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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by floatingbridge on September 22, 2011, at 10:04:58
Hello. I recently added 300mg of gabapentin to help lengthen my sleeping time at night. It helps and does not feel bad in the a.m.
I still wake up earlyish however. I am thinking of trying 600mg at night. I want so to sleep in a bit. The day is long when it begins around 4:30. I have chronic pain that usually comes on by about, oh depending, 4:00 p.m. I am hoping an increase to 600mg might help with that a bit, too. I don't know. The gabapentin might be out of my system by then.
Not sure how it works. The amounts usually scripted for pain would create cognitive impairment and would necessitate daytime dosing, and I could not do a daytime dose. Maybe if I had absolutely nothing to do, (yeah, right) an early evening dose would be acceptable.Anyways, if anyone experienced with this med for pain or
sleep could comment, that'd be great.And I am hoping gabapentin is a substance that does not escalate, like a benzo. It actually feels nice at night. It would be such a boon if a med that felt good would continue to feel good.
Thanks.
Posted by Phillipa on September 22, 2011, at 10:47:41
In reply to Gabapentin at 600mg for sleep, pain, posted by floatingbridge on September 22, 2011, at 10:04:58
FB I'm glad you are sleeping. Pain is rotten. I am usually doing okay when mine hits me after excercise or too much walking when out. Do you ever take motrin or a med like this for the pain? Sometimes it helps sometimes not. Just a thought. Phillipa
Posted by sigismund on September 22, 2011, at 12:21:05
In reply to Gabapentin at 600mg for sleep, pain, posted by floatingbridge on September 22, 2011, at 10:04:58
There's no reason not to try 600mg at night. I find a few adverse effects, but nothing serious....a bit of constipation, dry mouth is all I can think of.
It combines very well with a low dose benzo. For example with minimal temazepam should you wake in the middle of the night. Last night I took 10mg like that.
You have arthritic pain, I know. Fibro? What other sorts of pain? Specific or diffuse?
Posted by sigismund on September 22, 2011, at 12:49:35
In reply to Re: Gabapentin at 600mg for sleep, pain » floatingbridge, posted by sigismund on September 22, 2011, at 12:21:05
>a bit of constipation, dry mouth is all I can think of.
Extra mucuos, a bit of sinus congestion.
Every med does that to me. Reactive, I guess.
Posted by floatingbridge on September 22, 2011, at 13:30:34
In reply to Re: Gabapentin at 600mg for sleep, pain » floatingbridge, posted by sigismund on September 22, 2011, at 12:21:05
I have both arthritic (OA) pain and a kind of pain mostly related to the back OA that is called fibro. My legs and feet hurt in a non-mechanical sort of way. It's all, in my mind, related to the back injury and surgery triggered (back did something strange during late pregnancy then had emergency c-section). After that, it's been wicked. Before that, a runner, iyengar yoga, blah, blah, blah. Basically healthy except for MDD/whatever.
The pain, is like what Phillipa says, is some ways, in that it is triggered by standing for long (or not so long) periods of time. So by the mid-afternoon I am very tired and the pain really kicks in. It just stinks. But I am working on it. Yesterday was awful because the day before I had restarted some gentle yoga postures, like a downward facing dog. Today is better.
I don't find the NSAIDs to be helpful. I might take motrin if I have a rare headache. What I do like though is an NSAID patch called Flector. I will wear one on my lower back somedays. It helps take the bite out of it. Same NSAID internally does nothing noticeable.
I need to get swimming. My big problem is, like, when do I get the time when the pool is open :-/
I think I will bring up trying 600mg with my pdoc.
Thanks.
Oh, sigi, so it keeps working? I have to ask, you know, having seen escalation and tolerance in norco (done with that) and benzos :-/
Posted by floatingbridge on September 22, 2011, at 13:49:40
In reply to Re: Gabapentin at 600mg for sleep, pain, posted by sigismund on September 22, 2011, at 12:49:35
> >a bit of constipation, dry mouth is all I can think of.
