I have been taking it since Dec. of last year. I agree, its been a godsend to me, also. I have had only 1 increase in dosage so far. I haven't had any problems or side effects from it so far.

I'm glad someone else is having good results, too!

i am in NZ and am considering taking this - i think its called neurontin in the US. its gabapentin here. did you know that if you click on the word, it takes you to a page all about it. there are reviews by other people using it.

i have heard (from drs online) that there is a long list of anti-seizure meds that can help with fibro and/or neuropathic pain, and that many people have to try them one by one to find the one that works for them. also, taking more than one at a time may help, but you have to be super careful with risks that way.

i heave heard really good things about gabapentin, and a few not so good things, like all drugs. i know what you mean about dose reduction causing worse symptoms - that has happened to me on another drug. sometimes the short term management of pain is worth the long term risks, sad to say.

for example, oxycontin is my lifesaver. but it can cause osteoporosis so i take calcium and vitamin D and tr to get weight bearing exercise (walking). it can worsen depression, but we just keep an eye on that. it also seems to cause occasional nausea, but still it is worth it.

i have been taking it for several months now. it has really helped me too. it didn't help with the muscle burning, but it helped with the skin pain and all the weird irritating feelings that my skin gets. it used to be so bad that even air or wind would hurt my skin. now it's much more tolerable. so i don't feel like i'm being skinned alive anymore. i'm so happy that it works for you and everyone else it has helped. cool news!

I did try it for a few months, however, since I did not see a noticeable improvement, I stopped.

There is a friend of mine here on DS that takes it and it seemed to be very effective for her.

My doctor told me it was in the 'same family' as Lyrica.

You may want to check above under "Treatments" and see what others have to say about it, as well as the Wekidia?? site that gives more information.

Good luck and hope you find some relief.
Gentle hugs to you, too.

i have a question for you guys... does it help with pain that is not so much clearly neuropathic ie burning, tingling, strange skin pain, allodynia etc. i have neuro pain but it is more deep inside than at the skin level, and its more stabbing/aching than the above. we're not entirely sure it is neuropathic pain, but thats the current 'best guess'.

mystery,
yes, i have the deep nerve pain too. my doc said that the lower doses are for the skin pain but the higher doses are for the deeper pain. i believe that it is somewhat helping. recently my neurologist just started uping my dosage for my daily head aches, sound and light sensitivity. so i guess it depends on how high or low the dosage is that it is used for which treatment. also for the deep nerve pain i had spinal steroid injections. i had 5 in the lower back and 2 in the neck and it has made a world of difference! good luck with it and i hope this helps.

thanks bluesun, that is extremely helpful to know.

I took it for ten years....right away I noticed that I dropped more things...and became MORE INcontinent....I also take Klonopin.....both meds work on the sphinctor muscles of the bladder..
Neurontin worked well for me....helped me sleep and helped keep the bugie man away....but after many years my hands began to shake..It became uncontrolable....I lost my ability to write my own name...painting, etc. were out....I never COULD PLAY PIANO...I still couldn't....I did sleep so sound when I woke I had to hang onto walls to get to bathroom....bad deal...as I am big lady married to deminutive man...If I fell he would be a grease spot....If he tried to lift me would have herniated discs...This stuff had to go....
Dr RX cymbalta..now I still have bladder cramps...Incontinence...blood pressure is higher because I retain fluid from cymbalta use and I think I am going to ask for plane old Trazadone....cause It has hooked my heart failure...and I am afraid of it too....
Blessings...
Hugs
Laurel

Gabapentin is the generic (inexpensive) version of Neurontin.

I have been taking it for about a year now after a year on Lyrica which did nothing, although I may not have been on the correct dose. That is really important.

I think I would die without Gabapentin. My nerve pain is so severe and it really, really helps. It doesn't seem to do anything for my muscle pain though.

I heard a doctor say a few months ago that these drugs are only effective for a year in your system. But I have not heard that from elsewhere. Anyone?

Ok I'm scared...I have been taking it for about 5 months and it has help me to put on a great deal of weight so I am trying to get back to Topamax, my choice of drug because it helped me so much but...My hubby decide to start taking away the neurontin and putting in the topamax without talking to the doctor. Then I talked to the doctor and she said it was ok but to leave it where it was until they figure out the tummy pain.

Mystery you are scarying me. I am going to tell him to stop messing with it until my next appt but where did you see this info on being careful about mixing these drugs??

Hi!

Neurontin (generic) Gabapentin has been on the market for years.

I had to know this information for my former job.
A branded drug (Neurontin) has a patent out on it for 17yrs before a Generic can become available. Unless the Brand is pulled from the market. This was not the case with Neurontin.
And I remember this drug name when I was working for Express Scripts Inc back when I started in 1999....so it's been around for at least 27yrs according to my simple math.

Neurontin and Lyrica are not in the same drug class. They are in the same therapy class. Neurontin was created for epilepsy, generaly used for nerve pain. Lyrica to my understanding was not created for the same reason, but through their studies, they have found that it works on nerve pain.

Unfortunately, I could not tolerate either one. Neurontin (Gabapentin) threw me into rages. And Lyrica I had a dystonia. Neither one was worth the side effect. And I was only able to take 1 pill each at the lowest dose available.

I think it's great when others can take these meds and it helps them.

Good luck to all of those who can handle it. I couldn't be happier for you.