Neurontin / Gabapentin
I've had back pain for 10+ years but was able to manage with chiropractic care and physical therapy. The last year the pain has been much worse so had an MRI and was diagnosed with herniated discs in both my neck and lower back . In addition, I've developed arthritis in the facet joints in the low back near the herniated disc. I just tried steroid injections in the facet joints but unfortunately after a few days of relief, the pain is back.
My doctor has suggested taking neurontin / gabapentin for pain relief. I am concerned about taking a drug for the rest of my life and would like to hear others' experiences. Did neurontin work for you? How did it affect your life? Did it make you tired or less mentally sharp? Did you gain weight? Did you have to give up drinking alcohol? I only drink alcohol socially -- probably twice a month on average but am trying to figure out if one needs to become a teetotaler to safely take neurontin.
Many thanks!
Parent Replies
I'm sorry to hear about your back pain! I wasn't able to tolerate neurontin because of dry mouth, although I didn't have weight gain and alcohol in small amounts was o.k. I have been taking Lyrica (pregabalin) for lower back and leg pain and find it much better, although I just take it at night.
I didn't like Gabapentin. It made me too groggy to function, plus it didn't help my pain much.
Lyrica (pregabalin) worked way better for me. Didn't make me sleepy at all. It's newer (more expensive) so it makes sense to try Gabapentin first. Lots of people like Gabapentin just fine, it really varies.
I was prescribed Gabapentin for pain relief both before and after my knee replacement surgery. I did not find it helpful, plus the side effects were hard to tolerate. Different people have different reactions however. So it might be worth a try. My impression is that Gabapentin is a fairly safe drug. I was on both Gabapentin and Oxycodone while in the hospital. Chronic pain is one of the most difficult problems. I had a consultation at the Stanford Pain Clinic in Redwood City. I found the pain clinic doctors to be great. Its worth at least one visit. There is a new procedure called cryo ablation which they did on my knee prior to surgery. The nerves are frozen; it lasts for a few months. I dont know if it would work on your back. Good luck