Anyone gotten stoned outta their mind with Gabapentin?

Kaila said:
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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Thanks, Kaila. True you're not a doctor but those are very astute recommendations.
 
You might truly be able to accomplish your goal, by changing nearly every motion you do, when caring for him.
And not doing some of them.
He's not an infant now, so there are other alternative ways of doing things.
 
officerripley said:
I tried Gabapentin; didn't feel drunk, instead I felt like I'd had 25 cups of espresso and about to jump out of my skin, didn't help my depression at all (which is what it was prescribed for).
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Yes! It's like using crank. I can't sit still and I've been up way past bedtime. Once I get to sleep, though, you could mistake me for a mound of dirt. I barely move at all.
 
Kaila said:
You might truly be able to accomplish your goal, by changing nearly every motion you do, when caring for him.
And not doing some of them.
He's not an infant now, so there are other alternative ways of doing things.
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I lift him in and out of his car-seat, the bathtub, and his stroller. Used to also lift him into his high chair, but I made him a little table and bought a little chair. Also, we only used the stroller for long walks, and I'm sure we can stop doing that; just walk around the grounds here instead. Used to hoist him up onto the changing table, too, but I understand he's doing a little better with potty training (he turned 3 in June), and I can do diaper changes on the bed or couch instead. Can't do them on the floor because then I'd have to hoist myself up.

Michelle is a lot of help, but she works days and has classes in the evenings. I can figure out some alternatives, though.
 
Murrmurr said:
I lift him in and out of his car-seat, the bathtub, and his stroller. Used to also lift him into his high chair, but I made him a little table and bought a little chair. Also, we only used the stroller for long walks, and I'm sure we can stop doing that; just walk around the grounds here instead.
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Yes, it's extremely worthwhile, to think through every single thing like these, and find alternatives to each one.

There might be easy, lightweight, moveable items
that he could use, in order to crawl himself over, (with your supervision of course)
to get into and out of, some of these places, that are still necessary, such as the car seat, and a lower but not floor-level changing place.

Some things like baths, could be moved to a different timing, for when Michelle is there.
But most things, you could do, in different ways and methods.
Spongebaths with wet washcloths, could be particularly fun, too. :)

Quality, licensed daycares for 2-3 yr olds, often cannot even allow their employees to be lifting or carrying, the children. There are stools and steps, and cots, etc.....
 
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Murrmurr said:
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?
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Could it be contraindicated with your other meds, making it more potent?
I took Gabapentin awhile back for back issues and it made me sleepy but not “high”
 
I take 600mg 3 p/day ...... I don't "feel" anything. I also take two indomethicin 50mg p/day, and on 'bad' days I take 2-4 Tylenol . Do they work miracles ? no, but they do help maintain 'some' feeling in my feet, and help with painful feet, and restless legs "most" nights.

Also, on some nights .... I even have a drink or two........ so far no bad or dizzy feelings .

I have tried going without the Indomethicin ...... very painful, I have tried going without the Gaba, legs keep me awake/up all night.

But back to the OP , no "high" feeling yet.
 
Giantsfan1954 said:
Could it be contraindicated with your other meds, making it more potent?
I took Gabapentin awhile back for back issues and it made me sleepy but not “high”
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I'm wondering that, too, but I have only 1 prescribing doctor. She knows what meds I take and normally she's very careful about what she prescribes and knows I want to take as few as possible.

I'm not even sure the stuff works, I was too out of it to notice.

I've started cutting back like she told me to so I should know if it actually even does anything for me in a day or two.
 
rgp said:
I take 600mg 3 p/day ...... I don't "feel" anything. I also take two indomethicin 50mg p/day, and on 'bad' days I take 2-4 Tylenol . Do they work miracles ? no, but they do help maintain 'some' feeling in my feet, and help with painful feet, and restless legs "most" nights.

Also, on some nights .... I even have a drink or two........ so far no bad or dizzy feelings .

I have tried going without the Indomethicin ...... very painful, I have tried going without the Gaba, legs keep me awake/up all night.

But back to the OP , no "high" feeling yet.
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hmm. I have RLS as well, and burning numbing sensations in my feet and I get extremely severe cramps, mostly in my right leg and feet, sometimes on the left side as well. I got cramps in my feet yesterday, but used to get them 4-5 times a day, so I think the Gabapentin is helping with that. Today I'm down from 3 capsules to 2 (300mg).

idk, it's kind of a mess. Michelle is keeping track of the meds because I've been too whacked out the past few days. She's thinking maybe I took an extra 1 or 2 at some point. I just want my head to clear up so I can know what I'm doing and what the Gabapentin is doing, like if it's working on the issues or just making me too stupid to notice them.
 
