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Old 08-25-2015, 10:11 AM   #1
Saygoon
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Gabapentin - side effects

Who out there has taken Gabapentin for neuropathy? The side effects I have had are horrible so I quit taking it. Now they want to put me on Duloxetine, which after reading about it - it isn't much better. Anyone have any suggestions?
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Paula T. (saygoon means dog, yes I am Native)
DX March 2012
Stage IV w/ 5 bone mets to spine 2 on ribs
Herceptin, Zometa, Taxotere and Anasterole and of course radiation
2/14/2014 2 mets on pelvic bone
Stop Anasterole continue on Herceptin and Zometa start radiation (again)
2/24/2014 start T-DM1 continue Herceptin and Zometa
4/28 more radiation that brings total to 5 (10 days ea) - I think I will soon glow in the dark....
6/01/2014 Great news! Rib mets gone, 4 of 5 spine mets showing new bone growth and pelvic mets shrinking.
8/28/2014 T11 on spine is being stubborn started Perjeta, Herceptin, Zometa and Taxol - goodbye hair!
9/04/2014 Tomo therapy - pain finally gone
1/3/2015 - starting New Year out as still stable. Feeling positive
2/23/2015 - problems with left leg, bone met flaring up - MORE radiation Whew!
2/24/2015 Stress fracture in right side of pelvic - (great just great) back to wheelchair then walker then.....
2/26/2015 Off Taxol!! Still on Perjeta, Herceptin and Hormone Blocker starting to feel a little more human.
4/10/2015 Cancer has spread to spinal fluid - not sure where I go from here
6/29/2015 Omaya Port placed,begin IT Herceptin on 7/7/2015
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Old 08-25-2015, 12:33 PM   #2
donocco
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Re: Gabapentin - side effects

Im curious what side effects you had from Gabapentin.
Most people have drowsiness as the main side effect. Because it is excreted from the kidney unchanged and not metabolized, Gabapentin has few drug interactions. Sorry you had so many side effects from it.

Paul
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Old 08-25-2015, 05:47 PM   #3
Coux92
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Re: Gabapentin - side effects

I just saw this after I posed a question about Gabapentin for hot flashes. I'm sorry I can't offer advice about Duloxatine but would you mind sharing your experiences on Gabapentin?
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5/10/13 core bx
5/15/13 dx IDC 1CM,
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5/28/13 lumpectomy and SNB, ER/PR/Her-2+, Nodes neg,positive margins
6/13/13 revision of margins . Now clear
6/26/13 first TCH
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Old 08-25-2015, 05:58 PM   #4
donocco
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Re: Gabapentin - side effects

Duoloxetine is has the same mechanism of action as Effexor
(Venaflaxine). It is a combination Serotonin Uptake and Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. The side effects are drowsiness, sometimes insomnia, dizziness constipation, and dry mouth. Some people have an increase in blood pressure. The liver enzymes will probably be monitored. If you can tolerate Effexor you probably will be able to tolerate Cymbalta(Duoloxetine). I wouldnt take the two together.

Paul
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Old 08-26-2015, 06:36 AM   #5
Lucy
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Re: Gabapentin - side effects

I was prescribed gabapentin for neuropathy but opted not to take it after reading the possible side effects. The neuropathy can be annoying but I felt the side effects of the gabapentin would be worse. Other drugs have been suggested (Lyrica comes to mind) but none ever seemed worth the possible side effects. Alpha Lipoic Acid was also recommended (OTC drug, no prescription required). The alpha lipoic acid that I picked up also had L-Carnitine in it. I took it for a while and didn't see any improvement so I discontinued it. Maybe I didn't take it long enough, I don't know. I don't recall any negative side effects from taking it though.

How bad is your neuropathy? Could you get by without taking anything?

I'm sorry you're having to deal with this on top of everything else. I'm sending you good vibes and I remember you in my prayers. hugs
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Old 08-26-2015, 02:39 PM   #6
Saygoon
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Re: Gabapentin - side effects

The main side effect I couldn't tolerate was depression. I would bust into tears for no reason. It also created extremely high anxiety. Once I quit taking it I returned to "normal" in a couple of days. It didn't really seem to help my pain. Fatigue,dry mouth and the beginning of mouth sores as well. I am really just wanting something for pain that won't be so hard on me. My doc prescribes Cymbata and tramadol only to have the pharmacist tell that that runs me very high risks of seizures!
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Paula T. (saygoon means dog, yes I am Native)
DX March 2012
Stage IV w/ 5 bone mets to spine 2 on ribs
Herceptin, Zometa, Taxotere and Anasterole and of course radiation
2/14/2014 2 mets on pelvic bone
Stop Anasterole continue on Herceptin and Zometa start radiation (again)
2/24/2014 start T-DM1 continue Herceptin and Zometa
4/28 more radiation that brings total to 5 (10 days ea) - I think I will soon glow in the dark....
6/01/2014 Great news! Rib mets gone, 4 of 5 spine mets showing new bone growth and pelvic mets shrinking.
8/28/2014 T11 on spine is being stubborn started Perjeta, Herceptin, Zometa and Taxol - goodbye hair!
9/04/2014 Tomo therapy - pain finally gone
1/3/2015 - starting New Year out as still stable. Feeling positive
2/23/2015 - problems with left leg, bone met flaring up - MORE radiation Whew!
2/24/2015 Stress fracture in right side of pelvic - (great just great) back to wheelchair then walker then.....
2/26/2015 Off Taxol!! Still on Perjeta, Herceptin and Hormone Blocker starting to feel a little more human.
4/10/2015 Cancer has spread to spinal fluid - not sure where I go from here
6/29/2015 Omaya Port placed,begin IT Herceptin on 7/7/2015
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Old 08-26-2015, 06:02 PM   #7
donocco
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Re: Gabapentin - side effects

