Anyone gotten stoned outta their mind with Gabapentin?

Murrmurr

Murrmurr

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Location
Sacramento, California
So I told my doctor that CPS will very likely approve Paxton coming over to stay every other weekend here. And I told her that no matter when or how I take my daily pain medication, when he is here for a weekend, the pain gets really bad. My meds have hardly any effect.

3x/day I take a Norco (10mg hydrocodon plus 325mg acetaminophen) and a 600mg Ibuprophen. I also do some exercises and yoga positions that are real good for back pain. But when Paxton's here, I need something stronger but I don't want anything that's on the controlled substance list.

So anyway, I told my doctor all that and she prescribed Gabapentin, 300mg. As directed, I took 1 capsule on day one, 2 on day two, and 3 on day three. And on day 3, I was taking it along with my other 3x/day meds.

It makes me feel drunk. I'm bouncing off the walls, stumbling for no apparent reason, have to ask what day it is, and my voice is shaky. Like Katherine Hepburn kind of shaky. I have to keep correcting typos, too. It's a PITA.

I emailed my doctor about this today and she said to start reducing the dose from 3 capsules down to 1 over three days, and see if the side effects get better. But she also said these side effects are common and usually just get better in time, so I have the option of keeping the dosage at 3x/day and riding it out for a while. But I hate this feeling, and Michelle is pretty alarmed by it.

Anyone have experience with Gabapentin? Should I just ride out the side effects? Do they eventually go away?
 

I don't,
but why not back it down (by 1, or by 2 if needed)
till you dont have as much symptoms,
and then try maintaining it first, for a few days, at whatever is a more tolerable level,
before possibly trying gradual increase, again, if needed?

It's just an idea to consider, that is about meds in general,
since the doc did not think you must automatically discontinue it. (But I sure would not continue it as is.)

Since you started it, you might choose to try a lower dose, in order to give this med a complete trial, before you give up on it.

Another option would be to ask a pharmacist, for their ideas, and how long it takes most people to adjust to it. They are so well informed about how people react to meds.
 
Kaila said:
I don't,
but why not back it down (by 1, or by 2 if needed)
till you dont have as much symptoms,
and then try maintaining it first, for a few days, at whatever is a more tolerable level,
before possibly trying gradual increase, again, if needed?

It's just an idea to consider, that is about meds in general,
since the doc did not think you must automatically discontinue it. (But I sure would not continue it as is.)

Since you started it, you might choose to try a lower dose, in order to give this med a complete trial, before you give up on it.

Another option would be to ask a pharmacist, for their ideas, and how long it takes most people to adjust to it. They are so well informed about how people react to meds.
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I don’t usually go against a doctors orders but I definitely agree here and would be getting a second opinion. That seems like a really high amount to be prescribed. If you are feeling drunk while taking these meds, then driving, operating heavy machinery or even caring for children could become a risk. I would check into this ASAP.
 

Murrmurr said:
It makes me feel drunk. I'm bouncing off the walls, stumbling for no apparent reason, have to ask what day it is,
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Because the dosage is too high to start out with.

My husband takes only 1-300mg Gabapentin at bedtime for pain which helps him sleep all night, and he's out like a light for the night. He wakes up in the morning very groggy. Takes a while to get motivated. He also has 100mg Gabapentin he can take during the day, if needed. Those don't make in groggy.

I agree with Keesha...don't operate a motor vehicle or take care of a child alone.
Also, Check for drug interactions with all the meds you are taking, including supplements.
 
Gemma said:
Because the dosage is too high to start out with.

My husband takes only 1-300mg Gabapentin at bedtime for pain which helps him sleep all night, and he's out like a light for the night. He wakes up in the morning very groggy. Takes a while to get motivated. He also has 100mg Gabapentin he can take during the day, if needed. Those don't make in groggy.
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This makes sense. I'll ask the doc about prescribing a lower dose for during the day (100mg PRN) and take the 300mg at bedtime.
 
Keesha said:
I don’t usually go against a doctors orders but I definitely agree here and would be getting a second opinion. That seems like a really high amount to be prescribed. If you are feeling drunk while taking these meds, then driving, operating heavy machinery or even caring for children could become a risk. I would check into this ASAP.
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It's even worse than that, several times a day I feel like I don't even know what I'm doing. It's horrible.

