Neurontin Side Effects
Question:
I asked David our son to see the labels on his bottle of Neurotin that the doctor had rx’s for him. it has: May cause drowsiness or Dizziness-also- Carry A Medical Identification Card or Bracelet Stating That You Are Taking This Drug…. I wrote this down when I was there today. I have never heard of putting that label on some rx’s but what a great idea…. Medical bracelets and a the pendent around your neck… Ronnie
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My internal med doctor increased my Neurontin to 400 mg four times a day and I have been having balance problems and impaired coordination. I started at 100 mg four times a day, then over a 4-week period it was raised to 400. Does this balance problem go away or is it going to be a constant side effect of the Neurontin? Are there alternative meds that would work better and/or have fewer side effects? Thanks.
Response:
Our son David has huge bottles of this stuff and didnt need the side effects because he has Meniere’s Disease and has no balance at all. He uses his eyes for balance. Gad he was tried on this a long time ago… Ronnie
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My internal med doctor increased my Neurontin to 400 mg four times a day and I have been having balance problems and impaired coordination. My experience with neurontin was this: It helped with the pain, because I was always falling down and it would distract me from thinking about my regular chronic stuff. I would get up at night to use the bathroom and wakeup hours later on the floor, not knowing exactly what I was doing there. Oh and did it really help with my pain, nah, not really, but it was weird. Jim Stinnett http://moto-rama.com
Response:
My internal med doctor increased my Neurontin to 400 mg four times a day and I have been having balance problems and impaired coordination.
My experience with neurontin was this: It helped with the pain, because I was always falling down and it would distract me from thinking about my regular chronic stuff. I would get up at night to use the bathroom and wakeup hours later on the floor, not knowing exactly what I was doing there. Oh and did it really help with my pain, nah, not really, but it was weird. Jim Stinnett http://moto-rama.com
Response:
My internal med doctor increased my Neurontin to 400 mg four times a day and I have been having balance problems and impaired coordination. I started at 100 mg four times a day, then over a 4-week period it was raised to 400. Does this balance problem go away or is it going to be a constant side effect of the Neurontin? Are there alternative meds that would work better and/or have fewer side effects? Thanks.
Response:
This happened to me too. I don’t think I went up that quickly on dosage though. When I got to this point my doc decreased me for a month and then even more slowly than before increased me to proper dosage. And it took a while because I seem to be very sensitive. Good luck Kim W – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -My internal med doctor increased my Neurontin to 400 mg four times a day and I have been having balance problems and impaired coordination. I started at 100 mg four times a day, then over a 4-week period it was raised to 400. Does this balance problem go away or is it going to be a constant side effect of the Neurontin? Are there alternative meds that would work better and/or have fewer side effects? Thanks.
Response:
four times a day and I
Actually the drug literature states "3 divided doses"…at whatever dose you are taking…4 times a day is REALLY difficult to remember…personally I always take it in TWO equally divided doses.. As others have said…taper up really slowly..and back down if side effects are disturbing…we ALL react individually to this..and all other drugs..so what works for one,,may not for another.. good luck rb Hawki
Response:
I was told by a neurology nurse & by my PCP that the drug can cause dizziness & it definitely happens to me . I’m on 300mg 3x/day but due to the dizziness have to coordinate driving etc. around taking it. Supposedly as you increase doses your body tolerates it better & this goes away for most people,,,,I think I’ll always have this side effect.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My internal med doctor increased my Neurontin to 400 mg four times a day and I have been having balance problems and impaired coordination. I started at 100 mg four times a day, then over a 4-week period it was raised to 400. Does this balance problem go away or is it going to be a constant side effect of the Neurontin? Are there alternative meds that would work better and/or have fewer side effects? Thanks.
