I've been taking Neurontin for about 3 yrs for the terrible burning stabbing nerve pain I get in legs, ankles and feet.

It works pretty well for me. Doesn't touch the muscle pain though and is not a fix for everyone. It's cheap, with a generic.

Everyone reacts differently on these drugs and they can make you drowsy so they usually start you on a low dose and work you up.

I agree with Youdontlooksick it does it's job better then the more costly higher tier drug "Lyrica" I'd rather pay less for the same result!

(I have tried them both)

I like your Doctor for going with the lower cost drug and not with the drug pushing group of Medical Professionals that buy into the newest and best-est today's flavor of drugs and pill pushers.

Hope it does the trick for you and yes at first you may get a bit tired but it will level out.

Hugs

SueBee Scottish

hi there, i take 400 mg of this 2 times daily and it worked to help me with arthritis pain, siatica pain, and you know that oversensitive skin feeling? it helps with that to.

I think i'm the only one on the planet where neurontin dosen't make me drowsey. everyone else reports that they have daytime drowsyness for the first week or so.

It can also make you gain weight because it inhibits the part of your brain that tells you when your full. Porton controll has helped me here.

Sorry to hear about your MCTD. I'm pretty sure thats where you have symtoms and lab work to back up that you have an overlap of different connective tissue diseases like:

rhumitoid artritis
polymyositis
sjorgens syndrome
lupus

i forget what the other one is.

i hope this info has helped a bit

hugs

I've been on it a little over two weeks and it's like a life saver for me. I started at 300mg*3 and after a week bumped up to 600*3. It made me really loopy when I started it and at the bump. I still get dizzy if I turn my head too fast.

Good luck. I hope it helps you.

Thank you so much for your comments. I will fill the script today and start it. I hope it helps me as it has helped you guys.
Have a good day!

Hi Peg, I tried Neurontin when Diagnosed with MCTD early on but was unable to take it for long because I am real susceptible as you are to meds. It made me a zombie. I am hoping that it will work for you because the effects of living with that burning, spasms, stabbing nerve pain is just the worst to put up with for any length of time.
Many doctors categorize you as Mixed connective when the blood work comes back with an elevated SED rate but the ANA and other autoimmune test come back negative. Mine were all negative with a biopsy and increased SED indicating connective tissue.
The Rheumy that I saw said that they could do a lot of tests and find out which one but that would be expensive and since I did not have health insurance, he did not recommend it.
I have symptoms of several different autoimmunes so they just say Mixed.

There is a lot of information out there on it and it often comes with Fibro.

Best of luck as you start this process and stay with this group. It has proven to be invaluable to me in my short stent here. Hugs, Kimmee

I have been on neurontin (gabapentin) off and on for 16 years. My doctor was very aggresive trying to find something for relief for me. I really don't have any side effects from this drug. I take 600x2 and it helps with that very heavy muscle feeling, also with the brain fog. I think that neurontin either helps you nearly as soon as you start it or not at all. Some people I know it doesn't help in the least. I am fortunate with neurontin and meloxican. I feel less than terrible. Which makes me able to work.

im starting neurontin soon too

That is the only medication (besides an anti depressant which I don't think I need!), that I have taken. Although I have pain, my biggest Fibro issue is my nerves not settling enough for me to sleep. I was diagnosed 1 1/2 years ago, and while trying to "diagnose me", I had gone over 24 hours without sleeping, I was going insane!!!! to say the least. My doc prescribed neurton (gabapentin to be exact), and within an hour, I was able to sleep it was the most pleasant experience I have had.

In reading these other posts, it is good to see my psych nurse was right in saying this was a good medication to be on rather than the "all in ones" of lyrica, etc. Good luck, keep us posted!

I take gababpentin, the generic for about a month now and I know it is working, just think we need to up the dose. I am also on meloxacam and I think that is working too, but does have alot of side effects that I don't like as far as can cause this or that.

The gabepentin the first week, made me very tired and gave me that "high feeling", but I fought through the tiredness and it all went away within a week. I love the stuff!

works great for me, took my doc 2 mos. to get the dose high enough but I can now function through my day. Our goal was to get to a point where I could do most daily functions like dishes, sweeping the floor etc. I do nothing strenuous and take many many breaks but I feel like I have some of my life back. I can now laugh and joke and enjoy my wonderful husband and kids. I still get some flares when I overdo but I am really really careful and so far it is working great. I take 300 mg in morning 600mg in afternoon and 600mg at night. This really made me loopy even on the low 300mg dose she started me on, but told me most of that would go away and it did. I think it helps me sleep too I think but does not make me sleepy if that makes sense. I hope this helps you as well as it did with me.

Jak