neurontin, effectiveness/side effects

[pn_person]

one of my docs recommended neurontin

I know many folks here have tried it, so wanted to get some feedback

My problem is numbness, not pain, so the doc wasn't sure if it would be as effective, but thought it was worth a try prior to an injection or something more invasive

The only issue I am concerned about is swelling which he said could be a side effect
since I already have some swelling in the area, I am especially concerned

has anyone had swelling associated with neurontin, and overall, how would you characterize its effectiveness?

thanks all!!!

[Lernica]

Neurontin tablets did nothing for me. But a custom lidocaine/gabapentin ointment relieves alot of the pain in my perineum.

[helenlegs 11]

I honestly don't think that anything will affect numbness. I have tried quite a lot of different meds tramadol, citalopram, gabapentin (neurontin) cymbalta and pregabalin (lyrica) and nothing has done anything for the numbness.
I would say an anti depressant like cymbalta may help in that it helps you cope better with some symptoms, but the numbness will still be there.
Sorry I'm not giving any positive answers.
Let us know how you get on.
Helen

[pn_person]

no less numbness yet with the neurontin, but started on a very small dose

feel a little spacey, but might be due to the valium I take also since meds do not usually give me problems

gonna stick with it and try and increase dose soon - only taking 200mg /day

I see that the therapeutic dose is much higher

[calluna]

Worth hanging on until the side effects have settled a bit, before increasing the dose - that's my experience, anyway. It took me weeks and weeks to get up to a therapeutic dose. And it did not do anything for my numb areas, although it did help with pain.

[carolynm]

My PM doc told me today that I MUST take one of the neuromodulator drugs, i.e. Neurontin, Lyrica, etc (he also said we could try Tegretol) or else my spinal cord can be permanently damaged from months of pain signals from a damaged nerve.

I'm trying Neurontin again today. Had ditched it due to drowsiness, double vision. Gonna take it slow

cari

[Lernica]

I'm not too sure about that advice from your doctor, Cari. I stopped taking Gabapentin because of its intolerable side effects (I stopped enjoying reading bc. I was finding it too difficult). And my pain doc (a neurologist) hasn't said boo about it. He just moved onto the next drug for me to try, this time, oxycodone, which is working pretty good for me.

I think that so long as we're taking SOME drug, any drug, to lessen the pain, it will stop the nerves from misfiring pain signals when the source of pain is no longer there. I think that's the phenomenon that your doc is worried about.

I'm sure others on the forum will have alot more to say about this. They will tell you that you should not take a drug if the side effects are intolerable. Don't let your doctor scare you in taking something that doesn't feel right to you.

Big hugs.