Response:
I was on Neurontin for phantom pain due to a (then) recent amputation of the right leg. It also threw my balance WAY off (I always wanted to fall to the left – which is NOT a good thing when you’re hobbling around on one leg!) and made me very fatigued (I think every forty minuted I was taking a twenty minute nap). My family didn’t like it at all either when I was on it ’cause I just wasn’t me. I told the doctor about it and he explained that those symptoms ’should’ go away. Right… After a little more than two months I took myself off of them. Hope you have better luck! JR
Response:
The following are the side effects of Neurontin, for people who don’t know about Neurontin but think that they do: The most commonly observed adverse events associated with the use of gabapentin in combination with other antiepileptic drugs, not seen at an equivalent frequency among placebo-treated patients, were somnolence, dizziness, ataxia, fatigue and nystagmus. Approximately 7% of the 2074 individuals who received gabapentin in premarketing clinical trials discontinued treatment because of an adverse event. The adverse events most commonly associated with withdrawal were somnolence (1.2%), ataxia (0.8%), fatigue (0.6%), nausea and/or vomiting (0.6%), and dizziness (0.6%). Incidence in Controlled Clinical Trials Treatment-emergent signs and symptoms that occurred in at least 1% of gabapentin-treated patients with epilepsy participating in placebo-controlled trials and were numerically more common in the gabapentin group. In these studies, either gabapentin or placebo was added to the patient’s current antiepileptic drug therapy. Adverse events were usually mild to moderate in intensity. The prescriber should be aware that these figures, obtained when gabapentin was added to concurrent antiepileptic drug therapy, cannot be used to predict the frequency of adverse events in the course of usual medical practice where patient characteristics and other factors may differ from those prevailing during clinical studies. Similarly, the cited frequencies cannot be directly compared with figures obtained from other clinical investigations involving different treatments, uses, or investigations. An inspection of these frequencies, however, does provide the prescribing physician with one basis to estimate the relative contribution of drug and non-drug factors to the adverse event incidences in the population studied. Other Adverse Events Observed During All Clinical Trials Gabapentin has been administered to 2074 individuals during all clinical trials, only some of which were placebo-controlled. During these trials, all adverse events were recorded by the clinical investigators using terminology of their own choosing. To provide a meaningful estimate of the proportion of individuals having adverse events, similar types of events were grouped into a smaller number of standardized categories using modified COSTART dictionary terminology. These categories are used in the listing below. The frequencies presented represent the proportion of the 2074 individuals exposed to gabapentin who experienced an event of the type cited on at least one occasion while receiving gabapentin. All reported events are included except those already listed in the previous table, those too general to be informative, and those not reasonably associated with the use of the drug. Events are further classified within b.d. system categories and enumerated in order of decreasing frequency using the following definitions: frequent adverse events are defined as those occurring in 1/100 to 1/1000 patients; rare events are those occurring in fewer than 1/1000 patients. Body As A Whole: Frequent: asthenia, malaise, face edema;Infrequent: allergy, generalized edema, weight decrease, chill; Rare: strange feelings, lassitude, alcohol intolerance, hangover effect. Cardiovascular System: Frequent: hypertension;Infrequent: hypotension, angina pectoris, peripheral vascular disorder, palpitation, tachycardia, migraine, murmur; Rare: atrial fibrillation, heart failure, thrombophlebitis, deep thrombophlebitis, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, pulmonary thrombosis, ventricular extrasystoles, bradycardia, premature atrial contraction, pericardial rub, heart block, pulmonary embolus, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, pericardial