Neurontin and Lyrica are a Death Sentence for New Brain Synapses

Bye-Bye Brain Cells ?

These blockbuster drugs were approved for use even though the FDA had no idea what they actually did in the brain. A shocking new study shows that they block the formation of new brain synapses, drastically reducing the potential for rejuvenating brain plasticity – meaning that these drugs will cause brain decline faster than any substance known to mankind…

The researchers in the above study try to downplay the serious nature of the drugs by saying “adult neurons don’t form many new synapses.” That is simply not true. The new science is showing that brain health during aging relies on the formation of new synapses…

There’s no reason to be so alarmist about Lyrica and Neurontin.  Yes, patients need to be informed about the history of these drugs, especially since doctors don’t know how they work. In fact, one doctor who wanted to prescribe Lyrica for me told me it was an antidepressant, which of course is not true…

http://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/guide/lyrica-for-fibromyalgia-treatment

Lyrica is not an antidepressant. Rather, it is a drug that targets nerve signals. The medicine has long been used to relieve nerve pain in patients with shingles and diabetic neuropathy. It is also used to treat partial seizures.

Fibromyalgia pain is believed to be brought on by nerve-related changes, which cause nerve cells to fire off too many signals. This renders a person overly sensitive to stimuli that are normally not painful.

Scientists aren’t exactly sure how Lyrica improves fibromyalgia symptoms, but laboratory research suggests Lyrica helps decrease the number of nerve signals, and as a result calms down overly sensitive nerve cells. This appears to alleviate pain in patients with fibromyalgia…

Since we don’t know that much about fibromyalgia, these drugs may help because they are providing something that those who suffer from fibromyalgia don’t have.  Maybe helping to quiet the over-stimulation of their nervous system.  Of course, a lot of the success for Lyrica in fibromyalgia patients may be part of a placebo effect, but nobody knows.

However, if a doctor wants to prescribe Lyrica off-label, say for General Anxiety Disorder, then that doctor is just guessing that the drug may help.  And I just don’t think patients should be used as lab rats.  After all, the goal of Big Pharma is to make money, not help patients.  Big Pharma loves to expand the use of each drug it sells, maybe even creating illnesses which don’t exist or aren’t as prevalent as they’d like you to believe…

http://www.pharmafile.com/news/lyrica-challenge-antidepressants-new-anxiety-disorder-approval

Lyrica (pregabalin) was first launched in 2004 for the treatment of neuropathic pain and the control of epileptic seizures, but Pfizer can now tap into the GAD market after receiving European marketing approval.

Drug treatment of GAD has been traditionally dominated by antidepressants such as fluoxetine and GSK’s Seroxat, but Pfizer believes its drug offers some unique benefits over existing treatments…

The problem with antidepressants is that no one knows how they work either, yet they are prescribed (especially for women) as if they’re a wonder drug.  Turns out the FDA approval of antidepressants was based on studies provided and paid for by — you guessed it — Big Pharma. And the research the FDA approval was based on didn’t include all the studies that showed no benefit and/or harm.  The FDA doesn’t perform its own studies, but uses these cherry-picked, industry studies which it apparently believes.

87 thoughts on “Neurontin and Lyrica are a Death Sentence for New Brain Synapses”

    • I’m not sure neuroplasticity is about the aging of the brain, but more like the brain’s ability to recover from, I dunno, something like a stroke or other brain trauma. As long as you’re not banging your head against a brick wall every day, or your wife isn’t hitting you over the head with a baseball bat, I think you’ll be fine.

      And you know, pain has a way of interfering with the working of the brain too, along with screwing with your immune system. Please don’t stop taking pain medication just because of this information.

      Liked by 8 people

      • I was put on Neurontin many, many years ago for uncontrollable restless legs syndrome (which needs a new name because when you have it bad, your arms are also involved just as much). It worked and eventually I titrated to 2400 mg/day, but also had to take other meds with it. It hadn’t yet been used for Fibro or other pain, so when I first read that docs were giving it for pain, I was amazed and amused. Pain? It never helped my pain. Now, I am 1/2 down and getting off it eventually, and yes, you have to treat it with respect because there is withdrawl. When Lyrica was introduced for Fibro, not one of my doctors has ever suggested it to me (and the Mayo Clinic said I had the worst case of Fibro they’d ever seen — back in the 1980s). So for pain? Not worth it. I have severe chronic pain, Fibro being the least of my problems. I just wish the damned Pharma industry wasn’t so greedy that they have to continually kill people everyday with medication. Sure, I have to take meds, but I don’t take anything that isn’t absolutely necessary. We live in weird times. I hope someday we can go back to the future.

