a migraine prophylactic, my Dr. simply increased my dosage over time from what I believe was 300mg. per day up to 2400 over approximately two months. I was to take the medicine throughout the day but I sometimes opted to take a bulk of the total dose at night before bed--the fatigue it produced in me did assist my sleep. Unfortunately no matter when I took it my sleep was also assisted while in my car or at my desk at work! This decreased over time but was still in certain circumstances a danger. I will say however, it did decrease my migraines--the greater my neurontin dose the less my migraines. But I opted to take my migraines over falling asleep driving, possibly killing others or myself. Unfortunately my physician did not take this side effect seriously the many times I told her; after three years of this she continued to insist this side effect would subside. It did lessen but NEVER subsided to a safe level. She's no longer my physician and I now take Lamictal.

 

Neurontin review by 54 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Degenerative disc disorder, spinal stenosis L1-S1
Dosage & duration:   300 initial, now down to 150 on my own (dosage frequency: 1 capsule at night 300mg) for the period of still taking lower dosage
Other conditions:   fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome, hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia
Other drugs taken:   Morphine CR 10mg, Acetominophen 1300mg, Elavil 75mg, Restoril 30mg, before bed, then some in AM.
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Ability to sleep 8 full hours without waking up in pain was fantastic! No need to get up during night to void, also fantastic.
Side effects:   Excessive daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating and retaining information, craving sweets which worsen my hypoglycemia, among others.
Comments:   Initial 300mg was taken for only 2 days, due to severe daytime sleepiness in AM. Found it nearly impossible to drag myself out of bed in am. My morphine controlled release wears off within 8-9 hours, so staying in bed NOT advisable without another dose of morphine or Percocet, but the neurontin makes me want to keep sleeping. When I finally do wake up, minimally after 11 hours after I fell asleep, I still felt tired, and now in a lot of back, hip and sometimes even knee pain, from laying in bed motionless for so long, on L side of body. Because of the sleepiness side effect, I do not take any during day. Since my MD would not lower dosage from 300mg until next monthly visit, I bought empty size 0 gel capsules at local health food store, and painstakingly divided the dosage from the 300mg capsules into 2 150mg capsules. Initially, this seemed to be a good solution. I was able to continue having 8h of pain-free sleep, and getting up after 8h was easier. But, after only 4 days at the lower 150mg dosage, the excessive sleepiness after 8h of normal sleep continued, so I need to try cutting down the dosage even more. Have to take the dextroamphetamine controlled release, to fully wake me up in AM, and once that wore off after 12 hours in early evening, I am too tired to study for my classes. Overall, I would recommend this drug only for adults who do not have to drive to work, or adults who can take naps during work hours, or adults who are not trying to taking classes for credit. I am hoping the upcoming RFA procedure will allow me to stop taking the narcotics and neurontin, and allow me to be able to work, study and retain what I learn in class (especially short term memory).

 

Neurontin review by 46 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   spinal injury
Dosage & duration:   900 mg/day taken 3x/day for the period of 7 years
Other conditions:   same/spinal injury
Other drugs taken:   Lidoderm patches, Methocarbanol, Methodone, anti-depressentt
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   The Lidoderm numbs my back for most of the day so that the pain is dulled dramatically. The Neurontin eventually blocked my pain so well I was able to get out of bed after being stuck in it for 4 1/2 months. These two pain relievers work so very well together. There is nothing that is going to take all of the pain away. I am also on other medication for this as well. Being able to walk around again finally, was like, what took you so long to figure it out what to do? I'm not broken, I'm hurt. I have children at home, I need to at least be mobile!
Side effects:   Many of the medications I take have a side effect that affects your memory. My short term memory is terrible. I can be asking for something as ordinary as a fork, a pen, etc. and can not come up with the word, at all. I'll be able to later, or the next day, I haven;t forgotten the word, I just can;t get it out of my brain. The Neurontin has also affected my eyes. I sometimes have problems focusing; sometimes I am able to read the phone book and othertimes I need magnifying glasses. This all started a week after starting the medicine.
Comments:   I have a torn lumbar disk. I have pain in my back that is constant and gets worse with overwork and high humidity. I have no feeling in my feet. My right leg does not work correctly. The Neurontin is mainly attributable to the quality of life that I have today. Then the other medications I take all do their part. The Nerontin blocks the pain nerve signal from registering in my brain. The Methodone deals directly with the pain as does the Lidoderm Patch. The muscle relaxer keeps my muscles from spontaneously contracting, which they will do without the medication. The anti-depressents help me stay positive, which is where I want to be. I usually have a sunny outlook and the medicine helps me keep it. When my last medicine stopped working, I was depressed for a total of 6 months. What a waste of time.

