Gabapentin

[Katie]

Hi,

 

I gave in and went back to the doctor today. The pain and muscle tightness in my legs and feet is causing problems day to day but also this burning pain in my ankle is really getting to me, getting worse and starting to keep me awake at night.

 

I couldn't narrow it down to any particular cause and it appears and disappears, sometimes lasting hours sometimes minutes and in between - nothing. Of course when I got to the doctor, although it had been on and off all day, there was nothing but he prodded and asked lots of questions and ruled out injury or muscle/tendon problem.

 

So I agreed to go on Gabapentin on top of the Amytriptline.

 

Does anyone else take this?

Have you found it effective?

Any side effects?

 

Thanks as always.

 

Katie

 

Edited to include tags to other topic links

Edited 20 Aug 2014, 7:56 am by Scully

[eliza]

It didn't suit me, however it is a life saver for many and helps them get on with life. don't give up too easily on trying this. I give up too easily on meds, Worth a try

[Nick]

Yes Katie, I was on this and found it OK, My MS Nurse changed me onto Pregabilin which is also good.

I didn't have any side effects but remain on a low dose and put up with that 'decrepit feeling' as the drug wares off. Having said that these drugs (to me) seem to have to be taken for a while to build up the effect. Try it and see how you get on, I'm always being told to adjust things to suit but don't like to change things too much.

 

Nick

[Katie]

I've been told to go up to 1800mg a day but less if I find that works.

He mentioned Pregablin but said the only difference was the cost. I challenged this and said there must be a difference but he said no!

 

 

[Mal]

Hi Katie

 

I was prescribed Pregabilin by my neuro , but my GP changed to Gabapentin,

because of cost!

 

i got to stage i was taking a really high dose within a couple of months and it wasn't

really helping me , my nurse then wrote to my GP telling her to put meon Pregabilin,

 

Pregabilin is much better than Gabapentin , you should have asked your doctor if they had tried

them lol ......if they did , they would certainly be able to tell the difference !

 

Mal

[Nindancer]

I got rashy skin with Gabapentin, especially my scalp, I agree, Pregabalin is better

Sonia x

[Scully]

Hello Katie,

 

I've added some tags to your post to assist. If you now scroll down to the bottom you will see previous detailed discussions about Gabapentin and Pregabalin.

 

There IS a difference between the two, other than cost. I was on Gabapentin for years, and for the most part it worked, until I got to the top end of the dose, 320+ per day! and it wasn't so effective. Since the switch to Pregabalin, it's been so much better.

 

Read my link here concerning my experience with the two meds. http://ms-people.com/forum/topic/19924-gabapentin-to-pregabalin-switch-my-experience/

 

Do also be aware that both these drugs can cause mild side effects, like drowsiness, in the initial stages, and then the side effects tend to wear off as your body gets used to them. You need to give the meds at least a couple of weeks to take effect and for side effects to wear off.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Scully

Edited 20 Aug 2014, 8:03 am by Scully

[Katie]

The doctor was very indignant when I asked what the difference was. He said it was just the cost but I said 'why make two different drugs if they are both identical, there must be some difference'. At which point he flatly said no! I thought I had a right to know the difference - whether it was the side effects, the effectiveness etc.

 

I will have a look at your link shortly Scully, thanks.

 

I started on the Gabapentin yesterday. I feel a little light headed but otherwise ok so far. I have hoped to feel the effects by my neuro appointment in September so hopefully that will be a decent length of time to let them take affect.

[Scully]

Here is a snippet on the differences between the two drugs Gabapentin and Pregabalin.

 

" Pregabalin and gabapentin are both anticonvulsants used to treat epileptic seizures and a variety of other medical conditions. As medications that are very similar, they do have their differences. The main difference is that pregabalin is the more potent of the two medications. Other differences between the two medications are that the body absorbs pregabalin at a faster rate, and pregabalin also causes less dose-dependent side effects than gabapentin.

 

While both medications are used to treat epileptic seizures, they can be used to treat other conditions as well. Pregabalin, for example, is also used to treat neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia. In addition, gabapentin also treats postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) pan and restless legs syndrome (RLS). A patient

Edited 20 Aug 2014, 10:00 am by Scully

[Katie]

Thanks Scully.

 

That's clearer. I just don't think my doctor knew what the differences were!

 

If Gabapentin helps with RLS too then it's definitely worth a try for me as that is a cause of a lot of my sleepless nights of late!

I guess all I can do is see how it goes, what side effects I experience and how well they work for me.

 

As long as I give them a good enough go, if they are not for me then I can request a change to Pregabalin.

 

When you say you were on 320 a day - do you mean 3200? As in mgs?

[Nick]

More information & cost difference here:

 

http://www.cumbria.nhs.uk/ProfessionalZone/MedicinesManagement/Guidelines/Pregablin-for-neuropathic-pain.pdf

[Scully]

Hello Katie,

 

Yes sorry, I'd got up to 3200 per day. i.e. 10 x 300 doses. And sometimes an extra one during the night too.

 

Absolutely, try Gabapentin first and see how you go. The only side effect I had was drowsiness, which did wear off after a few weeks.

If, after a few months, Gabapentin isn't doing the trick, then go back to GP, armed with the information on the two meds.

 

Scully

x

[Bigbird]

My MS consultant said pregabalin is the 'daughter' of gabapentin and improved. It works better for me and no way is some jerk of a GP going to change it. They are not experts about MS whatever they like to believe.

[Scully]

I have to admit to being completely astonished at the difference Pregabalin has made.

 

It has controlled the pain, almost as soon as I started it, and I do feel better on it.

 

I wouldn't argue with you Bigbird!

 

Scully

 

[derby42]

hi there,

I've been taking it for months now, I started off low and worked up to 2700 mg a day, as I headed up I fell over and was hurt for some time, I didn't know the cause but I hadn't felt dizzy but I reduced my dose just because. I now take 700. mg a day. I did feel a bit drowsy to start with but as scully says this passes. I helps with the burning soles at night but little else for me, I still awaken with leg spasms every morning.

I hope it works for you.

[Mr Trebus]

Hi Katie,

 

I was prescribed Gabapentin for 3 1/2 years for my neuropathic pain ( permanent stinging & stabbing pain in my side,

varying degrees of 'The MS Hug', and tingling foot & hand).

I had to gradually increase the dose up to near the maximum permitted.

 

It kind of worked, took the edge off the pain, but I was tired & vague most of the time. My wife now tells me I

was often irritable too.

 

Eventually, my Neurologist suggested I switch to Pregabablin. It was a revelation!

 

I now take 450mg of Pregabalin each day, in 3 doses. My pain is considerably reduced, and aside from mobility and

fatigue problems, I feel I can cope with my day much better.

 

 

Matt