Neurontin symptoms and conditions

Lisinopril causes burning and tingling sensations in your feet (peripheral neuropathy). The neurologist insists that the Lisinopril simply "unmasked" a hidden glucose problem. My primary physician does not understand what that means. I have stopped taking the drug. It has been over a year and the side effects remain. I tried 10 sessions of acupuncture which seemed to alleviate some of the pain & discomfort in my heels and middle of the feet. I have started a treatment of folic acid, B1 & B12. I also recommend diet & exercise. I was prescribed gapapentin by the neurologist; it alleviates the side effects but does "cure" it.

I have been on neurontin 300 mg for only 2 weeks, if not less and I feel the weight gain. I'm either bloated or this is unbelievable. I have a disc in both my left hand and my lower back, fibromayalgia and Lupus. Therefore, the severity of my pain is unbearable. With Neurontin, there is no pain. But, there is the dizziness, weight gain, forgetfulness and just feeling incoherent and drunk. I don't think I can handle the side effects. So, I do have a question, if I've only been on neurontin for two weeks, can I just stop them on my own or do I need to speak to my Dr.? I know he will tell me not to which is why I'm asking. I have an issues with my weight and gaining weight would destroy my psyche. Thanks for listening ..it's nice to be able to find common ground with people. I don't feel so alone anymore.

I just read the new article about Cody Miller and Dr. Douglas Briggs, who was taking Neurontin. That further confirms the work that I was doing to collect research regarding problems with GABA and suicide. How these drugs affect the brain chemicals is very complicated. I believe that the pharmaceutical companies do know that it is possible for a series of things to go wrong and create terrible adverse side effects in some people - not all.

I will be extremely disappointed if the FDA allows these companies to sweep this under the rug.

Suicide risks studied in drugs for physical ills
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR – 1 day ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Cody Miller was a high school football player who was allergic to ragweed. Douglas Briggs was a doctor coping with pain from an old back injury.
Both are now dead, hanging victims driven to suicide, their families believe, when drugs prescribed to relieve physical symptoms upset their mental and emotional balance.

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This testimony should help strengthen our case for warnings for Singulair.
Neurologist Sought Warning for Pfizer Drug
By JEREMY SINGER-VINE
June 20, 2008; Page B10
A British neurologist who analyzed effects of the drug Neurontin told a court hearing Thursday that he advised its maker -- now a unit of Pfizer Inc. -- to include a warning on the drug's label for potential side effects of depression and aggression, but his advice wasn't followed.
The University of London neurologist, Michael R. Trimble, was testifying at a hearing to decide whether civil cases brought against Pfizer alleging suicides linked to Neurontin can proceed. The hearing was jointly held by judges for U.S. District Court in Boston and a New York state court who are hearing similar cases. In various lawsuits consolidated in the federal court, plaintiffs allege more than 100 suicides were connected to Neurontin usage.
Dr. Trimble described what he said was a "plausible biological pathway" that could lead from the compound gabapentin -- the chemical name for Neurontin -- to suicidal behavior, hostility, and aggression. Dr. Trimble said that in 1995 and 1996, he was hired to write two confidential reports for Parke-Davis -- now a unit of Pfizer -- because the company "was concerned about psychosis in relation to their drug." Dr. Trimble said he was unable to find a link to psychosis, but noted effects of depression and aggression.
Lawyers for Pfizer argued at the hearing that the evidence linking the drug to suicidal side effects wasn't scientifically sound. Under cross-examination, they challenged his description of a pathway as a patchwork of studies that didn't prove a biological connection. Neurontin and generic forms of gabapentin are approved for treating epileptic convulsions, but have also been prescribed widely "off label" for other conditions.
In five of nine patient cases he analyzed in 1996, Dr. Trimble said he saw depression and aggression in patients who had no previous symptoms of the side effects, so he said he recommended to the company that the drug "should carry some kind of warning" for susceptible patients.
Thursday's proceedings were the initial phase of a hearing requested by Pfizer to challenge the opinions of the plaintiffs' experts. Under cross-examination and a subsequent examination by the plaintiffs' attorney, Dr. Trimble said the biological pathway between Pfizer's Neurontin and suicidal events were plausible and supported by a series of peer-reviewed neurology research.

