# Starting on Gabapentin **URL:** \ **Category:** New diagnosis and before diagnosis\ **Created:** [31 January 2013 21:58 UTC](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/t/starting-on-gabapentin/23424 "2013-01-31T21:58:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Inactive\_User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3e96dc/32.png) [@Inactive\_User](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/u/Inactive_User)\ **Post date:** [31 January 2013 21:58 UTC](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/t/starting-on-gabapentin/23424/1 "2013-01-31T21:58:11Z")
Hi I have been to seen a neurologist last we, he would say what he though was wrong with me. He just said he want to send me for a MRI and a lumbar puncture. He’s all so given me gabapentin for pain, I want to know two things. Is it ok to still painkiller with it? I am seening my GP about it 2mor, but I am in a lot of pain right know and don’t know if its ok to take some. I also want to ask about lumbar puncture, is it painfully etc did you need more than 24 hours off work for it? Thank you to any one who gives the time to write me back. Emmy x ---
**Author:** ![DoctorGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@DoctorGeoff](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/u/DoctorGeoff)\ **Post date:** [31 January 2013 22:11 UTC](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/t/starting-on-gabapentin/23424/2 "2013-01-31T22:11:21Z")
When I was put on Gabapentin, the Neuro said “This is for neuropathic pain, for ordinary pain take paracetamol”. I do, and have not had any apparent interactions in 3 years. The BNF says that only analgesics containing morphine interact with Gabapentin. Geoff ---
**Author:** ![Inactive\_User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3e96dc/32.png) [@Inactive\_User](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/u/Inactive_User)\ **Post date:** [31 January 2013 22:45 UTC](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/t/starting-on-gabapentin/23424/3 "2013-01-31T22:45:06Z")
It is for neuropathic pain buts its not doing much for at the minute X ---
**Author:** ![Inactive\_User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3e96dc/32.png) [@Inactive\_User](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/u/Inactive_User)\ **Post date:** [31 January 2013 23:48 UTC](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/t/starting-on-gabapentin/23424/4 "2013-01-31T23:48:14Z")
It takes a while to get the right dose, but it’s important to build up the dose slowly to try and minimise side effects so it can take a while ☹ Ask your GP about increasing your dose, and how quickly you can do it. There’s often a bit of trial and error to get it right so you’ll probably have to persevere through the pain in the first couple of weeks or so ☹ Most people find lumbar punctures no trouble at all these days. It would be sensible to warn your boss that you need the day off and hope to be back the next day, but that it’s possible to have complications so not to plan in anything that can’t be rescheduled, just in case. The only pain is from the anaesthetic injection. After that, it’s more pressure than pain. A small number of people get the “headache from hell” afterwards, but most don’t. Drinking caffeinated drinks (avoid if it can trigger migraine) and water, staying lying down and taking painkillers can help with this if you’re unlucky enough to get it. Hopefully it will be fine though. Karen x ---
**Author:** ![Inactive\_User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3e96dc/32.png) [@Inactive\_User](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/u/Inactive_User)\ **Post date:** [2 February 2013 07:44 UTC](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/t/starting-on-gabapentin/23424/5 "2013-02-02T07:44:00Z")
As Karen has said you need to be careful building up your dosage of Gabapentin, I did but then jumped to the next level and felt like I was on something very illegal. Ask your dr to increase it and then over a few days get to that level and see how it’s helping, giving it time to work before deciding if it still needs increasing. The levels of Gabapentin you can take are quite high. ---
**Author:** ![Inactive\_User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3e96dc/32.png) [@Inactive\_User](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/u/Inactive_User)\ **Post date:** [2 February 2013 09:21 UTC](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/t/starting-on-gabapentin/23424/6 "2013-02-02T09:21:10Z")
I must say, ive never had much issue with the gabapentin. I was upped from 300mg to 900mg overnight. Im now on 1200mg. Amitriptylin on the other hand wiped me out. I was a dribbling mess ---