        Liked by 3 people

  2. This is an Oct. 2009 study that is being quoted. I took neurontin in 2004-5 and had help with fibromyalgia. But was given gabepentin in 2010 or so and didn’t see any improvement. Many of the conditions people take these dangerous brain altering chemicals for need to be weighed in the PATIENT’S mind against possible effects. We’ve seen that we are not willing as a country to give the FDA the funding to really investigate and run studies themselves. We bitch about the drug companies doing it because they and doctors have “an agenda”. Yeah, a profit motive. Duh. We need to stop allowing ourselves to blindly assume doctors and pharmacists know everything and take a strong place as a partner in our own healthcare. No matter how many doctors or pharmacists get irritated at being asked questions. It is not their body after all. It is ours. It is not THEIR health insurance or salary paying for the new trial drug, it is OURS. We need to take some ownership and responsibility for our own health. It’s taken me 40 years of being pretty ill and being run around the system to realize that I have to take ownership over that system or NOTHING can improve.

    Liked by 5 people

    • But what if some of those neuronal synapses are causing your pain? What if they are working double overtime when they should be working from 9 to 5?

      Every patient has to decide for themselves which therapy is best. I guess I don’t believe in antidepressants because I pretty much tried them all for chronic pain and none of them helped. But I don’t have fibromyalgia, although you’d think drugs like neurontin would have helped my neuropathy.

      And I can’t be sure, but I think all those antidepressants I took didn’t do any long-term damage to my brain — I think I still have all my neuronal synapses. But then, I didn’t take antidepressants for very long. However, I did take an awful lot of them, and at fairly high doses.

      Patients shouldn’t be afraid of drugs or how their brain works. Just keep in mind that you know your body and your brain better than anyone. Don’t let a doctor talk you into therapies that you don’t want.

      Liked by 8 people

  4. Finding a balance is important and it must be custom designed to the individual. As a physician, I have never believed in the concept of maintaining disease or pain. I believe that “conditions” can be reversed (or at least improved) by addressing it in a multi-factorial approach. In doing so the synergistic effect usually outweighs any individual component. Meds certainly can be part of the equation, however, our health care system attempts to make it the primary approach. Whether this is done for simplicity or money, it usually is not effective for most patients. Empowering patients and teaching them their responsibilities for a better quality of life is significantly more effective.

    Liked by 6 people

  5. They tried having me take Neurotin once. Threw me into a grand mal seizure. I have seizures when I get overheated, but it was winter in Colorado. The neurologist had me try taking it once more, the same thing happened. I have multiple sclerosis, scoliosis, and asthma. None of those problems generally cause seizures. So I threw the drug out!
    Jeanette Hall

    Liked by 6 people

  7. I am overtired and may have missed it if you said this but..Do you have to take the drugs in combination with each other to have the problem.
    I agree with you in that I believe they are incorrect saying that the brain does not create new synapses/
    I take neurontin (gabapentin) for severe spinal pain, pinched nerves,etc all kinds of nasties
    I was originally given 300 mg and it was upped to 600. I took 600 for a week or two and realized I could not drive safely or really walk safely either. It made me very zombieish.
    Sometimes I bite small pieces off to make the dose lower than 300. I try to take it when my pain is most severe ….rain thunderstorm coming etc
    I do not think I have anything like lyrica;, in combination with it….unless tizanidine is similar? I do once in a while take both of those, if I cannot function through the pain.
    It is soooo sad having to live with chronic pain and have no choice but to take the meds (which di not always he;penouhj) or to be bedridden
    I am 49 and not ready to be bedridden.
    Much love and empathy for your situation,
    Thank you for posting things like this. It is hard to keep up
    Annie

    Liked by 4 people

    • Both Lyrica and Neurontin are anticonvulsant or antiepileptic drugs used to prevent and control seizures, even though they’re approved for nerve pain and fibromyalgia. I’m not convinced that all fibro pain is caused by nerve pain, as it can be very hard to tell where a person’s pain is really coming from. For spinal pain, does it make sense to take an anticonvulsant, especially if you don’t suffer from convulsions or epilepsy?

