Gabapentin; does it work?

I and my partner have noticed a noticeable change in me if I take Gabapentin. It all started about 3 years ago when I noticed really bad mood swings. I come from a mother that deals with mental illness and have always promised myself I would get help if I had a problem. I was told I was bi-polar and 13 years ago I was in a car accident that gave me traumatic brain injury. I tried the pills the doc gave me and they were made me feel worse. I stopped taking them and tried SAM-e. That helped a little. Still I struggled to control my mind and actions. I felt as if someone else was trying to destroy my life. I started drinking a lot more and slowly started losing control. Every day was a battle to run my business to support the fam. Finally I lost my will to run a semi successful business. About a month before I gave in I woke up with terrible pain in my back. I have ulcerative colitis and found out kidney failure was a side affect of the meds I was on. After 2 day of pain I went to the urgent care. Long story short. it was nerve pain from my back being destroyed by a life of masonry. I started taking the gabapentin and noticed my head being clearer. I felt a little better. The prescription has been doubled and my partner makes sure I never miss a dose. I also feel when I miss one. I was just wondering if any one else is on gabapentin and if they have noticed any difference. I feel like I still fight everyday to function but gabapentin is the only thing keeping me grounded. I welcome any input. thanks.

I take gabapentin for anxiety (not sure if you're on it for that) and I love it. Dosing tends to go up since your body can become adjusted to the effects of it (mine has been tripled since June). I'm glad you're noticing a difference!

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I take gabapentin for a nerve problem in my leg. It has certainly helped with that. I can't tell that it has had any effect on my mental issues. I know I took it years ago for a mood stablizer and it worked for some time but quit working and this is the first time I've been back on it.

I take gabapentin for bipolar and it helps a lot. If I run out of it and don't get the Rx refilled for a few days I can tell I need it.

I was on it for six months as a mood stabilizer since Prozac alone just wasn't cutting it. It seemed to help me relax and I slept better. I recently started a clinical study for major depression and they took me off it while I participate in the study. Now, I'm having a hell of a time sleeping again, but I need the $$$ for a new job I'm starting.

Thank you. When I first started gabapentin I didn't notice the nerve pain go away but I definitely notice it clear my head. A lot of the research doesn't recognize it helping for mental health that I found . Glad to hear I am not the only one. I feel as though it is a life saver.

Hi-

Today I went to a neuro psychiatrist.....great visit...she added 300 mg of gabapentin 3x per day. She stated in Europe they use it as an antianxiety drug (?). I do trust her...She had read my file and was nice..not wacky..treated me as a peer..not as a nuisance (see my post on the 100 word med check).

I have some type of drug discount card (I do not have insurance) that an ex gave me(only thing he was good for)...anyway, when I called for a price, it was about $18 for 90 capsules at certain pharmacies. If anyone want the phone # to get this card... pm me!

This drug works on GABA like a benzo It could be what I need. But low doses for pain do not work for mental illness.

I am going to be asking my p doc for a script for gabapentin (also known as neurontin, right?)--I have such severe anxiety that I am reverting to self soothing activities, not too mention all night phone calls, pacing and thinking about death all the time. Are there terrible side effects I need to know about? (I've already had my sex drive axed by SSRIs.)

Weight gain is the only bad side effect for me. I take 1200mg of it and love it.

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I took Gabapentin for 2 months. It did nothing for my moods. I didn't help with sleep either. It's one of those drugs that either works or it doesn't.

For me, with any med it's all about finding the right dosage! I take Neurontin for sleep, but find it makes me hungry and doesn't really help with mood stability or nerve pain! It also, helps me with anxiety, and racing thoughts since it slows down neural activity, but for nerve pain though I love Cymbalta! Best of luck!

Do you notice a slight weight gain or a lot? Do you feel that your appetite has increased, your metabolism slowed, or it is water retention? Sorry to be so full of questions, but I have lost fifty pounds recently and definitely don't want to put it back on!

I put on 25 after losing 40! I think the meds are not the sole reason but it does have some to do with it I think. Does make you hungrier.

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Hey ZeldaX- I haven't gained any weight on it, but I just noticed I get hungry right after I take it! I have to stay on a very low carb diet to avoid any weight gain. I know it can cause water retention as well! I'm on a lose dose, 600mg, where a high dose is 3000mg. Best of luck!!

So much for gapapentin. My pdoc would not give it to me, he thinks the medical trials are not proof enough that it does any good. Instead he has raised my knonopin by double. I am supposed to cut back if I can, so as to avoid developing a tolerance to the new dosage. I'm not sure what to think about this. I guess I have to trust him.

He is entitled to his opinion. I personally think he's wrong. Neurotin has done WONDERFUL things for me and isn't as habit forming as the klonopin. I do hope that he as adjusted your meds to the right setting for you and hey, he's the pdoc, not me lol.

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I'm glad to hear that many people have had positive results with gabapentin. My ARNP told me she prescribes it for anxiety and for sleep problems. I have difficulty with both. She said that gabapentin gets one's brain into a deeper stage of sleep. I've always had sleep issues, so this will be a relief. I experience more pain than other people for a given level of injury. I have scoliosis. Cymbalta helped a little with the pain, but my pdoc from several years ago took me off of it. I'm looking forward to experiencing less pain in my daily life, even if it's just a little.!

I take 300MG x3 per day for Nerve pain from PPMS(Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis) and Disc Damage in my Back and it has worked great for me, but over the last 6 months my does has been increased 3 times and I need another and I don't know how long before my body reaches maximum dose. The other positive effect was it helped with the mood cycles a little and with each dose increase it got a little better, also it has helped me sleep better. The only real side effect I have had from it is with each dose increase I have nausea for a few day.