I was hospitalized about four months ago for a total of three days due to a massive kidney infection, during three days in the hospital I was pumped full of Levaquin. I began suffering what the doctor believed was a migraine on the second day, let me tell you it was far worse than any other migraine I had ever had. So not only did they send me home with a prescription for Levaquin they sent me home with a migraine prescription. I took Levaquin for a week after my departure from the hospital, I am young and very naive when it comes to doctors and hospitals and I had faith in my doctor that the medicine they prescribed me was good for me. After suffering from a migraine for almost two straight weeks I began to suffer from blind spots in my eyes, and a kind of slowing down effect. I would get up and it would cause my head to feel like it take my mind and my eyes a couple minutes to catch up to my body, vertigo. Well I returned to the hospital and was told I was suffering a migraine, once again, no migraine I had ever had caused blind spots. They referred me to a neurological ophthalmologist who took the time to look at my eyes, and diagnosed me with Pseudotumor Cerebri. He told me that the medicine had caused pressure to build up in my head and caused hemorrhaging in the back of my eyes, hence the blind spots. I have a scheduled MRI to validate the doctors concerns, but the treatment he is telling me may reverse the affects is a long term treatment, and has a possibility of not being successful. So for a medicine I was given to treat one thing I acquire something far worse and all for trusting a doctor to have my interests in mind

not sure if my symptoms are from my kenalog 10 injection but right after my injection I lost 15 pounds in about a month and all my muscle mass in my legs, arms, and butt. I then got tingling in my hands and feet which have advanced to my arms and legs as well! My face burns as well. I am now on Neurontin hoping this will get under control. Does anyone know how long this will last???

not sure if my symptoms are from my kenalog 10 injection but right after my injection I lost 15 pounds in about a month and all my muscle mass in my legs, arms, and butt. I then got tingling in my hands and feet which have advanced to my arms and legs as well! My face burns as well. I am not on Neurontin hoping this will get under control. Does anyone know how long this will last???

This testimony should help strengthen our case for warnings for Singulair.

Neurologist Sought Warning for Pfizer Drug
By JEREMY SINGER-VINE
June 20, 2008; Page B10

A British neurologist who analyzed effects of the drug Neurontin told a court hearing Thursday that he advised its maker -- now a unit of Pfizer Inc. -- to include a warning on the drug's label for potential side effects of depression and aggression, but his advice wasn't followed.

The University of London neurologist, Michael R. Trimble, was testifying at a hearing to decide whether civil cases brought against Pfizer alleging suicides linked to Neurontin can proceed. The hearing was jointly held by judges for U.S. District Court in Boston and a New York state court who are hearing similar cases. In various lawsuits consolidated in the federal court, plaintiffs allege more than 100 suicides were connected to Neurontin usage.

Dr. Trimble described what he said was a "plausible biological pathway" that could lead from the compound gabapentin -- the chemical name for Neurontin -- to suicidal behavior, hostility, and aggression. Dr. Trimble said that in 1995 and 1996, he was hired to write two confidential reports for Parke-Davis -- now a unit of Pfizer -- because the company "was concerned about psychosis in relation to their drug." Dr. Trimble said he was unable to find a link to psychosis, but noted effects of depression and aggression.

Lawyers for Pfizer argued at the hearing that the evidence linking the drug to suicidal side effects wasn't scientifically sound. Under cross-examination, they challenged his description of a pathway as a patchwork of studies that didn't prove a biological connection. Neurontin and generic forms of gabapentin are approved for treating epileptic convulsions, but have also been prescribed widely "off label" for other conditions.

In five of nine patient cases he analyzed in 1996, Dr. Trimble said he saw depression and aggression in patients who had no previous symptoms of the side effects, so he said he recommended to the company that the drug "should carry some kind of warning" for susceptible patients.

Thursday's proceedings were the initial phase of a hearing requested by Pfizer to challenge the opinions of the plaintiffs' experts. Under cross-examination and a subsequent examination by the plaintiffs' attorney, Dr. Trimble said the biological pathway between Pfizer's Neurontin and suicidal events were plausible and supported by a series of peer-reviewed neurology research.