>
> Extra mucuos, a bit of sinus congestion.
>
> Every med does that to me. Reactive, I guess.Maybe that's from where this flippin' constipation originates.
Darn. It is annoying. I have a gentle herbal. But it's onset does coincide with the start of the gabapentin. I am awfully slow at putting things together.
Posted by sigismund on September 22, 2011, at 14:08:04
In reply to Re: Gabapentin at 600mg for sleep, pain, posted by floatingbridge on September 22, 2011, at 13:30:34
I had back surgery, a laminectomy at L4/5, and while successful there are residual things...tingles and sometimes more, things difficult to describe. I can imagine it becoming painful. This is why I have been religious about Pilates, to stabilise my core. Especially for using a chainsaw!
>Oh, sigi, so it keeps working?
I think so. There must be some tolerance, but is that is more with people who use it all the time during the day?
Posted by sigismund on September 22, 2011, at 14:10:21
In reply to Re: Gabapentin at 600mg for sleep, pain » sigismund, posted by floatingbridge on September 22, 2011, at 13:49:40
I use pichorriza(sp?) for this.
It has a laxative side effect but is an Ayurvedic liver tonic herb.
600mg will be worse than 300 of course.
Posted by B2chica on September 22, 2011, at 15:29:29
In reply to Gabapentin at 600mg for sleep, pain, posted by floatingbridge on September 22, 2011, at 10:04:58
i have found that the 600 will take you down quicker but will not last any longer (at least for me) that gabapentin i think is about a 6 hour (or less) drug.
i can take mine about 9:00 at night and wake up about 3am, thats how i assume its about 6 hour. not really sure what 1/2 life or such is.
but keep the 6 hour mark in mind. normally it takes about 20min-1/2 hour for me to feel it kick in.
if you have that lead time than take it as early as possible then around:00 take another 300mg capsule.and i think you could do 100mg TID daily dosing fine for pain. one thing i've noticed is my body quickly gets used to this medication.
Posted by B2chica on September 22, 2011, at 15:31:07
In reply to Re: Gabapentin at 600mg for sleep, pain » floatingbridge, posted by sigismund on September 22, 2011, at 12:21:05
i like sigs idea of mixing with small benzo. this works quite well for me.
i take 600 gaba and 1mg xanax for nice sleep when anxiety really high.
otherwise i do .5 xanax.
Posted by zonked on September 22, 2011, at 20:25:58
In reply to Gabapentin at 600mg for sleep, pain, posted by floatingbridge on September 22, 2011, at 10:04:58
> Hello. I recently added 300mg of gabapentin to help lengthen my sleeping time at night. It helps and does not feel bad in the a.m.
>
> I still wake up earlyish however. I am thinking of trying 600mg at night. I want so to sleep in a bit. The day is long when it begins around 4:30. I have chronic pain that usually comes on by about, oh depending, 4:00 p.m. I am hoping an increase to 600mg might help with that a bit, too. I don't know. The gabapentin might be out of my system by then.
> Not sure how it works. The amounts usually scripted for pain would create cognitive impairment and would necessitate daytime dosing, and I could not do a daytime dose. Maybe if I had absolutely nothing to do, (yeah, right) an early evening dose would be acceptable.
>
> Anyways, if anyone experienced with this med for pain or
> sleep could comment, that'd be great.
>
> And I am hoping gabapentin is a substance that does not escalate, like a benzo. It actually feels nice at night. It would be such a boon if a med that felt good would continue to feel good.
>
> Thanks.Neurontin is awesome. My Mom has been on it for anxiety for ~5-6 years. I don't take it anymore because something in my brain chemistry changed, or something, and it no longer works but you can go up to 3000-4000mg safely, I believe she takes 2800mg/day or so.
Strangely enough, I respond really well to Lyrica in the same way I used to with Neurontin, only better. It's something I never looked into, I only took it during a hospitalization a few years ago. Dunno why.