 

Neurontin review by 45 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   nerve pain - great skin sensitivity
Dosage & duration:   1200 mg taken 3 times per day for the period of approx. 9 years
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   lidoderm patch 5%
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   The benefits are that being on Neurontin with the Lidoderm Patch 5%, it has helped to give me a much better quality of life. My pain is significantly reduced because of these two medications, though not completely gone. The side effects, to my knowledge, have been minimal, especially compared to what it could be without these medications. Could a different medication work better? Maybe.
Side effects:   It's hard to say what the side effects might be. I sometimes have trouble thinking or speaking my thoughts concisely, moodiness, somewhat depressed, shortness of breath at times, dizziness, occasional vision problems, some numbness or odd sensations in legs or arms etc. However, I can't say for sure if any of these side effects/symptoms are from taking Neurontin, the lidoderm patch or for some other reason (stresses...).
Comments:   Ten years ago I had spinal chord surgery to remove a tumor. Fortunately it was benign. The down side is that it pressed on the nerves so much that it permanently damaged them. The greatest nerve pain I have is from the center of my chest all the way around on the right side (breast area) to the center of my back on the right. The skin in that area is so sensitive that any clothing even slightly rubbing on it can cause great pain. I have been very happy with Neurotin for the most part. I know it is working because if I am late taking my next dose (every eight hours) the pain starts to increases. The Neurotin alone does not work well. In addition, I have to wear a Lidoderm patch. This has made a huge difference. Now, after nine years I'm beginning to feel my medication isn't working as well as it used to and am planning to review these changes with my doctor.

 

Neurontin review by 44 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Pain relief
Dosage & duration:   600mg taken 3x daily for the period of Continuing
Other conditions:   Mild depression
Other drugs taken:   Ibuprofen, Vicodin, Baclofen
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   After suffering a spinal cord injury in 1987 resulting in quadriplegia (C5/C6 complete), I experienced disassociated pain that was concentrated in my right thumb. The problem got increasingly worse over the following years. I ended up having to take a lot of ibuprofen and Vicodin, just to relieve the pain announce to allow me to get some work done. However, the resulting side effects caused me to sleep a lot. It also lead to depression. I was finally given a prescription for gabapentin to try out. It started working almost immediately. After about two weeks I was rarely having the pain in my thumb anymore. It doesn't cause me to get sleepy or feel drugged (like the Vicodin) so I have been able to work and concentrate on things once again. It also seems to have helped with my depression, although that may have more to do with not having to deal with the pain, or the side effects of the pain relievers I was taking before.
Side effects:   I have noticed very little side effects at all. I was told it may affect the effectiveness of other pain relievers, but so far I have not noticed that -- when I needed to take a Vicodin when my thumb did still hurt on occasion. I have on rare occasions noticed some dizziness, although I am not sure I can attribute that to the drug (I have low blood pressure because of my spinal cord injury that can sometimes cause that to happen as well).
Comments:   I take the medication three times a day as prescribed, drinking at least a cup of water with each dose. I was originally taking a smaller dose of the gabapentin, but after about six months my thumb pain started to become more frequent again. However, my doctor prescribe me a higher dose and that helped. I do still have problems with the pain from time to time, but not at all like I used to. All in all the drug has made a huge difference in my life thus far.

