i have a close friend with a PhD in pharmacology. He has talked positively about some of the uses of Gaba.
But there are various types (?) - and we are now beyond the limits of what I know on the topic.
It didn’t help my peripheral neuropathy at all. Nothing else has either. Just saying. Good luck.
Anyway, I haven't had any problems with it. I've been taking it for about 20 years.
I am back pain free and sciatica free at present. The surgery option is 50/50 so I got lucky.
I was prescribed Gabapentin by my neurosurgeon after surgical/neurological “complications” in my legs/feet/toes after “successful” 3-level lumbar laminectomy. Gabapentin “calms” neurological symptoms and is a sleeping aid for such problems. Unfortunately, taking it daily/nightly paradoxically gives me something like “insomnia”. I can take it two days/week and be assured of getting an extremely sound night’s sleep. I’ve tried everything else: melatonin, Gaba500, magnesium, SpazzOut, kava-kava, Valerian Root, etc. and none help my sleeping issues, though none give me “insomnia” either.
After an accident and six surgeries, I had some major nerve issues. Doctor prescribed Gabapentin as a less expensive alternative to Lyrica. It didn’t do very much positive, but it didn’t do anything negative either. After a couple of months, the insurance finally approved Lyrica, and I was on that for about a year. It worked a little better. Hope that helps.
It’s an old fashioned Antiseizure medication. It works extremely well with morphine and hopefully will permit s lowering of your morphine dose. As a pain doctor in the year 2018 literally everything we do is under s microscope. I do tend to think this is an excellent drug and although I personally do not need it many of my patients say it is very good at controlling neuropathic pain. Lyrica is the next gen drig for neuropathy and is a controlled substance. It tends to have significantly harsher side effects. Especially in oooulations over 65. It should be slowly ramped up starting at night as it may cause some drowsiness. This effect send to pass in about a week. Good luck. If you want more advice freepmail me. I am happy to let you know my thoughts generally as obviously you are not my patient.
Good luck
Hi Fhios,
I take about 2 300 mg. tablets a day. It works for me and allowed me a better quality of life because it diminished my neuropathy pain. I’ve taken it for about 5+ years and my need for it has seemed to be diminished.
It worked for me; very well.
If you take it, I hope it works for you too.
-my 2 cents, ct
I take it for Sciatica, for numbness in my left leg and foot. I take 2 at night and 2 during the day. Shots HURT because the last time the nerve was inflamed. I will have to be put out the next time and have a standing MRI because I can’t lie flat on my back. I’m avoiding surgery like the plague. Hell gettin’ old.........sigh
Everyone is different - my husband was prescribed it over the years by different doctors and in time it became clear he can’t tolerate it. Since he takes a bunch of medications it took us a while to figure out that it was the culprit making him sick to his stomach.
Took it for about a year. Don’t remember it doing anything for me or to me.
i've had no interaction with my diabetes (insulins) or BP meds and no side effects except the ability to SLEEP, which can be a plus. i've been told that morphine and other opiods do not work well on nerve pain.
i've been offered scrips for lyrica which is in the same drug family (gabapentin is a presursor) but haved turned it down ... so far anyhow.
Mom took it, but started at too high a dose (1,000 mg/day). The side effects (balance disturbance) were too great for her at that initial dose, and she stopped it.
When it was my turn (blech!) my primary care physician started me at 50mg 4xday. He had me work upward until I was taking 600mg 4xdaily (total 2400mg in one 24 hours period). It completely eliminated my neuropathy pain.
After several years, I noticed that missing a dose had no consequence! So, I experimented with a 3xdaily regimin. It worked! Doc thinks this results from successful controlling my blood glucose over those 3-4 years. Ten years out, I still take 600mg exdaily, but I can still miss a dose with minimal results. I need to miss two doses before discomfort begins, and then it takes 3-5 hours before blood concentrations of the drug are high enough to bring relief.
When starting the drug, the main consequence is balance. In my case, I noticed that when I made rapid turnings (say going around a corner in the house, or turning in place) I would seem to keep turning (!). The consequence for mobility is obvious.
However, this side effect abated slowly over several weeks. I can barely recall today what it was like. Once it went away, it never returned. I'm assuming this comes from a bodily acclimatizing to the drug.
Just a suggestion. I chose MLS Laser (Light) therapy for my sciatica and degenerative disc. It was a miracle. Here’s some info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do2BlxYdKO0
there are several potentially roguh side effects you shoudl be aware of:
Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
https://www.drugs.com/gabapentin.html
I have taken it.
I didn’t like it for neuropathy and stopped taking it.
I like morphine better.
She says it works for the pain but it also makes her fuzzy. She takes it at night usually.
The effect is to fuzz out the pain in my lower back. Hope this helps.
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Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
I’ve had it for leftover nerve damage from shingles.
As the nerves either healed or shut off, I went off it.
Good stuff for what it was for.