Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 593142

Shown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Starting Neurontin + got neurosurg consult!

Posted by Colleen D. on December 29, 2005, at 15:55:38

Saw my GP today following up on sciatic nerve pain and other joint and muscular pain which has persisted since late 2002. I asked for the Neurontin and she thought it was worth a try before seeing a specialist.

Will the Neurontin sedation wear off once my body adjusts to it? I may have to increase my caffeine instake during the day! I am starting out at 300mg at bedtime for a week, then 600mg at bedtime for the next week, then 900mg divided into 3 doses per day. I am also increasing my nightly dosage of doxepin to 50mg.

What I'm thinking right now is "Please, please let this help me after all the other meds I've tried!!!!" I would love to hear about others' experiences with Neurontin and/or nerve pain, and I'd also like to thank everyone who has helped me explore my options here on the board.

I'm praying I won't need surgery since nothing but mild degerative disc disease is seen on my MRI. I think I'll be having a test done called a myelogram (sp?). Has anyone been through one of these?

Thanks a bunch,
Colleen

 

Re: Starting Neurontin + got neurosurg consult!

Posted by flmm on December 29, 2005, at 17:03:53

In reply to Starting Neurontin + got neurosurg consult!, posted by Colleen D. on December 29, 2005, at 15:55:38

I am 1 1/2 weeks into it. Started out at 300 mg 3 times a day no problem. Little dizziness, not bad. Seems to help my attitude towards pain a lot! Kind of like vicoden without the depression! I felt pretty good 3 days in and continue to feel better. Been on vicoden awhile for a back surgery that did not help and have been downward spiraling ever since. This is best I felt in a year. Seems to make the vicoden high go away so you start to stop craving it. Vicoden starts to really depress you after awhile. So far I like it, tried Cymbalta, it sucks, to much anxiety.I think it tells your brain that the pain is no big deal so you can function better. GOOD LUCK!

 

Re: Starting Neurontin + got neurosurg consult! » flmm

Posted by Phillipa on December 29, 2005, at 19:13:17

In reply to Re: Starting Neurontin + got neurosurg consult!, posted by flmm on December 29, 2005, at 17:03:53

cymbalta too much anxiety? thought it was supposed to help. Fondly, Phillipa

 

Re: Starting Neurontin + got neurosurg consult!

Posted by flmm on December 29, 2005, at 20:05:24

In reply to Re: Starting Neurontin + got neurosurg consult! » flmm, posted by Phillipa on December 29, 2005, at 19:13:17

NE reuptake always causes anxiety in me. Others as well!

 

Re: Starting Neurontin + got neurosurg consult! » flmm

Posted by Colleen D. on December 29, 2005, at 20:33:17

In reply to Re: Starting Neurontin + got neurosurg consult!, posted by flmm on December 29, 2005, at 17:03:53

> I am 1 1/2 weeks into it. Started out at 300 mg 3 times a day no problem. Little dizziness, not bad. Seems to help my attitude towards pain a lot! Kind of like vicoden without the depression!

That's very encouraging! I have also taking vicodin for a short time for temporary relief. I really don't care for the vicodin...it makes me feel stupid.

> I felt pretty good 3 days in and continue to feel better. Been on vicoden awhile for a back surgery that did not help and have been downward spiraling ever since. This is best I felt in a year.

I don't know if I'm imagining this, but I think it's helping already after the first cap. I have a much better attitude tonight and am not irritable with the children. Not in so much pain.

> Seems to make the vicoden high go away so you start to stop craving it. Vicoden starts to really depress you after awhile. So far I like it, tried Cymbalta, it sucks, to much anxiety.I think it tells your brain that the pain is no big deal so you can function better. GOOD LUCK!

My friend is on Norco, a stronger form of vicodin, and I worry about her getting off it. She had her second back surgery so she's more likely to have problems because of previous scar tissue. Perhaps I can tell her about the Neurontin and she can get it to help her off the Norco.

Cymbalta did nothing for me except sedate me during the day no matter when I took it.

Thanks for sharing all your info!

Colleen

 

Re: Starting Neurontin + got neurosurg consult! » Colleen D.