My bad. I said my dosage was 300mg 2x a day. It is 100mg 2x a day. Once, when my neuropathy flared up beyond the pale, the doctor upped the dosage to 300mg. 3x a day. I never got beyond that first increase. I thought my head would explode. Stopped it immediately and told the doctor I'd resume my usual dosage. Took aspirin instead and flared down instantly.
 
Personally, if I myself, had such extremely bad side effects as you are having,
from ANY med that it is not life-threatening for me to go without,

I would ween off of it completely, clear my thinking,

and then, decide whether to ever re-try it or not,
and if so,
at a MUCH lower dose, for some multiple days before each POSSIBLE increase.
 
Lewkat said:
My bad. I said my dosage was 300mg 2x a day. It is 100mg 2x a day. Once, when my neuropathy flared up beyond the pale, the doctor upped the dosage to 300mg. 3x a day. I never got beyond that first increase. I thought my head would explode. Stopped it immediately and told the doctor I'd resume my usual dosage. Took aspirin instead and flared down instantly.
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So you know what I'm talking about!

Why my doctor started me on 300mg 3x/day, I don't know. That's 900mg of the Gabapentin plus 30mg/day hydrocodone daily. I wonder if she made an error? I'm gonna ask her. She might have meant 100mg 3x/day = 300mg/day. That makes more sense.
 
Kaila said:
Personally, if I myself, had such extremely bad side effects as you are having,
from ANY med that it is not life-threatening for me to go without,

I would ween off of it completely, clear my thinking,

and then, decide whether to ever re-try it or not,
and if so,
at a MUCH lower dose, for some multiple days before each POSSIBLE increase.
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Today I got down to 1 dose but my head was still all messed up until just a few minutes ago. Tomorrow, I'll take none and talk to my doctor.

The pain I have from having Paxton around is pretty extreme. When it gets bad, yoga is no help, stretching isn't; nothing helps except sometimes sitting down for about 30 minutes, sometimes longer. And that's good. And usually Paxton's happy to sit with me and we'll watch Paw Patrol or Piggy Tales or whatever. So, it's true, the extra pain relief isn't crucial, but it would sure be nice to not have to tell Paxton that we can't play or go for a walk because my back hurts. (When I do have to, he rubs and kisses it and tells me to take medicine 🥰)
 
Murrmurr said:
So you know what I'm talking about!

Why my doctor started me on 300mg 3x/day, I don't know. That's 900mg of the Gabapentin plus 30mg/day hydrocodone daily. I wonder if she made an error? I'm gonna ask her. She might have meant 100mg 3x/day = 300mg/day. That makes more sense.
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Yes, Murr, that's a lot of Gaba and Vicodin in one day. Do check that out. I'd even cut the Vicodin down to 7.5 mg if possible.
 
Murrmurr said:
Today I got down to 1 dose but my head was still all messed up until just a few minutes ago. Tomorrow, I'll take none and talk to my doctor.

The pain I have from having Paxton around is pretty extreme. When it gets bad, yoga is no help, stretching isn't; nothing helps except sometimes sitting down for about 30 minutes, sometimes longer. And that's good. And usually Paxton's happy to sit with me and we'll watch Paw Patrol or Piggy Tales or whatever. So, it's true, the extra pain relief isn't crucial, but it would sure be nice to not have to tell Paxton that we can't play or go for a walk because my back hurts. (When I do have to, he rubs and kisses it and tells me to take medicine 🥰)
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Don't stop completely Murr, that's dangerous. Cut it down to 100mg. 3x daily until you speak to your doctor. Be very careful, please.
 
Kaila said:
Personally, if I myself, had such extremely bad side effects as you are having,
from ANY med that it is not life-threatening for me to go without,

I would ween off of it completely, clear my thinking,

and then, decide whether to ever re-try it or not,
and if so,
at a MUCH lower dose, for some multiple days before each POSSIBLE increase.
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Kaila, Thank you.

I'm feeling pretty normal this evening. Michelle was sure scared, and kind of angry (@ my doctor). I felt like you do when you're so drunk you start thinking it's time to go home or sh1t's gonna get crazy.
I weaned down the past couple days and starting tomorrow I'll just take 1 at bedtime till I can talk to my Dr.
 
It is amazing & at the same time depressing just how much we here talk about pain ........ what our individule causes are for it, and how we try to combat it.
 
Can you leave a message with your doctor’s nurse asking to have the dosages confirmed? It really does seem like an extremely high dose to start with.

My husband’s pharmacist made a mistake that he caught by accident. Before they would fix it, they did everything to try to prove that they weren’t wrong.
 
Jules said:
Can you leave a message with your doctor’s nurse asking to have the dosages confirmed? It really does seem like an extremely high dose to start with.

My husband’s pharmacist made a mistake that he caught by accident. Before they would fix it, they did everything to try to prove that they weren’t wrong.
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I emailed her. She's really good about answering her emails same-day, usually by 4pm.
 

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