Wellness

[Buttercups]

I've now been on gabapentin (neurontin) for about 10 years. As I have four autoimmune illnesses, it's hard to tell which symptom is from what problem. The gaba. is one drug I haven't been too concerned about because no less than FOUR docs (maybe more) have assured me how safe it is in doses from 600-2400 mg.

Well now I'm reading up on the side effects -- thanks to one of the posters here -- turns out SEVERAL of the symptoms that I thought were part of the AI cluster were/are side effects of the drug. Among them:

Vision problems

Dry eye

Cognitive/memory problems

Digestive issues

Balance problems

Dizziness

Anxiety

Listlessness

Tremor - !

In fact the tremor has happened right in front of several docs who said "Don't worry, it's just from age." I was in my 40s.

The balance and dizziness, my rheum -- who rx'd the drug -- sent me to a neurologist to have a bunch of tests on me and pronounced that it was unusual to see this in a lupus patient, but it appeared that the lupus caused inflammation in my inner ear!

I'm really ticked. What's worse, I never told anyone the pain was horrific enough to justify a drug with these terrible side effects. I've always said, "Fatigue is the biggest problem." So what did they give me? A drug that causes fatigue. The first doc who gave it to me said it would help me get "more restful sleep". I bought it, and now I can't even find that as a true "off-label use" of it.

I'm just stunned at the arrogance of these people.

OK, end of rant, thank you for listening. Grrr!!!