 

Neurontin review by 52 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Ineffective
Side effects:   Extremely Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   chronic pain, fibromyalgia
Dosage & duration:   started at 100 mg, then to 300 mg daily taken daily for the period of 4 wks
Other conditions:   spinal injury
Other drugs taken:   NSAIDS
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Non that were apparent.
Side effects:   I had a bipolar event. Mood improvement to hypomania to mania over a period of 2 weeks. Then a crash to sobbing and suicidal ideation 3 days later. This happened when I started on 300 mg/day after 2 weeks. No prior history of bipolar illness.
Comments:   Started at 100 mg/day, upward to 300 mg as tolerated.

 

Neurontin review by 81 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Moderately Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Perepheral Neuropathy
Dosage & duration:   300MG Capsule taken three (3) times daily for the period of 3 years
Other conditions:   MCI
Other drugs taken:   Aracept (10MG); Metformin (850MG0;Unithroid (100MCG);Flomax ((0.4 MG)
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   BENRFITS OF TREATMENT: Unsure - My legs ache. I don't remember ever having any real pain, other than an annoying ache in both legs. I feel as though I am walking in wet fishing boots. There is a buzzing in my legs and feet. It has over the past several years crept up from my ankles to above my knees. With all this I do very well walking a slow pace - sometimes like a drunken Sailor. I walk down 101 stairs tale a short walk and come back up 2 at a time (slowly) holding onto a rail (now).
Side effects:   Side Effects:: Memory and problem solving - Constant tiredness, lack of interest. Hard to concentrate on necessary Paperwork - i.e. Taxes (TurboTax) Last year I had no problem with concentrating or filling in the forms on the program. Now I have a hard time even sitting down to do it. I was motivated - now I've lost the drive to get the job done - and I know I have to do it. I have trouble understanding. I used to look forward to using TurboTax - what I understood last year I can't seem to follow this year.
Comments:   Treatment Details: Take 1 Gaberpentin capsule (300MG) by mouth three times a day. Morning about breakfast time, Noon before lunch and night after dinner. 1 Unithroid Tab. (1000 MCG) before breakfast. Metformin (850MG) 2 times a day. Morning and night. FLOMAX (0.4 MG) at night after dinner. Aricept (10MG) tab at night after dinner.

 

Neurontin review by 72 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Trigeminal Neuralgia plus spinal stenosis etc
Dosage & duration:   400mgms taken 4 times per day for the period of 6 yrs
Other conditions:   cervical radiculopathy
Other drugs taken:   Paracetomol 4000 mgms daily
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Chronic pain from degenerated cervical vertebra. Bulging discs indenting the dural sac reaching the cord from C5/7 without cord compromise.osteophytes pinching nerve roots bilateral C6. C7/t1 and T 2 Anterolisthesis
Side effects:   Lack of concentration, fatigue short term memory loss.
Comments:   I take 400 mgs Gabapentin with 1000mgms paracetomol 4 times daily

 

Neurontin review by 48 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Epilepsy, depression and pain
Dosage & duration:   900 mg taken 3x day for the period of current
Other conditions:   hypothyroidism
Other drugs taken:   dilantin, levothyroxism, klonipen
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   This medication was initially prescribed for pain management and was somewhat effective, but a new neurologist suggested incresing the dose as an addition to the anti-seizure medications that were not completely controlling my epilesy. This addition finally got the seizures completely under control.
Side effects:   Sometimes I feel a bit nauseated if I take it with my other medications.
Comments:   As I stated, increasing the dosage of this medication finally got my epilepsy under control. I was originally prescribed this drug for pain management of a chronic pain problem, but in a lower dose. While I feel that is has only had a minimal effect of lmy pain, the higher dose has gotten my seizures under control. I also suffer from depression and a panic disorder that may be helped from this drug, but I think that that may be true indirectly, as I think the elimination of the seizures has been the main cause of the relief, particularly the anxiety.

 

Neurontin review by 66 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Marginally Effective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Cervical spondylitis
Dosage & duration:   300mg taken 3 times daily for the period of two motuhs
Other conditions:   Arthritis major muscle spasms
Other drugs taken:   Kadian
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   The neurontin slightly helped pain but not enough to contine the drug. it was supposed to help muscle spasms but did not. I would not increase because of the side effects.
Side effects:   Made me feel like a zombie, extremly dizzy, nause and major weight gain very quickly without eating any more
Comments:   Took 300 mg three times daily, doctor wanted to increase but side effects too severe. I could barely function on what was prescribed.