      Tizanidine is a muscle relaxer, and although Lyrica and Neurontin can give you the same effect, all these drugs don’t work on the brain in the same way.

      That’s where the concern is, in how these drugs actually work on the brain, which includes decreasing the formation of new brain synapses. I’m not sure that’s ever a good idea, but I think it’s more important for kids and teenagers to develop the brain’s ability to create new synapses, while their brains are still developing.

      My fear for long-term use of these drugs would be in the possibility of increasing our risk for conditions like Alzheimer’s. Your description of feeling like a zombie would be the type of side effect that would worry me. Is this zombie-like feeling due to the drug decreasing the formation of new brain synapses?

      You have to decide if taking this drug is worth the risks involved, but if it really helps your pain levels and allows you to be mobile, that’s important. However, is there another drug that could do the same thing without all these other risks?

      Liked by 6 people

      • I took neurontin for a few months back in 2013 after GAD brought on non-epileptic seizures as a result of some kind of somatoform anomaly… i swear, cross my heart, on my mother’s grave, that my ability to think quickly and calculate or reason was drastically altered since i used the medication. there was no epileptic activity and the seizure-like tremors did not have any chance to damage any of my brain, but the medication week by week continued and i stopped it because i felt slowed down. ever since, i haven’t felt right.

        Liked by 3 people

  8. Pingback: Neurontin and Lyrica are a Death Sentence for New Brain Synapses | the Reluctant Parent

  9. all drug studies are paid for by big pharmica. that is how the fda approval process works. the scary part is if the company doesn’t get the results they want, they can throw out the results and don’t even have to report it. when ya got a billion dollars into a drug, it’s easy to throw out one, two or seven study results trying to get the drug approved.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Some drug studies are done by universities and federally-funded research programs, but since many of these researchers have conflicts of interests with Big Pharma, it’s the same as Big Pharma doing the research. What’s sad is that it didn’t used to be this way…

      Liked by 2 people

      • but, by the time a drug heads into the approval process, a company is spearheading the approval process. in that case, they are responsible for the testing and reporting results that are favorable to the drug company and more importantly, the stock holders. they’d say screw the patients but they have to have someone that pays for the damned drug.

        Liked by 3 people

  13. I took neurontin about 12 years ago for nerve pain in my legs. It’s still there but not as bad, so I was able to stop using it after about a year. Last year my dr gave it to me again. It was horrible. I didn’t remember it being this ugly. I walked into walls. Forget driving. I was a complete looney tune. After a few weeks those systems began to dissipate but the things I read about it told me that it wasn’t worth the risk of taking it, so I stopped. Doctors use medication for so many off uses it’s scary and so many people don’t investigate what they are taking. Doctors are mainly pill pushers for the drug companies. When I am unfortunate and see TV in a dr office and it spends half the time of a commercial telling you all the things that could go wrong and ends with a disarming smile telling you to, “Ask your doctor for it today!” it makes me want to run in the other direction. I really don’t want to take anything I need a prescription for accept my anti-rejection meds – and they only cause cancer from a fairly non existent immune system.

    Liked by 3 people

  14. Is lyrica similar to tizanidine? Because I was prescribed Neurontin (gabapentin) and tizanidine for chronic severe pain issues. I do not take the tizanidine every day. I take tramadol every day. I take neurontin most days. I take the tizanidine at bed time if needed and once in a while during a rainy painful day.
    Annie

    Liked by 3 people

    • I wouldn’t say Lyrica and tizanidine are similar, just that they can cause some of the same effects. It’s probably a good idea to take the tizanidine only when needed instead of on a regular schedule — that way, your body won’t get used to it, and it will work for a longer period of time.