I'm gonna reduce it down like the doc said, and keep it at one 300mg cap/day for a week or whatever, but maybe gabapentin just isn't a good medication for me.
 
Kaila said:
I don't,
but why not back it down (by 1, or by 2 if needed)
till you dont have as much symptoms,
and then try maintaining it first, for a few days, at whatever is a more tolerable level,
before possibly trying gradual increase, again, if needed?

It's just an idea to consider, that is about meds in general,
since the doc did not think you must automatically discontinue it. (But I sure would not continue it as is.)

Since you started it, you might choose to try a lower dose, in order to give this med a complete trial, before you give up on it.

Another option would be to ask a pharmacist, for their ideas, and how long it takes most people to adjust to it. They are so well informed about how people react to meds.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's what my doc told me to do, so I will, starting tomorrow.

Talking to the pharmacist is a great idea. Thanks!
 
Murrmurr said:
Yeah, that's what my doc told me to do, so I will, starting tomorrow.

Talking to the pharmacist is a great idea. Thanks!
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My daughter is a pharmacist and she helps her clients with this all the time. Doctors don't get the training in drugs like pharmacists do. My own doctor told me that and in a heartbeat he will call my daughter with a question about my meds.
 
terry123 said:
My daughter is a pharmacist and she helps her clients with this all the time. Doctors don't get the training in drugs like pharmacists do. My own doctor told me that and in a heartbeat he will call my daughter with a question about my meds.
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I worked as a psychiatric nurse for several years back in the 80s. I had to go to school first, of course, and what we had to study most was pharmaceuticals.
But there are so many new meds now that education is all but useless these days.
 
RadishRose said:
https://www.drugs.com/hydrocodone.html
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Thanks, RadRose. This is why I don't want to increase the Norco, I just want something to help with the extra pain while the little one is here. I took a much higher dose of hydrocodone/Vicadin for years after my back injury and was able to cut it way down after the most recent surgery. I want to keep it down.
 
Sometimes you just have to listen your body. You know what works for you and what doesn't.

My doctor's prescribe stuff for me all the time...do I listen...NO. I'm tiny, there's no way I can take some of the dosages they prescribe me.

***not giving medical advice...jmo=just my opinion
 
jujube said:
Usually anything that makes people loopy makes me REALLY loopy but I started taking Gabapentin about four years ago and it has never made me sleepy, dizzy, or dopey. I was prescribed 4x a day, but I only take 2x (morning and bedtime) unless my neuropathy flares up and then I take more.
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How many milligrams per tab, juju?
 
Murrmurr said:
How many milligrams per tab, juju?
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I'm on the low dose of Gaba, 100 mg.

I've also been taking Duloxetine for the last month. You wanna talk about side effects? Doc says to try to "ride it out", but this ol' cowgirl is about to hang up her spurs on this. It's a mild antidepressant (and who doesn't need that these days?) but also very good for peripheral neuropathy. I just don't know if I'm willing to take on another month of this.
 
I'm not sure you can get any additional med to realistically do what you seem to wish for;
that is to lower your pain and allow you to have more abilities, when the little one is there, without making you too unwell to care for him.

I'm Not sure you can do all the movements you usually do with him, either, without exacerbating your back condition, and also without increasing your need for and subsequent hope for an additional med, that could help without adding more side effects.

I would think about changing lots of the ways you do things, when he's there, instead.

Also keep in mind, that while a pharmacist knows lots more about the meds, (than us or you or your doc, etc)
they will not be free to advise any suggestion that counters ANYthing the doc has told you or ordered for you to take.

You could get some useful input from them, but they will not tell you, if it would be best for you to make a change altogether in those meds, either that one or the combination, or to go to a different doctor.

Consider also, to make some changes to your ongoing daily regimens (both when he's there and when he's not)
to include more repetitions of non-med (proactive) pain and health actions,
such as frequent rests, and heat and cold, and other body positions/gentle motions, etc, etc....

These are all just ideas for you to consider; of course, can't give any medical advice here.
 
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