 

Neurontin review by 48 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Moderately Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   nerve damage
Dosage & duration:   3600 mg/day taken 4x day for the period of 2 years
Other conditions:   hypothyroidism
Other drugs taken:   bupropion
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   at the highest dosage, the generic, gabapentin, seemingly reduced nerve pain resulting from Peripheral Neuropathy following surgery to remove neuromas in both feet (although it is a very subjective pain, which is affected by other factors: tension, sitting for prolonged periods, etc.)
Side effects:   after taking the highest dosage for a period of 1 year or so, the medication seems to have dried out and damaged my hair, and made my skin significantly drier and scalier.
Comments:   started at 300mg/day, gradually increased to 3600. have since tapered off to 1200.

 

Neurontin review by 50 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Ineffective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   All over and various type pain
Dosage & duration:   300mg taken 3x a day for the period of one week
Other conditions:   lyme disease
Other drugs taken:   codeine with Tylenol
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   None
Side effects:   Nausea, extreme sleepiness,severe headache, jittery, not myself,extremely grouchy, easily upset.
Comments:   Day one I felt negative side effects after taking the second dose. Day two, escalation of side effects, headache, sun sensitivity, foul mood. By day three I felt like a zombie and my head felt like it was going to explode. I could not bare noise, even my husbands voice and my own voice was too loud. I had slept a lot but never waking rested, just extremely sleepy and depressed. I called pharmacist on weekend and was told I was taking too much to start. She explained that with this medicine one needs to start low dose and work up. I reduced the dose but did not have a reduction of side effects. I went off before a week.

 

Neurontin review by 41 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Marginally Effective
Side effects:   Extremely Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   neuropathic pain from botched surgery
Dosage & duration:   6 x300mg taken four times per day for the period of 3 years
Other conditions:   psoriatic arthritis
Other drugs taken:   Hospital tried many
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   To start with a numbness to the pain then my life was turned upside down.
Side effects:   My side effects were at times to many to know which ones were and are creating the most distress. I don't sleep a regular sleep, moody, depressed at times,unable to make clear decisions, dowse, memory terrible, tremor's, suppressed appetite,dry mouth, swollen legs and face, I have fevers so high I wake up saturated then in an instant all my extremities can become so cold. I feel irregular heart beat. Many times felt the rage and didn't even know where it came from let alone what my potentials were, I felt as though I was going insane, suicidal thoughts at times for two reasons. I was out of control on the meds and I felt as though my children would be better off without me. I don't handles stressful situations well.
Comments:   After having gallbladder removed a nerve was cut during surgery. That created the most intense pain. I trusted the medical specialists and was in so much pain I would have done anything to make it stop. They started me on 300mg gabapentin slowly increased every 2nd day until I was taking 10,000 mg per day. yes you read it correct 10,000mg. The legal dose in NZ 3,600mg. After a serious of events and specialists adding more pain meds from codeine morphine antidepressants etc things got worse. I have been trying to decrease theses meds for two years and don't feel like I have achieved much some days. to date I take 3x 300mg 4 times a day 3,600mg (done this alone). I have been to doctors ans specialists about side effects and feel they just dismiss them yet they come under criteria of serious side effects. I'm now the too hard basket. No help or support here with DPH or any medical facility. I have my children and Friends that help as much as they can. I desperation to come off this crap I started smoking marijuana that was more beneficial to help keep decreasing and control intense pain until recently convicted for growing my own medicine. In my opinion Gabapentin is such a dangerous drug and will be the undoing of many people. Here in NZ its all care no responsibility

 

Neurontin review by 56 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Moderately Effective
Side effects:   Extremely Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Post Herpatic Neuralga
Dosage & duration:   300 mg taken 3x /day for the period of 1 week
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Slight alleviation of PHN pain.
Side effects:   Constant and severe drowiness; irritability to the max, actually wanted to kill someone, anyone; blurred vision; headaches; sinus pressure; walking imbalance; increased appetite; difficulty urinating; zero libido.
Comments:   Standard treatment, 1st day 1 pill, 2nd day two, 3rd and thereon 3. The side efects started with the first pill and just steadily got worse to the point of suicidal thoughts. Even after being off the drug, the irritability and negative attitude have lingered, hopefully not permanently.