effusion, pericarditis. Digestive System: Frequent: anorexia, flatulence, gingivitis; Infrequent: glossitis, gum hemorrhage, thirst, stomatitis, increased salivation, gastroenteritis, hemorrhoids, bloody stools, fecal incontinence, hepatomegaly; Rare: dysphagia, eructation, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer, colitis, blisters in mouth, tooth discolor, perleche, salivary gland enlarged, lip hemorrhage, esophagitis, hiatal hernia, hematemesis, proctitis, irritable bowel syndrome, rectal hemorrhage, esophageal spasm. Endocrine System: Rare: hyperthyroid, hypothyroid, goiter, ***hypoestrogen,*** ovarian failure, epididymitis, ***swollen testicle,*** cushingoid appearance. Hematologic and Lymphatic System: Frequent: purpura most often described as bruises resulting from physical trauma; Infrequent: anemia, thrombocytopenia, lymphadenopathy; Rare: WBC count increased, lymphocytosis, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, bleeding time increased. Musculoskeletal System: Frequent: arthralgia; Infrequent: tendinitis, arthritis, joint stiffness, joint swelling, positive Romberg test; Rare: costochondritis, osteoporosis, bursitis, contracture. Nervous System: Frequent: vertigo, hyperkinesia, paresthesia, decreased or absent reflexes, increased reflexes, anxiety, hostility; Infrequent:CNS tumors, syncope, dreaming abnormal, aphasia, hypesthesia, intracranial hemorrhage, hypotonia, dysesthesia, paresis, dystonia, hemiplegia, facial paralysis, stupor, cerebellar dysfunction, positive Babinski sign, decreased position sense, subdural hematoma, apathy, hallucination, ***decrease or loss of libido,*** agitation, paranoia, depersonalization, euphoria, feeling high, doped-up sensation, suicidal, psychosis; Rare: choreoathetosis, orofacial dyskinesia, encephalopathy, nerve palsy, personality disorder, increased libido, subdued temperament, apraxia, fine motor control disorder, meningismus, local myoclonus, hyperesthesia, hypokinesia, mania, neurosis, hysteria, antisocial reaction, suicide gesture. Respiratory System: Frequent: pneumonia; Infrequent: epistaxis, dyspnea, apnea; Rare: mucositis, aspiration pneumonia, hyperventilation, hiccup, laryngitis, nasal obstruction, snoring, bronchospasm, hypoventilation, lung edema. Dermatological: Infrequent: alopecia, eczema, dry skin, increased sweating, urticaria, hirsutism, seborrhea, cyst, herpes simplex; Rare: herpes zoster, skin discolor, skin papules, photosensitive reaction, leg ulcer, scalp seborrhea, psoriasis, desquamation, maceration, skin nodules, subcutaneous nodule, melanosis, skin necrosis, local swelling. Urogenital System: Infrequent: hematuria, dysuria, urination frequency, cystitis, urinary retention, urinary incontinence, vaginal hemorrhage, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, breast cancer, ***unable to climax (anorgasmia)***, ***ejaculation abnormal;*** Rare: kidney pain, leukorrhea, pruritus genital, renal stone, acute renal failure, anuria, glycosuria, nephrosis, nocturia, pyuria, urination urgency, vaginal pain, breast pain, ***testicle pain.*** Special Senses: Frequent: abnormal vision; Infrequent: cataract, conjunctivitis, eyes dry, eye pain, visual field defect, photophobia, bilateral or unilateral ptosis, eye hemorrhage, hordeolum, hearing loss, earache, tinnitus, inner ear infection, otitis, taste loss, unusual taste, eye twitching, ear fullness; Rare: eye itching, abnormal accommodation, perforated ear drum, sensitivity to noise, eye focusing problem, watery eyes, retinopathy, glaucoma, iritis, corneal disorders, lacrimal dysfunction, degenerative eye changes, blindness, retinal degeneration, miosis, chorioretinitis, strabismus, eustachian tube dysfunction, labyrinthitis, otitis externa, odd smell. I was once told that I couldn’t possibly understand the hormonal aspect of menopause because I wasn’t a woman who’d gone thru it. Of course the fact that I’m consulted by doctors about hormonal problems and have developed more than one medication for the treatment of hormonal problems is inconsequential. Let’s add that there are quite a few endocrinologists and gynecologists who are not female… This was in a group that gave us the FEMALE who said that male sexual dysfunction as a side effect of Neurontin was "nonsense". Should I make the same comment here – only with evidence in my case – or just dump some of the evidence in her lap?
