Question about Neurontin

[JBWInColorado]

(I'm sorry if this is in the wrong place)

Back in 2009-2010, I used to take Neurontin for severe nerve pain in my arm. It helped with the pain but I felt like it made me stupid. Major cognitive disfunction - couldn't remember common words, forgot things I KNOW I knew (a favorite old overplayed song on the radio - the name escaped me). When I finally had carpal tunnel surgery, (took 2 years to come to that conclusion!), I was so happy to stop the neurontin. Thing is... I feel like I never fully got my mind back. It's better now but I don't feel nearly as sharp/quick as I used to be before the neurontin. It comes & goes. Is that a common symptom with neurontin - the brain fuzziness? I wonder, now that I've been diagnosed, if the cognitive disfunction was more an early symptom of MS, and not caused by the neurontin. (The arm nerve pain wasn't really fixed by the carpal tunnel surgery. I was told it was in my head.)

When I was in the hospital in early September with nystagmus, I was told a few different meds that could be used along with the IV solu-medrol to help my eyes stop freaking out - and one option was neurontin. I said 'NOOOO, neuronton screws with my head!' so they put me on Baclofen & Klonipin (which did the trick).

But if some day in the future I have to maybe take Neurontin again -- does it mess with your head? Or am I scared of it for no reason? Was the fuzzy thinking effect more likely an early MS symptom?

Can anyone share their neurontin experiences?

Thanks so much,
Jessy

[brothrgoose]

Nuerontin

Hi!
I don't care if I spelled the med right as I think its a vile drug!!!
Now, there are many I know that take it at VERY low doses and it works wonders!!...too bad those people also happen to be diabetic!
Out of sheer desperation, I went to a pain doctor specialist.
He tried a few things for the horrible MS banding pain. Yes, he gave me the standard opiod meds too, (vicodin, darvocet, and even straight oxycodone)...but they affected my walking.
So the next was Nuerontin, or Morontin, as that's what it turned out to make me.
Ultimately, I ended up on 2,400mg per day and was SO STONED, I had to step down from my job to a DESK job.
I got into nursing just so I wouldn't have to sit behind a desk.
I knew neurontin was the, at root, problem. I asked to be hospitalized to fast-track get off the elephant sized dose. After 12 days of hospital and about a week more at home....I was clearer mentally in ages only to return to work and being told my position was "phased out".
A lawsuit later, I had a job back at the hospital and have been there for approaching 4 years.
I would tell anyone I knew, if a small dose doesn't work for u without that foggy feeling...TRY SOMETHING ELSE! I live in pain but im clear minded and that's MORE important!!!

Annie

[KatieAgain]

Yes, Neurontin can do that. A lot of people get over it...I never did. So I only take it on an "as needed" basis.

I take it at night and the most I can take is 300mgs...but it works for me.

I took some during the day a few weeks back because the pain was bad and took a nap. When I woke up, my Mom called and I truly was just whacked!

So I don't think it is just you...happens to me too. Some people can take large doses throughout the day and all is good. We are all different.

[Cat Mom]

As usual, I guess I'm the oddball!! Used to be on 1,800 mg daily (3 x 600 mg) for pain. Haven't taken it in approx 1 year. Never felt any different "in the head" (loopy, sleepy) whether on it or not.

Jen

[MarkLavelle]

I've gone as high as 3 x 300mg ('as needed') without noticing any side effects.

[JBWInColorado]

Interesting - thanks for the responses. I totally forgot that back when I was taking it, I had heard it referred to as Morontin! That kinda answers my question right there...

Well, here's hoping I never have to take it again.

Thanks all - hope every one is feeling well.

[NYJenn]

Some people can tolerate high doses of Neurontin.
I cannot. I take 300 mgs at bedtime. On really bad days, I take an extra one in the afternoon--but it makes me really spacey/dizzy and affects my balance.

[venice]

I started it about a week ago, for TN. It also makes me spacey and a bit woozy, especially at the end of the day. Taking 3 x 300 mg.

Symptom-wise, it is helping, but it's not quite there yet, so I expect I will need to increase the dose. As a side benefit, it helps me sleep. I no longer have to take sleep medication.

[tortis]

Tried it many years ago and I took one before the trip home from Dr. and then one when we got home. Very low dose though, I pretty much slept the whole 3 days that I was on it and morontin pretty much describes my brain the little bit of time I was awake. Still for some people it is a God send and really relieves their pain. Not for me.
PEACE
Tortis

[Cira]

Neurontin is the current flavor of the month in my pain management game. I haven't yet been sure if it's effective since I'm in the midst of a flare but the side effects haven't been too bad so far. I did feel pretty drunk the first time I took it during the day, but it was manageable & went away pretty quickly. We'll see if it ultimately helps with the pain.

In any case, I don't think it's likely you will "have to" be on it again. There are many other options out there, and ultimately it's your choice on whether to take something or not... Although gabapentin has been good to me, when I tried amitriptyline, I got results like yours with gabapentin. I felt hungover, out of it & really disconnected. Tried a lower dose to get my body used to it but every time I tried to increase it, I felt horrible and the lower dose wasn't enough to be effective. Ultimately, I discontinued it & told my doctor there were too many other options to keep taking something that made me feel so horrible. I also told him that I honestly preferred the pain over not feeling present in my own life. I've learned to live with pain, as much as that sucks, but I can't live with that spaced out, disconnected feeling. Luckily, he wholeheartedly agreed.

If ever the need arises again for you (and I hope not!) hopefully one of the many other options out there will work for you, though it definitely takes some trial and error.

[JBWInColorado]

Yeah when I think back to those 2+ years in pain -- I was pretty much a mess. All kinds of weirdness going on, but that left arm pain - holy cow. There were so many nights i was THIS close to calling an ambulance because I didn't think I could handle it. I was worried my neighbors could hear me crying and screaming into my pillow.

I forgot about this - I was on neurontin AND zonisamide. It helped, but I still often felt like my arm was burning from the inside. Percocets were my saviour. There were certain nights I'd take 3 even though I know that's too much acetaminophen. I tried and couldn't tolerate the amytriptaline stuff, and I was on MS-contin for a while (morphine) - i hated how it made me feel (verrrry slow) so percs worked better. I even got to the point where I'd chew up the percocets to make them work faster. So eat those percs, and I'd put on a DVD episode of House, and I knew by the time the show was about over, (42 minutes!) I'd be knocked out.

So this pain went on for over 2 years... that's not really a flare up? This was my first symptom... I don't understand how it could have lasted 2 years.

[sulphur kennel]

Neurontin keeps me sane.

I am on 3000 mg (yes that is 3 grams) daily. I feel fine and haven't noticed any slowing or mental deficits. I take it to treat the itching/nerve pain in my arms. I tried Lyrica but that was horrible for me. When I got on it I was so thankful for the relief. I take 1-600mg at each meal and 2-600mg at bedtime.
Before I started on that, I would wake up in the middle of the night with blood on my pj's from scratching holes in my arms. For me neurontin is a miracle drug.