Hi all, you all know Im taking 3600 mg. of Gabapentin and am totally bedridden. This medication is making me really sick and accordingly to my doctor its the only med for me. I see him on friday and know he won't do anything. The breakthrough pain is unbearable....shocks and burning all the time. I want to reduce this med. does anyone know how to do this safely or should i just stop it. I started taking it around June 20th. Thanks any help would be appreciated. Lauren
Lauren,
Only a doctor can tell you how to take your medicine properly but I do know that I had to be weaned on and off most of my meds. Do you know why your doctor is saying this is the only med for you? I have been on various cocktails since my injury and I had some minor relief for a short period of time but then it came back ten fold. We are now on a new cocktail that I hope will see some progress sometime in the near future. Depending on allergies, other meds you are taking, etc. you may be able to get some other type of pain killer that can help you during the bad flare ups. You just need to find a doctor who understands what TN is and who to refer you to if he does not. I do know that some people here have had some positive results from taking Lyrica with the other meds. (I unfortunately had a terrible reaction.) There may be something he can add in with a lower dose of Gabapentin to minimize the side effects. Unfortunately, I think all of us have the bedridden days and the breakthrough pain. Hopefully, we can all ride this storm together and help each other through the really bad days.
Everyone is different but Trileptal seems to be working for me better than Gabepentin, with less side effects. If you do change meds, they will typically have you start decreasing one while starting to build up on the other. I’ve been told by my neurologist and a nurse friend who I trust that stopping Gabepentin cold turkey can really be problematic.
Thank you Brad. I went to my doctor on friday and he decreased my dose of gabapentin and upped my cymbalta. Since I had an allergic reaction to the Tegretol he said the neuro who i see on the 31 can decide on what med to switch to. The Trileptal is one I was going to suggest to her. Thanks again. Lauren