Response:
Alec, I understand that you are, of course, biased in your opinion of all drugs based upon what has happened to you as a child. However, I see that ALL of these possible sexual side effects are listed as either RARE or INFREQUENT. If you were to judge all drugs by what could, with very limited possibility, happen to you, most drugs would be unacceptable risks. Just look at what the PDR lists as side effects of Morphine (which you admit to taking): Genitourinary: Urine retention or hesitance, ****reduced libido and/or potency*****. or Elavil (Amitriptylene): Endocrine: ****Testicular swelling**** and ****gynecomastia in the male****; breast enlargement and galactorrhea in the female; increased or ****decreased libido****; ****impotence****; elevation and lowering of blood sugar levels. Why are you singling out Neurontin, which has also been very, very helpful to many of us here. I don’t see you arguing against Morphine or Elavil as you do against this drug. I would strongly encourage anyone with pain due to nerves to at least try Neurontin. If it doesn’t work, or if you experience unacceptable side effects (including, but not limited to sexual), stop taking it. All drugs have side-effects, but IMHO, pain has many side effects too! Sue – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The following are the side effects of Neurontin, for people who don’t know about Neurontin but think that they do: The most commonly observed adverse events associated with the use of gabapentin in combination with other antiepileptic drugs, not seen at an equivalent frequency among placebo-treated patients, were somnolence, dizziness, ataxia, fatigue and nystagmus. Approximately 7% of the 2074 individuals who received gabapentin in premarketing clinical trials discontinued treatment because of an adverse event. The adverse events most commonly associated with withdrawal were somnolence (1.2%), ataxia (0.8%), fatigue (0.6%), nausea and/or vomiting (0.6%), and dizziness (0.6%). Incidence in Controlled Clinical Trials Treatment-emergent signs and symptoms that occurred in at least 1% of gabapentin-treated patients with epilepsy participating in placebo-controlled trials and were numerically more common in the gabapentin group. In these studies, either gabapentin or placebo was added to the patient’s current antiepileptic drug therapy. Adverse events were usually mild to moderate in intensity. The prescriber should be aware that these figures, obtained when gabapentin was added to concurrent antiepileptic drug therapy, cannot be used to predict the frequency of adverse events in the course of usual medical practice where patient characteristics and other factors may differ from those prevailing during clinical studies. Similarly, the cited frequencies cannot be directly compared with figures obtained from other clinical investigations involving different treatments, uses, or investigations. An inspection of these frequencies, however, does provide the prescribing physician with one basis to estimate the relative contribution of drug and non-drug factors to the adverse event incidences in the population studied. Other Adverse Events Observed During All Clinical Trials Gabapentin has been administered to 2074 individuals during all clinical trials, only some of which were placebo-controlled. During these trials, all adverse events were recorded by the clinical investigators using terminology of their own choosing. To provide a meaningful estimate of the proportion of individuals having adverse events, similar types of events were grouped into a smaller number of standardized categories using modified COSTART dictionary terminology. These categories are used in the listing below. The frequencies presented represent the proportion of the 2074 individuals exposed to gabapentin who experienced an event of the type cited on at least one occasion while receiving gabapentin. All reported events are included except those already listed in the previous table, those too general to be informative, and those not reasonably associated with the use of the drug. Events are further classified within b.d. system categories and enumerated in order of decreasing frequency using the following definitions: frequent adverse events are defined as those occurring in 1/100 to 1/1000 patients; rare events are those occurring in fewer than 1/1000 patients. Body As A Whole: Frequent: asthenia, malaise, face edema;Infrequent: allergy, generalized edema, weight decrease, chill; Rare: strange feelings, lassitude, alcohol intolerance, hangover effect. Cardiovascular System: Frequent: hypertension;Infrequent: hypotension, angina pectoris, peripheral vascular disorder, palpitation, tachycardia, migraine, murmur; Rare: atrial fibrillation, heart failure, thrombophlebitis, deep thrombophlebitis, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, pulmonary thrombosis, ventricular extrasystoles, bradycardia, premature atrial contraction, pericardial rub, heart block, pulmonary embolus, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, pericardial effusion, pericarditis. Digestive System: Frequent: anorexia, flatulence, gingivitis; Infrequent: glossitis, gum hemorrhage, thirst, stomatitis, increased salivation, gastroenteritis, hemorrhoids, bloody stools, fecal incontinence, hepatomegaly; Rare: