Yes, I was given Gabapentin for leg pain but, like you, it really affected my ability to walk - it’s one of the possible side-effects of the medication I think.
However, I’m now on Pregabalin, which is the usual next medication to try. I find it really effective & like you, leg pain is my worst symptom. To begin with it can make you a bit dizzy, but persevere as your body gets used to it, and it will really help.
The only ‘down-side’ for me is the weight gain it causes, but otherwise it’s great.
In the depths of my night of horror (not sleeping) I have been doing some digging on the net and have found a med called DOSULEPIN. Can anyone shed any light on this ? Will it help the pain in my legs ?
Both Gabapentin and Pregabalin dont suit me (too many sde effects to tolerate I must be really sensitive) SO i am now on Baclofen and seem to be tolerating this. Maybe try Pregabalin next you never know with these drugs it seems to be trial and error plus everyone reacts differently to drugs ,Im just a wuz lol,hope you can get sorted
Hi, I’ve tried Gabapentin and Pregabalin and didn’t tolerate either of them well.
I’ve just started a drug called Topamax aka Topiramate. It’s a drug for epilepsy like the others but has been found useful for MS pain and I’ve been prescribed it particularly to try and ease ‘hug’. I only started on Friday and so far am only on 25g at night, but so far so good. I wake up alert and not like a zombie as with others. No hug or spasms so far. Sleep well. The drug is known to cause ‘low mood’ but if anything I feel happier than usual (typical of me!). On internet people say it’s a drug you ‘either love or hate’.
Unlike the other drugs, it’s known to cause weight loss (!!!).
My only complaint is that I suffer from tinnitus and this has increased, as it does with anything I take. Drives me nuts.
One other thing, for people who have swallowing problems, Topamax capsules can be opened and sprinkled on food.
I’ll update on here in a few weeks when I’m on higher dose.
I’ve just started a drug called Topamax aka Topiramate. It’s a drug for epilepsy like the others but has been found useful for MS pain and I’ve been prescribed it particularly to try and ease ‘hug’. [/quote]
Can I ask what hug is?
I have just started taking a course of gabapentin as I have been suffering from a pain similar to tooth ache. Today i do feel dizzy and a little off balance, hopefully that will go.
Hi Sue, ‘Hug’ is sometimes called ‘banding’. It is when the muscles between the ribs contract. It feels like wearing a tight girdle. At lower extreme it can be uncomfortable, at the other extreme it is very painful and hard to breath and can feel like having heart attack. Quite common symptom in MS. Google ‘MS hug’ or look at ‘symptoms’ on this site.
Thanks Pat. Reason I am asking is that I have noticed recently that when I wake up it’s like I have to uncurl myself and can be really painful. The pain comes from just under the breast bone and between the ribs. It’s hard to explain. I will google MS hug and take a look.
I found gabapentin didn’t touch my sensory issues and nerve pain at all, I switched to amitriptyline and have never looked back, it works brilliantly for me.