      Liked by 3 people

  15. I have neuropathy due to spinal column damage in my neck and lower back. I either feel nothing or I feel pain. I took gabapentin years ago without real results. For a while I got limited relief from amitriptyline, an anti-depresant also approved for nerve pain, but once I reached maximum dosage doctor put me back on gabapentin in addition to amitriptyline. Now, after years of suffering, I am on physical therapy that seems to help more than the drugs. Doctor says not to quit drugs yet. I hurt with or without drugs but worry quitting them may actually be bad for me at this point.
    Thank you for providing more information on the subject. Big Pharma is lining its pockets with the pain and suffering of honest people who just want relief.

    Liked by 5 people

    • Will quitting the drugs be bad for you? I can only use my own experience as a response, but keep in mind I was taking more and stronger drugs than you are. And I wasn’t taking either of the drugs you’ve listed. Just saying our experiences wouldn’t be the same, but could be similar.

      For me, stopping the prescription drugs created both benefit and harm. The benefit was being cured of my addiction to the medical industry, no longer dependent on doctors to help manage my pain. It is a very freeing experience.

      The harm is that, without drugs to treat the pain, I’m unable to stabilize my pain levels and they can easily get out of control. I also think my overall pain levels are increasing at a faster rate than when I managed the pain with prescription drugs.

      If the physical therapy is helping, then just ask your doctor to start tapering you off the meds. See how it goes. You might find a really low dose is all you need, or that you don’t need any drugs. If you find you’d rather not be without the relief these drugs provide, don’t consider that a sign of weakness. Asking for help is a sign of strength, and accepting the help that drugs can provide is a part of that. Just as long as you understand all the possible side effects.

      Liked by 5 people

  17. Ooh very interesting indeed. I have been taking 600mg Lyrica for about a year now I think along with Tramadol which I have managed to get down from 8 a day to between 2 & 3 due I thought to the effects of the Lyrica. Everyone wants me to get off Tramadol but 2/3 is minimum I can manage with. Lyrica was the only thing that touched my Trigeminal Neuralgia/neuropathic pain which was beyond excruciating before! I am sensibly not about to stop taking medication from reading your informative article but indeed I will bear it in mind at my next medication review and discuss if I feel necessary with my doctor.

    Liked by 3 people

  20. Interesting article. I’ll have to look into this more, I was just prescribed Neurontin for off-label use as a mood stabilizer. Although I tend not to worry too much, especially at my age (58) since I’ve been taking psych meds for over 30 years – not to mention all the self-medicating I did earlier. I don’t think there’s much hope left for my poor brain…oh yeah, let’s not forget the horrific ECT!

    Liked by 3 people

  22. Since Kaiser won a $142 Million verdict against Pfizer, for improper off-label marketing of Neurontin and Lyrica for pain, why are these drugs still prescribed for such uses? I know…Big Pharma is all-powerful. But what was the end effect of this lawsuit? How did it benefit US, the consumers?
    http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/09/us-usa-court-pfizer-idUSBRE9B80K020131209

    Click to access 5498697_1_Consolidated-cert.-petition-FINAL-AS-FILED-petition-and-appendix.pdf

    Liked by 3 people

  23. Reblogged this on Finding Out Fibro and commented:
    Exactly why I’m so glad to be off of it now!!! Lyrica is an awful, awful drug that made me gain so much weight and lose the ability to feel any pleasurable stimuli. My brain and my sense of self slowly floated further and further away. Now that I am successfully free, it’s like seeing in color again for the first time in years.

    Liked by 4 people

  24. OH I just seen this post…How did I miss this one…My dad is on this was on a high dose 4oomg 3 times a day and 800mg at bedtime… now he is back on it at 100mg 3 times a day and 2oomg at night from the pain of shingles and nerve pain in his hand from his accident ….
    The nurse was here the other day and she is trying to figure out what medications could be causing all his problems the main problem at this time is dizzy and when he stands his blood pressure drops danger level like 80/40 she thinks it could be the flomax .
    He also is just not doing good at all and he is on gabaptin and has onset of dementia so that is not a good combination and his koko dr (we have names for all our drs) lol I think she got her degree online or some shit!!!
    I have about had it with these drs thought about blogging about it..still may sick of it…
    Dad had to have a triple bypass operation not to long ago and still having complications that is one reason that I had not been on here for so long taking care of him and staying at the hospital day and night for almost a month or so at Dallas so I could not just come home at all.. then to rehab closer to here in the next town and this quack had all his medications mixed up and we are still trying to figure it out before it kills him…something is wrong and i am one pissed off daughter…
    So now you know for the most part why I was gone and I was sick as well with Lupus flare and arthritis pain all over pain you know how it is gurl..
    huggggs to you my dear one!!!!!
    Suzette