dysphagia, eructation, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer, colitis, blisters in mouth, tooth discolor, perleche, salivary gland enlarged, lip hemorrhage, esophagitis, hiatal hernia, hematemesis, proctitis, irritable bowel syndrome, rectal hemorrhage, esophageal spasm. Endocrine System: Rare: hyperthyroid, hypothyroid, goiter, ***hypoestrogen,*** ovarian failure, epididymitis, ***swollen testicle,*** cushingoid appearance. Hematologic and Lymphatic System: Frequent: purpura most often described as bruises resulting from physical trauma; Infrequent: anemia, thrombocytopenia, lymphadenopathy; Rare: WBC count increased, lymphocytosis, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, bleeding time increased. Musculoskeletal System: Frequent: arthralgia; Infrequent: tendinitis, arthritis, joint stiffness, joint swelling, positive Romberg test; Rare: costochondritis, osteoporosis, bursitis, contracture. Nervous System: Frequent: vertigo, hyperkinesia, paresthesia, decreased or absent reflexes, increased reflexes, anxiety, hostility; Infrequent:CNS tumors, syncope, dreaming abnormal, aphasia, hypesthesia, intracranial hemorrhage, hypotonia, dysesthesia, paresis, dystonia, hemiplegia, facial paralysis, stupor, cerebellar dysfunction, positive Babinski sign, decreased position sense, subdural hematoma, apathy, hallucination, ***decrease or loss of libido,*** agitation, paranoia, depersonalization, euphoria, feeling high, doped-up sensation, suicidal, psychosis; Rare: choreoathetosis, orofacial dyskinesia, encephalopathy, nerve palsy, personality disorder, increased libido, subdued temperament, apraxia, fine motor control disorder, meningismus, local myoclonus, hyperesthesia, hypokinesia, mania, neurosis, hysteria, antisocial reaction, suicide gesture. Respiratory System: Frequent: pneumonia; Infrequent: epistaxis, dyspnea, apnea; Rare: mucositis, aspiration pneumonia, hyperventilation, hiccup, laryngitis, nasal obstruction, snoring, bronchospasm, hypoventilation, lung edema. Dermatological: Infrequent: alopecia, eczema, dry skin, increased sweating, urticaria, hirsutism, seborrhea, cyst, herpes simplex; Rare: herpes zoster, skin discolor, skin papules, photosensitive reaction, leg ulcer, scalp seborrhea, psoriasis, desquamation, maceration, skin nodules, subcutaneous nodule, melanosis, skin necrosis, local swelling. Urogenital System: Infrequent: hematuria, dysuria, urination frequency, cystitis, urinary retention, urinary incontinence, vaginal hemorrhage, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, breast cancer, ***unable to climax (anorgasmia)***, ***ejaculation abnormal;*** Rare: kidney pain, leukorrhea, pruritus genital, renal stone, acute renal failure, anuria, glycosuria, nephrosis, nocturia, pyuria, urination urgency, vaginal pain, breast pain, ***testicle pain.*** Special Senses: Frequent: abnormal vision; Infrequent: cataract, conjunctivitis, eyes dry, eye pain, visual field defect, photophobia, bilateral or unilateral ptosis, eye hemorrhage, hordeolum, hearing loss, earache, tinnitus, inner ear infection, otitis, taste loss, unusual taste, eye twitching, ear fullness; Rare: eye itching, abnormal accommodation, perforated ear drum, sensitivity to noise, eye focusing problem, watery eyes, retinopathy, glaucoma, iritis, corneal disorders, lacrimal dysfunction, degenerative eye changes, blindness, retinal degeneration, miosis, chorioretinitis, strabismus, eustachian tube dysfunction, labyrinthitis, otitis externa, odd smell. I was once told that I couldn’t possibly understand the hormonal aspect of menopause because I wasn’t a woman who’d gone thru it. Of course the fact that I’m consulted by doctors about hormonal problems and have developed more than one medication for the treatment of hormonal problems is inconsequential. Let’s add that there are quite a few endocrinologists and gynecologists who are not female… This was in a group that gave us the FEMALE who said that male sexual dysfunction as a side effect of Neurontin was "nonsense". Should I make the same comment here – only with evidence in my case – or just dump some of the evidence in her lap?
Response:
Alec, I understand that you are, of course, biased in your opinion of all drugs based upon what has happened to you as a child. However, I see that ALL of these possible sexual side effects are listed as either RARE or INFREQUENT.
Please don’t presume as to my biases. I have taken medications where this problem was known to occur. This includes Serzone, Hydrochlorthiazide and Zaroxolyn. I gave up on serzone because it caused that problem. There was an alternative available that also helped my pain – Wellbutrin and Amitriptyline (low dosage) and which proved to not have that problem. The thiazides develop that problem over time and Edecrin does a better job for me without that effect. Zaroxolyn is notorious for causing impotence and I no longer need it. Serzone was prescribed because of a sleep problem and is one of the "safest" as far as ED is concerned. I got hit. If you were to judge all drugs by what could, with very limited possibility, happen to you, most drugs would be unacceptable risks. Just look at what the PDR lists as side effects of Morphine (which you admit to taking): Genitourinary: Urine retention or hesitance, ****reduced libido and/or potency*****.
