[Mollie May]

Gabapentin - when should I take it?

by Mollie May on Tue Jan 14, 2014 1:25 pm

Hi, I a was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in Sept 2013, with a 5cycle treatment of Velcade and dex, I am in "remission". I am waiting for last week's biopsy report to confirm the actual percentage. My IGA numbers went from 3348 in Sept. to 94 in Dec. I was relatively symptom free until Nov when a terrific sinus infection brought me low just before Thanksgiving. With finally getting antibiotic it went a way quickly.

Light neuropathy in hands kept increasing, but then feet neuropathy set in and the pain increased very fast and significantly, then leg bone became the most painful thing I have ever experienced. The doc and nurse had gotten me on hydrocodone (5 mg/ 500mg aneceto.) and that helped with the neuropathy by taking it every 2 hours. But it didn't do a lot about the bone pain except take the edge off.

When I went in for my bone biopsy on Jan 7 they took pity on me and gave me gabapentin scrip as well as the hydrocordone, which I have been able to just about quit at least on the regular basis. I am just taking the 300mg evening introduction dose of the gabapentin but yesterday I took one in the morning. It knocked me out for 4 hours of restful sleep. It has helped my night time sleep instead of waking every two hours I have slept two nights for 7 or 8 hours. yippee.

I guess my question is should I take the gabapentin in the morning if it means I can't function? The neuropathy in the morning today is about 3-4 on the discomfort scale but I haven't taken any hydrocordone either which I will now. Searching the site I only came up with Pat's 2010 mention of gabapentin. I plan on calling my onco nurse but I thought I would see what other comments you may all have. Thank you.

[goldmine848]

Re: Gabapentin - when should I take it?

by goldmine848 on Tue Jan 14, 2014 2:29 pm

I was prescribed gabapentin for sciatica pain which cropped up during my myeloma treatment. The dosing started with one 300mg. capsule for three days, followed by 2 (in separate doses 12 hours apart) for 3 days, and then 3 (morning, noon and evening. When I started the gabapentin I was told to take it at bedtime. Once past the first 3 days, it did not make me drowsy.