Neck Pain: Cervical
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September 10, 2010 - 10:52am
Gabapentin
My doctor prescribed gabapentin for neck pain but I don't want to take it because of the side effects. If stopped abruptly, this medicine can cause seizures. I have a habit of stopping medications without doctors consent so I think its best that I don't take it. Has anyone taken gabapentin and what side effects did you have and did it help your pain?
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are medications for nerve pain. Some people have negative side effects with this and others its fine.
I've been taking it for over 2 years now without any problems.
Prior to that I was taking Lyrica (another nerve medication) and I had many negative side effects.
No matter what medication you are talking, you should never stop taking them unless you have talked it over with your doctor.
These nerve medications can be very helpful in treating painful nerve problems.
Ron DiLauro
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The information provided by members of Spine-Health should never be considered as formal medical advice. It is recommendations based on member's personal experiences only.
This can vary from person to person, so do not take comments as medical facts or rules
I have been taking Gabapentin for about a year. I have had no negative side effects. It does help manage my pain. Before that I took Lyrica. I did not have negative side effects with Lyrica either. I switched because Lyrica was much more expensive, even with insurance.
hypertension, type 2 diabetes, 58 yrs old, married 35 yrs, 2 children, 2 grandsons, 5 lvl lumbar laminectomy May 17th, 2010,l 4 level cervical laminectomy april 8th, 2009, tonsilectomy 1959, carpal tunnel surgery both hands 1997
I've been taking gabapentin for four years now for nerve pain. It works for nerve pain but it actually an anti seizure medication.I haven't had any side effects from it at all unless you consider wanted to eat more.I take 2700mg a day.No you shouldn't stop taking this med. abruptly your supposed to be weaned off it if you taking it for any period of time.
c4,5 c5,6 and c6,7 ACDF with titanium implants spinal stenosis and bone spurs april 16/08.herniations at T7,8 and T11,12 also L4,5and S1.car accident october 28th/08 whiplash.rearended hit and run. mri 2009 L2-3 posterior bulge,L3-4moderate posterior bulge,lateralizing to the right.Right lateral recess has moderate stenosis and left lateral recess has mild stenosis.L4-5has moderate posterior disc bulge.Moderate left,and right stenosis.Mild bilateral foraminal stenosis.L5-S1 disc bulge touching right S1 descending nerve root in right lateral recess.No significant foraminal or spinal stenosis.
The warning that it may cause seizures if stopped abruptly, is if it is being taken by someone for the purpose of suppressing seizures in the first place.
It's a great drug for me. I've been taking it for almost 12 years and it helps tremendously.
Welcome to Spine Health,
"C"
“If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it.”
Marcus Aurelius
C, when my NS heard from me that about every 2 or 3 weeks I skip a day or two to "see" where I am at on the pain status, and too any changes, he wasn't upset. I asked him why since (and I tested my 'not taking' in 1 dose, then 2, then 3 over time first) the side affects listed say "don't". He said exactly what you said, "If I gave it to you for seizures, I would have major issue with you doing that. I have you on it for nerve pain, so you shouldn't have any problems." Or something real close to that wording....(Lyrica for me)
Brenda
ACDF C5/6 2/08 - C6/7 8/09 - Neuropathy right arm and both legs - Cervical Myelopathy
10-11-11 PCF C4-T2 - C4-C7 Lamies; Surgery #2 Emergent removal large Hematoma!
L2/3/4 & L5/S1 fusions and Laminectomy on hold till neck fused.
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"Life can knock us down, but we can choose whether or not to get up!!"
I take only 900mg a day -- 600mg at bedtime (actually really helps me sleep) and 300mg in the morning.
Overall, it does cloud by cognitive abilities and for awhile I felt a touch of nausea.
I also tried Lyrica, but that was awful for me -- weight gain, water retention, insomnia, and only marginal improvement in pain.
I can't even say for sure that Neurontin is helping me. Realistically, I probably need to take a stronger dose to make a significant difference. My reluctance is simply that I don't want the side effects to increase. I plan to talk with my doctor about this when I see him next week.
Best Wishes,
Dave
9/2008 - L5/S1 Discectomy - Removed a section of disk the size of a man's thumb. Worked beautifully!
5/2009 - L5/S1 Repeat Discectomy - Had reherniated it riding my bike. Pain never resolved
1/2010 - TLIF at L5/S1 - fusion is stable, but pain is still unresolved ever since second discectomy
9/22/10 - Finally found a Physiatrist who has taken over my complete care. Looking forward to this next chapter of improved pain management.
I will be my usual hardcore self and say, though, that sometimes treating your pain will mean coming up to the plate ready to bat. If your pain is bad enough, you might have to be ready to change your habits, as some of the medications DO have significant discontinuation effects. There are no perfect medications out there.
That said, none at all with Lyrica. I just stopped taking it. My side effects with lyrica were weight gain, language issues, etc- but no problems compared with the massive improvement in nerve pain. I now take Topamax, which has more significant side effects and less effectiveness, but no weight gain- I had to ditch the weight due to stage II hypertension.
11/2007- equestrian accident. Fractured L2, 90% loss of height, retropulsion, bone fragments. Moderate-severe chronic pain treated with epidurals, facet ablation, medication.
12/15/2010- L2 corpectomy and L1-L3 fusion via thoracotomy. Posterior plates installed next day. Total surgery time 9 hours!