I would have dropped it for an alternative, but I discussed it with my doctor and I watched for this side-effect during titration. Increasing the dosage might cause it to kick in, so I’m living with extra pain. If the pain becomes intolerable, then I will try a higher dosage. If that brings the problem forward and I can’t adjust my T level (reduced T is the cause) then we will find an alternative medication – or, if no alternative works and I’m stuck with impotence, I will simply cure the problem, once and for all. 50 MS Contins, 60 mg, ground up and taken at one time will cure the impotence and all other problems. or Elavil (Amitriptylene): Endocrine: ****Testicular swelling**** and ****gynecomastia in the male****; breast enlargement and galactorrhea in the female; increased or ****decreased libido****; ****impotence****; elevation and lowering of blood sugar levels.
Caused by amitriptyline increasing the level of aromatase, causing negative feedback in the hypothalamic/pituitary/gonadal axis. This causes a drop in LH in a manner similar to Lupron in men. I take 2 different anti-aromatases, blocking this effect. Further, my LH is too low to measure and I get my T from a jar. Even further, the dosages of both the morphine and the amitriptyline are not very high. So I accepted the risk during titration and watched for it. the amitriptyline is a mere 20 mg for a 400 pound person. You are arguing against a straw man. Why are you singling out Neurontin, which has also been very, very helpful to many of us here. I don’t see you arguing against Morphine or Elavil as you do against this drug.
To the contrary! Please read what I wrote, not what you perceive that I wrote. I strongly recommend that people try neurontin, particularly women, who are less vulnerable to the sexual dysfunction problem. Note – less vulnerable, not completely invulnerable. I would strongly encourage anyone with pain due to nerves to at least try Neurontin. If it doesn’t work, or if you experience unacceptable side effects (including, but not limited to sexual), stop taking it. All drugs have side-effects, but IMHO, pain has many side effects too!
Please read the sequence: I stated that neurontin has a side-effect that was intolerable to me. I also stated that I was willing to try it if my neuropathic pain broke past its current barriers. I also prefer to start with a drug without that side effect listed if it can do the job (eg edecrin and demadex instead of zaroxolyn and thiazides). I also noted that GABApentin (Neurontin) seems to be related to GABA structurally and via other mechanisms. I wanted to see if a smaller – AND MUCH CHEAPER – alternative of GABA plus a lower dose of neurontin would work, particularly without side effects. So – where did I say that I would drop the drug altogether? On the other hand, I know that Lupron and Zoladex are two drugs that I will never take, nor will I stop TRT under any circumstances – because both situations are, quite literally, lethal to me. Note that I didn’t say "DON’T TAKE NEURONTIN". I said that it has an intolerable side-effect as far as I was concerned. Since my neuropathic pain is nicely under control, courtesy of L-arginine and Elavil, why would I try to fix what isn’t broken? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sue The following are the side effects of Neurontin, for people who don’t know about Neurontin but think that they do: The most commonly observed adverse events associated with the use of gabapentin in combination with other antiepileptic drugs, not seen at an equivalent frequency among placebo-treated patients, were somnolence, dizziness, ataxia, fatigue and nystagmus. Approximately 7% of the 2074 individuals who received gabapentin in premarketing clinical trials discontinued treatment because of an adverse event. The adverse events most commonly associated with withdrawal were somnolence (1.2%), ataxia (0.8%), fatigue (0.6%), nausea and/or vomiting (0.6%), and dizziness (0.6%). Incidence in Controlled Clinical Trials Treatment-emergent signs and symptoms that occurred in at least 1% of gabapentin-treated patients with epilepsy participating in placebo-controlled trials and were numerically more common in the gabapentin group. In these studies, either gabapentin or placebo was added to the patient’s current antiepileptic drug therapy. Adverse events were usually mild to moderate in intensity. The prescriber should be aware that these figures, obtained when gabapentin was added to concurrent antiepileptic drug therapy, cannot be used to predict the frequency of adverse events in the course of usual medical practice where patient characteristics and other factors may differ from those prevailing during clinical studies. Similarly, the cited frequencies cannot be directly compared with figures obtained from other clinical investigations involving different treatments, uses, or investigations. An inspection of these frequencies, however, does provide the prescribing physician with one basis to estimate the