WOW, I am so happy to find this site. I am a 56 yr old female. I too am on Toprol. I was on 75 mg 2 x's a day for HPB and mitral valve prolapse pain. Then yesterday the Dr. increased my dose to 100 mg 2x's a day .Today my ankles and feet blew up like balloons. I have been having profuse sweating and was cold and clammy for the past year and no Dr could tell me why!! NO sex drive , depression,sleep apnea, severe insomnia, brain fog, short term memory issues, moody, irritable, my husband has threatened to leave me. NO appetite!! Floaters in my eyes started a few months ago, I have so many symptoms that I have read in all your posts. No quality of life for the past year. I have felt like I was losing my mind, gained 35 lbs in past 2 years without changing my eating habits. I gained the weight after I had lost 50 lbs. Been on Toprol about 2 1/2 years ( I think ) Every symptom I have experienced I have read in your posts!! I have type 2 diabetes and am on glucophage, I also take 10 other scripts. I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, RSD in my left arm, muscle pain and joint pain. Pain in my right upper qaudrant. Nausea/ some vomiting, NO ENERGY, Loss of interest in most of life. So now after reading all your posts I have to ask myself, are all my symptoms linked to the Toprol and not syndromes or illnesses? I am calling my doctor in the morning and getting off this med!! They will just have to put me on something else!!!
So how do I post to receive replies?
Joyce47oh

I've been on Lyrica 75mg 2x/day for Fibromyalgia for 1 1/2 wks. I was on Neurontin for 4 years before trying this new med. The side effect that I'm hoping goes away soon, is around 3-4AM every night that I take Lyrica I wake up to pee and when I lay back down when I close my eyes the room spins like crazy. It's exactly like a night drinking in college but I haven't touch any alcohol in months. The 1st few days that sensation did not go away until the afternoon, but now it's usually gone by the time I wake up to go to work around 7AM. Hopefully it'll just keeping shorter in duration. Other than that side-effect it does quite a good job controlling FM pain.

I was on Lamictal for 4 years and after the first year I suddenly started having all kinds of teeth and gum problems for no discernible reason. But since Lamictal has the possible side effect of "sores or blisters on the inside of the mouth" I wondered if it could be related.

I did a Google search and am coming up with no experts yet, but lots and lots of posts connecting anticonvulsant meds, particularly Lamictal, Topamax, Neurontin, and Depakote, with dental problems. Dilantin is well known for causing gum disease and breaking down tooth enamel, loosening of teeth, and even breaking down of jawbone tissue.

I don't think the experts have connected the dots yet, but is anyone else having this problem?

I have been on Topamax for 4 months and so far the migraines I have suffered for 40 years are gone. Great Some side effects like can't stand carbonated drinks. Reaction time is a little slower. I stress out a little more then I used to. I get really tired at the end of the day. I used to be a night owl but now love my sleep. Question to you all. Any one had problems with their teeth? Such as pain, fillings falling out? Let me know.

I have created a group on Yahoo to talk about the side effects of Gardasil. If you or a loved one has had the vaccine and has experienced side effects, please come and tell your story.

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I'm glad I thought to check to see if Wellbutrin might be causing my hair loss. I had some natural thinning at my temples before and started using Rogaine for women with great success. Then after my mastectomy and breaking up with a guy I went on Wellbutrin. I am currently taking the 150mg three times a day. I am losing so much hair it's scaring me. It comes off my head all day long. Like others have said I also have a handful in the hour, another handful in my comb and then it just continues to jump ship all day long. I have lost at least half of my hair.

2 yrs ago I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy. I have been on Topamax since, because of the severe pain it causes. I have never experienced weight loss and I was on up to 400mg a night. I am now on 200mg a night. My tastes are fine and my drinking sodas were never like metal. But for the fatigue of the disease I also take Provigil in the morning. I have noticed my eyes have changed. Never gave it a thought to be Topamax. Plus I just got new glasses again 3 months ago and am seeing a change in my sight again. Also there is a noise in my ears,not ringing,but sounds like crickets. Never had that before. I was on 2 other meds but I took myself off of them because I really don't like taking so many. The others had worse side effects. Until they find a cure for this disease it looks like I'm stuck with Topamax. This is one pain I will not and can not live with.

you people are a trip, don't you have anything better to do with your lives?
most of you are a hypercondriac and don't even know it, did it ever occur to any of you that you may have other problems? or was that too hard to face the truth about yourselves? if Neurontin was all that bad, don't you think that, that would have all been out? I knew there was some wackos but you guys take the cake, GET REAL!