 

Neurontin review by 33 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   neural pain
Dosage & duration:   450mg taken twice daily for the period of 4 months
Other conditions:   mild asthma
Other drugs taken:   tramadol 300mg/day & pristiq 100mg/day
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Addition of neurontin reduced overall pain severity at the neuropathic injury site (R cervical spine), and appeared to lessen a qualitatively different component of the pain to that helped by tramadol. Combination of tramadol and neurontin in carefully tested comination (to suit patient) brought best pain result to date (injury 26mo prior).
Side effects:   Possible dizziness and fatigue, but this is unclear. Both symptoms were present prior to the injury, but were mild, and have worsened with the addition of each of the three medications. Patient also has a secondary depression following the injury, which combined with the injury itself also confound a clear attribution.
Comments:   Added 300mg b.i.d. on gradual increase to 1200mg daily, but found 900mg was sufficient.

 

Neurontin review by 41 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Depression
Dosage & duration:   1800mg 2X daily (3600mg) taken morning/afternoon for the period of 1 year
Other conditions:   n/a
Other drugs taken:   Wellbutrin, topirimate, dextrophetamine
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Neurontin coupled with a stimulant such as caffeine gave me a warm sense of well being and evenness. However, the drug acted merely as a Novocaine to numb my depression and did nothing to help correct my brain chemistry. That said, it was an effective enough band-aid that I suffered the sexual side effects in order to take it as prescribed.
Side effects:   Sexual side effects included inability to achieve a full erection (when summoned) and inability to orgasm/ejaculate. Softening of the stool- this problem lessened when I switched from tablets to capsules. Memory problems and difficulty speaking.
Comments:   I was prescribed Neurontin for severe depression in 8/09. As of 9/10, I am still taking it but considering ECT.

 

Neurontin review by 75 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Sleep disorder
Dosage & duration:   100mg taken 1 capsule time 3 a day for the period of Started 2 weeks ago.still taking
Other conditions:   poor appetite
Other drugs taken:   clondine,TimololMOS,Celebrex
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   While taking this medicine for sleep disorder IT help Me very good. I discovered It help another problem I had for many Years. I had a sinus problem of sever running noes every time I ate My nose would run like a faucet. Now it slowed down to a trickle.Hope It will Help someone else who suffer with this problem.
Side effects:   Sleep Disorder
Comments:   Taking 100mg. 3 times daily

 

Neurontin review by 53 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Ineffective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   genitofemoral nerve damage
Dosage & duration:   600, daily (dosage frequency: 300 twice daily) for the period of 2 months
Other conditions:   cancer, restless leg syndrome, migraines, prolapse
Other drugs taken:   thyroxine, mirtazapine
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   No treatment benefits. the edema was so severe that the abdominal wall was pushed out, causing the genitofemoral nerve to pull even more, so pain was increased.
Side effects:   whole body swelling (even my eyelids), palpitations, breathlessness, dry mouth, severe constipation, anxiety, increased physical agitation, weight gain. Loss of short term memory, confusion, dizziness and nausea.
Comments:   After a rectocele prolapse operation in June 2009, i suffered groin damage from the position I'd been laid in for surgery. The genitofemoral nerve was stitched into and i was left suffering from a combination of abdominal pain like appendicitis, and sharp pain when moving my right leg. Eleven months later, and i was still breathless with pain, and could not walk without twisting my body to guard it. i was offered gabapentin, but was swollen within 24 hours, and only managed to move my bowels three times in eight weeks - not good when the reason all this stated was a rectocele caused by megacolon. When i withdrew i became suicidal, absolutely despairing, for three weeks. Two months on, my weight gain has not come down, and the palpitations are if anything worse. Not my sort of drug.

