Hello
I do have neuropathy also in my feet and hands. I tried Gabapentin but I got very, very dizzy and had to stop after 2 doses. I have heard very good things about it and I really wanted to stay on it, but I just couldn't. I wish you the best with it if that is what you are taking. Have good night-Donna

Sistahbear- have you tried lyrica?

Tried gabapentin and couldn't function at work with feeling tired, dizzy and a dull headache. Stopped it.

@bcatz- yes i tried Lyrica but unfortunately I got bad anxiety. I really want to take it and I tried it twice. i m really prone to rapid heart rate (tachycardia) and there are many meds that make my heart feel racing and so I get anxiety. I wanted to take it to help with the Fibromyalgia.

I have anxiety too so I completely understand. I think my anxiety comes from all the worries about RA and other conditions. It never ends does it??
My heart races too. It's crazy when you can suddenly feel your heart beating so fast.

Does anything help your anxiety? I've tried anti-depressants but always quit them before they "kick in". The bp med I'm on slows my heart rate some but it can still "ramp up" when I'm antsy.

my rheumaologist just said she uses it in her RA patients as off label, in her doctor's opinion, for general RA pain.

as an fyi, she does not dispense narcotics except for post surgery or a short term bridge.

so after trying every freakin' nsaid known to mankind, we tried this, the neurontin. she told me there is a big huge dosing range like 100 to 1800 or something and she is only going to script for the lowest baby dose. i am at the smallest dose of 100 to 200 at night only. i just thought this was not a daytime drug. i don't notice the dizziness so I am either immune, it is too small a dose, or I am still too miserable with bursa pain at night despite a new memory foam to notice dizziness.

depot

I take it for nerve pain in my back and now my sciatic. Im having some other weird nerve compression issues exacerbated by inflammation but no technical diagnosis of neuropathy.

I've been on 900mg-300mg 3x a day-for about 9mo or so. I'm fine at this dose although I've been told by one Dr that 1200mg is known as "the sweet spot" where most people get relief and my prescribing MD thinks I should be taking at least 1800mg. The max dose is quite high at 3600. Apparently you start slow & increase til you're comfortable. My side effects at the beginning were scary enough that I did try to stop for awhile but he convinced me to stick with it and its helped. My neurologist prescribes it not my rheumy.

My worst side effects were involuntary muscle jerking and the grogginess. I still have twitches every once in a while but they're not bothersome like they were. We changed my dosing to 1 pill midday and 2 at night which helped. Some people gain a lot of weight on it comparable to prednisone weight but I haven't had that.

Its technically an anti-seizure med used off label for pain. You have to wean off it slowly because going too fast can cause seizures. One of those weird Catch 22 meds that does what it's supposed to prevent.

Hope it helps you. It can take awhile to build up in your system to be helpful.

Take care,
Emerald

been on it for over 2 years. Since before I had neruo surgery on my neck for both median and radial nerves pinches. Have damage on nerves into my right arm that is permanent. Gab has been great. I did have a little dizziness at first but it went away after about a week.

it's better than nothing, which is what the nsaids feel like at night when I am up moaning around.

there is no way I could take this drug though and drive or do anything with concentration. i reserve it for night.

depot

BCatz- I'm sorry I didn't notice you asked a question about my anxiety. It's weird how when my pain levels are higher then my heart rate speeds up along with my blood pressure so it leads to me breathing too fast so usually my anxiety relates to my pain levels. My doctor gave me a script for 30 Klonipin (Clonazepam) to take one as needed during pain flares or when I start hyperventilating. IN addition I also take Seroquel every night to help slow my racing thoughts down and help me relax. It is used a lot as an anti-psychotic med but I don't have psychosis just the inability to slow my body down at times when everything is stressing me out.I hope you're feeling better. Gentle hugs. - Donna

Thanks Donna! I used to take a tiny dose of klonopin to help shut down/sleep but I was worried (LOL) that it was addicting so I quit.

Chronic disease with "pop up symptoms" can really wear a person out!
You would think we'd just get used to it. Nope. Always resisting!