Hi, I would like to hear from others who are taking either of these. Did you gain weight? Can you stop taking the med for a period of time (say, for a pregnancy) and then begin taking it again? I don’t take anything now except for ibuprophen and occasionally a fioricet, but I’m just wondering for the future, there is coming a point soon that I’m gonna have to start taking something so I can move on and try to have more normalcy. Thank you friends!
I've avoided lyrica. I have two friends that have taken it, both gained weight and one made a pretty good attempt at suicide. Ive known her 20yrs, she had never been close to such a thing. I understand thats a rarity but apparently it does happen.
I have years of experience with gaba. I had a serious nerve compression/nerve death out of no where that destroyed my arm from elbow to fingers in a matter of weeks...with no explanation. Hand surgeon had never seen anything like it. Im quite sure that was my first big brush with neuro problems we didn't understand at the time. I also have serious over reacting sympathetic nerves with it, its been a battle. When I first went in, they started me on gaba, within 6 wks had me on 4200 gaba and 150 elavil. My brain just flat out didn't work. My mouth burned so badly I ate popsicles for 7 months yet put on 10lbs a month for 7 months til I flatly pulled myself off. Dealing with the continuing neuro pain was bad but I couldnt handle the meds any longer. The weight instantly stopped but I am still battling betting back to that trim fit gal. Having said that, those were huge doses of each. Don't go off cold turkey without talking to the dr, its a nasty one. I had unbelievable headaches for days and days, something you don't want to egg on if you are on this forum.
Gaba messes with your head badly. Use only doses needed, dont listen to Drs that say there is no harm, and don't take more than you feel you need. I had one Dr that had been on it for a spinal injury tell us that he felt until I was off gaba I would not really be able to function and regain lost energy and such. He told my husband it really was so bad on him that he wouldnt be able to work much less function as a Dr if he had stayed on it. That gave my husband a bit more insight than just what I had been saying. He told us he understood it was a balance of pain relief and function, so to do as best I could but with that goal. On the other hand my main dr was so angry when I told her this, she said he had no business addressing that and to keep on the levels she had prescribed. Of course, she had never been on it either.
I had finally gotten off of it til other neuro problems started up. It increases my brain fog, I lose words easier, I feel like my reflexes are slower for driving, I overall have less energy. It's the devil to me, can't do without it at times and hate it the whole time I'm on it. But it does help!
Both my mom and i take gabapentin, i'm on 100mg 2 a day and my mom is on a very high does for her nerve damage. it has help me. I really have'nt gained to much weight and either has my mom, I've been kind of on a roller coaster with my weight to begin with. but i guess it can be different for any one
I had prescriptions for both. With Gabapentin I was gaining too much weight and was too sleepy and Lyrica gave me suicidal thoughts so I don't take either.
I take gabbapentin. My NL and GP gave me freedom to adjust my doses myself as I need, as long as I don't exceed 2400mg in a day. So when I have flare ups I take more, when I'm feeling well, I take less. I haven't had any issues with weight gain, but have been very fortunate and have been able to stay somewhat active. The gabba really helps me with the tingling, numbness, neck aches and headaches. The one thing I don't like, is if I take more than 300mg it makes me sleepy, so I take a higher dose at night, and lower throughout the day. Its definitely worth talking to your doctor about!
I cannot take Lyrica because it makes me very sick and disorientated. I started taking gabapentin about a month ago. My neurologist started me at 300 mg 3 times a day, and that dose was way too high. The Dr then changed it to 100 mg and let me raise my dose when I was ready. Now I’m on 200 mg 3 times a day. It can make you very dopey, especially at first, so be ready for that. But after a while it can actually help with your energy levels (for most people). Most Neuro meds will make you dopey and tired. At least that’s been my experience. And you cannot stop cold turkey, you have to be weaned off. Good luck, I hope this helped!
I’ve been taking gabapentin for 4 weeks now (300 mg once a day) and it has helped me out a lot with my headaches. The Neurologist wanted me to start once a day for a week and then change to twice a day, but I am still taking just once and have notice improvement on my symptoms. I am going back for a follow up on Friday and will talk to the doctor about it. I have not gained weight, actually I have lost weight as I’ve been doing weight watchers for two months now.