Have been on gabapentin since feb, 2012 taking 300mg a day. Doctor had me increase and I am up to 600mg a day. Take it spread out 4x a day. I was also just finishing Prednisone on May 2. I have moon face and swollen stomach which I was told it would go away. Gain 16 pounds too. My concern is the swollen legs and feet. Which drug is doing this or is it both? Will be seeing doctor next week. Help ! The gaba was helping. If they take me off what else can I take for burning, stabbing pain in cheek? Do all this drugs make you legs and feet swell.
My aunt has been on prednisone on and off for years for lung disease. Major swelling issues. Depending on the person and the dose you can expect to puff up and look like you've gone a few rounds in a boxing ring. Not sure if Gabapentin also causes the same. There is also a "group" for medications, etc. You might want to do a gabapentin search on their posts and see what you can read in there. I am sure a user of that med will give you some insight.
Elaine
Hi, ive just come of Tegretol for side effect issues and the docter told me that they use gabapentin when patients are shown to be sensitive to other meds, ive also heard others on here talk about Gabapentin as having no/mild side effects.
Im on 900mg of Gabapentin a day and so far i have no side effects so i would think its your other medication which is causing it, also the usual dose for TN is 300mg X3 a day, has your doctor said why your dose is so low? pain wise im not fully covered at 900mg a day and will need to increase my dose so i can only imagine was 600mg a day is like? i have 300mg tablets, i assume you have the 100mg ones?
Take care x
Hi
If there is an adverse side effect I will get it! Gababpentin really is low on side effects in my case
Prednisone will give and give for ages though. ( I really hate that drug and will avoid at all costs)
Your doctor should be able to help.
You may Find that as the prednisone slowly comes out of your system you feel much better.
Hi, I take amitriptylene for my burning pain. I take it at night because it makes me sleepy. I also take trileptal during the day.
Prednisone is a far more likely candidate as a source of swelling. You are on a minimal dose of Gabapentin, and might be tapered further up if your neurologist advises. Min is correct that tricyclic antidepressants like Amitriptyline are also often used against Type 2 pain.
Regards, Red
I was started on gabapentin on February 19, 2012 (after failing on Tegretol and Baclofen). My starting dose was 300 mg a day but I started increasing by 300 mg every three days until I got relief (called my neurologist after every 3rd increase to get his recommendation). As of April 13th I am on 2100 mg per day, that is two 300 mg capsules every morning and afternoon, then three 300 mg capsules at bedtime. As of April 15th I have been almost completely pain free and the side effects are minimal (occasional dizziness is about it for me).
Your dose seems low to me too and I wonder if your doctor is trying to have you get the Prednisone out of your system before increasing very much. Prednisone is a great drug when used for short periods of time but the side effects of long-term use can be daunting. Good luck.
Yes Min, I am also on Nortriptyline 20 in afternoon and 20mg at night. Even at lose dose gabapentin I was comfortable. If swelling is not from that then I may increase. Went today for blood work. Guess will see.
Min said:
Hi, I take amitriptylene for my burning pain. I take it at night because it makes me sleepy. I also take trileptal during the day.
Hi Pebbles, I agree with other posts about prednisone possibly being your culprit for swelling. I take 2400 mg of gabapentin spread over 3 doses and I don't see side effects. The increases were slow an the pain is managed fairly well now. I took tegretol for a while (200 mg) and had several. My Mom takes prednisone periodically for severe arthritis and she experiences the weight gain and swelling. Best wishes, Sara
Thanks for the reply. I did stop on May 2, funny got most of side effects once I stopped pred.
Sara said:
Hi Pebbles, I agree with other posts about prednisone possibly being your culprit for swelling. I take 2400 mg of gabapentin spread over 3 doses and I don't see side effects. The increases were slow an the pain is managed fairly well now. I took tegretol for a while (200 mg) and had several. My Mom takes prednisone periodically for severe arthritis and she experiences the weight gain and swelling. Best wishes, Sara
hi ya pebbles i take 3 thousand 600mg of gabapentine a day i dont get side affects as for the weight probleam ive put on nearly 2 stone in 1year i hope you will get some releif from taken gabapentine xxlorraine
I have been on Pred for a year my moon face has decreased as i have been tapering off them. but my stomach from under the chest has suddenly become swollen and hard, even though i am now on a lower dose. i think long time usage of it has just caught up with me.
Well, see, everyone is different! Lord, I do wish the answers were easier! I have kept detailed logs for years looking for a common thread in TN. There just doesn't seem to be anything conclusive. Even the "triggers" aren't consistent.
I find it very aggravating.
Thank you Simon
SimonL said:
Hi
If there is an adverse side effect I will get it! Gababpentin really is low on side effects in my case
Prednisone will give and give for ages though. ( I really hate that drug and will avoid at all costs)
Your doctor should be able to help.
You may Find that as the prednisone slowly comes out of your system you feel much better.
Hi Pebbles, I’m also on Gabapentin and was put on I’VE steroids over Christmas for a flare up. I don’t notice that the Gabapentin makes me swell, but definitely swelled up with the steroids. I had moon face and gained about 15 pounds. I also swelled up in my legs and feet to the point where my shoes didn’t fit. Now, a few months later, the swelling is completely gone. Hope that gives you hope. 
Hi Viki nice to hear from you. are you off steroids now? did it take a few months from being off them for the swelling to go down? I dont mind my face being swollen as it helps the wrinkles but dont like my swollen tummy looks like i am pregnant and I look to old to be 6 months gone!
Yes your right. waiting for prednisone to get out of my system. Hoping gabapentin isn't the one causing the swollen feet. That is a side effect also for gabapentin.
montanamacarol said:
I was started on gabapentin on February 19, 2012 (after failing on Tegretol and Baclofen). My starting dose was 300 mg a day but I started increasing by 300 mg every three days until I got relief (called my neurologist after every 3rd increase to get his recommendation). As of April 13th I am on 2100 mg per day, that is two 300 mg capsules every morning and afternoon, then three 300 mg capsules at bedtime. As of April 15th I have been almost completely pain free and the side effects are minimal (occasional dizziness is about it for me).
Your dose seems low to me too and I wonder if your doctor is trying to have you get the Prednisone out of your system before increasing very much. Prednisone is a great drug when used for short periods of time but the side effects of long-term use can be daunting. Good luck.