Neurontin and medication

This stuff makes my stomach burn and feel bloated. Also bad indigestion and chest pains. I'm only on 300mg. I am on the medication for diabetic neuropathy which it works wonders for. Does anyone know of there are any other meds that treat these symptoms without the constipation and complete loss of sexual desire?

I was prescribed this medicine by my back doctor as I have a herniated disk in my lower back. Injections didn't seem to be doing anything and since this medicine which is intended to treat seizures, has the side effect of blocking nerve pulses to the brain. I thought I would give it a try and see if I could get through the day. I had been on Hydrocodone but that stuff made me dizzy and nauseated if I didn't lie down after taking it. I don't remember the exact dose but I don't care to one way or the other. I had auditory hallucinations and a migraine headache for 3 days. I ended up missing two days of work and could barely function. Maybe that was the idea as a seizure medication it would dope them up and they wouldn't need to function.

I have just been put on Neurontin and found out about this weight gain thing!! I am freaked out. I have come off of Topamax due to I could not handle the side effects and I was like I was in a coma. I am also on lexapro for depression so the topamax really effected me. The Neurontin has said to be given to bi polar patients but from what I have read people are having depression problems on it. So the whole weight gain and the depression thing is scaring me.

I was first prescribed Neurontin in November of 2008 for cervical disc bulge touching my spinal cord causing severe nerve pain in my left extremities. I was prescribed narcotics and eventually prescribed Neurontin. The side effects from Neurontin, at that time, were seemingly intolerable, but as the narcotics were decreased several months later, I found the Neurontin was actually effective and did its purpose. The side effects from the Neurontin were not that great to outway the pain factor I had. I believe this drug does its job!!!!

Hello everyone..I have many great things to say about Neurontin. It has been a miracle medication for me. I was in a car accident in 2000 as a passenger my face and head hit the windshield at 80mph. my jaw was broke and the back of my teeth were broken.
Little did I know it was extremely traumatic! My MRI's came back fine and I moved on with my life. About 6 months later my life began to change a brown spot covered my eyesight in the left eye. I began falling all the time and having seizures.
I had another MRI's of by brain done it came back negative. Not one Doctor could seem to understand what was wrong with me. I was put on Topamax for bad headaches that seemed to help. I began loosing weight and continued having seizures(Granmal) where you lose ur vision and it began to effect my speech and i would become confused.
My life was like this for 5 long years. Life didn't get better, I began to be soo tired and felt exhausted all the time. One day out of no where , I couldn't raise my head to get out of bed for work, my whole right side was burning and i was in pure agony!!! i will never forget that day. I had to have my Daughter help me up and i could barley walk...I pushed myself to keep going thinking this is all in my mind!! theres nothing wrong with me.. The MRI's are negative. I proceeded with my day in so much pain and limping all day.
It finally went away and I was fine again fo a small amount of time, I started not being able to remember things ....and forgetting from one second to the next and getting lost when I would drive...i began to panic and have anxiety, I felt like my life was out of control. I called my Mom and she said she had noticed a change in me, things I guess I didn't even know. She said I couldn't hold a conversation as before and i would slur my words and I couldn't recall what she would tell me.
My attacks moved to 4-5 times a week sometimes having seizures 2-3 times a day. I ended up having to be taken care of and moving where my Mother was so she could watch over me. I didn't get better. I couldn't work and I couldn't do much of anything.
My Mother took me to a MS specialist and he was the one who noticed there was something wrong! My face and legs would jerk and I couldn't sit still ..I had so much going thru my mind what could be wrong? I had 2 Sets of MRI's this time and it wasn't fine this time...My Spinal Cord was barley attached to my Brain Stem and CV 5-6 in my neck.
I was at the stage of being in a wheelchair not that I hadn't been using one from time to time and needing a cane.
I was sent to ER Surgery and had a stay in the Hospital and really thought I was a lucky Person to have made it for 5yrs without dying. It has been 4years and I still have soo many problems, I'm held together with a steel plate in my neck that holds mt together.
I'm now 41 years old and I wonder what my future holds. I'm not the same girl I used to be and probably never will be. I have to have Neurontin 600mgx4 a day and 1000mg Keppra a day...Without it I would not want to live the pain is unbearable for me! The only negative side affect is my hair falls out and I have severe Insomnia. Neurontin is a Miracle for me!

