Neurontin side effects-Spinal Nurse?

Free · 05-21-2002, 12:39 PM

I've been taking Neurontin for the past 10 days due to severe back and leg pain. It is helping, but I notice a strange tingling in my lips. Has anyone els experienced this? While we're on the subject? Is it safe to increase the dosage without the doc's advice? Mornings are especially bad and the pain seems to work through the medication. I only take 300mg 4X a day.

SCI-Nurse · 05-21-2002, 02:06 PM

Free - one of the side effects of neurotin is myalgia which is muscular pain; I don't know if this could be therefore experienced as the tingling that you describe. Since you are new to this medication, I would strongly urge you to contact the doctor and discuss this with him. You should not increase this med on your own; it needs to be discussed with him. This is also a med that should not be stopped abruptly. CRF

shacha · 05-21-2002, 03:09 PM

my husband is taking 1500mg at bed time,and he iswondering why all at once and why at bed time? he is on it for "pain" but he is not sure it is working, also now he has muscle pain and inceasd spasams. the last time he old the Dr. that it was not working and it makes him ill he increased the dose? any help or thoughts.

SCI-Nurse · 05-21-2002, 05:33 PM

Here is a good resource for info on most drugs used in the USA:

www.rxlist.com

Here is the link to information on Neurotin:
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/gabapent.htm

We give Neurotin at bedtime initially (when taking only 300 mg. daily) due decrease problems with sedation, but by the time the person is taking 1500 mg. daily we recommend that this dose be divided into 3-4X daily dosing.

I would never recommend increasing the dose of any drug without discussing it with your physician. This can often be done over the phone or by e-mail (it does not necessarily require an office visit).

(KLD)

alan · 05-21-2002, 06:05 PM

Neurontin gave me hallucinations. I had conversations with people who weren't there.

From what I've read, dosages of 3600mg (1200 3 times a day) are not uncommon, and some docs go even higher. But never increase a med without talking to your doc.

GermanyC4 · 05-22-2002, 01:46 AM

My husband is finishing his second week on Neurontin (1200 mg/day), and is taking it in conjunction with Valoron-N 100mg for pain as needed (about 800 mg/day). My understanding is that rather than being an analgesic type pain med, Neurontin actually raises your pain tolerance - is this correct? Does anyone know anything about Valoron as a pain med? Thanks, Beth

Free · 05-22-2002, 06:10 AM

As suggested, I will check with my doc before changing the dosage. I have an incomplete injury, and neurontin has taken considerable edge off my pain. Although I have significant neurogenic pain, the worst pain radiates from my back to my knees. Neurontin definitely helps with sleep, but I don't get drowsy during the day.

SCI-Nurse · 05-22-2002, 06:34 PM

Some anticonvulsants that are being used for neuropathic pain are thought to "stabilize the neuronal membranes and suppress spontaneous firing" however the mechanism for gabapentin (neurontin) is not understood.

GermanyC4 - did not find the second med (valoron)....is it spelled correctly?

As becomes evident in this post, it is important to remember that medications act differently in each person. While there are common side effects, small percentages of persons can have very unusual responses and/or reactions to a medication. Keep this in mind as your read the posts on various meds and their effects. CRF

KLD · 05-22-2002, 06:59 PM

This is one of two active ingredients in Valoron-N. This is the opiod component. The other is Naloxon, which is an morphine antagonist. This means that it cancels out the effect of morphine-like opiates (and may also block natural endorphins). I found this on our drug data base (MicroMedx):

"In some countries, oral preparations of TILIDINE are combined with NALOXONE as a deterrent to abuse".

It is appararently only available in Germany.

05-21-2002, 12:39 PM	#1
Free Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 191	Neurontin side effects-Spinal Nurse? I've been taking Neurontin for the past 10 days due to severe back and leg pain. It is helping, but I notice a strange tingling in my lips. Has anyone els experienced this? While we're on the subject? Is it safe to increase the dosage without the doc's advice? Mornings are especially bad and the pain seems to work through the medication. I only take 300mg 4X a day.

05-21-2002, 02:06 PM	#2
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,333	neurotin side effects Free - one of the side effects of neurotin is myalgia which is muscular pain; I don't know if this could be therefore experienced as the tingling that you describe. Since you are new to this medication, I would strongly urge you to contact the doctor and discuss this with him. You should not increase this med on your own; it needs to be discussed with him. This is also a med that should not be stopped abruptly. CRF

05-21-2002, 03:09 PM	#3
shacha Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: bonita springs, fl Posts: 147	side effects my husband is taking 1500mg at bed time,and he iswondering why all at once and why at bed time? he is on it for "pain" but he is not sure it is working, also now he has muscle pain and inceasd spasams. the last time he old the Dr. that it was not working and it makes him ill he increased the dose? any help or thoughts.

05-21-2002, 05:33 PM	#4
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,333	Resource Here is a good resource for info on most drugs used in the USA: www.rxlist.com Here is the link to information on Neurotin: http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/gabapent.htm We give Neurotin at bedtime initially (when taking only 300 mg. daily) due decrease problems with sedation, but by the time the person is taking 1500 mg. daily we recommend that this dose be divided into 3-4X daily dosing. I would never recommend increasing the dose of any drug without discussing it with your physician. This can often be done over the phone or by e-mail (it does not necessarily require an office visit). (KLD)

05-22-2002, 06:10 AM	#7
Free Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 191	thanks for responding As suggested, I will check with my doc before changing the dosage. I have an incomplete injury, and neurontin has taken considerable edge off my pain. Although I have significant neurogenic pain, the worst pain radiates from my back to my knees. Neurontin definitely helps with sleep, but I don't get drowsy during the day.

05-21-2002, 06:05 PM	#5
alan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 6,169	Neurontin gave me hallucinations. I had conversations with people who weren't there. From what I've read, dosages of 3600mg (1200 3 times a day) are not uncommon, and some docs go even higher. But never increase a med without talking to your doc.

05-22-2002, 01:46 AM	#6
GermanyC4 Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Kaiserslautern, Germany Posts: 37	My husband is finishing his second week on Neurontin (1200 mg/day), and is taking it in conjunction with Valoron-N 100mg for pain as needed (about 800 mg/day). My understanding is that rather than being an analgesic type pain med, Neurontin actually raises your pain tolerance - is this correct? Does anyone know anything about Valoron as a pain med? Thanks, Beth

05-22-2002, 06:34 PM	#8
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,333	neurontin Some anticonvulsants that are being used for neuropathic pain are thought to "stabilize the neuronal membranes and suppress spontaneous firing" however the mechanism for gabapentin (neurontin) is not understood. GermanyC4 - did not find the second med (valoron)....is it spelled correctly? As becomes evident in this post, it is important to remember that medications act differently in each person. While there are common side effects, small percentages of persons can have very unusual responses and/or reactions to a medication. Keep this in mind as your read the posts on various meds and their effects. CRF

05-22-2002, 06:59 PM	#9
KLD Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: California Posts: 866	Tilidine This is one of two active ingredients in Valoron-N. This is the opiod component. The other is Naloxon, which is an morphine antagonist. This means that it cancels out the effect of morphine-like opiates (and may also block natural endorphins). I found this on our drug data base (MicroMedx): "In some countries, oral preparations of TILIDINE are combined with NALOXONE as a deterrent to abuse". It is appararently only available in Germany.

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