relative contribution of drug and non-drug factors to the adverse event incidences in the population studied. Other Adverse Events Observed During All Clinical Trials Gabapentin has been administered to 2074 individuals during all clinical trials, only some of which were placebo-controlled. During these trials, all adverse events were recorded by the clinical investigators using terminology of their own choosing. To provide a meaningful estimate of the proportion of individuals having adverse events, similar types of events were grouped into a smaller number of standardized categories using modified COSTART dictionary terminology. These categories are used in the listing below. The frequencies presented represent the proportion of the 2074 individuals exposed to gabapentin who experienced an event of the type cited on at least one occasion while receiving gabapentin. All reported events are included except those already listed in the previous table, those too general to be informative, and those not reasonably associated with the use of the drug. Events are further classified within b.d. system categories and enumerated in order of decreasing frequency using the following definitions: frequent adverse events are defined as those occurring in 1/100 to 1/1000 patients; rare events are those occurring in fewer than 1/1000 patients. Body As A Whole: Frequent: asthenia, malaise, face edema;Infrequent: allergy, generalized edema, weight decrease, chill; Rare: strange feelings, lassitude, alcohol intolerance, hangover effect. Cardiovascular System: Frequent: hypertension;Infrequent: hypotension, angina pectoris, peripheral vascular disorder, palpitation, tachycardia, migraine, murmur; Rare: atrial fibrillation, heart failure, thrombophlebitis, deep thrombophlebitis, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, pulmonary thrombosis, ventricular extrasystoles, bradycardia, premature atrial contraction, pericardial rub, heart block, pulmonary embolus, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, pericardial effusion, pericarditis. Digestive System: Frequent: anorexia, flatulence, gingivitis; Infrequent: glossitis, gum hemorrhage, thirst, stomatitis, increased salivation, gastroenteritis, hemorrhoids, bloody stools, fecal incontinence, hepatomegaly; Rare: dysphagia, eructation, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer, colitis, blisters in mouth, tooth discolor, perleche, salivary gland enlarged, lip hemorrhage, esophagitis, hiatal hernia, hematemesis, proctitis, irritable bowel syndrome, rectal hemorrhage, esophageal spasm. Endocrine System: Rare: hyperthyroid, hypothyroid, goiter, ***hypoestrogen,*** ovarian failure, epididymitis, ***swollen testicle,*** cushingoid appearance. Hematologic and Lymphatic System: Frequent: purpura most often described as bruises resulting from physical trauma; Infrequent: anemia, thrombocytopenia, lymphadenopathy; Rare: WBC count increased, lymphocytosis, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, bleeding time increased. Musculoskeletal System: Frequent: arthralgia; Infrequent: tendinitis, arthritis, joint stiffness, joint swelling, positive Romberg test; Rare:
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Response:
Alec, you are so up on drugs, perhaps you can help me. Neurontin has been great for me, but it seems to be losing its ability to control headaches, either because I am having a flare of lupus, or just because of tolerance. What are the alternatives for brain-related neuropathic pain? Barbara ?
Response:
Alec, you are so up on drugs, perhaps you can help me. Neurontin has been great for me, but it seems to be losing its ability to control headaches, either because I am having a flare of lupus, or just because of tolerance. What are the alternatives for brain-related neuropathic pain?
What works for me is so far out in left field that my pain doctor has trouble believing it. I use a blend of tryptophan, L-arginine and GABA. The GABA was intended for use to enhance the Neurontin, but it seems to help me by itself. The L-arginine, as well as the GABA, are neurotransmitter precursors and have all sorts of strange effects. I do take elavil in a SMALL dose, combined with Wellbutrin, which seems to be enough. It’s mostly a shot-gun/cocktail of drugs and I really don’t know which one works for what pain. Don’t forget that opiates are not a problem in Canada and I get prescriptions with 4 months of refills, so those pain meds make it somewhat difficult to isolate things. OK – for sources: Tryptophan is still available in Canada via prescription, but not in the US. I recommend 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan from http://www.jomarlabs.com Warning! Tryptophan doesn’t stop the pain. It seems to raise the pain threshold so high that I simply laugh at the pain. You should also take it at bedtime, since it will do a great job of making you sleepy. I get the L_arginine and GABA from http://www.kilosports.com in bulk and take a heaping teaspoon of each every day.
