Anyone try Gabapentin (aka neurontine )

[CBernieBlack]

In the never ending quest to find meds that work, I ask just about everyone. Someone mentioned gabapentin, but the research for epilepsy on it was mixed results and the doc is not super keen on using it. Thoughts?

hope everyone is well.

 

[CQ:)]

Hi CBernie,
I was on Neurontin for 12 months (Nov 2009 - Nov 2010) & I hated it as Neurontin gave me the worse side effects out of all the AEDs I've tried. While I was on Neurontin I always felt tired so used to often have a nap in the afternoon & still get a good nights sleep, it also affected my moods, I could either cry or scream at someone at the drop of a pin & I think my memory was worse as well.

When my neuro put me on the Neurontin I was already on Tegretol 400mg (AM & PM) & Keppra 1500mg (AM & PM). At 1st I was on 400mg Neurontin twice day (AM & PM) but in July 2010 the Neuro increased the Neurontin to another 400mg in the afternoon (so I was on Neurontin 3 times day). The combination of being on high doseages of 3 meds made me feel like a walking zombie.

I had a VEEG in November 2010 & when I went in for my VEEG I let the epitiologist know how the Neurontin affected me & they took me of it straight away. At the end of the VEEG the epitologist had lowered my Keppra to 1000mg (AM & PM), kept me on the same dosage of Tegretol & kept me of Neurontin.
My Mum was with me when I had the VEEG & she noticed a difference (for the better) pretty much straight after I was taken of the Neurontin.

Just because I had no luck with the Neurontin that isn't to say it won't work for you.
Good luck with finding the right med to help with your seizures.

 

[CBernieBlack]

Thanks CQ.

I felt the same way you did on Lamictal. I was just coming onto Lamictal, but I was noticing that I was so angry and frustrated with trying to communicate. I was coming from Keppra 500mg twice daily. So there could have been some crossing over, but I'm turned off of Lamictal completely.
My doc is having me wait for some blood work and a new neuro visit before we move onto my new med, Vimpat.
I asked if there was anything after Vimpat we could try...that's when Neurotin came up. Also Dilantin. I was on Dilantin when I was a kid...don't remember what it was like...but that could be the problem with it. HA...ya see that's a dark medicine joke. ::he said in the voice of Foghorn Leghorn.:: =)

Thanks!