Gapabentin

[SP4RVN1971]

Pete, I was told that I would have to try Gapabentin until I hit the max of 3600mg per day before they would let me try Lyrica if the Gapabentin was not doing me any good. I almost got over to Lyrica but a Dr. caught the residents recomandation and changed it. Since I have not had a PCP since Nov 2010 I have had to catch an appointment in the clinics and most of the time with a Nurse Practioner. There is a couple of good ones where I go to the clinic at the fort but I asked for a primary and had to take one two and one half hours away. But he was my doctor before he transfered back to Columbia where he lived. I will talk to my new - old primary in Feb when I see him.

Flatbroke, They will give you the drug! I went to another department call the Mental Health. They give it lyrica over in that deparment. Get your primary doc to set up appointment or do a walk in. Its craze to one department can not give lyrica and the other can

If I have to be a little mental,....

I take that back, between vietnam, VA and good friend Agent Orange! I'm pretty damn craze.

Have a Nice day God Bless

[sleeper692]

I was on 1800mg/day of gabapentin for neuropathy for about 3 months. People thought I was losing it. It caused my speech to slur, messed up my thought processes so I couldn't carry on a conversation and made me drowsy. It also affected my balance and I couldn't walk a straight line if I had to. I would run into door frames, shelves at the grocery store, etc. I felt like I was constantly drunk and stoned. While that may not sound like such a bad thing, feeling out of control 24 hours a day is not any fun.

It was also not very effective in controlling my pain either. I kept telling my neurologist it wasn't working and he just kept upping the dose. I finally had to put my foot down and tell him I simply was going to stop taking it. He put me on topimirate and cymbalta, both of which caused such dramatic side effects that I had to be taken off both meds as they were doing more harm than good.

[SP4RVN1971]

I was on 1800mg/day of gabapentin for neuropathy for about 3 months. People thought I was losing it. It caused my speech to slur, messed up my thought processes so I couldn't carry on a conversation and made me drowsy. It also affected my balance and I couldn't walk a straight line if I had to. I would run into door frames, shelves at the grocery store, etc. I felt like I was constantly drunk and stoned. While that may not sound like such a bad thing, feeling out of control 24 hours a day is not any fun.

It was also not very effective in controlling my pain either. I kept telling my neurologist it wasn't working and he just kept upping the dose. I finally had to put my foot down and tell him I simply was going to stop taking it. He put me on topimirate and cymbalta, both of which caused such dramatic side effects that I had to be taken off both meds as they were doing more harm than good.

The same thing happen to me, everytime I would complain, they would increase my dosage. I could not walk, talk, I felt drunk all the time.

Then my doctor switch me to Lyrica and Cymbalta, and that has been my drug.

I have try three times to come off Lyrica, but the PN comes back with such pain. I even went a specialist at MD Anderson, and it will not get better!

Like I said, it's my drug

[Pete53]

I really think that any of our threads that deal with medication have to be very careful. When you say that a medication does not work for you it may be the med or it can be a combination of medications and also what you are taking the medication for. I would hate to see Members quit taking something cause they got the idea that a particular med caused side effects that they did not want.

There is nothing wrong with saying a med does not work for you but be careful how or why you can arrive at a conclusion it does not work for anyone else.

Any decision to stop a medication should be done with a Doc. I have seen more Vets who were on Hadit get in trouble for quitting a med over worrying about doses or side affects,

Be very careful.

PS I am not accusing anyone on this thread of doing anything wrong.

[faofficer]

Hmm they now have me taking 1800mg a day for myalgia and joint pain. I find it interesting that a side effect is back and joint pain when they are the primary reason it is prescribed to me. I also noticed diarhea and anxiety...I have IBS and goreaphobia. I am hoping to get off the drug for the reasons you stated.

[SP4RVN1971]

I really think that any of our threads that deal with medication have to be very careful. When you say that a medication does not work for you it may be the med or it can be a combination of medications and also what you are taking the medication for. I would hate to see Members quit taking something cause they got the idea that a particular med caused side effects that they did not want.

There is nothing wrong with saying a med does not work for you but be careful how or why you can arrive at a conclusion it does not work for anyone else.

Any decision to stop a medication should be done with a Doc. I have seen more Vets who were on Hadit get in trouble for quitting a med over worrying about doses or side affects,

Be very careful.

PS I am not accusing anyone on this thread of doing anything wrong.

Your totally correct. No one should be messing with there drugs.

I would never stop taking DMII, Heart medicine or cancer medicine.

But if Doctor put me on a pain med's, I try to control the amount, I'm very scared of becoming addicted to another drug like Lyrica, but I need it now, which is sad!

I came from family that took no drugs, maybe a aspirin.

With the Cancer drugs, heart, DMII, PN medicine. I'm in a prison of drugs, I try to think or Hope I can escape, if I don't, It's over with