Hi ~ I am not familiar with that drug. Does it go by another name? I'm SURE it's safe to take, or your doctor wouldn't give it to you.

If it's not giving you any relief, I'd call my doc or make an appointment and let him know that you're just not getting any relief from it. There's no point in taking it if it doesn't work!!! Hopefully, he'll put you on something else. I'm taking Methadone and Topamax, and between the two it at least take some of the pain away. I'm by NO means "comfortable." I've NEVER been comfortable since this whole thing began 24 years ago. I think doctors are scared of prescribing ENOUGH meds to allow us to be comfortable.

Anyway, best of luck and contact your doc. God bless and let us know how you come out. Hugs, Lee

I take that medication and I thank God everyday for it. Now you will get different opinions about this medication but it has worked wonders for me. Now I take one at bedtime and it does make you sleepy but I wake up feeling good now I have heard of some taking it twice a day x's 2 pills and they say it makes them groggy too,well I take just one at bedtime and most of the time it works. Now the weather is also a big part with Sciatica so sometimes nothing will help if the weather is bad. How has he prescribed it for you? Now keep in mind like any drug if it makes you feel sick let your Dr. know. Good Luck hope it helps you, Linda

I have suffered with sciatica constantly for over 12 years now. I have taken 800 mg of Gabapentin 3xday for several years. It isn't helping me much, and does not make me drowsy. I take it with several other medications which are suppose to make me drowsy, but don't. Gabapentin is a generic form of Neurontin, which I have also taken. I have set a new goal of seeking pain management because I have so many issues going on at once and the pain is becoming unbearable. I think I have become immune to the Gabapentin. I have also taken Topamax. Didn't work for me. I hope that you--and I--can find some relief because this pain is more than anyone should have to deal with! God bless.

I used Gabapentin for a week but I was so dizzy and sleepy (I almost fell asleep driving to work!) that I stopped. I'm taking Cymbalta now and it doesn't make me as loopy.

I'm not part of your group, but I am taking Gabapentin for sciatica caused by herniated lumbar discs. I take it twice per day as well as my Parkinson's Disease meds and have no problems with any of the drugs. Gabapentin, as well as stretching my back before I get out of bed, have helped me to be almost pain-free. Physical therapy has helped as well as my pt's advice: if it's just your back that hurts, that's not a big problem but if the pain moves to your hip or leg, that's serious. I just change positions if I feel even a twinge in my hip or leg.

I also take Gabapentin 1800mg a day (2caps-3x daily). It's supposed to be good for decreasing nerve pain. I honestly don't know if it helps since I also take other pain control meds, but I didn't get any side effects from it. Don't know how much you're taking, but my doc was careful to slowly increase the amount until I got to what she hopes is my therapeutic dose.
Perhaps you're taking too strong of a dose right now? I'd tell my doc about it if I were you. Sometimes we do have to 'put up' with a side effect for a little bit before the drug can settle itself into our body. One important thing tho is to make sure that you drink LOTS of water. As we grow older our bodies no longer store the same amounts of water in our fatty tissue and muscles and we tend to get at least somewhat dehydrated and might not even know it. Meds are designed with the general public in mind and many times people who are dehydrated feel more of the side effects.
Best wishes.

I'd recommend doing some research regarding side effects and long term affects/withdrawal.

Personally, gabapentin doesn't make me sleepy (I take 300mgs 3x/day). I also take cyclobenzaprene (20mg, as needed) to compliment the gabap if the spasms in my leg are very bad.

I was told that it could take a while for the gabapentin to work.

There are risks of side effects which include, but are not limited to, depression and suicidal thoughts and actions, so do be careful. Also, coming off of gabapentin is said to rival withdrawal symptoms of benzos! (thats pretty intense withdrawal).

Before taking gabapentin, I tried narcotic pain meds, which didn't help much at all. Thankfully, I asked my doc if she had something that was specific for NERVE pain. If I hadn't asked, she wouldn't have given me this med. She was ready to just send me home to "cope" with the pain. ugh! Clearly she has no sciatic issues herself!