Hi!  I'm also a full time Mommy by choice.  But mine are teenagers and I'm
schooling them at home.  You know Chemistry, Spanish, Algebra, etc!  It's a lot
of fun and I won't trade these years for anything!

I also hold the milk chocolate!

I take Neurontin for nerve pain.  I use 300 mg at night and still have a
problem sleeping.  I cannot take anymore and still function.  I've taken it for
5-6 years now.

Vickie B.

Did they taper your dose up, or did they just stick you on that dose
from the start?  They're _supposed_ to start you out with the 100mg
pills and slowly ramp your dose up to let your body get used to the
stuff.  Takes about a month to get up to the dose you're on.  If your
doc *isn't* using a tapered dose, he or she probably doesn't know enough
about the side effects to be prescribing it.  Neurontin has the least side
effects by far of all the antiepileptics, but it still has some.  I
eventually had to switch from Neurontin to Topamax because the Neurontin
combines badly with the other drugs I'm on.  It was starting to affect my
eye tracking (the neurologist noticed that in the office), as well as
making me into a zombie.  One of the popular names for the drug is "morontin"
because it can really trash your short-term memory if the dose is too high.

If the Neurontin is actually starting to affect your ability to function,
tell your doctor.  There _are_ other drugs you can try.  

Kim,

You are on a high dose.  That is where the wooziness is coming from.  Maybe
try cutting back some.

debbie m.
http://www.angelfire.com/ga2/angels1/

Thanks Debbie
In December my Rheumy was thinking of me trying it as I have alot of leg
pain. He thought it might help.We decided to try another feel good all over
shot..They call it the Christmas shot. It has b12, cortisone and another
hormone in it...It does usually help to pull us out of our flares...Did I
mention I have the best Rhuemy in the world and his PA....Just as good or
better...
Hugs Cindy

I too, was on Neurontin. It was some time ago. I think the reason they
tried it on me, was for my migraines. It never helped me, and I was up
to 1800 mgs. a day. I too have Fibro. and it gets quite bad sometimes,
that I can't bear too be touched.
TC,
MM

Hah.  The last time the pharmacy had problems getting my Topamax filled
on time, I went back to taking Neurontin for a couple days.  I actually
ran my rollator into a wall.  Missed the turn into the kitchen.  I knew
it was there.  "Gotta turn...no, wait...turn!*BLAM*"  Reminded me exactly
why I wanted off that drug.  It probably doesn't help that I take another
GABAnergic drug, Baclofen, to manage muscle spasms.  Baclofen by itself
doesn't make me dopey or drowsy, it just makes me into a ragdoll if the
dose is too high.  But combined with the Neurontin, I was too messed up
to walk around the house, much less drive anywhere.

When I was just on the Neurontin by itself and had tapered the dose up
slowly, it wasn't that bad.  But I definitely still had a lot of side
effects from it.  I was able to convince the neurologist to let me try
Topamax because I _do_ have pretty vicious migraines (it's approved for
that).  I have a feeling non-specialists are probably still pretty
nervous about prescribing some of the newer anti-epileptics for chronic
pain.  Topamax has been in clinical studies for diabetic neurapithy, but
I don't think it's approved for that use yet.

Janice, I wish I could find generics for all of mine--do have on some.  But
my prescription bill last month was $1,000.60, and I don't have any
insurance either.
Good thing my son & dil feed me most of the time!
Gwen