Neurontin - My Experience Diary

[Lisa]

Well I've just started taking Neurontin after taking Topamax and Clonazapam for my stapedial myoclonus.

I figured I would start a thread to keep track of my experiences with neurontin.

[Lisa]

Day one with neurontin was the 27th.

I took one 100mg pill at noon. I didn't really notice anything out of the ordinary. I ended up sleeping most of the afternoon.
Woke up at about 6:30. My head felt a little different. I figured it was because I hadn't had any medication in me for a few days. I noticed my perception of my own height seemed to be exagerated. It is just really bizzare. I feel Tall.

I took my second dose at about 9:30
Had a little difficulty falling asleep, realized at midnight that i had forgotten to take my dose of Celexa. (40mg)
Ended up with a severe headache, and couldn't fall asleep at all.
My body seemed to feel wired, I feel that too is the withdrawl from the clonazepam. Finally at 5:00am I fell asleep.

Sunday Dec. 28.

I woke up feeling groggy at about 12:30
Got up had some breakfast and took the neurontin.
It feels weird in my head still, and i seem to have this odd perception of my own height still.
I lazed around on the couch most of the day feeling very mentally exhausted, I haven't been thinking about much, so I am not sure what this is all about. My body still feels wired.

I went out to walmart for a bit this evening to pick up some new earplugs. It feels weird to be out of the house, my sense of space seems distorted. I have heard from others that have taken neurontin that they have felt this way too, and it disapears quickly. I sure hope it does.

Took my second dose of neurontin at midnight. Oops, should have taken it earlier. I feel a little spacy in my head. I guess I am just over tired.

[Lisa]

Dec 29th Day Three - pils increased to 100mg 3x daily

I had a doctors appointment this morning. I slept in and awoke with 5 minutes to get ready and out the door.

Took my first dose of neurontin today just before noon.
Fell asleep at one woke up at 3. The neurontin has made me feel today almost like i am halucinating, but not in a bad scary way.
My perception feels kind of heightened, I really noticed it when i looked at the pattern in my comforter, it seemed almost as if it were 3-D for a moment, and then disapeared. It only seemed to happen, when things would catch me off guard. It was just strange.

Took my second dose of neurontin at 8:00 it kind of slipped my mind to take it earlier. I guess i have to stay up late to take the last one. This time i don't feel so spacy after the second dose. I haven't been terribly hungry today. I find myself rather munchy, but thats about it, i am not really interested in a meal.

I took my third dose at midnight.
I felt wired once again, and was not able to fall asleep. This time it felt almost like anxiety, although I am not sure if its from the neurontin or from coming off of the clonazepam. My doctor has allowed me to go back on clonazepam at .25mg for night time only if I can't sleep.
I fell asleep somewhere around 3am. Woke only slightly when the girl upstairs left for work at 6:30am.
I finally dragged myself out of bed at 11:00am. I had alot of bizzare dreams last night. I still feel groggy this morning. I am told that this too should pass.

[Lisa]

December 30th - Day 4

Still on the same dose as yesterday.
I went out, early today intentionally didnt take my first dose until 3pm. Took it and felt mildly drowsy around 4pm The major drowsyness kicked in around 5. Though today I was able to fight and didn't need a nap. Who knows, maybe its because I slept in so late today 10:45!! Wow its been a long time since i've slept so late.

Took my second dose at just shortly after 9pm
I felt really drowsy after this second dose. but no weird dizzyness today, I still however feel very wired.

Finally, I was able to take my last dose at just after 1am.
here I am now. Wide awake. It looks like i may have just fought the drowsyness too long. If i can't fall asleep soon, I guess I will have to take some clonazepam. It would be really nice to sleep on my own without it though.

Tomorrow is going to be a hard day I can imagine...
I Increase to 2 pills 2x daily.

[Ricochet]

Lisa, besides feeling wierd and all that -- is it helping with the noise? I know it may take some time but do you notice any difference yet?

I hope each day gets better and that you find some relief.

Let's hope for a better 2004.
K.

[Lisa]

Karen, So far, not much of a change. Its rather frustrating. The doctor said that it could take up to two weeks for me to see any results because typically the dosage I am taking is concidered as a miniscule dose, and on average a patient will take 1800mg a day and have it well tollerated. I hope this weirdness goes away. Wishing you the best for 2004.

Lisa

[Lisa]

Day 5

Day five started really uneventful. With the increase of the drugs, it seemed that my drowsiness increased. Its not a surprise, but I had hoped for a little difference. I ended up sleeping most of the day away, which in retrospect was probably to my best benefit.