Up until the end of August, 2007, I was on 20mg of Abilify a day. I weened myself off of the Abilify before my wedding on October 20. Then, I went on my honeymoon to Germany. When I returned from Germany, I could not sleep. This lasted for 3 weeks, until I felt like I had to go to the hospital to get knocked out or I would die. My family doctor told me to see a psychiatrist because I went off my meds without medical supervision. The new psychiatrist prescribed Seroquel for my insomnia. She gradually increased it until I was getting about 6 hours a night. I'm now on 500 mg, which I take about two hours before bedtime. I've noticed an increase in my breast size in less than one month of use. I've also gained about 5-7 pounds. Some days, I feel hazy during the day and some nights I have difficulty taking a deep breath. I am seeing a new psychiatrist tomorrow to see about getting off of Seroquel and on something else. Its great for insomnia, but the side effects are immediate and troubling.

60 yr old/young female: I started generic toprol (metoprolol 50mg xr) yesterday (11/22/07). Took about 3:00 PM. The next morning around 6:00 AM, I had a hot flash that equated to one you would have if you had taken niacin. Body was burning and I was sweating. Looked in the mirror to see if I was flushed, because of the severity of the hot flash I thought my body would be totally red. It wasn't. I called my pharmacist to report this event. He researched and found no evidence of such. He did say that it did not rule out the possibility that it was caused by the Toprol. Asked me to keep him posted as his customers were the ones that helped him be able to report side effects to other. Well I found this site and low and behold I have read of the hot flashes and all of the other problems. I will not be taking this medication. I am not a pro medication person anyway and related that to my dr, but at some point you feel you have to have trust in someone. I don't trust medications. I know at some point in my life I will probably have to take something, but not Toprol. Sounds as though it will cause more problems than it will cure. Thanks so much for your input. It will prevent me from having to wean myself off this mess. Oh yeah, I was also feeling the depressed, anxiety mentioned. Not at a high level , but just knew I wasn't myself. That was after just one dose. I can't imagine how it would have progress. I feel very blessed.

I had a CT scan with Isovue 370. About one week to ten days later, I abruptly started with severe pain, burning and tingling in both legs from about 2 inches above my knees to my toes. Had 2 bouts of cystitis symptoms five days apart. Was checked for infection- had none but had blood in my urine. I have had an EMG, x-rays and an MRI and the doctors find no reason for all this. I have been on Neurontin for 7 mos for this condition and am getting no help from the medical profession. My GP says it couldn't be the Isovue 370 but a neurologist says- probably was but doesn't know any treatment. Please help- it is so painful and I am having trouble walking now.

I was put on Lipitor in 2004 and didn't realize what was happening to me-I thought I was just getting old. (I'm now 66) I went from a very active person to one who struggled to get out of the car and my entire body ached. I was constantly tired, I had trouble putting thoughts together. I would sit at the kitchen table and cry because I felt so awful. I started losing my balance and falling down. In one of my falls in December 2006 I injured my left hip. I went to a chiropractor to see if he could help relieve the pain in my hip. While going over my symptoms and medications he pointed out that the Lipitor I'm taking could cause most of my symptoms. He suggested I call my doctor and talk to her. I did and she said that Lipitor could cause severe muscle aches-she wanted to do a blood test and said that I could just go off the Lipitor. My blood test was normal. That was in March 2007 and I have been off the Lipitor since. The fatigue and muscle aches have gone away. I still have the hip pain (bursitis) and have been going to physical therapy for that. My memory is improving but I still have to concentrate, repeat names and write things down trying to remember. I'm trying to lose weight (most of it gained around my middle). I go to the gym and exercise to try to build my muscle strength. I'm not tired all the time, I've read that the symptoms can last a long time and sometimes may never go away. I've been told by the doctor that if my cholesterol is up at my next visit that she wants me to go back on Lipitor. She also said that if it had been the Lipitor, the symptoms would have gone away right after I went off the Lipitor. I will absolutely refuse to go on any Statin-I cannot take the chance of feeling so badly again.