Saygoon
The problem is that the Combo of Tramadol and Cymbalta may
cause the Serotonin Syndrome. Tramadol is chemically very similar to Effexor so in a way it like taking Cymbalta and effexor together. Tramadol is not the best choice for pain relief with Cymbalta. An opiate would be safer. Talk with your doctor.

Paul
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Old 08-27-2015, 03:22 PM   #8
suzan w
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Re: Gabapentin - side effects

A dear friend of mine took gabapentin for major depression...with devastating results. Very rarely can side effects be fatal. Hers were. My only experience with anyone taking this drug.
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age 54 at diagnosis
5/05 suspicious mammogram-left breast
5/05 biopsy-invasive lobular carcinoma with LCIS,8mm tumor,stage 1 grade 2, ER+ PR+ Her2+++
6/14/05 bilateral mastectomy, node neg. all scans neg.
Oncotype DX-high risk
8/05-10/05 4 rounds A/C
10/05 -10/06 1 yr. herceptin
arimidex-5 years
2/14/08 started daily self administered injections..FORTEO for severe osteoporosis
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RECLAST infusion(ostoeporosis)
6/14/10 5 year cancerversary!
8/2010-18%increase in bone density!
no further treatments
Oncologist says, "Go do the Happy Dance"
I say,"What a long strange trip its been"
'One day at a time'
6-14-2015. 10 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!
7-16 to 9-16. Extensive (and expensive) dental work done to save teeth. Damage from osteoporosis and chemo and long term bisphosphonate use
6-14-16. 11 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
7-20-16 Prolia injection for severe osteoporosis
2 days later, massive hive outbreak. This led to an eventual dx of Chronic Ideopathic Urticaria, an auto-immune disease from HELL.
6-14-17 12 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
still suffering from CIU. 4 hospitilizations in the past year

as of today, 10-31-17 in remission from CIU and still, CANCER FREE!!!
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Old 08-28-2015, 03:00 PM   #9
MamaBexar
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Re: Gabapentin - side effects

Saygoon,
I have been on Gabapentin 600mg. and Cymbalta 30mg. for several years for severe peripheral neuropathy. I always take it at night just before bed. It only took a few days to get over the wobbly disconnected feeling I felt at first. My neuropathy is idiopathic and predates my breast cancer. Not sure this will be of help you but here's hoping
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Old 08-30-2015, 07:14 AM   #10
Cath
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Re: Gabapentin - side effects

Gabapentin has really helped my neuropathy. I was having burning pain, numbness and tingling in my lower legs and feet. I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy and started on Gabapentin. I also have back issues with a collapsed disk (or something like that) pressing on a nerve root and that pain has lessened also. I am now up to 2700 mg a day and it has helped me so much. It also has helped with my hot flashes. My only side effect that I notice is a dry mouth.
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Cathy

Routine mammogram 6-29-11
Ultrasound 7-5-11
Biopsy 7-11-11
Right modified radical mastectomy 7-18-11 with 7 out of 24 lymph nodes positive
Stage IIIC, Grade 3, Estrogen + 100%, HER2 +
Had 5 tumors in right breast, none of which showed up on the mammogram (What showed up on mamm was a lymph node)
Lymphatic vascular invasion
Lymphedema right arm (started shortly after surgery)
TCH started August 15, 2011
Finished Taxotore and Carboplatin 11-28-11
Radiation x 36 - finished Feb. 3, 2012
Herceptin weekly for 1 year - finished 8-13-12
Arimidex started Feb. 2012 for 5 years
Left prophylactic total mastectomy March of 2012

Arimidex stopped August 2014 due to side effects
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Old 08-30-2015, 10:53 PM   #11
forher
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Re: Gabapentin - side effects

I have neuropathy, too, and have an Rx for neurontin, but never really used it. My neurosurgeon put me on Lyrica. I tried it for a month. Decided I didn't want to take any more meds. But I think it worked. I don't have any info about it. Just wanted to reply to your post as soon as I read it.
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SRS via LINAC in Dec 2014
Rt side infection, hospitalized, lost right implant on Jan 1, 2015
Jan 14 2015 MRI brain lesions shrinking
Jan 27 2015 Re-start herceptin every 3 weeks
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Breast MRI clear April 2015
Brain MRI April 2015 - shows everything stable, nothing new (whew)
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