Migraines - starting Gabapentin for now, seeking neuro asap

[Mari]

Originally Posted by waves

I decided that a 750-900mg dosage was likely too low and it was more sensible to go up to 1200mg, that being the "last known good configuration" (in Windows NT crash recovery terms, lol) . I.e. It took that much last time - I know that 900mg did NOT work then.

Dear Waves,

Did you do 1200 on Sunday and have plans to do 1200 on Monday? How do you feel? Is it a hassle to take the Gabapentin three times a day?

I take my baby dose (less than a half of 300 capusule) once a day at night. It is working for anxiety. At some point in the future, I might consider trying to go up to 300 mgs.

M

[waves]

Hi

Originally Posted by Mari

Did you do 1200 on Sunday and have plans to do 1200 on Monday? How do you feel?

Yes, I stayed at 1200. WRT the gabapentin, I am fine other than a bit groggy at times still - that may take a week or so to settle. It is definitely NOT covering me 100% ... will need several weeks to assess.

Is it a hassle to take the Gabapentin three times a day?

It is a hassle to take anything more than twice a day.

At 900, I took 300mg 3 times a day (every 8 hours, strictly)

At 1200, I take 300mg FOUR times a day (every 6 hours except allowance for sleep).

I have a repeating reminder set in my cell phone organizer. That half works and is half annoying because so far I remember to take the stuff a few minutes before it goes off. This is typical at the beginning when I am adjusting dosages because I am hyper-aware of the medication. Going forward I will become more forgetful. The problem then will be systematically ensuring my cellphone is within earshot.

I am going to get a script for both 300's and 400's. I will try 400 3x a day to see if that works equally well and is tolerable. That is what I was taking last time. It would be cheaper too. If there is a problem I'll have to go back to 4x a day and perhaps increase the dosage.

I take my baby dose (less than a half of 300 capusule) once a day at night. It is working for anxiety. At some point in the future, I might consider trying to go up to 300 mgs.

I have noticed that this specifc drug is one that people seem to work on different people to in particularly individual ways and dosages. I am glad it is helping with your anxiety. What would be the reason for upping it? Do you think it could help more?

~ waves ~

[waves]

I had a very mild migraine yesterday that built up into the evening... I slept and woke up in the middle of the night with my head throbbing off its rocker... a bilateral too, more on one side but... ugh. I kept trying to sleep and it kept waking me up.

I had the brilliant idea to call the doctor at 9.25 - just barely within his calling hours - and asked for something with codeine. I was lucky that today he had am office hours in an adjacent neighborhood. My mom went to fetch the script, bless her heart.

Wouldntcha know meanwhile I fell asleep again and, by the time she came home (11:30), I was feeling a lot better. I had only moderate pain as opposed to the "will-someone-please-decapitate-me-NOWWWW?" level I had all morning.

The codeine seems to help some but not completely. I don't think it would have done a lot for the pain level I had this morning. I can't take 2 pills because it has a whopping 500mg of stupid acetaminophen in each (acetaminophen does nothing for me). Since 3000mg acetaminophen is max for one day, I can't take more than 6 pills in a day, so if I doubled up, I could only cover 12 hours. grrr.

In my early migraine days (decades ago) I took something called 222 that was aspirin + codeine. Well, first, aspirin works for me, and second I don't remember how much of what was in those pills.

I also don't know if it's safe to mix aspirin with acetaminophen. I've heard conflicting things about that. Stomach or no stomach I'd be willing to try taking 500mg aspirin with some of the doses if the pain level goes up again. (This is my highest risk time ) I'm going to run the interaction checker now on all my drugs including these, and then maybe call my pdoc.

~ waves ~

p.s. the darn thing just switched sides... the side that was getting bashed in this morning now feels 100% fine and i have moderate pain on the other side - one hour AFTER taking the med with codeine.

Hey well at least moderate is tolerable. i shouldn't complain. i got to sit at the computer for a little while. OH Geez - i wonder if that made things worse maybe i should get off of here. Argghh.

[waves]

According to the interaction checker I can use aspirin with acetaminophen if I don't exceed regular dosages.