I wish all of you the BEST! Prayers for all of you.....

I feel like I am walking on clouds; I feel light-headed; I can't think straight/logically; I feel drowsy; I see strange images that are not really there; my stomach is bloated and I have severe, disgusting gas; and my vision is blurred. All this to kill my carpal tunnel pain? It's high time I get off of this poison. I suggest all of you do too.

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 am my husbands caregiver. He is on many medications the last 26 years due to chemical poisoning thanks to our government not protecting their civilian painters at the Army Depot where he worked.
He has permanent brain damage, CRS damage, memory loss and short term memory, CHF and Bollis Emphysema. Now he also has Type II diabetes a severe case as he was not diagnosed for 7+ years of testing.
To make this short. He has been on many drugs for pain, diabetes, blood pressure, the brain damage, ( he is a recovering, not drinking alcoholic)
Recently the doctor took him off the Codeine # 3 that he had been taking for almost 15 years, 8 per day. and gave him time release Morphine Sulfate.15 MG. They also gave him Gabapentin for the neuropathy which is severe in his feet and starting to go up his legs. He is over weight, above the waist, and has not had a problem with High Blood Pressure, for many years since taking 60 mg daily of Inderal. His Blood Sugars have been between 98-140 without medication. When he was first diagnosed he was put on glyberide and it worked so good he was off it in 6 months and totally diet controlled since then but about every 3 years he would go on it for about 6 months and then he was ok again.
He has not needed it for the last 7 years. Since starting the gabapentin he went from 300 to 600 to 900 and slowly increased the dose to 1600 mg. The 300's are caps, the 600's are tablets.
All the sudden he has pounding headaches, I took his BP which we had not been watching and it was 198/115 with a 98 pulse. The only change was the gabapentin and Morphine. The morphine does not seem to be causing any side effects, once he was used to getting sleepy.. but once the gabapentin was added, all he does is sleep. The blood sugars also went up with the blood pressure. His were 358 higher than they have ever been except when he was first diagnosed. I was able to get the glyberide and that is bring down the sugar levels only taking 1/4 tab 2 x a day, and the blood pressure is also coming down, it was 139/85 with a pluse of 76 which is still too fast. I talked to some pharmancy friends and they said " Its the gabapentin " so I told the doc I wanted to stop it and he said to start leveling off, one 300 mg cap every 4 days. We were down to 2 a day till Friday and saw the doctor. Due to his taking Cymbalta they did not want to give him any of the other anti depressants so they want him to back on the gabapentin up to 1200 a day instead of the 1600 a day.
Taking into consideration his medical issues and meds, I don't believe this is a safe or sound decision, but I know how much pain he was in before the gabapentin.
I wish they would be more forthright about the side effects of this medication. They said it only causes blood sugar issues in 1 % and they did not even address the high blood pressure etc.
His pupils are also different, he has the kidney pain, but his biggest problem is sleepy.. hopefully it's not his kidneys or his heart. They did blood tests on Friday and I am asking for a EKG.. in the mean time we are monitoring both blood pressure and blood sugar 6 or more times a day. Thank you so much for sharing. It really helps to know we are not alone.

I started out exhausted and dizzy as I was upping the dose for the first 3 weeks and then magically all of my pain was gone! I have chronic back pain due to L5/S1 disc removal, bulging discs and degenerative disc disease. Everything was great until I got my period and it started for 1 day and stopped w/mild spotting (that is not normal) the Dr. suggested I was pregnant when I KNEW that I wasn't. After the 4th week on the medication my hair started falling out. 1st more strands than normal and now by the handful! It is obviously thinning. Has anyone experienced this? Is the follicle permanently damaged by the chemicals? I've since weaned myself off the medicine and am in complete pain again. This seems to be one of the rarer side effects of this medication. Has anyone experienced this?