**Author:** ![Inactive\_User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3e96dc/32.png) [@Inactive\_User](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/u/Inactive_User)\ **Post date:** [2 February 2013 21:28 UTC](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/t/starting-on-gabapentin/23424/7 "2013-02-02T21:28:58Z")
I was on just one tablet at the lose dose, I am now on 3 tablets a day still at the lose dose though. No side effects yet. Thank you to every one who’s help. Emmy x ---
**Author:** ![Inactive\_User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3e96dc/32.png) [@Inactive\_User](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/u/Inactive_User)\ **Post date:** [5 February 2013 18:42 UTC](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/t/starting-on-gabapentin/23424/8 "2013-02-05T18:42:52Z")
Hi Emsy x I’m suposed to start Gabapentin tonight! How much did you take - is one tablet 100mgs? How ae you feeling on it?/ xxxjenxxx ---
**Author:** ![Inactive\_User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3e96dc/32.png) [@Inactive\_User](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/u/Inactive_User)\ **Post date:** [5 February 2013 19:07 UTC](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/t/starting-on-gabapentin/23424/9 "2013-02-05T19:07:34Z")
I was put on gabapentin, this was to help prevent my legs twitching as it is also used for epilepsi, I was on 300mg 3 x a day but it still did nothin i had to build up and believe me it didnt work for me ut everyone is different. good lcuk ---
**Author:** ![Inactive\_User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3e96dc/32.png) [@Inactive\_User](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/u/Inactive_User)\ **Post date:** [5 February 2013 19:08 UTC](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/t/starting-on-gabapentin/23424/10 "2013-02-05T19:08:50Z")
Also ampitriptolyn I stopped taking as it didnt work either, am i ammune to these things. Tramadol gave me weird hallosinations which if i was expecting it would hav been ok but i wasnt, I am awaiting a nuro point see my post. ---
**Author:** ![Inactive\_User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3e96dc/32.png) [@Inactive\_User](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/u/Inactive_User)\ **Post date:** [5 February 2013 19:14 UTC](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/t/starting-on-gabapentin/23424/11 "2013-02-05T19:14:26Z")
[quote=“Tom C”] I was put on gabapentin, this was to help prevent my legs twitching as it is also used for epilepsi, I was on 300mg 3 x a day but it still did nothin i had to build up and believe me it didnt work for me ut everyone is different. good lcuk [/quote] Double check the package for what dose the tablets are as they come in 100, 300 & 600 mg. if in doubt ask your doctor ---
**Author:** ![Inactive\_User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3e96dc/32.png) [@Inactive\_User](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/u/Inactive_User)\ **Post date:** [5 February 2013 19:55 UTC](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/t/starting-on-gabapentin/23424/12 "2013-02-05T19:55:01Z")
I was on 300mg 3 times a day, I checked the box, I still stopped taking them as i didnt feel any different on them ---
**Author:** ![Inactive\_User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3e96dc/32.png) [@Inactive\_User](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/u/Inactive_User)\ **Post date:** [5 February 2013 20:00 UTC](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/t/starting-on-gabapentin/23424/13 "2013-02-05T20:00:45Z")
I found that they didn’t do much with me so am now on 1200mg 3 times daily with Amitriptylin at night, this is now seeming to have the desired effects, whilst waiting to see neurologist am having vit B12 injections to help further. ---
**Author:** ![Inactive\_User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3e96dc/32.png) [@Inactive\_User](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/u/Inactive_User)\ **Post date:** [5 February 2013 20:36 UTC](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/t/starting-on-gabapentin/23424/14 "2013-02-05T20:36:05Z")
> [@Tom C](#): > > I was on 300mg 3 times a day, I checked the box, I still stopped taking them as i didnt feel any different on them 900mg a day of gabapentin is quite a low dose when you consider the maximum dose is 3600mg a day. So perhaps you just needed a higher dose? Kx ---
**Author:** ![Inactive\_User](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3e96dc/32.png) [@Inactive\_User](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/u/Inactive_User)\ **Post date:** [5 February 2013 21:10 UTC](https://forum.mssociety.org.uk/t/starting-on-gabapentin/23424/15 "2013-02-05T21:10:51Z")
Thanks karen, I will speak to the nuro about it on the 14th, a question will be what can they do for the pain and what drugs can they try to ease symptoms