 

Neurontin review by medical professional caring for 76 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Moderately Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   peripheral pain arms
Dosage & duration:   300mg taken 3x aday for the period of >one year
Other conditions:   diabetes
Other drugs taken:   synthroid,byetta,novolog,naproxyn,levemir, alprazolam,zoloft.
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Reduced pain and discomfort in both arms. Calmer and less anxious personality. Pt enjoyed her life just a slight bit better and was able to participate in other various activities with her friends, family and to do art work that she loves at the day center where she attends two times a week.
Side effects:   Some mild dizziness initially. Pt. reported light-headedness when getting up from a chair for a minute or two. Side effects seem to have resolved, though maybe scattered thinking is slightly more increased.
Comments:   Pt was initially prescribed neurontin 300mg; one pill in the morning and one pill in the afternoom then two pills at bedtime. Patient then began to complain of increased pain in upper arms and shoulders after about two years total on the recently described dosages. The doctor then increased the dose, starting with 300mg, two pills in the morning, then one pill of same at noon and the two pills, 300mg each at bedtime for four days. After that it will be neurontin 300mg, two pills in the morning, then two pills at noon and two pills at bedtime. This regeme just began yesterday, so results of such are not yet observable.

 

Neurontin review by 46 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   nerve condition, burning in legs and aching feet
Dosage & duration:   1200 3x aday (3600) (dosage frequency: 3x a day) for the period of 3 months
Other conditions:   thyroid condition, celiac disease
Other drugs taken:   tramadol, trazidine, synthroid, cymbalta,
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   The burning in the legs are now tolerable.
Side effects:   Had a severe reaction when mixing with hydocodiene. Dizziness, fatigue and difficulty focusing.
Comments:   I was thrown over a fork lift at a grocery store by a student. I have been in rehab for 2 months and had many other therapies. I have celiac disease which was caused by the accident. Changing my diet took away some of my joint pains and the neurontin has helped the burning in the legs. I still have pain when touched in other parts of the body.

 

Neurontin review by 42 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   neck/shoulder spasms
Dosage & duration:   600mg taken 3x a day for the period of 5yrs
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Decreased number of spasms and pain associated with the spasms.
Side effects:   The only side effect i have experienced was apin over my entire body due to weaning off the medication. Nuerontin must be weaned off very carefully with the help of a PCP.
Comments:   I first started on 100mg a day and the next day i could feel aldifference in my body. I had less fatigue and my spasms were not as extreme as they had been. My specialist increased my dose to 600mg 3x a day. I have been on the dose for 5 yrs and have had little to no neck and shoulder spasms. I wish i had know about this treatment yrs ago. I would have lived in a pain free environment and would have been much happier.

 

Neurontin review by medical professional caring for 36 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Ineffective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   chronic pelvic pain
Dosage & duration:   titrate up to 300mg TID taken as prescribed for the period of Four months
Other conditions:   query fibromyalgia
Other drugs taken:   dilaudid
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Essentially there were no identifiable treatment benefits.
Side effects:   The main side effects were fatigue and dizziness, which became worse with increasing dose.
Comments:   This medication was intended to reduce patient use of narcotics by providing adjunctive treatment of chronic pelvic pain, as indicated by several studies. I have also prescribed it for neuropathic patient. Most patients experience no benefit, or if there is any benefit, it occurs at small doses. Titrating the dose up seems to worsen side effects without providing any added benefit. In addition, it is a costly drug.

 

Neurontin review by 53 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   bipolar disorder
Dosage & duration:   1200mg TID taken daily for the period of past 20 years
Other conditions:   spastic hemiparesis
Other drugs taken:   tizanidine, intrathecal baclofen, lithium, cymbalta,
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Neurontin helped prevent hypomania and headaches. Neurontin allowed me to feel less like I was aboard a runaway train. I was able to back off enough so that I was able to move normally. It also helped with the headache associated with a subdural hematoma.
Side effects:   None
Comments:   When I was on Depakote for bipolar d/o we added Neurontin 900mg TID and within a few days I had a noticable lessening of hypomanic symptoms. After I had a subdural hematoma associated with severe headaches, we incrreased the dose of Neurontin to 1200mg TID and there was almost complete amelioration of symptoms.