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Pingback: Neurontin, Gabapentin, and Lyrica, oh my! | All Things Chronic

  27. The nurse I have says she trusts this , she thinks I have fibromyalgia I told her no , I would have more like cfs or adrenal burnout .
    From all of my stresses and abuses,and head trauma . I told her I don’t trust her ! Also she prescribed trazadone to take right before bed after I take the Lyrica , My pharmacist said do not take those close together !! And my nurse said why would he tell you that ? I said that’s his job , I told my pharmacist ,I think my nurse is trying to kill me , he was serious, I was laughing .

    Liked by 2 people

  28. Sigh…gabapentin is a mainstay of my neuropathic pain regimen….along with cannabis, of course. And then….the lovely nurse practitioner prescribes clonidine for my out of control blood pressure (pain, anyone??), and weird shit starts happening.

    So I looked it up. It’s “centrally acting,” so it does some shit in your brain. Definitely masks pain, but at the price of serious withdrawal including….even worse out of control blood pressure, and even worse pain! I weaned off it over a ten day period, but, oof. Bad news. Avoid where possible. Another instance of, “we are pretty sure it works but we don’t know how…or what else it will do to you.”

    Liked by 3 people

  29. Lyrics was prescribed for my fibromyalgia some 6 years ago and though I only took it for a mere 6 months the damage it has dine to not only my memory, mi d, sight, physical appearance….. To mention a few is horrific and nothing I try helps. I wish I had someway of suing the big pharma’s for what they have fine to my life and career.

    Liked by 3 people

  30. Chronic pain patients now are just doomed to suffer and then worse when we can no longer take it. This is all drs now are prescribing. These meds are so dangerous but I have had many drs tell me well then I guess you just don’t hurt bad enough and then tell me they cannot give anything that will actually help for pain anymore. What has our country come to when patients are not allowed to be treated properly with actual medicines? We are being made to feel like drug addicts then given this garbage. Hard not to let depression get you with all these obstacles.

    Liked by 3 people

    • From Wikipedia:

      “Anticonvulsants are also increasingly being used in the treatment of bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, since many seem to act as mood stabilizers, and for the treatment of neuropathic pain. Anticonvulsants suppress the rapid and excessive firing of neurons during seizures. Anticonvulsants also prevent the spread of the seizure within the brain. Some investigators have observed that anticonvulsants themselves may cause reduced IQ in children. However these adverse effects must be balanced against the significant risk epileptic seizures pose to children…”

      Perhaps there are some similarities between symptoms for chronic pain and conditions like depression, bipolar, and BPD. But since I only suffer from chronic pain, it doesn’t make sense to me to use a drug that sometimes works on brains suffering from mental health conditions. At the same time, a mood stabilizer to treat chronic pain does make sense. Seems to me that cannabis could also be described as a mood stabilizer, but anticonvulsants and cannabis work differently on the brain.

      What does my brain need to treat intractable pain? I don’t know, I can only say what helps. And since everyone is different, this answer will be different for everyone. If you are worried about any of the drugs you’re taking, it makes sense to taper off to see what the differences are when you’re not taking them. However, it can take months for a drug to be completely gone from your system, and detox from any drug is usually not fun. Expect your symptoms to be exacerbated. But keep in mind that a drug holiday can last anywhere from a day to weeks and months — or forever, if that’s your decision.

      Since I didn’t achieve any benefit from Neurontin, my choice is easy. But if this drug helped me, I’d have to decide if it’s worth the possible side effects, like a reduction in my IQ. I may not be the smartest person in the room, but I think I’d prefer to keep whatever intelligence I possess.

      Liked by 2 people

    • Wow !! I told the fnp I refused to take this medication ! I already had brain surgery, so I am slow, I told my daughter and pharmacist, I think my fnp is trying to kill me !! I had a bad feeling about this drug, I didn’t take it, Thank God !

