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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Compucat on July 4, 2007, at 18:11:23
I need your knowledge/help with something I experienced a couple of weeks ago. I'll go through it 3 more times, so I'd like to know what is happening.
I am getting facial laser treatments (Fraxel) for acne scarring. Up until this past February, I was on an extensive list of meds, some at fairly high doses. I'm Bipolar II and have anxiety. I was on 2700 mg. daily of Gabapentin (Neurontin) as one mood stabilizer. I no longer take it. At my first laser treatment, they applied a numbing gel on my face AND gave me 1 Ativan and 2 Percocet. I never take anything strong for pain, just Tylenol, and I rarely take Ativan - just for the odd panic attack. When the laser first started on my face I thought I would hit the roof and pass out! I am someone who in the past has been able to put up with phenomenal amounts of pain, but despite the numbing gel and the 2 Percocets, I wound up writhing, legs moving up and toes curling throughout the procedure. When the doctor supervised esthetician told me we had to do another 'pass' over my face, I told her to get the doctor because what was described as a light snapping feeling felt like human torture.
Okay, so to my question. Gabapentin is also used for pain management. But is there any information anywhere/your experiences/your knowledge that indicates that once you stop taking Gabapentin it can leave your pain receptors screwed up? I wonder if mine have somehow been thrown into a state of hyper-sensitivity. Could they no longer be working correctly? I also have a surgery booked for late this fall, and am a little concerned as to how the pain will affect me. Surgical pain has been a breeze in the past. Thank you so much for your comments.
The meds I am currently taking are:
- Cipralex 20 mg. (decreased from 30 mg.)
- Effexor 300 mg.
- Topamax 300 mg. (decreased from 600 mg.)
- Zopiclone 7.5 mg. (decreased from 15 mg.)
- Trazodone 100 mg.
- Lamotrigine 75 mg. (decreased from 150 mg.)
Posted by Phillipa on July 4, 2007, at 22:40:22
In reply to HELP! Hypersensitive to pain-past Gabapentin use?, posted by Compucat on July 4, 2007, at 18:11:23
First was the laser person really knowledgeable as I had horrid experience with a plastics guy. Love Phillipa
Posted by OzLand on July 4, 2007, at 23:31:01
In reply to HELP! Hypersensitive to pain-past Gabapentin use?, posted by Compucat on July 4, 2007, at 18:11:23
I take Neurontin for pain and used to take it for pain prior to neurosurgery. I have never heard of it screwing up one's pain receptors. It is working for me again now that I have developed pain that is realted to another surgery I need. I had not heard that it could do anything like mess up pain receptors. In fact it is often prescribed, as you indicate, for neuropathic pain.
Posted by Compucat on July 5, 2007, at 10:37:21
In reply to Re: HELP! Hypersensitive to pain-past Gabapentin use? » Compucat, posted by Phillipa on July 4, 2007, at 22:40:22
hi Phillipa - This place is the cream of the crop in Vancouver - I'm pretty sure this woman knows her stuff. I've been told the doctor will be involved with the next procedure, but with same esthetician doing the work. The doctor called me to tell me she won't let this happen again, will even go the route of local freezing if necessary, but that still doesn't give me any indication as to why this is happening.
Posted by Phillipa on July 5, 2007, at 19:52:52
In reply to Re: HELP! Hypersensitive to pain-past Gabapentin use?, posted by Compucat on July 5, 2007, at 10:37:21
Did she give you any indication of what she thought could be causing this? How can you find out? Love Phillipa
Posted by chiron on July 5, 2007, at 23:56:51
In reply to HELP! Hypersensitive to pain-past Gabapentin use?, posted by Compucat on July 4, 2007, at 18:11:23
My unprofessional opinion would be yes, it probably has affected your pain receptors, especially depending on how long you took it and how long you have you been off of it. I would imagine they would eventually adjust.
My experience with Neurontin could be just a coincidence of timing, but I am still scared to ever try it again. I only took two small doses (for depression), and my dr. can't see how it could have had an effect. The first night as I was laying in bed I started to have slight weird sensations. The second night I was driving home and I started to feel like I was losing muscle control along with my weird sensations. Kinda scary. So I stopped taking them, but I continued to have weird, scary wavelike body & brain sensations that ended me up in the ER a week after my Neurontin trial. I also started to get intense anxiety. My constant xanax has helped for the most part, but I can't help but wonder if it was the Neurontin that either played a part, or actually caused this strange sh**. It has been a couple months now, so hopefully it will go away...?
This is the end of the thread.
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