Gabapentin side affects....?

Question

Im only on 300mg per day. I take it in the morning. But by half 1 i feel all drunk and drowsy.

I know these are normal side affects, but will they go away once my body gets used to them? I've only been taking them for 2 days.

They are for chronic headaches caused by severe head trauma and stress.They do seem to calm my headache down, but it doesnt go completely. So would i need a higher dosage?

How can i sort out the drowsyness?

Thanks all......5 stars for best answer!

Answer 1

I took Neurontin (gabapentin) for a period of about 6 months during my (what seems like life-long but is now about 13 years) quest for pain relief.  I didn't experience any headaches, but the mental fog and drowsiness were overwhelming.  I was continually forgetting things, locking my keys in may car, etc.  My MD pulled the plug on it when during an office visit he noticed I couldn't remember my daughter's name.  Also seemed that my condition was probably impaired enough to make driving hazardous.  I tried to offset the drowsiness with increased caffeine intake, but couldn't sleep, despite the foggy dopiness.

Whether it had any of the desired effect, ostensibly raising my pain threshold, is debatable.  I was too dopey to objectively determine that.

While it might be beneficial for some, overall, it was a bust for me.

Answer 2

My daughter took this for more than a year at a much higher dose.  Depending on how it affects you the side effects may not be mild.  Since people react in different ways, I would contact the prescribing doctor and tell him/her the side effects that you are experiencing.  If you are only taking it once a day, I would certainly discuss switching to take the medication in the early evening, then it will be bed time as you start to feel drowsy and the drunk feeling probably won't matter.

It can take a while for your body to acclimate to the medication.  I wouldn't worry about needing a higher dose until 1-3 months into the dosing regimen.  You have to give your body time to reach a therapeutic level of the medication.

Answer 3

Dear "live." - Gabapentin side effects, if they occur, are typically minor and easily treated. Commonly reported ones include dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, and problems with coordination. Some side effects of gabapentin, however, are potentially serious and may require prompt medical attention. This includes signs of an allergic reaction and significant coordination problems that do not improve with time.

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with gabapentin (Neurontin®); however, not everyone who takes the medication will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider.

Gabapentin has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials. In these studies, the side effects that occur in a group of people taking the drug are documented and compared to side effects that occur in another group of people not taking the drug. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.



In these studies, the most common side effects of gabapentin included:



Dizziness -- in up to 28 percent of people

Drowsiness -- up to 21.4 percent

Coordination problems -- up to 12.5 percent

Infections -- up to 10.9 percent

Fever -- up to 10.1 percent

Nausea or vomiting -- up to 8.4 percent

Swelling or fluid retention in the legs, feet, arms, or hands -- up to 8.3 percent

Unusual eye movements -- up to 8.3 percent.



Other common gabapentin side effects, occurring in 1 to 7 percent of people, included:



Shakiness (tremor)

Double vision or blurred vision

Weakness or fatigue

Diarrhea or constipation

Dry mouth (see Neurontin and Dry Mouth)

Increased appetite or weight gain (see Neurontin and Weight Gain)

Bronchitis

Accidental injury

Sore throat

Hyperactivity (in children)

Changes in thinking (such as difficulty concentrating)

Nervousness

Speech problems

Memory loss (amnesia)

Indigestion or heartburn

Gas

Back pain

Problems walking

Twitching

High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)

Conjunctivitis ("pink eye")

Ear infection

Flushing or hot flashes.



Serious Gabapentin Side Effects

Some side effects of gabapentin, while occurring infrequently, are potentially serious and should be reported immediately to your healthcare provider. These include, but are not limited to:

Depression

Hostility

Severe dizziness, confusion, or coordination problems that do not improve with time



Signs of an allergic reaction, including:

Unexplained rash

Hives

Itching

Unexplained swelling

Suicidal thinking or behavior

Please share your questions with the doctor who prescribed this medication.

Answer 4

Live,

If the side effects are too much for you, talk to your physician, and have them place you on a lower dose, such as 100 mg per day for a week, then increase to 200 mg, then increase to 300 mg.  Many people take 900 to 1200 mg per day and function well once they have adapted to the medication.

As far as the management of your headaches, the effect of the gabapentin is to attempt to prevent the headaches rather than treat them.  The effect of the gabapentin in this effect also improves over time.  Two days is not enough time to evaluate your response to the medication from a prevention standpoint.  It is not uncommon to have a patient on 300 mg 3 times a day to prevent headaches.

Work with your providers.  I have found that you can decrease the side effects if you start the dose low and increase slowly.

Hope you have improvement in your headache condition soon.