      Liked by 2 people

  32. Well hell, I was taking Neurontin a high dosage dor diabetic nerve pain and started having dizzyness and other strange things, my doctor took me off and put me on lyrica, and i started having severe swelling of my feet and legs, i begged my doctor to put me back on Neurontin, i mean i had to almost get on my knees, he said he would take me off for 30 days and if i was still having the swelling i was going back on Lyrica. my feet are swollen huge, so bad i can’t wear my shoes, I have to get a larger shoe. WTH, they say there is nothing else that can be given for diabetic nerve pain. I can’t hardly stand the pain. i would prefer the dissyness and all the other problems i was having than all this swelling. what the hell is FDA doing, they don’t care about us people that have to take that junk they approve. somebody need to get off their ass and do something about these pharmacies that just make stuff so they can make more money and somebody need to get on FDA for approvng just any ole type of drug without fully testing them.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Like I said above, Neurontin (which is gabapentin) is in Lyrica. Read labels and do research and always ask the pharmacist questions. Most docs don’t bother to tell you this stuff.

      Liked by 2 people

    • You can see why the FDA is keeping cannabis on Schedule I, so no meaningful research showing that it helps diabetic neuropathy can be done. Nonetheless, diabetic neuropathy is one of the indications for medical marijuana treatment in most of the states that have a medical marijuana program. Another extremely effective treatment is acupuncture. I have successfully treated many neuropathy patients with Medical Acupuncture.

      It sounds like your doctor enjoys making you beg for the treatment you need. If so, this is a terrible abuse of the doctor-patient relationship, which should be a partnership, not an exercise in power tripping on someone in pain, Heaven help us! Was me, I’d be out doctor shopping, if there was another choice.

      I guess I’ve got a bit of a mad on, because like you, my shoes no longer fit, and behind this is a rude, crooked, and incompetent cardiologist. I refuse to buy new shoes. I’m wearing my sandals. I’m going to find Dr. Right very soon….as soon as I get un-disgusted at the sorry state of the medical profession. Guess I’m gonna be wearing these sandals for a while. Hope you start feeling better very soon! Let’s put our feet up LOL

      Liked by 2 people

  34. I have taken both neurontin and lyrica and found them no help at all. I think I have tried everything on the market for the nerve pain in my feet . The doctors have given up on me so I just hobble along.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Doctors gave up on me, too, so I became my own doctor. And there are a few drugs that are not on the “market” but which can help manage pain, if you’re willing to take some risks.

      I’ve found that reading the stories of other pain patients is very beneficial, especially those by patients who suffer from the same or similar medical conditions. Although I also suffer from nerve pain in my feet (caused by spinal damage and degeneration), it doesn’t bother me as much as the pain in my head. So, I haven’t really concentrated on trying to treat the nerve pain in my feet, mostly because I know that surgery is the only option I have left.

      I’d say that cannabis can give me some relief from the buzzing in my feet, but I’d also say that opioids worked better.

      Try thinking outside the box, like I’ve been reading some positive stories about treating nerve pain with ketamine, and stem cell research looks promising. Maybe look for some research trials in your area. Good luck.

      Liked by 1 person

  35. I’m concerned I have been switched from Gabapentin to Lyrics just recently for ongoing back pain. I have noticed my nerves have been worse. I’m more short tempered than I was. I noticed my legs are jumpy. Which if this drug is doing what its supposed to shouldn’t be happening.

    Liked by 1 person

    • What happens when a patient who doesn’t suffer from seizures takes an anti-seizure medication? I don’t think medical science has answered that question, but your symptoms seem like a logical side effect.

      Like

  36. I have been on lyrics 400 mg day for quite a few years now. I feel like it helps me just wind down after a stressful day. I saw this article and am now very anxious and scared. I don’t think I want to get off it…other people have a glass of wine after work or a few beers (I don’t drink) . But anyways let’s say I wanted to eventually be free of it. Is it worth it and how do I do it?

    Liked by 1 person

    • If the drug works for you, and you don’t suffer from too many negative side effects, why would you want to be free of it?