Response:
Thanks Alec! I copied everything you said into my special folder. Will a local US pharmacy fill a Canadian doctor’s prescription for tylenol codeine? Roughly how expensive would it be?
Response:
Thanks Alec! I copied everything you said into my special folder. Will a local US pharmacy fill a Canadian doctor’s prescription for tylenol codeine?
I have no idea. Why would you want to? Canadian pharmacies are cheaper. Roughly how expensive would it be?
What kind and how many? I paid $12 CDN for 100 Percocets. That’s $8.50 US
Response:
I am on 2000 mg of Neurontin, and the I only have 2 side effects… that of groggyness for about an hour or so after I take it and my hands and feet tingle every so often (like once or twice a week) I am also on Lamictal (at 100 mg) and I didn’t have any side effects with this. Also these are the only 2 drugs that I have taken in the last 5 years that didn’t increase my appetite. I was about 50 lbs lighter 5 years ago. And all for stuff that never worked. (Once you put on weight, it gets hard to take it back off) Jenn
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I am currently in a manic phase and my pdoc has put me on 2 mg Klonopin and 1200 mg Lithium. I am still experiencing manic feelings/rapid thoughts/fast speech, etc. so I asked him for another medication. He wanted to put me on Depakote, but I refused, since I’d rather not be a zombie for the next 3 months. He prescribed Neurontin instead. Has anyone who’s on this one had any problems or side effects as a result? Is it a good drug? TIA for any info! Chris
Been on it for 2 weeks now and nothing bad to report. Manic as hell right now, but that might be because it hasn’t kicked all the way in yet. Kevo295
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Dear Chris, I have been on Neurontin for a few months now and have noticed no side effects. It has been a wonder drug for me. I would kill anyone who tried to take it away from me. Lithium did nothing, with depakote I turned into a FAT zombie – I ate and slept! As for the neurontin – I highly recommend it. Peace and Happy Holidays to ya, Barb – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I am currently in a manic phase and my pdoc has put me on 2 mg Klonopin and 1200 mg Lithium. I am still experiencing manic feelings/rapid thoughts/fast speech, etc. so I asked him for another medication. He wanted to put me on Depakote, but I refused, since I’d rather not be a zombie for the next 3 months. He prescribed Neurontin instead. Has anyone who’s on this one had any problems or side effects as a result? Is it a good drug? TIA for any info! Chris
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Hello Chris, I’m also on it but only 200 mg and I’m not sure what the theraputic dose is but so far no side affects (keep your fingers crossed) I had horrible side affects from Lithium, Depakote, Tegretol and would not go on Lamictal because of a warrning sent out to all the doctors about it….. Good luck Dawn
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x-archive-no: yes neurontin has almost no side effects for me, except that at first i was dizzy. i’m on 1500mg, and want to increase to 1800mg, but waiting to see what pdoc says. oh, i can’t seem to have an orgasm without a lot of -ahem- special attention, if i may. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am currently in a manic phase and my pdoc has put me on 2 mg Klonopin and 1200 mg Lithium. I am still experiencing manic feelings/rapid thoughts/fast speech, etc. so I asked him for another medication. He wanted to put me on Depakote, but I refused, since I’d rather not be a zombie for the next 3 months. He prescribed Neurontin instead. Has anyone who’s on this one had any problems or side effects as a result? Is it a good drug? TIA for any info! Chris
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I am currently in a manic phase and my pdoc has put me on 2 mg Klonopin and 1200 mg Lithium. I am still experiencing manic feelings/rapid thoughts/fast speech, etc. so I asked him for another medication. He wanted to put me on Depakote, but I refused, since I’d rather not be a zombie for the next 3 months. He prescribed Neurontin instead. Has anyone who’s on this one had any problems or side effects as a result? Is it a good drug? TIA for any info! Chris
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