I have been on 900 mg/day of neurontin for about 2-3 months. Recently I have developed rash spots on arms, body and neck. I have appointment with doctor in 2 more weeks. Has anyone else experienced rash from this medication? Am on several other medications.

I just got my first prescription for Neurontin. When the pain management doctor told me he wanted me to try this, I asked him if there wasn't anything on television regarding this drug & suicide? He said he wasn't aware of anything. No sooner do I get home & the commercial for a law firm says if you or anyone you know has commited suicide while taking this medication contact 1-800 so & so..I am terrified of trying it! What do you recommend? I am truly afraid of that particular side-effect, the one where you get so depressed that all seems hopeless & commit suicide. Can anybody advise me?????Thanks, Margarita

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.

I've been taking Neurontin for about 2 months (300mg 3x/day) to lessen the pain of occipital neuralgia.....the pain is still present, but not disabling. This is the only medication I am taking.

Side effects I've experienced are extreme fatigue the first couple weeks....then, tired often if I don't get enough sleep. Another thing I've experienced is weight gain and increased appetite - Big time!! All I want to do is eat.

I'm forgetful and miss doses often. If I skip two doses, the pain comes back full force and I'm in bed for a day.

wish you all the best.

Someone here mentioned one pupil was "unequal", which I found interesting: I had an eye exam a couple weeks ago for eye pain; it was noted that my left pupil was more dialated....this is a first for me. However, overall, my eyes are good...

I have horrible nerve pain of the right hip and leg ,all the way down to my toes, after two four level bone fusion sugeries.This has been going on for three years so they put me on Amytriptyline to help me sleep. Because the pain was waking me up after three hours of sleep. Then they put me on Neurontin 900mg a day for the nerve pain and my world turned upside down. I was tired all the time,weak, and it was very hard to concentrate and function. I had to stop taking it because I didn't think it helped my pain enough to put up with all the side effects. I'm on new medication and this one is much better then neurontin. To all those other people out there good luck I know how you feel, it would be great to feel pain free for just one day again!

i have been taking this medication for quite a while.
I take 100mg 2xaday.now i am having side effects of this
feeling depressed and will burst inot tears for nothing.

I have consulted my dr. about this drug.hopeful she can tell
me what i have to do.

After taking 200 mg a day for 5 months I developed hives on my stomach and love handles. The itching is driving me nuts. Anyone else have this and could it be kidney damage at this low dose?

i started taking neurontin last march2003 for severe neck pain. i had to start very slowly as the side effects were quite
severe in dizzyiness and light head. the drug worked very well
but about a month after i noticed very severe pain, numbness and burning in my feet.i have put up with this till i am at my wits end. even had cortisone injected into my feet to try to help. that didn't work. really stirred things up. i am going to go off neurontin slowly ,i take 300mg x 4 times a day. will i have bad side effects when i am going off it. i am on a lot of medication and have 3 heart stents. i am concerned that all my medication are interacting with one another

hi. i take 300mg neurontin twice daily for partial seizures.
i have experienced a great deal of kidney/liver pain since i have been taking this medication(1 1/2 years now), along with abdominal cramps, bloated torso sensation, lethargy, and a lack of concentration and co-ordination/balance.

i have had liver and allergy tests and the results came back normal.

the pains vary from mild discomfort, to stabbing sensations in my kidneys that prevent me from sleeping.
as i have been seizure free for two years now, i would like to try and gradually wean myself off the medication. has anyone any suggestions as to good ways of doing this, and things to avoid.
thanks for any help,
a.b.

This freaks me out reading all of these...I just expierenced something....

I was in the hospital because they thought I had a stroke. I am only 26 years old. My whole right side when numb and weak and it was my leg, arm, and face, and lips, nose, and eye areas. It then went away after 48 hours. They have no idea what it was. they have done MRI's and ruled out Bells Palsey and tons of stuff. I also see flashing lights so they are starting to lean towards migraines.

The only weird thing is that I went in a while ago for extreme belly pain burning and they found that my liver was enlarged.

Now, someone else above mentioned these stroke like symptoms and the enlarged liver.

