My onc and ortho docs prescribed gabapentin for my leg and feet pain.  I read the side effects and don't like the 'may affect clear thinking' part.  I have to teach school and cannot have any kind of sleepiness or fogginess.  They said take it only at night, and it's a very low dosage.  I know I should try it because my leg pain is getting bad.  Can anyone tell me if you can go to work on this medicine?  Thanks.  :)

46 years,Diag. 9/9/08
Right breast mast. 12/2/08
No reconstr.,Started first chemo 2/18/09

I have been on them over a year and recently increased them.  I have no side effects at all.

My pain is from a 2nd lymph node dissection, it is nerve pain.  I used amitriptyline for years prior to Gabapentin (Neurotin).  I take it prior to going to bed. 

As my rheumatologist would say, "take it, it has been prescribe for a reason, it won't hurt you".  

I have a full time job and drive to work daily.  I take Gabapentin along with along with a fentanyl and lidocaine patches and with 11 other prescriptions and 4 over-the-counter medicine prescribe for me to take. I have a lot of medical issues.  No one has ever taken me aside to say my work has a slight problem.  Hope this helps.

Best,

DJ

"Prepared for the worst, hope for the best and, live each day to the hilt"


Stage IV  lungs, lining, ribs - Used all the hormonal drugs - tamoxifen, (progression) arimidex, (progression) , Faslodex 250 mg, (progression) femara, (progression), drug break using own estrogen (progression in 7 months), rebooted femara (progression on next scan) Faslodex 500 mg (progression 11 months) Taxol.

I was taking Gabapentin for about 4yrs for the hot flashes. I was on tamoxifen. My dose was about 1200mgs a day.I was still getting the hotflashes. It was after I went off Gabapentin that I realized how much it was helping my pain issues. Now ankles hurt hips back. Now I know that it helped my pain whie I was taking it. I also worked with no problem. No side effects. Good luck , I hope it helps.
 
Cathy    
6 yrs bc free

I never let fear of side effects determine my decisions to take medication. Side effects only happen to small percentages of people. I say try it, if you get the side effects then you can worry about it. good luck!

Caroline
Diagnosed 05/2007, Stage IIA, 1.4cm tumor, ER/PR+, Her2-, lumpectomy, chemo and rads.
1981 Thyroid cancer
Otherwise I am consider myself a professional patient who feels as healthy as a horse on the way to the glue factory as I cope with all my other medical maladies
 

Thanks for all the replies.  I will try it; that's the only way I'll know.  I am also on Femara.  Had to go off Femara for a bit because I had a stomach virus and couldn't keep anything down.  I guess I'm scared of going back on Femara and taking Gabapentin at the same time.  Oh well....gotta do it.  :)

46 years,Diag. 9/9/08
Right breast mast. 12/2/08
No reconstr.,Started first chemo 2/18/09

I take 600 mg. at night as it does make me a bit goofy.  But if I took 300 twice a day it wouldn't be near as bad.  You also build up a tollerance for it.  Do you know this is one of the oldest and safest drugs there is?  It is an anti-seizure med.  I would be watchful of drowsiness but aside from that, I feel very comfortable with the safety aspect of it.  Been on it for 10 years?

Jean S

Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without words and never stops...at all.
Emily Dickinson

IDC Stage IIB Grade 3 BC DX on 2-10-09
HER2+++
ER/PR+ 90% 
2 of 6 Node Positive
Double Mastectomy 2-23-09
Completed Chemo TC 7-10
Herceptin until 3-20-10
Arimidex for 5 years Started 8-09 

bump

dx ILC/dcis excisional biopsy 5/30/08
r segmental mast (partial) snb 6/4
node neg stage1 gr ll
er+/pr- Her2 - Oncotype Dx 11
R mast 9/22/08 w DIEP
tamox,now AI 
BRCA 1 & 2 NEG
davinci hyst/bso,  

bump

 A person's greatness is the power to stand alone;to be able to make her own choice; in action,to write anew her own law; to choose her own sacrifices; run her own dangers; win her own freedom; venture her own destruction; to choose her own happiness 
 

I took gabapentin for about a year - it made me a little loopy until I found the correct dose.  It helped me through the worst part - I no longer take it, but I worked while on it without too much difficulty.
Dana

age 49 (HB, CA)
IDC & DCIS R/breast, ER/PR+ HER2-, no nodes!
BiLat Mast. 2-1-08 w/immediate reconstruction
4 rounds A/C, done 6/11/08
Strong Family Hist.
carepages: doodlebuggy
Nothing is more important than this day.