I was taking 2400mg. For a couple weeks before my legs and feet swelled so I was weaned off and then wound up in hospital for 2 days with shortness of breath. Did all kinds of test and found nothing. When I got home I started to have really panic attacks. Had to go on valium to get settled. I still take 0.25mg 2 times a day. It seems to help my feet also. I am starting back on gabapentin
300mg at bedtime and feel a little enter. But my balance is really bad. I use a cane on bad days.
I'll try this again.
Hi Paula, I had shortness of breath from taking gabapentin, and difficulty swallowing too. All the symptoms you mention are noted side effects of gabapentin. Oxygen levels can be normal even with shortness of breath. I was on it only a few days before I went off it. I tried Lyrica next, but my ankles swelled up, so I stopped that one too. If you think gabapentin is causing you problems ask to try Lyrica.
When my balance wasn't good, I'd keep a walker by my bed in case I had to get up at night. It worked great.
Worsening panic attacks, starting with the shortness of breath and also noticing problems swallowing. Never thought it could be from Gabapentin. I’m down to 900mg a day now, and still having these 2 issues!
Paula,
I don't understand why your doctor has prescribed gabapentin, which is approved only for treating nerve pain and preventing epileptic seizures. As far as I know, it won't help with your walking and balance problems. According to your LivingwithCIDP profile, you are not experiencing nerve pain. You may need other medicines to address your walking and balance issues and to prevent further worsening of your condition.
Jon
Hi Paula, all you mentioned are noted side effects. Gabapentin has a lot of issues, it maybe good to others but not to you. High dose cause a lot of problems like panic attack, SOB, difficult swallowing, confusion and anxiety. I been in gabapentin 5 years ago but I discontinue taking it because of side effects. My MD prescribed "Lyrica 75mg BID, its a brand for Gabapentin. It really helps me for 5 yrs now. I also have infusion “IVIG” once a month. I can walked, drive and my gait & balance is good. My life living with CIDP is in a comfort zone.
I don’t take anywhere near the dose that you do but I experience the swelling (edema) of the hands, fetes, and abdomen. It’s a common side effect of G-Pentin. If it’s mild to moderate and does not interfere with your daily living nothing but you obviously had lung or cardiac involvement with shortness of breath. I hope you tolerate the lower dose because it’s one of the most effective meds for neuropathic pain. Keep the faith, Geeps
Letitbe, lyrica is pregabelin, not the same as Gabapentin. Gabapentin has been proven in double blind studies to be the most reliable and effective med for neurological pain, BUT,NOT EVERYONE CAN TAKE IT SO THEY RESORT TO LYRICA. geeps
letitbe said:
Hi Paula, all you mentioned are noted side effects. Gabapentin has a lot of issues, it maybe good to others but not to you. High dose cause a lot of problems like panic attack, SOB, difficult swallowing, confusion and anxiety. I been in gabapentin 5 years ago but I discontinue taking it because of side effects. My MD prescribed "Lyrica 75mg BID, its a brand for Gabapentin. It really helps me for 5 yrs now. I also have infusion “IVIG” once a month. I can walked, drive and my gait & balance is good. My life living with CIDP is in a comfort zone.
I've found 900 mgs a day keeps my agitation down.I have reduced it from very high levels and replaced it with medical cannabis of certain special strains which I find a happy mix.It all helps to keep the opiate addiction via codeine under manageable control and replaced SSRI anti-depressants.My preference is to keep off the morphine as long as possible.
I've found a balance which works for me and I am certainly not suggesting anyone should do anything illegal.
All the best.
Lyrica did not work for me either due to the side effects. I hope you find what works for you.
I'm on Gapapentin 900mg. X2 daily and for me it works great for the pain, but I'm also epileptic so it hits two birds with one stone. Happy Camper
Hi Letibe, I've been thru G-Pentin and Lyrica, but no one worked on pain. Maybe I din't try long enough. You felt pain before using it? If yes, how long did it take to go away, after you've started Lyrrica?
letitbe said:
Hi Paula, all you mentioned are noted side effects. Gabapentin has a lot of issues, it maybe good to others but not to you. High dose cause a lot of problems like panic attack, SOB, difficult swallowing, confusion and anxiety. I been in gabapentin 5 years ago but I discontinue taking it because of side effects. My MD prescribed "Lyrica 75mg BID, its a brand for Gabapentin. It really helps me for 5 yrs now. I also have infusion "IVIG" once a month. I can walked, drive and my gait & balance is good. My life living with CIDP is in a comfort zone.
