Neurontin to Laurie

[Guest guest]

What is neurontin? I am just curious. I have never heard of it before.

Angie in SC

" The happiest of people don't necessarily have the

best of everything; they just make the best of everything that comes along

their way. "

[Guest guest]

Laurie wrote:

<I sure didn't feel that I made myself clear....I was pretty fuzzy

headed when I wrote it from trying the neurontin again for pain

relief. I think it works to a certain extent...but it makes my vision

so blurry that I can't read the screen or stuff on paper. That is the

biggest side effect for me and why I had to stop taking it when it

was originally prescribed.

Laurie,

I saw this mention of Neurontin and it's side effects and just had to

comment. I've been using Neurontin now for a year to help with pain

relief, in addition to my narcotic meds (duragesic patch and

oxycodone), and have noticed a tremendous reduction in my pain levels.

The key to the Neurontin is to increase dosages very, very slowly,

until your body becomes adjusted to it. Excessive drowsiness and

blurry vision WAS a cumbersome side effect when I first started, on

600 mgs., (300 mgs. twice a day). I found myself literally falling

asleep in mid sentence, and because of this, I had to stop driving

myself to the doctor's for a couple weeks until my system adjusted to

the meds. I complained of the excessive drowsiness to my PM doctor,

(he's the one who prescribed it), and he started me on Provigil, which

helps with alertness. It took several weeks to adjust to this

medication, but once I did I was thrilled with the results, because

it's enabled me to gradually decrease my narcotics.

As the months progressed, he gradually increased my dosage of the

Neurontin, by half capsules at a time, until now I'm taking 1,800 mgs.

Once I got past that second adjustment, I didn't experience the

drowsiness or blurred vision any more, but I still take 200 mgs. of

Provigil. By taking the increased amounts of Neurontin, I've been

able to reduce my duragesic patch by 50 mgs., and my Oxycodone usage

has also reduced dramatically.

I mention this only because if you've stopped taking it, you may want

to reconsider and give it another try. Even though the initial side

effects are a nuisance, the end result can be worth it.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

Bluffton, SC

South Carolina State Rep.

South Eastern Regional Rep., PAI

http://www.pancassociation.org/anthology#Heidi.html

Note: All comments or advice are from personal experiences or opinion,

and should not be a substitute for consultation with a medical

professional.