      I’m just wondering which medical condition you’re treating with this anti-seizure medication. Is it anxiety? If so, is there a better drug you could take to treat that condition? One with fewer side effects, both short-term and long-term?

      Are you thinking about stopping all drug treatment for your medical condition(s)? I can certainly understand wanting to stop taking pills, but what are you going to replace them with? I can also understand wanting to take a break from the pills. If you want to do that, you’ll need to map out a detox plan. Since you’ve been taking this drug for years, you’ll need to be prepared for a rather uncomfortable and possibly painful detox. Is it worth it? Only you can answer that.

      Liked by 1 person

  37. Its kinda hard to stop taking gabapentin when you’ve had hand pain for 3 years and no doctor could find out what was wrong with you.Yes I figured that gab could be effecting me somehow since I never visual side effects from the medication. It seemed to good to be true since most of my pain was gone on 300mg three times a day and I had NO side effects I really hope it doesn’t effect my brain but you can’t blame any pharmacy company for your problems.the doctors prescribe the medication because its the ONLY one that will do the job .I do hope that they make new medication that helps nerve pain and doesn’t effect the brain which would most likely not happen soon.but for now I will have to continue taking it since if I stop taking them I would most likely kill my self from the pain ,I mean before taking this medication a simple day with no labor would be terrible I could not sleep I could not pick up the controller I could bearly wash myself without hand pain and the shitty part of all this is that I’m only 19 ..why are some people born so ,unlucky?

    Liked by 1 person

    • You’re right, people shouldn’t blame Big Pharma for these drugs. No drug is 100% safe. All have side effects. Can you tell me more about the visual side effects you’re experiencing?

      Bill, instead of thinking yourself as unlucky, try to think of yourself as challenged. With chronic pain, constantly challenged. And those who overcome challenges are usually better and stronger for it. Every day that you go about the tasks of living, you are overcoming your challenges and your pain. And if for some reason you decide to stop taking this drug, there are plenty more to choose from.

      Yeah, it sucks to be unlucky, no doubt about it. Which is why I never play the lottery. 🙂

      Like

      • I ment I had no side effects that I have noticed myself..ive read a lot of people saying that it makes them “zombie like” or memory loss , anxiety etc.but thank god from the first pill I took to now which has been around 5 months I’ve had no side effects .my dosage is still low with 900mg a day I hope in the future it stays side effect free .it feels weird since its helped me so much I haven’t felt this normal in so long ,some people may call this medication the devil but for me its been a gift from above at least for now who knows how long it will be until I start experiencing bad effects…and you totally right about taking it as a challenge ,I wouldn’t complain so much if it was pain in my back or even legs .But my hands come on why my hands I mean you use them so much for EVERYTHING it sucks that the things I need MOST are the ones in pain.without legs your okay at least u have your hands right? But with no hands or chronic hand pain everyday life is so hard.maybe I’ll become a scientists and figure out why this happens to us.And about other drugs ..really? That sounds nice I would rather take something else rather than something that can me dumb in the head.I tend to continue gabapentin since its cheap but maybe one day I’ll move on to something else.thanks for the reply BTW it feels good talking to other people about my problems.Thanks

        Liked by 1 person

        • Also my tolerance has moved up quickly on the first day I took 300mg a day n the first day was AMAZING !no pain but couple days later I started to feel minor pain on 600mg a day now on 900mg a day I still have small pain but NOTHING compared to before the medication. Its still manageable ..let’s see how long I can last on 900mg a day I’m hoping at least a year *crossing fingures

          Liked by 1 person

        • Don’t feel bad about complaining — we deserve to complain. And sometimes, complaining can even make you feel better. I suggest using a lot of bad words:

          People Who Say ‘F*ck’ A Lot Are Hotter And Healthier

          As long as we’re complaining, I wish my pain was anywhere but in my head. It’s not like they make wheelchairs for heads. When you become a scientist, maybe you could develop some kind of support system for heads? (I’m talking about the head on top of my neck.) 🙂

          You should probably keep taking the gabapentin as long as it works. Just try not to max out too soon. And if gabapentin helps you, then you’re probably suffering from some kind of nerve pain. So, just Google different treatments for nerve pain and see what’s there. If you have access to medical cannabis, I would suggest you try that. You can even start with high-CBD strains with just a little THC, as many patients who suffer from nerve pain say that it helps.

