One of my many drs suggested that I try Gabapentin. We was talking about my depression coming back, fatigue, and higher amounts of pain. He said Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant that has been used for years as an antidepressant and to slow the brains response to pain signals. Sounded like just what I needed. These first days haven't been so fun... actually this morning was pure hell. I keep telling myself to allow time to adjust. I woke up angry and it went down hill from there! Anyone else have any input on this medication. Mostly as a pain controller? I realize that anything used as an anti depressant is NOT a one size fits all, He also hopes that it would help me get some better quality sleep and in turn let me sleep less and maybe gain some ground against the chronic fatigue.
#1
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Posted 16 August 2016 - 03:04 PM
Diagnosed in September 2011. Tried one year of Sprycel. Had great response. Became undetectable in a few months. Changed to Tasigna hoping for less side effects. Self medicated myself down to 20% dose and held for 3 years before becoming detectable again. It has been a journey that has helped me realize what life is about! I am all about a balanced life. I firmly agree with my decision to lower my dose. What is life if you aren't living? Mine will never be the way it was, but it is going to be as good as I can make it! Drs PRACTICE medicine, we can guide our dr to help us with a better life! Don't settle until it's acceptable to you!
#2
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Posted 16 August 2016 - 03:52 PM
My wife took Gabapentin for fibromyalgia. It worked somewhat, but she didn't like it. She felt it dulled all her senses, not just pain receptors. It did make her less depressed because it made her feel less of everything. Then she tried Cymbalta, which was a disaster. Google Cymbalta withdrawal sometime. It's awful. Now, she takes Lyrica and is much happier. It helps with pain, without dulling her creativity and thinking.
DX 3/30/2016 WBC 484.2 FISH 95.3
took Hydrea 3/30-4/11
taking Sprycel 100 mg since 4/5
10 day break from Sprycel for platelet count of 12 4/26-5/8
7/07/2016 1.47% (IS)
9/30/16 BMB PCR .1259 switched to new onc
12/30/16 PCR .1569
4/7/17 PCR .0904 MMR
7/14/17 PCR .0520
12/1/17 PCR .0148
#3
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Posted 16 August 2016 - 04:09 PM
I've tried gabapentin twice for chronic pain from spinal stenosis. It made me really groggy for about a week, then I became acclimated to it, but it didn't reduce my pain level at all. Conversely, a friend has been taking it for pain, and she said it's working great for her. You never know until you try it for yourself.
Dx: Sudden severe anemia detected 07/2011, followed by WBC spike. CML Dx 02/2012.
Rx: 03/2012-Gleevec400. Reduced 02/2013 to Gleevec300 due to side effects (low blood counts).
Response: PCR-Und within 7 mo. on G400. Maintained MMR4-MMR4.5 on G300. PCR-Und since 02/2016.
#4
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Posted 17 August 2016 - 09:32 AM
I used it for nerve pain, I did not know this was considered an antidepressant. I was actually on Gralise as well which is the extended release version. It worked ok, but didn't help my particular issue. I can tell you there is a withdrawal coming off of it. You have to come off it slowly and it messes with your head a bit.
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Posted 17 August 2016 - 12:37 PM
I tried Gabapentin twice for neuropathy pain due to interferon use. On this stuff I not only couldn't feel the neuropathy pain, I couldn't feel much else. It made me very sluggish. I could just sit and not move for long periods. Eventually it made me depressed and I preferred the neuropathy over the inert zombie it turned me into. I think everyone has different reactions to it and I've heard it works for many folks.
Hope you find something that works for you!
My facts:
Diagnosed 2003 and have taken Gleevec 400 mg until recently. I am now taking 200 mg and will go have PCR testing every three months to see if all stays relatively stable. Have bounced between PCRU, PCR "weak positive", and .005 ever since. Had a brief rise in PCR in 2005 for which I added Interferon (Yuck!) for 6 months which sent me back to previous levels and left me with neuropathy.
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Posted 17 August 2016 - 12:44 PM
It did not help me, but Elavil then later Cymbalta did. I take it for RA joint pain and muscle spasms in my back. But when I started Gleevec, the dosage had to be decreased because there is an interaction between the two which made me really sleepy.
#7
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Posted 17 August 2016 - 03:10 PM
it messes with your head a bit.
O MY GOSH!!!!! Yes it does mess with your head! On my fourth day I woke up in a bad mood and went down hill from there! And I do mean BADLY! I have a concealed carry permit and do not leave home without my pistol.......except for that day! I have never in my life felt so much anger for no reason. I decided to tough it out and give my body a chance to adapt. So far that was the only bad day, but I haven't felt any benefit of it yet either.
Diagnosed in September 2011. Tried one year of Sprycel. Had great response. Became undetectable in a few months. Changed to Tasigna hoping for less side effects. Self medicated myself down to 20% dose and held for 3 years before becoming detectable again. It has been a journey that has helped me realize what life is about! I am all about a balanced life. I firmly agree with my decision to lower my dose. What is life if you aren't living? Mine will never be the way it was, but it is going to be as good as I can make it! Drs PRACTICE medicine, we can guide our dr to help us with a better life! Don't settle until it's acceptable to you!
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Posted 18 August 2016 - 11:31 AM
#9
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Posted 31 August 2016 - 10:05 PM
Holy cow....I am on 10 Gabys a day...max dose...for back and neck pain ....now also on Cymbalta for neuropathy.......It all finally made a dent in my neuropathy which was keeping me from sleeping. I never got any more sleepy then what I was already on Tasigna. You have to work up to that many slowly ...If you take too many right away yes you will go to sleep.... I did that with Lyrica... Never heard Gabys as antidepressants..It is actually an anti seizure medicine used also for anti epilepsy .......I was told that they did a better job blocking pain then Lyrica. Still have some neuropathy pain but I can at least fall asleep now.....
#10
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Posted 01 September 2016 - 12:10 PM
Holy cow....I am on 10 Gabys a day...max dose...for back and neck pain ....now also on Cymbalta for neuropathy.......It all finally made a dent in my neuropathy which was keeping me from sleeping. I never got any more sleepy then what I was already on Tasigna. You have to work up to that many slowly ...If you take too many right away yes you will go to sleep.... I did that with Lyrica... Never heard Gabys as antidepressants..It is actually an anti seizure medicine used also for anti epilepsy .......I was told that they did a better job blocking pain then Lyrica. Still have some neuropathy pain but I can at least fall asleep now.....
Do you think the Cymbalta is helping more than the Gaby? I am not feeling any relief yet. I see the dr for a follow up on 9/9. Dont think that this med is the one for me....unless I havent given it enough time
Diagnosed in September 2011. Tried one year of Sprycel. Had great response. Became undetectable in a few months. Changed to Tasigna hoping for less side effects. Self medicated myself down to 20% dose and held for 3 years before becoming detectable again. It has been a journey that has helped me realize what life is about! I am all about a balanced life. I firmly agree with my decision to lower my dose. What is life if you aren't living? Mine will never be the way it was, but it is going to be as good as I can make it! Drs PRACTICE medicine, we can guide our dr to help us with a better life! Don't settle until it's acceptable to you!
#11
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Posted 10 September 2016 - 11:43 PM
The Cymbalta helped a whole lot...pain was keeping me awake at nights and then with the Cymbalta it reduced the pain to a tolerable level.
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