Can Neurontin cause neuropathy?

[original guy]

Could taking Neurontin for extended periods of time actually cause neuropathy or nerve pain? I took 1800 mg per day for a couple of years off label for anxiety. Then a couple of years ago my doctor decided to wean me off Neurontin to try other things as I was having too many side effects. Ever since then I have had a lot of weakness/numbness and weird pain in my thighs, along with mild twitching, and burning pain in my lower legs like there's ants crawling around inside me. I never had any problems like this prior to taking it and it only started when I stopped taking it. It's been over a year since I got off it completely and the symptoms only continue to worsen. Could I have induced this condition taking neurontin off label like that and by stopping it my brain overreacted or something strange like that? It did cause significant edema when I was on it. Could that have put pressure on my nerves? 

Edited September 1, 2015 by original guy

[jt07]

I don't think that Neurontin causes neuropathy. It's far more likely that it was masking some pain that you already had and when you stopped the Neurontin then you noticed the pain.

[original guy]

It's just so weird how I never had any neurological or neuromuscular problems before taking neurontin, but while weaning off of it I all of a sudden started having them and have had them ever since. 

[jt07]

When I have come off carbamazepine in the past, I had pain that I didn't know I had before because I was used to it. And the carbamazepine masked it so I never felt it. But when I came off, oh boy.

[original guy]

Before coming off the neurontin I had been incredibly active my whole life, I ran several miles a day, swam laps several days per week, did triathlons here and there. Now I can barely walk, after a few hundred yards of walking my legs just totally give out. It's hard not to think something happened to me during those 2 years I was taking it, especially with the massive head and limb swelling. 

[crtclms]

Why do you think it is the neurontin, and not the other meds you have tried?

[melissaw72]

I never had problems with being on neurontin and neuropathy.

Idk if this is worth mentioning, but I will ... my mom has neuropathy, but is on no medication ... the reason she has it is because her vitamin B6 levels were off the charts very high.  She saw a neuro who ordered the B6 test.  She also had an MRI of her lower back, which showed pinched nerves.

Edited September 4, 2015 by melissaw72

[original guy]

Why do you think it is the neurontin, and not the other meds you have tried?

I know it could be any of the others I've tried, I'm just trying to figure it out. It's just the coincidence of the timing with the onset of symptoms. Just thought I would ask if this was something possible. 

[jt07]

No harm in asking, but I don't think it is possible (but of couse I'm not a doctor).

[original guy]

I also have had this reaction to buspar over the years where my muscles get very hard and rigid, however I would also get very strong, but at the same time I was in a lot of pain too. All of my pressure points would hurt and I had hardly any flexibility. I put up with these symptoms though because of how well it helped with my anxiety and overall mood, I guess I'm one of the rare ones who did well on buspar. But now with the leg problems these side effects are just way too painful to take it. I've tried both viibryd and brintellix, both of which are also 5ht-1a receptor agonists like buspar is, and the same side effect happened.

[crtclms]

Have you had a neurologist evaluate your neuropathy? Just in case it is unrelated to meds?