It also said the daily limit for acetaminophen was 4g not 3 g... that gives me 2 extra pills i can take.

ahhhh... a little leeway. whew.

hey that stuff seems to have kicked in a little more now. doc wanted to give me effervescent stuff. i hate those things so i insisted on a pill. but that probably would have worked faster, which in this case would have been enormously desirable. shot myself in the foot this time i guess.

~ waves ~

[Mari]

Originally Posted by waves

I also don't know if it's safe to mix aspirin with acetaminophen. I've heard conflicting things about that. Stomach or no stomach I'd be willing to try taking 500mg aspirin with some of the doses if the pain level goes up again. (This is my highest risk time ) I'm going to run the interaction checker now on all my drugs including these, and then maybe call my pdoc.

~ waves ~

p.s. the darn thing just switched sides... the side that was getting bashed in this morning now feels 100% fine and i have moderate pain on the other side - one hour AFTER taking the med with codeine.

Waves,

Feel better.

I heard it was ok to miss the two for occassional use -- but find someone (an MD critter) who knows.

I hope your day goes better.

M

[waves]

Dear Mari

Originally Posted by Mari

Feel better.

Thank you!

I heard it was ok to mix the two for occassional use -- but find someone (an MD critter) who knows.

ROFLMAO - an MD critter oh you cracked me up... made my day right there.

Yes, the interactions checker was a little more detailed but that was the essence. it was too late here to find any MD critters and tomorrow is a public holiday. i am doing better - have taken the med rigoroursly every 4 hours. I just hope to wake up migraine free tomorrow... one can hope.

Right now I am ok, other than still a little shaky after over-exerting earlier (don't ask! devil and deep blue sea thing! ) I have just a hint of pain that tells me the migraine isn't over and to take more medication I am just waiting for the dosing time so I can take all my night meds and crash out.

I am soooo relieved it is night. Both my parents have retreated to their room. I finally got to take out my earplugs. I am sitting in a dark room in which the brightest is this monitor and I will shut that off momentarily too.

Then, I shall soak up the silence and darkness like a lavender foam bath.

Talk to you tomorrow. Thanks for your wonderful support, Mari, and I wish you a good rest-of-Sunday (hehe pun applicable) and a good night

~ waves ~

[bizi]

I am hoping that your migraine goes away for good at your higher dose, 400mg tid. I have taken antibiotics 4 times a day and it is a huge hassel!
thanks for your message.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

[Mari]

Originally Posted by waves

I just hope to wake up migraine free tomorrow... one can hope.

Dear Waves,

How are you this morning?

Originally Posted by waves

Then, I shall soak up the silence and darkness like a lavender foam bath.

. . . .nice image.

I hope you slept well and are doing ok today.

M

[waves]

Dear Bizi,

Originally Posted by bizi

I am hoping that your migraine goes away for good at your higher dose, 400mg tid.

Thank you.

I hope they go away too. I am banking more on a matter of time of taking the drug. Let me explain.

400mg tid = 1200mg - same amount as I am on, not higher.

Right now i am taking 300 mg qid = 1200 mg, but because of how gabapentin is absorbed this is actually likely to be more effective than tid dosing. I still want to try 400 tid because
-- it worked before
-- it's cheaper
-- it's less hassle.

If it doesn't work, or if I don't tolerate the higher peaks, i will have to go back to 300 qid dosing, and maybe increase the evening dose during my high risk window.

Meanwhile the codeine works for the most part... that will be fine for occasional usee. This risk window is now passing, so hopefully they will resolve soon.

Thanks for your support!

~ waves ~

[Mari]

Originally Posted by waves

Dear Bizi,

I still want to try 400 tid because
-- it worked before
-- it's cheaper
-- it's less hassle.

Dear Waves,
O.K. I hope three times a day works. It is good that you are keeping track.

Meanwhile the codeine works for the most part... that will be fine for occasional usee. This risk window is now passing, so hopefully they will resolve soon.

I would expect that the codeine works. What do you mean "for the most part?" Doesn't codeine do lots of good things?
. .. . .I guess not. It does not seem to be the complete solution.

Dumb question: Does it matter that the gabapentin might do a better job for you in a few weeks? Is seems to me that the med will need four weeks to let you know if it works for you.

M