Gabapentin reservations

After suffering hotflashes and consulting my doctor, I was given a prescription for Gabapentin. I trust the decision very much, however, I don't take medicine at all at the moment, and I'm always intimidated by that mandatory info packet that comes with prescriptions with a two to four page listing of possible side affects, most alarming was the warning that severe and extreme changes in mood could occur.

Does anyone have experience with this medicine, and should I try it?

I have been taking 900 mg of gabapentin for about two years now. I cannot take hrt due to breast cancer. I went into instant menopause after my hysterectomy and was waking up every hour to hour and a half with a hot flash, so I was desperate for some kind of help. Now I have maybe 3 hot flashes from the time I go to bed until the time I wake up in the morning. I take the gabapentin starting with 300 mg around dinner and 600 mg before bed. I get a few hot flashes during the day, but am able to tolerate them because I'm not trying to sleep. I understand your concern about taking medications, I would rather not have to take any. I have not experienced severe or extreme changes in mood. I'm sleeping much better now.

I had some pretty severe side effects from my TAH and Was given Gabopentin. If it will help you sleep and decrease your hotflashes hopefully that will bring you a much better quality of life.
It did significantly improve my hotflashes and I was able to sleep better BUT It caused me to have tremendous weight gain and I was already suffering memory loss from Chemo so It got so bad I would have to pull my car over because I wasn't sure where I was going. I may have had both of these symptoms without the Gabopentin as it was so close to my Cancer treament. Now that I am farther out I have considered trying it again but I read that one side effect is peripheral swelling in the arms and I have lymphodema concerns neuropathy in my hands.

I know it takes awhile to build up in your system and does work for 50% of women. Update us on your response.

I don't have direct experience, but my husband was prescribed it for neuropathy. After further discussion with his doctors, we decided not to use it. (He is post TBI) due to possible confusion and vision issues that may occur with usage. One of his drs said a fellow dr stopped his practice while taking it, because of mild confusion issues. It's really hard to tell what the side effects may be from one person to the nest, but I was told that stopping the meds would stop any side effects preety quick if you wanted to try it.

Good luck!

I take 100 mg before bed every night. I no longer have night sweats and I sleep all night. It's been a miracle drug for me. I had a headache for about 2 weeks when I first started it, but that's not a problem anymore. I've been on it for almost a year.

I am considering trying 100mg a night as well.

First my MO gave me doses of fishoil, Vitamin B and Something else to try for one month. Let me look up the numbers