Recently I have been having problems getting my prescription filled at the same pharmacy I have been using for Gabapentin for the past 3 yrs. My original dose
was 100 mg 2x day and am now up to 800 mg total per day after 3 yrs. Over this
summer I have gone from 400 mg total to now 800 mg. The pharmacy is not refilling the script and I suspect it is because it is written for 100mg capsules. I suspect the pharmacy's issue is with the total number of capsules although it is still a low daily dose. My script is showing in my patient portal online with the new dosage but the pharmacy (lots of confusion there) says they only have the old script on file. The tech had a deer in headlights look when I tried to explain to him that I have been on this for years and will have to increase my dose as needed and then switch to another
med when it stops working. I felt like I had a scarlet letter but like I was an addict.
Also having trouble getting gabapentin at the chemist in Staffordshire England. My Doctor eventually got them for me himself there seems to be a shortage of Gabapentin. Do not know why. Myself I am on quite a high dosage, it worries me that they might fail to get them at all.
I have been on gabapentin for years. I just did a little research and I believe the generic comes in 100 mg., then 300 mg. and then higher mg. dosages. The problem with increasing the quantity limit that insurance will not cover could be the problem. Increasing the 100 mg. to get to 800 mg. per day is 8 per day. I take 2 300mg. 3 times a day and my co-pay is 0. That is 180 per month. Taking 8 100 mg. at 200 mg. 4 times a day probably exceeds the quantity limit. See if you can take 300 mg. 3 times a day, that is only 100 mg. more. Unfortunately quantity limits with your insurance will not allow for payment. And as far as I know gabapentin does not come in 200 mg. dosages. And be sure to ask for the generic as the non-generic is very expensive and usually not covered by most insurance plans.
And it is not addictive. However should you ever come off of it you do need to ti rate off slowly, that is probably why it is getting an addictive description. Sharon
I was on the maximum dose of Gabapentin and it did no good. then I was on the maximum dose of gabapentin and some lyrica. went to see a pain specialist that was very unimpressed that i was on both.
weened off gabapentin and now just on lyrica. no pain for close to 18 months. I did try to go off all medication recently and had signs that it would not be successful so still on lyrica.
In Australia Lyrica has just been made a lot cheaper than it used to be.. not cheap but cheaper.
I suggest trying something different. but we are all different and I am not a medical professional :D
My prescription allows me to buy 2400mg/day of tablets. Prescribed as 600mg 4x/day. (I only take 1800/day at this time.) Note that I said tablets, not capsules. Tablets are oblong, white, with a score to allow them to be broken. I have seen issues develop with the drug insurance when there is a change in prescription level, they think you are ordering too soon. If it isn't a controlled substance, which Gabapentin is not, you can change pharmacies, and /or offer to buy a month's worth out of pocket instead of thru insurance. Then as the time passes, it is like a new prescription when you submit it.
We have had issues with so-called controlled substances, but not with Gabapentin.
When there are problems like this, the way to deal with them is to kindly to speak with the pharmacy manager. Be sure to talk with them in a professional manner to help in a positive outcome, for showing anger never helps. Front end techs have very little power or authority to resolve problems.I can't count how many times, with a wide array of companies, I have had a front end representative tell me what I was requesting was totally impossible, only to have a manager happily and easily take care of it, with their apology. When there are problems, simply ask for the manager as they are the only one who has the authority to solve the problem.
Explain to the manager the situation and that you would like an explanation as to why your Rx is not being filled in a timely manner. If they are not responding favorably, you may wish to say: "I would like to avoid filing a formal complaint with the *your state* Board of Pharmacy, Will you help me avoid having to do this?" By framing it in this way, you are asking for their help but with the firm suggestion that the Pharmacy Board will look into it on your behalf if the manager will not. The Board of Pharmacy takes complaints seriously and this should get the problem quickly resolved. Perhaps it is as simple as this is just a poorly run pharmacy, and you may wish to take your Rx to another pharmacy. But reporting it to the board is a reasonable course of action if you cannot get a satisfactory resolution.
I got my doctor, to give me two scripts. One for three hundred mg and the other for 100 mg. I take the three hundreds at night, and the 100s as I need them though the day if I get breakthough pain. Its handy as I get the three hundreds once a month and the one hundreds every month and a half or so. I can have some in my purse, my shop, or the house, and wherever I am I can take one as needed. I also don't need to fill both scripts at once.
