koa Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 My pdoc just prescribed gabapentin to me for anxiety, and she said there are rarely side effects. I just thought I'd ask you guys, though, if I am one of the unlucky ones who gets side effects, what should I look out for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavender fairy Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 um, sleepiness is a big side effect for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 The only negative experience I have had with neurontin is the weaning off of it. Personally it didn't do much for me; was up to 4,000 mg/day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 Rapid weight gain. Which is a bitch. I used gabapentin for several years at the turn of the century (heh), and it was awesome for my migraines, and I didn't gain a lb. Then it pooped out. When we tried it again 10 years later (sometimes that works), I put on weight extremely quickly, like 15 lbs in 2 weeks. The good news is within a month or two after I came off of it, I dropped the weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjimjam Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 I haven't taken gabapentin but am currently on pregabalin, which is very similar, for pain. It has made me gain weight very quickly. 10 kg (22lbs) in three weeks. It also caused some sleepiness and double vision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 It made me a little dizzy and a little tired when I was on it. No other side effects though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpladybug Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 I have no side effects it is rather mild but it does help a tiny bit w anxiety and it is stabilizing I take 900 mgs at bedtime and extra PRN on occasion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedMan Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 I've been on gabapentin for a week now. Some mild wooziness but I've been steady on my feet. It's only been a week so I can't speak to the weight gain issue. Doesn't make me hungry or anything. I feel about 40% better and am hoping the dose will be increased soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacelizard Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 I've been on 600mg TID for at least a month now, if not more, and the only things I've noticed were minor sedation in the beginning and it seems to make me a little forgetful. That's about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dedoubt Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 I took it for over three years. My only issues with it were that I had to keep increasing the dose for it to be effective, and after a certain point, the higher doses made me really stupid. So stupid that I had to stop taking it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedMan Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 Update: I'm now finishing my 2nd week on gabapentin and I have noticed something that concerns me. My vision gets blurry when I take these pills and it gets worse when I am tired. Doc apt on Monday. Will take it up with him and let you all know what I find out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacelizard Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 Yeah, I'd definitely let your doc know but just to give you a heads up -- right on my prescription bottle, not even in the little pamphlet thing they usually attach to it, it says "may cause blurred vision." I don't know if that's a temporary thing or something that, if it comes up, you should stop the med immediately, but I'd definitely get it checked out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 I don't know if that's a temporary thing or something that, if it comes up, you should stop the med immediately, I wouldn't stop taking it though without calling your DR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thickntired Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 I was given a script for a non addictive solution to 3 ruptured discs and anxiety. It made me lethargic, dizzy and caused blurry vision. I quit, as per my shrink I needed to take it 3x a day to let it all build up in my system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Wait, do you mean you quit it because of how many times a day you had to take it? How long were you on it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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