Question about using Gabapentin and use of pain and other meds before surgery

Symptoms and Treatments
1

Hello dear friends,

I would like to ask if any of you are using Gabapentin and if it helps you or has lots of side effects? My neurologist wants me to use it to help with throbbing pain that I have in my lower right leg. I have been trying to not use a lot of pain meds before surgery. Is it better to wait to use more pain meds after surgery? I think I read somewhere that if you use too many pain meds before surgery then there isn't much that will help with the intense pain after surgery. Is this true? I'd love your insight.

Thanks and God bless you all,

Joanie

2

Gabapentin in can be great for neuropathic pain; I have many friends who take it with little difficulty. The most common side effect is fatigue, but that is mild and wears off in a matter of weeks. As Far As surgery, Gabapentin is not your typical pain medication, and won't prevent you from taking post op pain meds, such as vicodin or percocet. It is not an opiate, and is not and NSAID. Follow up with your surgeon's office about meds you should stop in the weeks before surgery just to be sure.

3

Thanks for your reply and input. Take care

4

I took it briefly before my surgery. It mostly helped me sleep. It’s not really a pain med,it was actually meant to treat seizures but was found to help neuropathic pain do it won’t adversely effect your post up meds.

5

I’m taking gabapentin right now to help with my headaches… and now that Nykki has mentioned the weight gain, I understand why I’m getting surgary cravings and getting heavy again… so thank you Nykki, I will be discussing this with my doctor on thursday.

yes the gabapentin is helping my headaches and helping me sleep a little bit (I’m only getting 2-3 hours of good sleep a night) I’m not happy with the weight gain, things that fit me in the summer are way too small now… I’ve probably gained 30-40 pounds since august.

6

You are a life saver Nykki. I didn’t know why I was gaining weight or why I always wanted sugar and fighting against the urges for sugar was a nightmare… and I’m so unhappy with the weight gain… like crying every day unhappy… and crying makes the headaches worse. I’m going to try to get off the gabapentin all together now… I think most of my issues can now be controlled with Motrin muscle and body… I will stay on the amitriptalyne tho…

7

I take gabapentin for nerve pain that I have around the rib cage with few side affects. You can take it along with other pain medications.