We went out to a house party for New Years. I found that the noise was still fairly unbarable, but decided to stick around and tough it out, because heck, what is New Years without being able to stay until midnight. I found that over the course of the evening with the exposure to noise that my ear had almost shut itself down. I don't know if this was because of the long term exposure to the noise, or what the cause of this is. The sensation was almost that I was deaf in my right ear. The dizziness, and the queezy stomache became overwhelming. By 1:00 I was hiding in a bedroom by myself to get relief from the noise.
I am sure the glass of champagne I had was also a contributor to my state. (The doctor did give me permission to have one glass of champagne that evening)

Upon arrival at home, I waited up another hour and took my night time dose of neurontin. I had a heck of a time falling asleep and noticed that even the slightest of noises was setting my ear into spasm. After being awoken again and again throughout the evening, I was finally able to out of shear exhaustion fall asleep deeply at 8am.
I ended up sleeping until 1:30pm.


Neurontin Day 6

Upon awakening, I took my first dose of neurontin.
I was able to stay awake today with less drowsiness then the day prior. The day passed normally. I havent noticed much of a change to the presence of the myoclonus. If there is any change, its very minute. Took my last dose today at 11:30. I am now wide awake. It looks like I may have used up all of my sleepiness.

Better Luck for me tomorrow.

Lisa

[Lisa]

Day 7

I had little sleep last night. 4 hours in total. I came home this morning, and napped from noon until 5.
Totally forgot to take my neurontin this morning. Took it at 6 after i had something to eat.

I have noticed I am really grinding my teeth these days. It really seems to be agrivating my ear, causing me alot of tension in my neck and jaw. I have had to use the hot water bottle several times this evening.

Was able to stay awake the evening. I don't know if it was the extra nap this afternoon or If I am getting used to the meds.

Took my second dose of neurontin tonight at about 11:00
its now 2:30 and i am still awake. The fridge isnt bothering me as badly tonight. Maybe its my tired delusion, Hopefully the meds are starting to work.

I am going to go take a clonazepam and see if I can sleep tonight.

See you on day 8.

[Lisa]

Neurontin Day 8

I feel pretty much the same as i have the past few days.
I think I am coming down with the stomache flu as well.
Night Time Rolled around and once again, i couldn't sleep. It was well past 4:00am before I was able to sleep.

Neurontin Day 9

I was super tired all day.
I think I slept off and on the whole afternoon.
I stayed away from the couch all evening, just to force myself to stay awake. It was hard. But I was able to do it.

Ended up falling asleep around midnight for once!!
I am still not sure if the neurontin is doing anything for me. I guess its just a case of wait and see.

[Lisa]

Neuronin day 10

Well I guess I forgot to post for day 10,
its been rather fuzzy for the past couple days,
I sort of think its helping a little bit, as the drowsyness has seemed to wane slightly. I had a heck of a time falling asleep again. And was up till 5am

I hope I can get this day night reversal under control

[Lisa]

Day 11 and 12

The past 2 days have been chaotic for me. I am experiencing almost total day night reversal, and am finding it almost impossible to wake up during the day.

The fatigue is getting to me, and its almost unbearable.
I do think the neurontin is aleviating the spasms minutely, but its so hard to tell. With all the sleep I have been doing I tend to be up mostly at night, when the world is a lot more quiet.

I will update you on day 13

Take Gentle Care

Lisa

[Lisa]

Day 13,

I guess its unlucky 13 for a reason.

I only had 3 hours of sleep last night, from 6:30 til 9:30
and its been a little bizzare. dispite the fatigue that i am feeling, I can't seem to fall asleep.

I am verging on hallucinations, and You would think that the medication would knock me out.

I think the Neurontin might be starting to work for my ears, i didn't feel it nessisary to wear my ear plugs frequently today.

See you on day 14

[Lisa]

Day 14.

I was a wreck most of day 14 slept all day missed my morning dose of neurontin, took my evening dose at about 10:30 pm Finally around 1:30 i got tired, and was able to fall asleep. I found today a little more tollerable with the spasms, they don't seem as loud. I watched TV with a little Volume on. It was Great

Update you later on day 15

Take gentle care

Xxx

Lisa

[Lisa]

Day 15 was a complete Write off.

I forgot to take my am dose, and then rediculously misplaced my pills completely within eye view.

Nothing really to report. I did however vistit the dr yesterday, and i am to increase my dose to 2 capsuls 3x daily.

Then maybe we will get a better Idea if its helping.


Update you tomorrow.


Lisa

[Lisa]

DAY 16!

So I started the Med Increase,

2 pills in the morning one at dinner and 2 before bed.
after dinner it was almost IMPOSSIBLE to stay awake.
I struggled and faught it until 7:45 when i fell asleep on the couch.
Its going to be a hard battle again, with this and me trying to get on a normal sleep schedule.

After my 2 hour nap, I just couldn't fall back to sleep.
it was terrible. I was once again up until 4am its getting a little obnoxious. There is really only so much you can do until 4am living in a basement suite underneath people.

I hope tomorrow that It will be a better day,


Lisa