Gabapentin

Gabapentin is the only medication that helps my friend's chronic pain, she too takes a couple of paracetamols when needed as well. She had no weight gain, didn't know it was a side effect, but having seen the difference this drug has made I guess she would take it even if it meant she put some weight on.

BradfordLass, I was on a high dose, taking it three times a day and it didn't trigger any weight gain for me.

Thank you all for such great advice.

Perhaps the main side effect I did not want to trigger was weight gain. I'm a big woman but very active and my weight causes no problems whatsoever. I'd like to keep it that way.

Of course the doctor has warned me about how and when to take Gabapentin and if I decide to, I'll stick to her advice.

It was she who told me paracetamol was cumulative and works better in regular doses for chronic pain but can also be used "as needed" for things like headaches.

At the moment, it's needed all the time and I only take 1 Tramadol at night and that's when I'm supposed to take the Gabapentin too.

My thanks again

My husband has been taking Gabapentin for about a year with no side effects at all. He has found it really useful for the excruciating pain he had down his side and into his leg and foot.

I'd be much more concerned about taking Tramadol !

I got a lot of support and useful information from the Pain Support website. Quite a lot of information on the site and a forum where you can obtain information and support.

Notanan can you cite some sources for the paracetamol accumulation, please? I can't find anything by googling. I take a paracetamol based medication so would like to know more as no one has mentioned that to me,

I was under the impression that it's safe to take up to 4g a day of paracetamol.

Notanan2 what do you nean paracetamol accumulates in rhe body. I have just taken one and took 1 and 1/2 paracodol 2 days ago. Is that not safe?

The down sides are A: relatively new in terms of being widely used for pain

B. It works better the longer you use it (opposite to opiates) and you have to taper up, dont expect instant relief (this is also a pro ad other meds work less the longer you use them)

C. You need to taper. Up or down - so you are following orders rather than chosing when you take it & how much. Wont work if you are fiddling with it as and when you do/dont have pain

All meds have side effects but to be honest I would be more worried personally about the Tramadol and Paracetamol and would take the gabapentin with the hope of weaning the others down!

Tramadol should be very short term use. Its an opiates. Opiates longer term can make pain worse, two ways. 1. Prolongued use creates resistance, effectively lowering your pain threshold and making that an other drugs "not work"
2. The withdrawl or breakthrough from regular opiates causes pain, it can be difficult to distinguish this from the original pain it was prescribed to treat.

Paracetamol is also seen as "safe" but it does accumulate in the body.

Gabapentin (& pregabalin) does need to be tapered (up or down) and used under supervision not ad hoc. BUT. It doesnt make pain relief, itself and others, less effective. It kinda does the opposite: the longer you use it the better it works!

The goal is to not have to keep moving up to stronger pills!

I’ve been dealing with nerve pain for nearly 20 years. Have tried various different medications and other devices. I currently take Palexia, use Versatis medicated plasters (numbing) and have various TENS type gadgets including an Actipatch. Gabapentin didn’t work for me but may well do for you.

Our son uses Gabapentin for chronic pain and finds it very useful, he has had few side effects. All medication comes with a list of side effects which the majority of people do not find troublesome. Why not try it? I believe though if you settle into a regime with Gabaoenti and then wish to stop it should be reduced gradually. Whatever you decide I hope the pain settles soon.

I have nerve damage and take Pregabalin.
Both Pregabalin and Gabapentin are antiepilptic drugs used for nerve problems.
Both (UK) are now class C drugs since begining of 2019.
I have had no ill affects by taking pregabalin
My DiL takes Gabapentin and has not reported any side affects.

Like you BradfordLass I was taking several painkillers which did unfortunately cause side affects.

I too took Gabapentin, it did absolutely nothing for me.
I now wear a Fentanyl patch.
Bradfordlass, don't let that put you off.
Give it a go, we all react differently to painkillers.
I hope you feel better soon.

I didn't have any side effects from Gabapentin but, to be honest, after 3 months of religiously taking it twice a day, for a trapped nerve in my arm, and my GP doubling the dose, it had little or no effect. Eventually, my GP and I decided that it wasn't worth continuing with it and I just carried on with the Tramadol until the nerve healed and the pain subsided. Took about 6 months in all.