Posted by 4WD on December 29, 2005, at 23:40:16

In reply to Starting Neurontin + got neurosurg consult!, posted by Colleen D. on December 29, 2005, at 15:55:38

> Saw my GP today following up on sciatic nerve pain and other joint and muscular pain which has persisted since late 2002. I asked for the Neurontin and she thought it was worth a try before seeing a specialist.
>
> Will the Neurontin sedation wear off once my body adjusts to it? I may have to increase my caffeine instake during the day! I am starting out at 300mg at bedtime for a week, then 600mg at bedtime for the next week, then 900mg divided into 3 doses per day. I am also increasing my nightly dosage of doxepin to 50mg.
>
> What I'm thinking right now is "Please, please let this help me after all the other meds I've tried!!!!" I would love to hear about others' experiences with Neurontin and/or nerve pain, and I'd also like to thank everyone who has helped me explore my options here on the board.
>
> I'm praying I won't need surgery since nothing but mild degerative disc disease is seen on my MRI. I think I'll be having a test done called a myelogram (sp?). Has anyone been through one of these?
>
> Thanks a bunch,
> Colleen


Hi Colleen,

The first couple of nights I took Neurontin (300mg) I woke up groggy and was tired all the next day. But it very quickly got better and within a week I didn't feel groggy at all, even after increasing the dose (adding daytime doses). And and hour and a half after I took the first one, the pain in my neck went completely away. It was miraculous. (I have degenerative disk disease, too). It never worked that great again for the pain but it certainly helped. It didn't help with anxiety, though.

Marsha-

 

Re: Starting Neurontin + got neurosurg consult!

Posted by yxibow on December 30, 2005, at 0:16:58

In reply to Starting Neurontin + got neurosurg consult!, posted by Colleen D. on December 29, 2005, at 15:55:38

> Saw my GP today following up on sciatic nerve pain and other joint and muscular pain which has persisted since late 2002. I asked for the Neurontin and she thought it was worth a try before seeing a specialist.
>
> Will the Neurontin sedation wear off once my body adjusts to it? I may have to increase my caffeine instake during the day! I am starting out at 300mg at bedtime for a week, then 600mg at bedtime for the next week, then 900mg divided into 3 doses per day. I am also increasing my nightly dosage of doxepin to 50mg.
>
> What I'm thinking right now is "Please, please let this help me after all the other meds I've tried!!!!" I would love to hear about others' experiences with Neurontin and/or nerve pain, and I'd also like to thank everyone who has helped me explore my options here on the board.
>
> I'm praying I won't need surgery since nothing but mild degerative disc disease is seen on my MRI. I think I'll be having a test done called a myelogram (sp?). Has anyone been through one of these?
>
> Thanks a bunch,
> Colleen


I dont mean to burst your bubble, but yes, the "loopy" feeling of Neurontin does wear off.. at least for me. Early on my dad said I was slurring my speech. It has become more subtle over time and at this point is a mere miniscule (not the dose, its huge) adjunct to Valium. Perhaps a vacation from it might change that.

But it has been studied for neuropathic pain, so you may have a different experience, especially if you haven't been on any other GABA-nergic drugs lately that might be crosstolerant.

I hope it works wonders for you

 

Re: Starting Neurontin + got neurosurg consult! » Colleen D.

Posted by lara53 on December 30, 2005, at 5:02:01

In reply to Re: Starting Neurontin + got neurosurg consult! » flmm, posted by Colleen D. on December 29, 2005, at 20:33:17

I don't know a lot about it except where I work the docs prescribe it alot for pain. [work on neuro,ortho and trauma floor] Hope that's encouraging!

 

Re: Starting Neurontin + got neurosurg consult! » 4WD

Posted by Colleen D. on December 30, 2005, at 10:52:28

In reply to Re: Starting Neurontin + got neurosurg consult! » Colleen D., posted by 4WD on December 29, 2005, at 23:40:16

> Hi Colleen,
>
> The first couple of nights I took Neurontin (300mg) I woke up groggy and was tired all the next day. But it very quickly got better and within a week I didn't feel groggy at all, even after increasing the dose (adding daytime doses). And and hour and a half after I took the first one, the pain in my neck went completely away. It was miraculous. (I have degenerative disk disease, too). It never worked that great again for the pain but it certainly helped. It didn't help with anxiety, though.
>
> Marsha-

Hi Marsha!

Thanks for your response! It is so encouraging. Also encouraging is the fact that I woke up today without the feeling in my lower back like someone hit me there with a baseball bat. Anxiety-wise, I'm doing well. Maybe that's the clonazepam and the doxepin working.

Keeping my fingers crossed,
(darned OCD - LOL!)
Colleen

 

Re: Starting Neurontin + got neurosurg consult!

Posted by flmm on December 30, 2005, at 11:10:57

In reply to Re: Starting Neurontin + got neurosurg consult! » 4WD, posted by Colleen D. on December 30, 2005, at 10:52:28

The loopy feeling is not the desired response of neurontin! After awhile it improves motivation and mood towards chronic pain, thereby reducing pain in the mind. Irritability is much improved also!I started at 900 mg per day no problem.


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