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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards | negrogesic

Gabapentin Side-Effects?

Phil.McKeer

Phil.McKeer

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Jul 20, 2015
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My mom was prescribed gabapentin 100mg by her doctor for restless legs at night. She had been taking them for about a week and the other day she suddenly passed out (while standing, busy doing something or another) and hit her head. Luckily, she wasn't hurt and my dad was there to help her, but she is 70 and can't risk this kind of thing happening. What if she was driving, etc?

Anyways, I looked over gabapentin's side effects profile, and although "dizziness/drowsiness" is commonly reported, it's not quite the same as fainting.

Anyone taking gabapenting/Neurontin ever experience this? You think it could be an adverse reaction with another drug possibly? Any help is appreciated. She won't see her doctor until next week.

This is my momma and I want her to be safe. Thanks BL.
 
I take Gabapentin an it's older stronger brother Lyrica. I have had no such adverse reactions and I have mixed Gabapentin with a lot of prescription drugs, and never had an issue of this type. Did you say she was taking the Gabapentin for a short time? Like how much do you think she has taken overall?
 
She is probably safe to cease using the medication till she sees the doctor.
Truth be told, any number of things could have caused what happened, starting with maybe she wasn't used to a medicine of that type. That is something the doctor will have to figure out.
It really isn't a bad medicine. Everybody is different.
 
Yeah, my opinion has always been that gabapentin is very safe and extremely useful for a variety of indications. I'm still not sold on it being the culprit, but she is (it's her latest prescription/the newest drug she's taking).

Anyways, thanks for the advice. She has already discontinued the gabapentin until she sees the doc. I'm having her take diazepam to overpower the RLS and help her sleep until then.
 
People do have some weird reactions to gaba, I wouldn't count it out. I find it pretty benign and it doesn't have too many drug interactions or side effects for me. Some find it kind of strong ironically and makes them real tired. I have been on it since 2012 and I am getting off of it. Gonna take me over a year to taper it because I get bad withdrawals from it. Not after a week of use though. Some do develop pretty serious dependencies though after 2 months or so. It such a low dose though I wouldn't be too concerned with it, but if she takes it for any substantial amount of time, she would have to taper it right and it could be uncomfortable.
 
Thanks for that jammin, I'll keep that in mind. I didn't know gabapentin caused a withdrawal syndrome. I'll have her taper down if she continues to take it for a considerable length of time.
 
And when we say taper, we mean slower taper.
It all depends on length of use.
Two months use of Gabapentin, might be a week or so. Three years like jammin83 said, might take him six months or longer. Other people come of the drug pretty fast, but they are the exception.
I don't know how much you know about the Valium you gave your mom, or benzodiazepines in general, but Gabapentin can cause rougher withdrawals then benzos and benzodiazepines can be a bitch to quit.
Just keep in mind that as benign as it may seem, this is a real drug that like any other drug, needs respect and understanding for proper use.
More people than just you will see this thread, so I elaborated a little more for their benefit.
If you have any questions or concerns about Gabapentin or benzodiazepines like Valium, PM me anytime.
 
I know about benzo withdrawal. Thank you, though. I doubt a couple nights using half a pill (5mg) will be cause for concern.
 
Me either. I was giving you an overview and how it is for thousands and thousands of people. We are a Harm Reduction site. My reply is to you, but also to others viewing the thread. Knowing facts never hurts.
 
For sure. As I said, I do appreciate it and I'm sure there are plenty of people who are prescribed or otherwise source benzos and are not warned of the withdrawal syndrome that results from their repeated use, and they suffer grievously for it.
 
Phil.McKeer said:
My mom was prescribed gabapentin 100mg by her doctor for restless legs at night. She had been taking them for about a week and the other day she suddenly passed out (while standing, busy doing something or another) and hit her head. Luckily, she wasn't hurt and my dad was there to help her, but she is 70 and can't risk this kind of thing happening. What if she was driving, etc?

Anyways, I looked over gabapentin's side effects profile, and although "dizziness/drowsiness" is commonly reported, it's not quite the same as fainting.

Anyone taking gabapenting/Neurontin ever experience this? You think it could be an adverse reaction with another drug possibly? Any help is appreciated. She won't see her doctor until next week.

This is my momma and I want her to be safe. Thanks BL.
Click to expand...
I am 40 and began taking 100 mgs, 3 times per day and am now taking 600 mgs, 6 times per day which is ALOT, I know.

Not to scare you but I personally do not feel that 100 mgs would cause your mom to faint.