Gabapentin (1200mg daily) worked great for me for about ten years. Then I had more dental work that disturbed the trigeminal, and my pain shot far beyond it. When I quit in February, I was taking 7200 mg daily! It has been the only medicine that has really held back the pain. I'm back on it now, increasing my dosage by 800 mg. every week. Switching meds and adjusting dosage is a frustrating but familiar experience. Just think -- you are schooling your tech in an illness that more professionals need to know about! Good luck. Hang in there!
I take 300 mg 3x daily for almost 2 years now and it is holding me. Of course when I first went to the Neurologist, he suggested that I see a hypnotist and offered me Bible verses to "help with my pain," before he would give me the prescription. I thanked him for the suggestions but insisted on the medication instead. No problem getting it covered by Blue Cross/Blue Shield so far.
Wow! I wonder if Christ is covered under insurance plans?!! That said, my experience is that spiritual life and training (as a Buddhist monk) has helped tremendously with my pain. It does not take it away, but gives me an entirely different relationship to it. If I don't push the pain away, I don't suffer. I still feel the pain, but it is the suffering caused by aversion to my present moment experience, which was the problem.
I have multiple cranial nerve degeneration and take 2x600 mg, three times each day, a total of 3600 mg per day. It is the maximum dose I am allowed to take. it kills most of the pain, but not all. My prescription is filled without question and my co-pay is $5. I don't know where each of you live so I don't know what country and company standards may apply. Is it not possible for you to get a new prescription for the larger dose?
I take 300mg every 4 hrs. I’m schedule for my first (hopefully last) MVD. I only had getting rx when doc upped my frequency but the pharmacy called insurance and they filled within 30 min. You might want the doc to change rx and have pharmacy call your insurance comp.
I am taking 900 mg per day with 300 mg capsules (2 - 3 X/day). Because I am a Vietnam vet I am able to get it through the VA. It makes my pain tolerable but does not completely eliminate the pain. However, I don't want to do an MVD like is recommended by by neurologist.
Curious about what others have experienced as far as side effects.
The only noticeable side effect of the gabapentin (3600mg/day) is complete impotence.
golf nut said:
I am taking 900 mg per day with 300 mg capsules (2 - 3 X/day). Because I am a Vietnam vet I am able to get it through the VA. It makes my pain tolerable but does not completely eliminate the pain. However, I don't want to do an MVD like is recommended by by neurologist.
Curious about what others have experienced as far as side effects.
I have made this comment before. Be very careful with Gabapentin. I was taking 3600 mg a day and tried to commit suicide 3X before they figured out what it was. Spent months in a physch ward. Go see a pain management specialist. THey actually know not only the structure of pain but are willing to try more than just the old stand bys. I use lamictal, clonidin and a very low does of morphine. Just 15mg a day. And have for 3 years, Yeah i still hurt but I am alive. They are also willing to give you somethng stronger for attacks. Mine gave me patches. He is going to try and put me on a butrans patch.
Anyway, just be careful and if you start to have any dark thoughts go to someone other than your neurologist.
I had tried Tegretol but it turns me into a zombie. Went off all pain meds for awhile and just started using Gabapentin again. Thanks for the advice. I will be careful. So far no dark thoughts. I am trying everything to stay away from having an MVD. That is what Mayo Clinic says I need to do because my MRI shows a blood vessel touching the nerve. I am also trying Active Release Therapy with a great chiropractor, but so far it hasn't helped. Just read someone on this blog had tried peripheral nerve stimulation. There is a pain clinic here in the Phoenix area where I live and I am going to see what there success has been with PNS.
I take 1600 mg. daily. Have your Dr. change your script to reflect this. I have had 2 Gamma Knife ( on either side) and an MVD. It is what it is to thrive not just survive. Don't rely on the medical professions to control your life. Your brain, your fight.
Run as fast as you can to Barrows!!!! See Dr. Andrew Shetter. He is a god when it comes to MVD. Barrows invented the surgery. Barrow is rathed in the top ten neuro centers in the country. Mayo in AZ doesn't even hit the top 100