I also get strange thoughts. I am on Neurontin 2100 MG for anxiety.

Anyone have any advice?

******

I am totally suprised at the various things Neurontin is prescribe for. Neurontin is an anti-seziour medication. I am taking Neurontin, Lamictal for Bipolor as they say...which I truely do not believe in diagnoses at all. I just attended an all day conference put on by Dr. Glasser, intitaled, also his book, "Danger, Psychiatry can be dangerous to your mental health."
The pharmicutical companies are making lots of money off of us since we are ginipigs. I have expereinced on anti-psychotic, Prolixin, shouldn't be on in the first place, only 2nights..spent two hrs in ER. As for Paxil gained 100lbs on (Jan97-Aug.02), & when tapered of had withdrawal symptoms (week after I started withdrawal, I saw a story about it on 20/20) even though withdrawal symptoms left it took me a yr to recover, whats positive of getting off the med, I have lost the 100lbs, + 5 more. Depakote, also caused some weight gain and some hair loss (taken off this before yr before paxil) One thing dr. never tell you is the long term effects or if there is any withdrawals.
I think the best way is to learn the ends and outs of all your medications you are taking. You know your body better then they do. Even if prescribe medication, learn all u can about it before taking it. Expecially the medications that effects your brain. I also feel that some of this medications can cause harm to a brain. You do have choices and its your life. (There is much more to this story about me, for example, pinch nerve in neck for 13yrs). If u would like to know more about me or have any questions I will be more then happy to reply back. ******

Since starting on Neurontin for headaches, a little over a year ago, I've been diagnosed with: IBS, Colitis and High Blood Pressure. I have also had swelling and pain in my ankles and legs and constant debilatating abdominal pain and bloating. I tend to go from constipation directly to diarreha. I never had trouble with my blood pressure (other than with my first pregnancy) until I started taking this medication. It always ran about 115-120/75-80. I've started looking at info. on the web regarding Neurontin. I've learned a lot. It has many more side effects and medical causes than I was first informed about. The makers are also being sued for having their Reps. lie about it's uses and "cures". I've also read that it has terrible side effects when trying to stop. It has helped my headaches, but I feel I've paid a price for them to stop. I think that my headaches were not as bad as the abnominal pain that I'm experiencing. I'm going to see my Dr. and find ou how to stop taking it.

I've been on neurontin for about 3 years. I take 2400mg per
I have all of the ill effects mentioned above plus one more. My vision is impaired 40 % worse than when I first started this medication. I would have to say that I too am very frustated with this medication now. I have short term memory loss, weight gain, chest pain, constipation, swollen extremities, no sex drive, headaches, excessive feelling of euporia, depressed, and much more. The one thing I can say is that it did help the problem for which I was prescribed. Chronic neck pain/spasms. Go figure!

Ihave been on neurontin for a year,have severe back pains since I have been on this medication.I hope that I am not having kidney falure.Please help if you've had this problem.

Hi Viv,

Wow you take 1800mgs 3 times per day. Well I heard the top dose it 5000mgs per day from my shrink. Right now I'm on 2400mgs starting today. So far it seems to be just starting to help w/ the IBS. I only found the dizzyiness and the high as a kite feeling just after increasing my dose but nothing extreme. Maybe he put you up to fast. I started out on 300mgs per day and then upped it only 300mgs every 3 days. Maybe your doc jacked you up to fast to the maxium. My doctor says its a safe medication so I am going to give it my best shot and hope it helps with my IBS it seems to be just starting to slow my mind a little so maybe that will help my gut and I can find better ways to deal w/ my damn stress and learn to relax I have tried every herbal remedy out there and to no avail nothing worked. I'm really rooting for this Neurontin because its costing me my full copay there is no GENERIC for this drug which is very dissapointing if it does work its going to cost me some money to continue to take it. Maybe my doc will write the script for more than one month otherwise I don't think I will be able to keep taking it its very expensive I don't know what people do without insurance to afford their drugs. Anyway hang in there and ask your doctor about going up slow on the drug maybe you did already I don't know. I don't find the side effects to be that bad.