Re: Neurontin Question

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone

Sorry I haven't written in awhile but I have been in a lot of pain

because of the lovely weather changes etc. But anyway s I need to ask

you all a question.

Is anyone on Neurontin?

If someone is, does it make you feel like you are in left field?

'Cause I have been on it 600 mgs 3x a day and it makes me feel like I

am not even there. But when I do take it does help the neuropathy a

lot so I have to sit down and figure out which is worse, feeling like

you are in the left field or less neuropathy. LOL Unfortunately the

jury is still out on that one.

Well let me know if you have any suggestions on it ok? Thanks

I am also on oxycontin between 6-10 a day ,which really has helped

with the pain but not the neuropathy. I haven't increased the oxy for

a long time, so the Dr. said that was really good cause I am not

" addicted " to them Which he meant that when you are taking oxy or any

other pain meds and your body uses them the rite way then you donut

need to increase but if it doesn't then you are not really having a

lot of pain and that is when you are " addicted " to the. Does that

make sense? I might have to revamp that what he said cause I think he

said it a different way. So if I did I will let you all know.

ok thanks

angel hugs

debbie

[Guest guest]

Debbie,

I'm sorry you have been in so much pain, but we do understand that

it keeps people from posting at times!

When I took Neurontin, I felt VERY out of it by the time I got to

300mg a day! My moods were also all over the place, and they were

very intense, drastic changes in my mood. Since I am bipolar

anyway, my doctor yanked me right off of it.

Have you given any thought to asking your doctor about Lyrica?

While it's similar in action to Neurontin, it seems to work better

at lower dosages, and with less side effects. I take 100mg twice a

day, and it's been great with my neuropathic pain, without the mood

alteration or feeling " out in left field " as you put it. Taking it

has also decreased my overall need for pain meds to squelch the

burning pain. I take Oxy too, and while my doctor prescribes 10mg

to be taken every 6 hours as needed, I'm finding that I rarely ever

need to use it that much anymore. This is down from taking it every

6 hours like clockwork, with the last hour to hour and a half being

a sometimes hellish wait.

There are a growing number of us on the group who take it, and for

the most part, are having great success. However, since everyone is

different, and respond differently to meds, it's a given that some

will not be able to tolerate it, or will have adverse effects. I

would ask your doctor about it though.

As far as what your doctor said about Oxy, I think I understand what

you mean. People with chronic pain rarely become addicted to pain

meds, because like you said, their bodies are using it to stop pain,

and there is rarely a euphoric effect that addicts crave. I think

what you are trying to say is that when you are taking the level

that adequately treats your pain, everything is okay, but the desire

to take more than you actually need to control your pain can signal

a possible addiction problem. But that is rare among people with

true chronic, intractible pain. I think the majority of us would

trade pain meds for a normal, pain-free existence in a heartbeat. I

know I would.

Do keep in mind though, that the body can become tolerant to a

certain level of medication, and pain can seem to increase again.

It can also create what is called " pseudo-addiction " , which may seem

like drug seeking behavior, but is actually caused by under-treated

pain. Once the pain is adequately controlled again, this behavior

stops.

Take care!

Jen