-z
Posted by Phillipa on September 22, 2011, at 20:26:12
In reply to Re: Gabapentin at 600mg for sleep, pain » floatingbridge, posted by sigismund on September 22, 2011, at 14:08:04
Sigi you had a laminectomy? L4,5 is where I had my herniated disc but that healed on own. Two Mri's this summer shower two discs in cervical fused on own and that have S curvature of lumbar spine. How the heck did you get well enough to swing an axe? PJx
Posted by sigismund on September 22, 2011, at 22:03:13
In reply to Re: Gabapentin at 600mg for sleep, pain » sigismund, posted by Phillipa on September 22, 2011, at 20:26:12
It's more the chainsaw than the axe, PJ.
I actually ruptured my disc, so there was no question of its healing except over decades as the body removes some of the disc content from the nerve.
The operation was a success in its own terms, but my back was no stronger. I have since done almost a decade of Pilates, along with some gyrotonics, which we are lucky enough to have here.
Posted by floatingbridge on September 22, 2011, at 22:16:18
In reply to Re: Gabapentin at 600mg for sleep, pain » Phillipa, posted by sigismund on September 22, 2011, at 22:03:13
Pdoc approved the 600mg. When asked about half-life type things and pain relief on into the next afternoon, he said he has had some patients report noticeably diminished pain.
'Some' is good enough for me to try. I wonder if it will take a few days. (That is if it will help. Be flippin' nice.)
I appreciate the input. Thank you.
Posted by floatingbridge on September 23, 2011, at 1:42:58
In reply to Re: Gabapentin at 600mg for sleep, pain » Phillipa, posted by sigismund on September 22, 2011, at 22:03:13
> It's more the chainsaw than the axe, PJ.
>
> I actually ruptured my disc, so there was no question of its healing except over decades as the body removes some of the disc content from the nerve.
>
> The operation was a success in its own terms, but my back was no stronger. I have since done almost a decade of Pilates, along with some gyrotonics, which we are lucky enough to have here.When you say success, the mechanical source of pain was gone. Then you went to work on your core muscle support? Was it difficult to decide to go forward with the operation?
I'd be afraid of an operation based on my c-section (my only operation. I was awake during it which was very freaky.), but something feels so wrong when I move. It's been over seven
years.I guess you were in bad shape to have an operation. Sorry, sigi.
Glad pilates does it's magic.
I think I asked you this, but do you need to go to the pilates studio to work out or practice? I'd like to learn then exercise at home mostly with occasional or at most weekly visits.
Posted by sigismund on September 23, 2011, at 2:35:14
In reply to Re: Gabapentin at 600mg for sleep, pain » sigismund, posted by floatingbridge on September 23, 2011, at 1:42:58
I spent a year in significant pain before I had the operation.
You can do Pilates at home.
I have thought of buying a reformer
then I could do it at home. But we have fun together at the studio.
Posted by floatingbridge on September 23, 2011, at 16:54:23
In reply to Re: Gabapentin at 600mg for sleep, pain, posted by sigismund on September 23, 2011, at 2:35:14
The link isn't working.
A reformer?
Was you back injury event related or cumulative?
I would be very happy to do some work at home, so thanks.
Still looking/thinking about feldenkrais, too. Guess pilates is the deal though. I'll bump that to the top of my list. There is a good studio with a good rep w/ rehabilitation in town.
Posted by Phillipa on September 23, 2011, at 20:08:09
In reply to Re: Gabapentin at 600mg for sleep, pain » Phillipa, posted by sigismund on September 22, 2011, at 22:03:13
Sigi so Pilates works well think would help mine S curvature, osteo, etc? Phillipa
Posted by sigismund on September 23, 2011, at 20:12:06
In reply to Re: Gabapentin at 600mg for sleep, pain » sigismund, posted by Phillipa on September 23, 2011, at 20:08:09
I can't see how it would help with osteo, but perhaps it could help you make the best of curvature of the spine.
This is the end of the thread.
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