          Good luck, dude. And stop by anytime. 🙂

          Like

        • I’m curious what type of head pain?..and yea nerve pain on both hands started out with one and then out of nowhere started with the other…yea I don’t intend to max out soon I feel good still and hope It stays like that for a while.and unfortunately in Texas its still highly ILLEGAL and I’ve smoked cannabis for many years and to be honest I’ve felt that weed makes the pain worse .smoking maybe makes it more sensitive ..idk CBD on the other hand I’ve heard of and heard it has many medical value I’m curios on how and if it would actually help me in my situation maybe one day I’ll go to Colorado and check it out!

          Liked by 1 person

        • Try not to rely solely on the medication — you need to create a pain management program that includes other things, like meditation or aromatherapy. These alternative therapies won’t dull the pain like pills do, but relaxation is very important for chronic pain patients. And it’s hard to achieve. Try a lot of different things that will interest you enough to distract you from the pain, like awe therapy:

          https://theweek.com/articles/473687/could-awe-therapy-make-nicer

          Like

        • Not much you can do to access bud while you live in Texas, but I’d keep a watch for reports on gabapentin. There’s a rumor that they’re going to re-schedule it, which could make it harder to get.

          You can order THC-free cannabis on the internet, but it’s made from hemp. And for chronic pain, you’re gonna need some THC. I’m also bound for Colorado, as soon as I can afford to move. Although I’m not into edibles, there’s lots to choose from in Colorado. Like chocolate bars. Yum.

          I suffer from TMJ and degenerative disk disease, along with some other boring stuff. It’s painful to smile, talk, eat, cry, sneeze. I think a head transplant is the only way to go. 🙂

          Like

    • Sounds good I will research and will definitely give it a try.and accessing bud here is easy like I said I’ve smoked for 7 years but just recently stopped.I’ve tried weed edibles and felt they give a different high than smoking it .its more of a body high I feel edibles could help with the nerve pain but have yet to try them to test it out….sounds horrible! Hurts to smile well shit man that sucks . ):

      Liked by 1 person

      • It’s true that the effect is different with edibles. For one thing, when you smoke it, the effect is immediate. With edibles, it can take longer than a pill to become effective. I’ve tried lots of edibles, but have gotten very little effect, so I stick to smoking. Vaping is possible, too, of course. There’s tinctures and some dispensaries even make THC pills. I’ve even seen a weed suppository. 🙂

        Like

        • Yea I’ve tried edibles and feel they could help me better than smoking actual THC.I think CBD in the other hand would help way more than just THC .I’m no expert but marijuana could be an alternative to look into.Fuck gabapentin ,let’s smoke weed!

          Liked by 1 person

        • The thing about weed is that the long-term effects are not usually harmful. (Think of Willie Nelson.) Weed can even be beneficial, like protecting your brain against Alzheimer’s. Many patients get relief and benefits from CBD-only products, but keep in mind that it may take some time for CBD-only products to help.

          Glad to see you’ve taken my advice about cussing. 🙂

          Like

  38. Interesting information. I don’t have chronic pain. The only time I hurt is when I move as there’s no cartilage in my right knee . That’s bad enough for now. I should get more exercise but we don’t have a lift (elevator) in our building and there are 43 steps up from the ground. I just have to walk around the flat. Not fun. I’m going to cut back on pain medication. Good post, You seem to have done your research. 🙂 — Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

  39. Is there any “safe” meds for people to take? When I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in the 90’s….the only pain medicine prescribed was Darvacet. It helped with the pain…but was taken off the shelves and was given Lorocet…hope the spelling is right….Anyway, I’ve been taking different brands of pain medicine since then. I was introduced to Lyrica through samples. My insurance would not cover it..too expensive. Ran out of samples so Gabapentin was prescribed and my insurance covered that one. I have been taking that one for two years or more, I can’t remember…now I’m reading about Lyrica and Neurontin/Gabapentin causing brain problems. Maybe that is why my memory is so bad and forgetful…Who do we “thank” for all this? The FDA or the pharmaceutical industry?…..

    Liked by 1 person

Leave a reply to Marlena Cancel reply