I had to look up Neurontin.... but found out it is the brand name for what I am taking, Gabapentine.

Over the last 2 1/2 months I have gone up to 1800mg a day, and we are probably going to go higher my next visit.

I have noticed one change in my hair, but I had put it on other things. Mainly that six months ago my daughter bleached the front of my hair out and died it purple. Since then the bleached part of my hair dried up and started breaking off, so we gave me bangs. I have not noticed any change in the rest of my hair.

Now... I have noticed the following

1) huge difference in my pain relief!!
2) blood sugar swings
3) lack of concentration
4) hungry all the time + neasua = weight loss

good luck

yadlim

As far as i know this is not a normal/expected side effect.
There can be other things going on though - hair commonly falls out from adrenal and thyroid problems as well as stress ( emotional, physical)
Also, humans can shed hair just like animals, every so often in larger amounts than normally. I seem to shed every september .
I d bring it up with your doc and watch for further hair loss and amount.
It is possible it is from Neurontin, but i wouldn't bet on it.

Hi meg, I'm currently on 3600mg of Neurontin (gabapentin). In the beginning I lost a lot of hair to the point where I could see my scalp. Whenever I brushed it I always got a handful. I also gained 72lbs in a little over six months. It will be two years next month that I started it & I would say the hair loss quit by a considerable amount within six months. I had the same issue with Lyrica the cousin drug to Neurontin.

The big thing you need to ask yourself is do the benefits outweigh the side effects. You are on a really small dose and if your having these side effects on such a little amount I would really talk it over with your Dr. Please keep us posted on how your doing.

Hugs & God Bless
Lisa

Hi,
I agree with Aronia, Gabapentin can cause hypothyroid or thyroid hormone to drop, might want to get your thyroid tested: TSH, fT3, fT4 checked. Another side effect is lowering adrenals.
http://doublecheckmd.com/EffectsDetail.do?sid=12968&eid=1359
I tried that stuff, had loads of sideffects and no pain reduction. I hear it is a hit and miss, works grea for some none for others. Lyrica was just as bad, I was taking the maximum amount, blurred vision brain fog and no pain reduction, the doctor suggested reducing the dose, I told her that it wasn't working a the max dose, why would I keep taking it?
Good luck!

I was on 900 Milligrams of Gaba per day for a month and felt nothing. Not only did I not have any adverse side-effects "other than some lucid dreams" I also had no pain relief from this drug. I don't know if they are supposed to keep on increasing the dose until you actually feel something, but my Pain Management doctor never returned any of my calls and I just stopped taking this med cold turkey. I am open to trying it again in the future, but that is if it does not affect my blood sugar, because I have recently been diagnosed as a diabetic. It all boils down to benefit VS side-effects. If you are getting a good amount of pain relief from this med, then you might be able to put up with some of your hair thinning. I know it is hard to do being a female. If you're not experiencing any noticeable pain relief, then I would talk to your doctor about upping the dose until you feel some pain relief, or possibly discontinuing this med. I hope that helps you some. Hugs!

Jeremy!

I agree that you have to weigh the pros and cons.

I started getting physical pain relief the very first night. I started getting side effects when I got over 1000mg a day.

If it is not helping enough, the side effects are not worth it.

yadlim - oh the lucid dreams are freaky

I take thyroid medicine, so my levels are checked often. I went up to the 300 mg once a day but haven't gone any higher yet. He wants me at 900 mg by now, but I am getting some relief from 300 so I am being cautious about more. My hair is breaking off at the crown now and starting to stick straight up! I have had a deep conditioner at the salon I go to, hoping that would help. Thanks for all of your suggestions.

Hugs - I wish I had more to offer.

The longer I am on this med, the more I am not a great advocate of it. I won't play down the fact that it has taken my spinal pain down to a tenth of what it was a few months ago, but it has done so at a great price - but a price that I am currently willing to pay.

I am currently on 1500mg a day, and probably going to stay there until something better is offered.

yadlim - offering understanding and hope

Pardon, if I am intruding a bit. I will probably be starting on neurontin next month. I'm concerned about the hair loss too. Mine is already thinned. I am also wondering about the cost of 300 mg daily dose? That's what MD was saying I'd be taking within a couple months.

So - I have not had any hair loss. I am taking 1500 mg a day for the last 6 or 8 weeks now. I started on it back at the end of June?

I can't tell you about cost as the VA covers mine.

Yeah - I started at 300 mg a day and was up to 900 mg within a week. I went up to 1800 mg a day, but have had to back down to 1500 mg a day.

the pain relief is great.

I am planning on going up to 600 mg starting this weekend. Just getting used to the 300 mg. still. I am not sure how I will handle getting up in the morning and taking that first dose and being tired at work.

Yeah - I get to sleep now at night, but I also take one or more two hour naps during the day.

I'm on 1200mg per day and I noticed some shedding in the beginning. Yadlim and I have pretty much the same story, but I haven't seen much improvement in my pain level (probably because Gabapentin is not for the one pain that rules my day......which no one can figure out how to treat before the bills get so high I can't pay them). Here's a tip for combating the hair loss, though, get some cold pressed castor oil and add it to your shampoo, conditioner and anything else you put on your hair. Just a bit each time will do. It promotes hair thickness and growth.

Sending hugs,
Stephanie

That sounds like it should work... I know I add canola oil to the diet of the horses to promote thick hair. Many people also spray it in the tails for longer tails. Things that make you do HUM....

I am sorry it is not working for you. It seems to work only with a very specific type of nerve pain. I know that it kicks the butt of my pain from my spinal injury, but does nothing for my knees, shoulder, or anything else that might be hurting that day.

hugs and wishes for a low pain day to all