On my bottle it states "drowsiness, dizziness, use care when operating machinery and blurred vision". Even at the dose I take (which I myself cut because I'm not going to take it and then drive) the most I get is a bit groggy and tired.

I see this thread was begun a few weeks ago. What did her doctor have to say about this issue? I sure hope he gave her a thorough exam and stopped the medication because although rare, neurontin (Gabapentin) can cause fainting and I just know that if my mom was still "here" I would be scared to death if she was taking something that could make her pass out and hit her head.

If she was taking it for longer then just a week, I'd feel differently as I was one day short of a refill and the wds I had were akin to that of an opiate wd. AWFUL and then yes, I was very dizzy and was bumping into walls....I felt completely disoriented and extremely tired.

Neurontin though is generally safe (for most) yet what is "safe" for one person may not be for another. Could you please give a brief "fill in" as for what her doctor said?
 
^^ I agree. 100mg is low dose. Probably an additive effect w/other medication she was on.

Bernc1, have you ever staggered your doses?
 
Speed King said:
^^ I agree. 100mg is low dose. Probably an additive effect w/other medication she was on.

Bernc1, have you ever staggered your doses?
Click to expand...
I just read fully through this thread (which I usually always do before I comment.)

Speed King, I'm extremely glad I came back on and read all else that was written. I actually just today wrote a thread of my own about trying to come off of Oxycodone.

About 3 months ago Baclofen was added onto my "list" and around that time my GABA was upped to 600 mgs 6 times per day. I tried all different ways of taking it. Mostly just at night, more when I 1st wake up then just a small amount in the afternoon.....now mostly just at night BUT I am also to take the Baclofen 3 times per day and I don't do that either because when I take one at night mixed with the Gabapentin? I've fallen asleep (embarrassingly yet this is the "place" if you want to tell all....a little haha to that:)) on my toilet too many times to count, once in an empty bathtub (thank GOD it was empty)....you name it I've probably slept there. And trust me, I'm not proud of that fact especially since I live with my 15 year old son alone. He certainly doesn't need to see his moms uhhhhh.....anything.

Each time I ask my doctor he gives me a new "schedule" yet all produce the same effect.

At my last visit I asked for a milder muscle relaxer and was given Robaxin. That was the night I didn't nhave any Gabapentin. The next day? All of my muscles felt like they were shaking, I could barely move and when I did I was bumping into things (like I was drunk)......I then went and got my GABA filled, took 3 yet felt barely any better. Sorry to make this so long (especially on someone else's thread) but I went and asked my pharmacist (it was too late to call my dr) if it could be due to not taking the Baclofen. He said he didn't think so but that I did have a refill. I asked him to fill it, gave the Robaxin back (basically to prove I wasn't taking both) and felt "normal" the next day (but passed out on my toilet again which is, I know, quite ridiculous).

I guess I'm pretty much telling "my story" (and feel free to check out my threads as I'm in a pretty rough situation myself) because all of these meds that some may consider to be "nothing" can in fact for some cause some SERIOUS side effects.....either while taking or when stopped and everyone's body is so very much different.

I've taken Xanax since 2009, tried to stop once and wow....I foresee it being a drug for life for me. After 2 months I couldn't take it anymore. The wds went on and on and on. The Oxycodone I take? I asked to be taken off of it thinking "ahhh, so what I'll have "the flu" for a few days". Yeah right. I thought I was dying. Then comes the Gabapentin and Baclofen and I just thought, "2 simple pills". There's no "simple pills" and I agree Speed King that the Gabapentin wds are HORRIBLE too. I never expected what I went through recently.

I also agree with you, Phil. People should be warned more about ALL the medications they take. In 2009, my doctor at the time tried me on nearly every antidepressant that existed for ongoing panic attacks. Eventually he gave me 1 mg of Xanax to be taken (not even as needed) 3 times per day. I thought I was just doing what I should. I took them 3 times per day. I'm now down to 1 and I appreciate the advise you gave me on my thread about that because as I said I can get them filled in a few days and now maybe taking the 3 again will help with my desire to get off of the Oxycodone.

I want to end by apologizing for this reply on a thread that isn't mine and throwing my own problems into the mix but as I say, that's what I love about blue light. I don't have any support and being a member of this site makes me never feel alone.

Love to you all and I hope your mom is now doing better, Phil<3
 
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Phil, I hope everything is sorted out with your mother. Just to clarify, Gabapentin, even at 100mg, could technically have enough kick to cause your mothers issue that she was having. Drugs react differently for different people. Most of the time, there are different prescribing rules for older adults.
 
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