12 years later and finally off Neurontin!

[SemperFi]

Hi all,
It's been a long time since I posted here however I wanted to share the good news.
I've been taking Neurontin since 1998 for neuropathies~ 1800mg/day.

For at least a year I had been complaining to my PM and OSS of feeling stupid, forgetful, confused until finally a few months back my mind just felt so scrambled sometimes I could hardly drive myself home from wherever I was at. Not that I forgot where I was or where I lived I just felt very mentally weird. Like I needed to lie down STAT and would have to spend sometimes half a day trying to feel "unconfused/scrambled."

My doctors pretty much ignored what I said until my OSS recommended decreasing the Neurontin and trying Lyrica. So I told my PM and he switched me however while I was trying to lower my Neurontin dosage to make the switch I found I no longer needed it. I spent about a month dropping the dose down first to 1200mg, the 600mg, then 300mg until 3 days ago where I've taken none and I've not had any appreciable painful neuropathies. Still have some tingling and some numbness tho nothing I can't live with.

My mind is so very much clearer!!! I had wanted to stop taking my pain medication (Methadone) and I was taking 12.5mg/day and so far I've only gotten it down to 10mg/day. My PM doesn't prescribe Suboxone as his current practice doesn't want people "coming into the office in withdrawls" or so he tells me. He's not certified to prescribe it either. He may leave that practice at some point however I'm not sure I'll wait that long as I've waited this long to make changes and it's been at the recommendation of my OSS vs. PM tho thankfully at least it was suggested and has worked out for me.

I still have back pain and the pain medication does address that however I'd like to see if I'd feel even better if perhaps I were taking Suboxone vs. Methadone. I have also cut down on my Fioricet that I take for migraines as I've not had any for a month now. Not that I won't take it for a migraine tho no longer take it to help me sleep or for muscle relaxation or for mild h/a thinking I'm going to get a migraine. I've been working on relaxing my musculature by autosuggestion and it's been working well so far.

Overall I think I'm just more relaxed and mentally in a better place because I also was able to get my father to move into an Assisted Living Facility even tho I could not get him to leave Florida at least now I dont' worry that he's all alone and something terrible will happen to him. He's happy where he's living and I'm happy he's happy!

I used to have terribly debilitating burning pain in my buttocks and legs bilaterally post my 2nd spine surgery back in 1992 that failed so I've taken something for neuropathies since then. Elavil for 5 years and then Neurontin. Now nothing!!

All this with no more surgical intervention since 1992 and supposedly L5S1 has autofused so I think that has helped me quite a bit.

[Gilbert P]

Semperfi

WOW that is a change for you. That is great

Gil

[SemperFi]

nearly 4 months later and still off the Neurontin and also Fioricet on a daily basis now for nearly 4 months.(took Fioricet since I was 47.y.o. or roughly 10 years). Lately have taken it very occasionally for a migraine (maybe 2 x times in 4 months) but no longer every day to prevent migraines. I'm feeling so much more clear headed you wouldn't believe it! Still on very low dose pain medication daily tho I'm happy to say that I feel so very much better overall with less pharmaceuticals in my system.


Thankfully the pharmaceuticals were available when I needed them and helped me quite a bit. Now things are somewhat better and I need less drugs it seems for certain types of pain/conditins however still on low dose pain medication daily which I'm certain is quite helpful.

Taking it down a notch while able and seeing where it takes me. So far so good. Have hope. It helps!

[KBear]

That is great that you are doing so good. I know the clear head makes a huge difference, makes you realize just how impaired the medication was making you. Thanks for keeping us updated! Oh and nice profile picture.

[scotto74]

Congrats on continuing to feel better and move in a positive direction! Having been on neurontin myself for nerve pain, I can definitely relate to the "moron-tin" feeling! Some people don't have much of a problem with it, but it definitely makes me feel fuzzy and somewhat stupid in general... not such a good thing! Hope things continue to get better for you, and definitely a cute pup in your pic!

Scott

[Justin]

nearly 4 months later and still off the Neurontin and also Fioricet on a daily basis now for nearly 4 months.(took Fioricet since I was 47.y.o. or roughly 10 years). Lately have taken it very occasionally for a migraine (maybe 2 x times in 4 months) but no longer every day to prevent migraines. I'm feeling so much more clear headed you wouldn't believe it! Still on very low dose pain medication daily tho I'm happy to say that I feel so very much better overall with less pharmaceuticals in my system.

Wow, Maria, this is fantastic news! I'm so happy for you.

[trkdoc714]

Maria,

I was only on pain meds for 4 years so I can't imagine the road you've traveled. I remember the librated feeling when I realized I hadn't had a Percocet for a few weeks. You must feel that ten fold!

Congratulations! I hope you're pain level allows you to further reduce the meds.

Bob

[SemperFi]

Thanks all!
I sure wish I could stop the pain medication tho mostly because of how my world seems to revolve around the wonderful world of un-constipating one's self...

Gee whiz~ tho if that's the worst of my problems I'm doing Ok! Wishing us all good health! thanks again for the thoughts/replies!