I am on Tegretol x400 mgs and Gabapentin x 900mgs. (Temporarily not taking Gaba because of money reasons but hoping to be back on in the next few days)
After the initial side effects that go with starting them, I've actually been doing really good. I get a little sleepy around 2pm, but nothing I can't power through with some coffee.
My real struggle has been my weight. I've gained close to 20 lbs in the 2 months I've been on these two medications. This is not okay! I'm not skinny to begin with!
Is this a bad enough side effect to consider changing meds? I am limited in my choice to begin with because I've already had bad side effect experiences with Topamax and Trileptal.
I also know my insurance requires that you try and fail with at least 3 drugs before they will consider MVD surgery.
I'm not thrilled with trying a different set of meds since these work so well, but I can't afford to be gaining any weight at the moment. In fact I need to be losing it.
I don’t think most Dr’s think weight gain is a bad
Side effect, unless it causes another serious health problem like high blood pressure to
BECOme dangerously hIgh. I think bad rashes, serious blood disorders, fainting, extreme dizziness… Anything that causes a life threatening situatiOn or causes you to be unble to work or participate in life in a sIgnificabt way. Just a hunch. Sending good thoughts
I'm on nortriptyline which works but is making me gain weight as well. I think it's a concern for some doctors but not all. Depends on the doctor. I lost 40 lbs and have kept it off for three years until I started this med. I'm not concerned yet. I was on Trileptal and lost weight because I kept vomiting nearly every day. That's why I changed meds. (On a side note, I lost the original 40lbs because of 2 things. I have polycystic ovarian syndrome which led me to gain the weight in the first place, and hit menopause which helped with the symptoms and weight gain. Second I started taking tramadol for depression and pain and it just made the weight fall off. It is often used as a secondary pain med for TN and is not an opiate. I take the maximum recommended dose 100 mg 4xday. Look into it and if you think it's right for you talk to your doc. It's not used for weight loss so you might want to ask for it for pain relief.)
I also take tegretol (total of 700 mg daily) and gabapentin 300 mg three times a day, and Dilantin, 400 mg at bedtime.
I can buy gabapentin for $6 at Costco, less than my insurance would charge, so it might be worth checking out cash prices and not leaving the medicine off.
And yes, I've gained 30 lbs. which makes me miserable in another way. But my medication got me out of a crisis and I don't intend to go back there. No pain meds, they really don't work anyway. I am so scared to go off one pill because I don't want to go back to pain, although it's starting, the cheek pain with wind, nose pain when I put on makeup, and gums are swelling. So I might be adding a little more if they'll let me just to work though the winter.
I also get sleepy around 2 pm every day And I do hate the weight gain. Good luck.