 

Neurontin review by 25 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Ineffective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Severe neck pain lasting 8-9 mons
Dosage & duration:   1 every 12 hours (dosage frequency: have taken only one so far!) for the period of one
Other conditions:   Neck pain / severe headaches
Other drugs taken:   n/a
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Well I just wanted to comment or get some incite on this medication. I was just proscribed this medication yesterday took first one before bed as doctor said and woke up this morning feeling like i had drank a case of beer i stumbled getting up out of bed then i felt like i was dying of thirst was just wondering how normal this was? Oh and i was very sleepy and unable to wake up till nearly noon i started to sober up. I have a 3yr old son that i stay home with so i need to be able to function. when i had spoke to my doctor about the problems i was having i told him that i did not want to be on anything strong i had previously been put on Vicodin, oxy-codone and flexeral i hated it i could not take care of my son i could not function im just trying to find a solution for my pain without being messed up.! See back in October of 2009 i fell backwards into a dresser corner while putting my sons clothes up in welkin closet had two possible fractures and two slipped disks was in a neck brace from oct-feb so please let me know if you have any idea what i can do my insurance will not cover physical therapy unfortunately .....
Side effects:   dizziness , sleepy , dry mouth very thirsty
Comments:   treatment was suppose to be to help control neck pain and headaches

 

Neurontin review by 50 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Insomnia due to peri-menopause
Dosage & duration:   400 mgs taken daily for the period of 9 months
Other conditions:   night sweats
Other drugs taken:   HRT
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Improved sleep, reduced night sweats. I was experiencing extremely severe insomnia as a result of hormonal fluctuations. I was down to about 2-4 hours of sleep a night and had tried many approaches, including meditation, herbal supplements, etc.
Side effects:   There are no noticeable side effects, although I wake up a bit more groggy. However, there is no hangover effect.
Comments:   I have been using Gabapentin as an off-label approach to minimize night sweats and adrenalin "rushes" at night that caused sleep disturbance. I began with 100 mgs and increased dosage to 400 mgs which was effective. I understand from my OB/Gyn that most people can use smaller doses (100-300). I am really grateful to have this help!

 

Neurontin review by 29 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Marginally Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   bi-polar disorder
Dosage & duration:   3200 miligrams (dosage frequency: 4 times a day of 800 ml) for the period of 7 years
Other conditions:   anxiety and insomia
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Helped me to eat, not think when I wanted to shut off. Helped me sleep. a bit of false happiness for moments aw-well.
Side effects:   Hear clicking sounds in my eras. Saw tiny lights spots ransomly. I was addicted or I couldnt eat, sleep or even form speech at times.
Comments:   To blanace my bi-polar, level 5 and help me to sleep. Helped to come off other drugs too.

 

Neurontin review by 51 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   depression
Dosage & duration:   600mg taken 1x day for the period of 1 month
Other conditions:   chronic kidney stones and back pain.
Other drugs taken:   Hydrocodone ,Valium,
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Gabapentin was prescribed to me for bi polar disorder. Using no other meds I have taken this in the past with no side effects. I have been taking gabapentin for about a month.Does well with my depression.Only took about a week to feel better.Strange but true.
Side effects:   I also take hydrocodone for chronic kidney stones and back pain. Upon mixing Gabapentin and Hydrocodone I turned into a raging , hateful person. I was hateful to my family and could not stand myself!I wanted to hurt myself and others. Taking these two meds together changed my whole personality.It is clear that I cannot take these two together. I will stay on the Gabapentin but will only take Hydrocodone when I am in extreme pain! It seems to help others when taking Hydrocodone and Gabapentin together but I will NEVER do this again.Gabapentin makes me sleep well. I used to get up 2 or 3 times per night but with this med I sleep all night and it has helped my depression a great deal.The only side effect I have noticed from Gabapentin was a little dizziness when I first begin taking it. It has since went away.
Comments:   Gabapentin 600 mg at bedtime. Hydrocodone 7.5 mg every 4 hours or as needed.Valium as needed for sleep.
 


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