Health Organization for Pudendal Education

Has anyone had gabapentin stop working? I have taken it 1800-2700mg for almost 10 years. I managed decently well for about 5 years with little to no treatment on gabapentin, but am currently in a huge flare up. I bumped my neurontin back up to 2400mg from 1800, but I don’t feel like it’s working at all. I’m having a lot of burning and hypersensitivity in my legs. Like if I lay on my side i can’t tolerate my legs touching. I’m also extremely sensitive to cold. I’ve tried a few other meds in the past, but nothing gave me the relief gabapentin has.

Hi Faith,

It sounds like you're in a flare. Maybe it will subside with time? That is a high dose of gabapentin. Did your doctor suggest moving up to 2400 a day? I know we can only absorb a certain amount of that drug, so an increase at a high dose isn't as dramatic as that same increase at a lower dose, so maybe that's partly why you didn't notice an improvement with a higher dose. That medication has a lot of side effects. Have you noticed any?

April

Thanks, no. Other than dry mouth and some word recognition at times I don’t really have any issues. I’m on Klonopin now to help with sleep and it has helped some with the flare but I am having to taper off that so not sides what they will put me on long term. My pain doctor mentioned extended release gabapentin but for the money I’m not sure it would be worth it.