After one month on a 300mg daily dosage of Neurontin, can it so happen that my body doesn’t feel the 300mg any more and it `wants’ more than 300mg? I’ve had no recurrence of the worst pain that I’ve had when not on meds. But the thought of a gradually increasing dosage is very scary. I’m glad it is helping my condition, but I do not want to get hooked on it, let alone have a nervous system running on it. Has anyone in the Group been weaned off Neurontin? Thank you for sharing.
Anitha,
Haven't heard of anyone becoming addicted to Neurontin. The dose you're on is very low and I'm not surprised that you are having pain. I'm currently on three 300 mg capsules three times a day for a daily total of 2700 mgs. What does your neurologist say about increasing the dose? You don't need to be afraid of an increase, in my opinion.
don’t be scared. Your body needs it for a reason. and it don’t thing it’s addictive. A couple of years ago I was on 400 mg 4 times a day. An it was easy to switch/
right now im on 800 mg 4 times a day (3200)
Thanks Gloria. Thank you, Carolina.
Initially, my Neurologist had wanted me to take 300 mg once at night and another in the morning. I realised that I was about 90% pain free except for the upper and lower molar hypersensitivity and the constant tugging around the upper lip. So I am on 300mg once nightly for a month. If things take a turn for the worse, I will definitely discuss with my Neurologist to review my dosage.
I wonder why there is no non-surgical cure for TN!
Thanks. Your experience is very encouraging! The way in which dosages have been increasing in multiples...just goes to show that the body gets very used to a drug and it can reach a stage where large doses make little or no difference. And we are put on cocktails of drugs!!
Only when patients getting off the drug starts affecting their bottomline, will pharma companies take notice and investigate what's wrong with their drug!! But then, the Neuropathic community is growing for whatever reasons...and that time may never come...sigh! :(
Let me tell you that my Dr. just increased my Neurontin to 800 Mg 6 TIMES a day. That is a daily dose of 4,800 mgs.
Carolina,
How are you today? Is the new dosage helping? I suppose it'll take a couple of days to kick in?
Well, Bobbie, from what I've read, it's not addictive, but it does create dependency, which means that cutting yourself off cold turkey, may be dangerous.
I am supposed to be taking it at 600 mg. x 3 daily. But, it is the pill in my regimen that I most frequently forget to take, because it seems to do the least. But, whenever I forget to take it for very long, my symptoms seem to worsen. So, it must be doing something. At first, whenever I was trying Neurontin, with Diazepam and very little Hydrocodone (this was about a year and a half ago now), it didn't seem to do anything to help with the pain, though.
But, I'm getting off topic. No, Bobbie, I really don't think it is "addictive", so to speak, not habit forming. The body does develop a tolerance and dependence, though, from what I've read.
I wish you and yours a nice Easter weekend!
Stef
Neurontin is not associated with withdrawal effects if tapered down gradually. Like other anti-seizure drugs, rapid cessation from initially high doses of this drug may cause seizure or seizure-like symptoms. As attested to here, it is not uniformly effective for all patients. None of the drugs used in facial pain are.
Regards, Red
I have taken a lot of neurontin in the past…upwards of 3,600mg/day! It didn’t have any kind of addictive properties for me though, weaning off of it wasn’t necessary. I just quit cold turkey per my dr’s orders.
FDA information on Neurontin includes the following:
"Withdrawal Precipitated Seizure, Status Epilepticus
Antiepileptic drugs should not be abruptly discontinued because of the possibility of increasing seizure frequency."
Although this warning is generic to all anti-seizure drugs, it is still widely regarded as appropriate practice to taper patients both up and down from any of this class of drugs.
Regards, Red
I did not take my 300mg dosage for just one night and there were parts of my face `speaking' to me and reminding me that the pain is lurking around.
Just goes to show that there is a dependency created by the medication and I can't take it lightly. In my case one night's missed dosage is the most that I can risk.