Yes, it is sad that meds are never just all good. Would Lyrica be a better fit for you? I prefer Lyrica because I have the same side effects (increased brain fog) as Gabapentin but feel calm. It wasn't until 5oomg per day that I felt this effect. Far less pain. No more anxiety.

My doctor said Lyrica would be too strong for me.
I am only on 100 mg Gabapentin (50 mg in AM, 50 in PM), and already I'm getting these side effects.

I have to balance pain and PTSD. I've given up attempting to find a med that doesn't irk one or the other at this point.... But that said? Gabapentin isn't for everyone. I can't abide Lyrica-Cymbalta but many have good results, and we've had people get good relief with low dose naltrexone, too, along with various therapies, so.... Let the doc know about the side effects and get on them to find a working alternative for you?

Healing wishes.

I was going to suggest maybe your Dr could decrease your dose , but you are already on a low dose. I had an extreme panic reaction from the first dose. Dr thought it might have been a reaction with another medicine I have to take because I took the Gabapentin in 2000 (before fibro and the med I have to take) short term for something else and did okay with it. Are there any other meds that you take that dont mix well with Gabapentin ?

I'm also taking Wellbutrin in the AM. I checked with the drs and the pharmacist, and they all say it's ok.

(If I take the Wellbutrin (alone, before fibro dx) in the PM, I get insomnia. Wellbutrin is more energizing than other anti-depressants, but I don't tolerate other anti-depressants like SSRI's---they make me way too drowsy.)

But Lyrica is marketed for anxiety and Neurontin is not. I too felt very nervous on Neurontin. I dislike doctors describing Lyrica as stronger as it puts people off. It is more bioavailable, so pain eased at lower doses. Both of these meds can make you feel 'stoned' though. Not good for the fibro-fog. What we put up with for pain is crazy. I hated Cymbalta and it was terrible to wean off.

I've had problems with various psych meds (before the fibro diagnosis) and was suffering from major anxiety. I didn't have the same experience with gabapentin but it wasn't giving me relief (though - either is the Lyrica at this stage)... but in terms of the anxiety... after trying paxil, wellbutrin and effexor - I have found Lexapro to be a MIRACLE drug for me. Hasn't solved it all - but has helped a lot. I no longer am getting anxiety attacks and am on Lyrica/Lexapro - but when I was on wellbutrin the doctor also gave me ativan to take as needed... not sure if you've tried any of the benzos? I was on clonazapem or however you spell it - klonopin at night as well prior to starting the gabapentin and then lexapro.

Many people with chronic pain have low serotonin. I take Cymbalta/Gabapentin combo. Without Cymbalta I have terrible pain. I also opiod medication due to 4 accidents and a large cyst on my neck. To me, 100 mg does nothing. I've had many doctors recently tell me to up my Gabapentin to better control my pain.....both from my Rheumatologist and my pain management doctor. They recommend 300-600 mg 3 x day. I don't take that much because I become a zombie, but in the beginning I was on the taper up schedule to reach 1800 mg/day and I can tell you after 6 months my nerve pain completely went away.

Imo, once it gets in your system after a couple weeks it begins to become effective and you can go into some sort of remission....because I did for a time. Now I have to restart due to not being in physical therapy and needing additional treatment for nerve ablation, etc. I have quite a few problems. Yet still, I don't believe your doctor is writing you an effective dosage to even make a difference. The dosage needs to be tapered slowly upwards to be effective is what three of my doctors told me.
I've also been told Lyrica will not work for me but as many people have said, what works for one person, does not work for another. You have to work closely with your doctor to find out the combination that seems to be most effective. There's never a magic pill, but you can get relief.
ALSO, I can tell you that my body adapted to gabapentin eventually and the side effects eased. Of course I would rather take nothing...but having relief and being functional is a much better option for me. Good luck and God Bless, JP

On Cymbalta but have never been on Gaba. My neuro gives me Tegretol. Honestly none of it actually eliminates FMS symptoms. But I can say that the combo I am on right now (Cymbalta, Tegretol, Amitriptyline and Plaquenil) make it possible for OTC pain meds to reduce my pain down to about a 5 on a scale of 1-10. I can function at 5 at least.

Fortunately, or perhaps sadly depending on how you look at it, I have gotten used to the side effects of these meds. That is to say, I recognize that it is the meds and not me that make me anxious/depressed. So I just have to choose between the two evils. I opt for less physical pain and then do activities (write, paint, sing) to get rid of the emotional pain.

Not sure if this helps you or not, but thought I would share my experience. Hang in there!

Kimber

I am to on Gapapentin 100mg it helps with the pain but I do have increased problems with anxiety from time to time when I first started taking it it made me hyper also but after a cpl weeks that went away I have found gapapentin and diazepam 5mg for my anxiety prescribed by my doctor that I take when needed helps tremendously and does not counter react with the gabapentin. I know what your going through is not easy unfortunetly no medicine is perfect I hope the side affects subside xxxx

100 mg of Gabapentin works for me immediately (next morning) for pain--almost a miracle.

Prior to getting fibro, I had tried SSRI's (Zoloft, Lexapro) and they make me so drowsy I couldn't function. I guess I don't do well with Serotonin meds. Wellbutrin gives me no side effects (after a few weeks)--it doesn't mess with my serotonin, but works with the dopamine and norepinephrine (sp?).

I have been on Gabapentin for 2 months now--great for pain relief and amazing increase in energy level. But I haven't slept well all this time, and was hyper all the time. Even Valium and Ambien sleeping pills could not offset the agitation caused by the Gabapentin.

So I stopped the Gabapentin this past weekend. I slept well for 3 days so far without any meds! Am also calmer. Tiny twinges of pain are sporadically reappearing...

Gabapentin...."Less serious side effects may include:"

dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, tired feeling;
nausea, diarrhea, constipation;
blurred vision;
headache;
breast swelling;
dry mouth; or.
loss of balance or coordination.

Everyone reacts differently. I have fought with side effects with medication but I suppose you have to decide for yourself whether you want functionality or less pain versus the emotional impact. Cymbalta is SNRI not SSRI. Again, you have to choose what works for you and what combo fits your body chemistry best.

Thank you all so much for your suggestions and support.

I now wonder if the anxiety and insomnia the gabapentin causes me may be counter-productive to healing from fibro. I've been reading for a long time now that SLEEP is the most important treatment for fibro since that is when the muscles repair itself. And anxiety itself may be a big trigger to getting fibro in the first place. So if I'm in a chronic state of anxiety/agitation, then my pain baseline would get higher and higher. I need to bring the baseline back down (to normal). Maybe dealing with sleep and anxiety (without the gaba) may be a more "organic" way of healing...

Tptexas, SNRI is "Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor"--that "S" part still messes with my serotonin, which I can't tolerate.

I have been working with a pain management doctor and a psychiatrist (who should know all about neuro-transmitters and psyco-pharmacology) and he thinks I should stay away from meds that mess with my serotonin--my past experiences with these meds had not been good.