Hi all, I have been treated for CIDP the past 14 yrs - only on IVIG Polygam which is extremely effective for me in getting me back to normality within 5 days after infusion. I do not experience any pain whatsoever, only loss of feeling, balance problems and motor muscle weakness, with sight worsening lately. Otherwise, also completely off Azathioprine replaced with SoluMedrol 1g per month since March this year. Think SMedrol does not support Polygam as well as Azathioprine did. Good luck and keep on reporting. missjones
My legs retain so much fluids when I take gabapentin that I had to be put on a mild diuretic (spironolactone) to help get the fluid off of them which helped make them not feel so heavy & tired. Compression stockings which are sold at most pharmacies and Walmart work good for this too if you can tolerate the tight stockings on your legs. If you have trouble getting them on, buy a pair of dish gloves which makes the process so much easier.
Yikes. Doesn’t that really bum you out when the treatment causes more problems you have to find solutions for? Gabapentin helped me but after just 4days, I gained 4# with swelling in my legs! I abdomen! and hands
I too use the hose and find them really helpful but I take them off half way through the day. I avoided the diuretics because of other medicines I take.Bottom line:I don’t want to give up the relief I get with the drug. Let us know if you find anything else that helps.
Sunshine said:
My legs retain so much fluids when I take gabapentin that I had to be put on a mild diuretic (spironolactone) to help get the fluid off of them which helped make them not feel so heavy & tired. Compression stockings which are sold at most pharmacies and Walmart work good for this too if you can tolerate the tight stockings on your legs. If you have trouble getting them on, buy a pair of dish gloves which makes the process so much easier.
Hi everyone,
I am taking Gralise which is a once a day, extended release version of gabapentin. I currently take 1200 mg in the evening with a meal. It only took 300 mg for me to start feeling pain relief and the effect has been nothing short of phenomenal. I have only been on it about a month, but so far I can’t say I’m having noticeable side effects.
Unfortunately, Gralise is currently approved only for nerve pain following shingles (post-herpetic neuralgia). I did have to explain to my insurance company (UHC) that I have tried other meds and that I was treating nerve pain, but it was promptly approved.
I wanted to toss this out there in case this version of gabapentin works better for some of you. Let me know if you have specific questions.
Joy, glad to hear about your relief from pain! I too tried Horizant, a once a day Gabapentin derivative with the same relief story. Unfortunately, I couldn’t keep it up past a few months due to the cost ( no prescription insurance). I had to resume Gabapentin, less costly and less effective. Your story is enough to try it again! Thanks.
I take 600mg 3 times aday of gabapentin and no side effects …wishing you well
I’m always glad when someone has relief without side effects from Gabapentin because it is so affordable but it usually comes with peripheral swelling of varying degree that may require stockings &/or diuretics. I also must admit some envy because it seems it takes more and more Gabapntin to effect relief. Research shows that the more Gabapentin you take, the less well it is absorbed. It’s getting where it’s not worth tolerating the side effects for th little and brief the pain relief. Am I whining?
Sue Jones said:
I take 600mg 3 times aday of gabapentin and no side effects …wishing you well
Holy Cow mdolich, that's a ton of meds, all for the same thing but I guess you got to do what you got to do. Have they done any follow-up blood tests to see if there's any effect on your vital organs? Hang in there , my friend.
mdolich said:
Your right Geepster. I have edema in my ankles due to Gabapentin, and I have to wear compression stockings. I take 3600mg a day (1200mg 3x day). From what I've been told 3600mg is the max allowed. My neurologist tried to boost it up to 4800mg, but the VA (veterans hospital) pharmacy refused saying 3600mg is the max. Not sure if that applies to outside pharmacies. I was building up a tolerance to it so they put me on 300mg (100mg 3x day) Lyrica to go along with the Gabapentin. It does help.
Good Luck, "Stay Strong and keep a Positive Attitude"
Geepster said:I'm always glad when someone has relief without side effects from Gabapentin because it is so affordable but it usually comes with peripheral swelling of varying degree that may require stockings &/or diuretics. I also must admit some envy because it seems it takes more and more Gabapntin to effect relief. Research shows that the more Gabapentin you take, the less well it is absorbed. It's getting where it's not worth tolerating the side effects for th little and brief the pain relief. Am I whining?
Sue Jones said:I take 600mg 3 times aday of gabapentin and no side effects ...wishing you well