I have been taking Neurontin for 1 week (300 mg 1x per day and then prescribed to increase to 300 mg 2x per day after 1st week). It has been incredible taking the pain away (hemi-vertibrae bone defect in neck with severe arthritis)!!! Like Oh my goodness wonderful!!! however - by the end of the day - i am 20 lbs bloated and feel like the weight gain is right around the corner... I am very aware of body ( I am a dancer) and need to know if this is going to balance out... i know the answer of it depends oneach person - but some insight would help me not panic right now

I was on Nuvaring from 2002 until 2006, in that time I started having horrible migraines, I had never had a migraine previously. My migraines by June of 2005 were daily..... I was taking Topamax 400mg, Neurontin 2400mg, Altace 2.5mg and Celexa 40mg all daily. Along with Maxalt, Phenergan and Vicodin. I had 3 bottles of botox shot into my head to stop the pain. I went to 3 Neurologists, none of which had any explanation. I was sent a letter telling me that the Nuvaring would not prevent pregnancy with Topamax. I quit using the Nuvaring and within 48hrs my daily migraine went away. I now only take one daily med and will have a migraine during ovulation/period. All of this can be supported by my medical records. I had to go on disability for a short time due to them.

Amanda DeLay RN

I have been taking Neurontin for 2 months. I didn't think it was really helping because I still couldn't function normally. I have had 3 disk surgeries on L4/5, and still have severe pain in my right hip and down my right leg all the way to my foot. I am told there is scar tissue build-up in the area causing the nerve pain. I started taking Neurontin in small doses and have built up to 1200mg 3 times a day. I still couldn't walk more than 20 feet without leaning on something, but the pain was noticably less severe. My doctor put me on Trileptal instead, and the first day off the Neurontin was a nightmare...the pain was worse than ever. I went back to the Neurontin immediately. I have experienced some weight gain, but have attibuted that to no exercise. It does seem to make me forgetful, tired and somewhat depressed, but without it, the pain is completely debilitating. I want my life back, but I don't know what to do from here. Neurontin has helped the pain to a more tolerable level, but if I still can't even walk, I'm not even close to functioning normally. If anyone has a suggestion, I would love to hear it...thanks.

Took mostly for seizures, but have been informally diagnosed with Bipolar II.

Had tremors at night, almost immediately, marked anxiety, weight loss, strange heat flashes, severe headaches (already have a migraine problem), complete w olfactory hallucinations (could have been breakthrough simple seizures, or headache auras).

Felt detached from myself and others. But the most disturbing symptom of all was auditory hallucinations. I have no history of psychosis and this only happened after starting Lamictal. Basically I could hear a constant chirping sound, subtle, but loud enough at night to keep me from sleeping unless my radio was playing to distract me from the sound. Could it have been a new form of seizure? Maybe, but regardless, the sounds started at the time I started this drug. Plus, according to a psychiatrist, I had no signs of psychosis, just the unexplained phantom sounds. One last possibility: Maybe an inner ear problem. Still would like to look into that.

People are right when they say this is still an experimental drug. If I had known what I was getting myself into, I never would have tried this drug to begin with. If any of you have had auditory hallucinations on this drug, without a history of any sort of hallucination or psychosis, PLEASE respond here and let me know about your experience. Thanks!

I was put on Neurontin to help with the side effects of discontinuing the use of Lyrica. Not too bad a trade off .....Or so I thought. Now I have been taking 1500 mg a day for almost a year and I want to stop taking this drug. My memory is shot, I can't find the words I want to say even for the most mundane things, my vision has deteriorated, and the worst of all has been my mood swings and sleeplessness. My family has paid a tremendous toll for this drug. Emotionally - not monetarily.
I just want to stop taking this and can't seem to find any information to help with that. I know neurotransmitters have been affected and I just want to be done with this and have the old me back. I really do miss the real me.
If anyone has been successful at stopping this or knows where I can find knowledgeable support please let me know. Thank you from me and my family.

I'm a female I think of sex but can never climax anymore no matter what my husband and I do, before it was all we could do to stop.