problem coming off gabapentin

04-20-2007, 03:09 AM

My insurance has ran out so I have been slowly coming off neurontin.
I am where I take 600mg every other day.
The pain from the scratic nerve is giving me a fit.
A friend asked if this was just in my head or that I need to take the Neurontin?
Well one thing for sure if I take one it does easy the pain.
Is in my head or is it because I need it?
Thanks,

--------------------
Mary

Hurt back Mid May.Picking up 50lbs. dog food wrong. Got better. Then May 29 bent over to help dog in suv Sciatic pain in back down leg. Horrible pain.
L5S1 ruptures.
PT, gabapentin 1200 mg a day, motrin, pain medicine as needed.
July had Microdiscetomy. Helped but have problems with Sciatica.
Left side left leg, butt and foot Pain and numbness.
Numbness in foot and leg worse with walking.
3 Epidural.#2 numbness gone for 3 days.
Another MRI shows bulge at L4.
#2 Nerve conduction test still shows problems at S1.
Spinal Stenosis.
Foraminotomy/Laminectomy 3/3/07.
Can tell some better back don't hurt as bad, more pain in foot .
Still having pain in buttock area while sitting.
Trying to take one day at a time.
Hard sometimes.

04-20-2007, 05:58 AM

Mary, I can't answer whether you still need it, but my initial thought is that it probably isn't in your head. Many drug manufacturers will provide their meds to patients who can't afford them at reduced price or for free. I don't know who makes it, but your pharmacist can tell you and might also be able to help you find out if you can get it at a discount. If you still need it, please don't just settle for doing without. There are other options.

Take care,
Emily

04-20-2007, 08:24 AM

I also thought that Neurontin was an "extra" drug but when I stopped taking it I was amazed at how much pain I felt. I also ended up changing meds to elevil becasue of the cost of neurontin without Rx coverage. The elevil did work as well and the cost for a months supply was the same as a days supply of neurontin.

04-20-2007, 08:37 AM

Hi Mary -
I agree with Emily when she says that the pain isn't in your head. Gabentin is not an addictive drug as far as I know. I took it for almost a year, and it really helped to lessen my sciatic pain. I had three epidural injections, which took care of the pain (I still have some burning feelings); and I stopped taking the gabapentin (Neuronton) cold turkey just because I felt I didn't need it anymore. I had no desire to take any more pills and had no withdrawal pain.
It's too bad that you don't have insurance; still, if I were in your situation, I would continue to take the gabapentin and cut out something else in your budget to make up for the cost. I was told that if the first injection helps then it's a good sign. Can you have another steroid injection? My sciatic pain also came from moving in a weird way. I have DDD and stenosis also,.
and radiculopathy, which I have probably had for years but learned about when I had an MRI because of an injury similar to yours. Perhaps I have misunderstood your question. If so, I apologize! Do you still keep in touch with your doctor?

04-20-2007, 09:26 AM

Hi Mary,
Coming from the other side of things.

I was taking a HYOOGE amount of neurontin to settle down the nerve pain in my left arm/hand. I was told that only 2 things would relieve the pain... the passage of time and neurontin. After 6 months of being tired of taking a ton of pills and reading some negative things about it, I decided to stop taking it. I tapered off the pills and was suprised to find out it didn't make a difference. My pain did not increase one bit and has continued to improve to this day.

Ironically, when I was taking the neurontin, I was also having some crazy sciatic pain shooting down my leg. The neurontin didn't touch that either. Go figure..

Anyway - I just wanted to share my story. I was always jealous of those who could take gabapentin and have results.

sbbo97

04-20-2007, 07:40 PM

Thank you for your input. My last visit with the PA she said she wanted me off gabapentin. I have an appoinment Monday 23 and I am going to talk to her then. If all goes well I am hoping to go back to work Tuesady 24. I am still having scratic pain with the burning. Not as bad as before. I am hopng that the left foot numbness will go away with time.
Prayer to all to be pain free.

problem coming off gabapentin

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