Gabapentin and vibrations

[ccorina]

Hi all!

I've been taking gabapentin for 2 weeks now at 200 mg/day.  I've started having buzzing/cellphone type vibrations since then.  This is separate from my normal (lol) creepy crawly sensations.

Has anyone else had this since taking gabapentin?  Or can it happen regardless of meds?  Seems like a coincidence though.

The cellphone sensations have been in my fingers, my palm, my foot, and once all over my back.

Appreciate any insights!

Corina

[addicted2harleys]

Hi, Corina-

I used to be on Gabapentin.  200 mg a day is a very low dose.   In my opinion, it is coincidence that you started feeling vibrations at the time you began taking the Gabapentin.  Yes, you can get vibrations regardless of your meds.  

I get the vibrations.  They are weird, that is for sure!   I have heard some people that get them, get painful ones.  Mine don't hurt.  

Addi

[Bumpasmom]

I agree, such a weird feeling, it’s hard to explain to other people.

[Bumpasmom]

Hi Sarah,
I am On 900mg of gabapentin, I have had the tingling/vibrating in my feet and legs for 2 years now, I feel Like it’s worse without the gabapentin. I hope your tingling will go away unlike mines, it is nerve wrecking.

[crisfi]

Yes!! I’ve only noticed since I’ve started weaning off of Gabapentin. Short vibration in my right foot. They were happening more on days after I took melatonin to sleep. Now I’m super aware of them and hoping they stop as I stop taking gabapentin.

[Sparkysarah]

We have talked around the subject of weight gain on Gabapentin previously on the forum but I can share my experience.  I have tried very hard to lose weight this year and there are lots of reasons why it gets harder (particularly for pre/menopausal women) but I am convinced that Gabapentin made me put on weight. I have now reduced my dose from 1200mg at my worst to just 300 mg now at night. I have started to lose a little weight and am working hard at it with gym and healthy eating.

So while I acknowledge that I would never be in pain or let myself suffer suffer, I also do not want to be on meds if I don't need them so be your own best advocate in terms of how you are feeling. I am fortunate that as I see my Consultant monthly I haver regular access to my neuro and he allows me to increase or decrease my meds as I feel fit but I am now stable and I am glad to be on less medsafter just..I feel less of a blob even after only losing a few pounds.

Sarah

[Mike_Shuswap]

I'm taking 1200 mg a day (4 X 300).

It's helped a lot with my facial pain and hand pain, and seems to have helped lessen some of the tingling, numb feeling.

I still get a bit of a vibrating sensation, but it's bearable.

I have gained some weight in the last 2 years, but I've only been on Gabapentin for one year now. I think the weight gain is due to my lower activity level now, rather than the drugs.

Miike

[Udkas]

Hi Sarah,
I didn't put on weight on the 900mg but when I upped the dose to 1800mg I noticed an increased weight gain, but I am going to run that risk again as I am desperate for some relief.
My neurologist or his nurse will be ringing me tomorrow.

I am over my symptoms at the moment, although I do realise that I am lucky!  Just feeling a bit fed up..
Cheers,
Udkas.

[addicted2harleys]

I was on Gabapentin for 2 1/2 years.  The dose I was at before switching to Lyrica was 4800 mg a day.  In the 2 1/2 years I gained 50 pounds.  :(

Addi

[socrates2k1]

I went to see my Neurologist today, and he gave me a Rx, for Gabapentin (generic for another drug).  Gabapentin 300 mg, to be taken once a day, at bedtime.

I will be taking it, for the first time, tonight.

[tremors10]

I've heard stories about weight gain with gabapentin, so I'm being very careful to watch my food intake and continue exercising. I've only been on it a few weeks and the only thing I've noticed is that I get hungry sometimes. I just keep to my regular food schedule and stop myself from snacking. (which is a struggle sometimes!)

If I start to see any weight gain, I'll share it on the forum.

[daisy.girl]

Anyone on Gabapentin notice weight gain??

[Udkas]

Hi there,
I am currently on 900mg of Gabapentin per day, divided into 3 times a day, I find this drug helps me with my pins and needles and vibration type sensations, I think that your vibration sensations is that just another form of paresthesia, although if you do read the fine print on the package it does say that some people can experience pins and needles on the drug, you are on a low dose so I would imagine that it would not be the gabapentin.

I agree with Sparky increase your dose gradually, I am about to go back up to 1800mg a day again as I am going through a difficult patch.
Good luck with it all, always talk to your doctor or your chemist if you are experiencing unusual symptoms on your meds, although my doctor has upped my dose before when I was having problems I still decided to ring and let his nurse know that I was planning to increase my dose again, just in case he needs to see me.

[tremors10]

I have been taking gabapentin for a few weeks now (300 mg/3 times day) and it has been a great help to me. My tremors are signifcantly lessened and the numbness in my face and neck is down to a dull roar. I've never had vibration sensations, so I would guess that that is happening for some other reason.

I hope you find the dose that works best for you. Best wishes!

[Sparkysarah]

It is strange how these coincidences seem to happen as I remember being put on Gabapentin almost before I started experiencing sensory symptoms and then they seemed to come on thick and fast. My experience is that it is a drug that is best tapered either up or down and at my worst I was on 1200mg a day but I am glad to now be down to just 300mg at night as I do not want to be on more meds than I need.

I wanted to come off it altogether but when I went down to 200mg at night (which is a tiny dose) my sleep went haywire and I woke with tingling at night. I just upped it back to 300mg at night and this seems to work well combined with 5mg of amitriptyline (half a tablet).  We are all different and what we experience is individual to our own circumstances, our own symptoms and uniqe pain thresholds so while it is interesting to hear what others do, bear in mind that what you need is your own personal prescription that meets your unique needs.

Sarah

[maestro1959]

I began taking Gabapentin for the electricity and muscle spasms in my legs.  My initial dose was 100 mg at bedtime.  Now, I am up to 100 mg 3 times daily.  It has helped greatly, but recently I have been having some break-through spasms.

I do not recall having had any "vibrations" from the medication itself.

Beth

[daisy.girl]

I just remembered, I did start with one 300mg at bedtime for one week then the twice a day, then up too three times after about a month. sorry about that.

[daisy.girl]

I started with 300mg twice a day, then upped to three times a day after about a month. Do you know what dosage they want you to get up to?

[ccorina]

Thanks, that's what I was thinking - that it was suppose to help.

Just seemed weird that it started when I started the gabapentin.  But maybe just a new thing for me!

I'm going to ask to up it tomorrow.  I also had low heart rate right after I started it for a couple of days...down to 48 when my usual is 72 or so, but that seems to have righted itself so I think I can ask for a higher dose.

daisy.girl - did you start on a low dose and work up or just start out at your current dose?

Corina

[daisy.girl]

I too agree....the gabapentin is suppose to help with paresthesias. I take 300mg 3 times a day, so a total of 900mg, and that is still a fairly low dose.

[jensequitur]

Yeah, I think so too.  It sounds like (from the brief research I just did!) that gabapentin should help prevent those paresthesias, so it sounds like you just need to up your dosage.  Talk to your doc and see if they have any recommendations.