Health
Related: About this forumwhy oh why don't doctors tell you about all the common side effects of a drug before
you take it?
Been on Gabopentin for my shingles and alluva sudden I have swollen ankles and feet (which I never ever get). Called my pcp and he confirmed it is a common side effect of the drug (I got the scrip from my neurologist). But it was a good friend (not a doc) who advised me to check out all the meds I am taking. Which is what I did.
I knew something must be funny because I never had such swelling, even during my pregnancies.
What was my fault was I didn't check ALL of the possible side effects, just the ones on the bottle and that info wasn't there (and shudda been).
It was a little scary but I feel better now.
hlthe2b
(102,105 posts)Glad you are getting better. Shingles is tough...
CTyankee
(63,883 posts)with it. My bad. Will do that from now on, lesson learned...
LiberalEsto
(22,845 posts)I hope it has gone away.
CTyankee
(63,883 posts)fade away. I'm still on the Percoset but it doesn't do much for the pain. I'll see my neuro doc next week and we'll go over it (after I get pissy over the Gabo scrip). Oh well, I guess he can't foresee everything...but really he should tell patients about that...
Skittles
(153,111 posts)certainly the doctor or pharmacist should tell you the common side effects though
Paper Roses
(7,471 posts)CTyankee
(63,883 posts)was not really being mitigated.
But had I gone to that page on the internet I would have seen that right away and then, problem solved...
dorkzilla
(5,141 posts)I just started taking gabapentin 2 weeks ago and my doctor just increased the dosage. He prescribed it mainly for a variety of symptoms from MS; he started the dosage really low (300mgs) and just increased it to 600mgs. I feel like Im walking inside jello, so I just googled the side effects about 3 hours ago and my jaw is still on the floor.
I think Im going to go off it slowly (after I talk to the doctor) - too many bad side effects. I can live with the neuropathy.
CTyankee
(63,883 posts)but not on the bottle). It DID say I could get drowsy which was good because I want to know anything that will interfere with my ability to drive safely.
what is the difference between neuropathy and neuralgia, do you know?
dorkzilla
(5,141 posts)Neuropathy is nerve damage. I cant feel my right leg or my feet, especially my right foot.
Im so drowsy Im waiting for my hubby to get home in an hour then Im going to sleep again!
CTyankee
(63,883 posts)Is drowsiness a symptom of neuropathy?
dorkzilla
(5,141 posts)and also a side effect of gabapentin! So Im basically the walking dead right now.
CTyankee
(63,883 posts)it is terrible what you have been put thru...I do hope things get better for you...but I don't know how...
dorkzilla
(5,141 posts)I have a tendency to laugh and shrug stuff off that I cant do anything about. I can do something about the medicine but the other stuff not so much. But I have a wonderful life at last, MS aside, so I am determined to keep it that way!
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)My PCP tells me about the common side effects of a drug when she first prescribes.
Brainstormy
(2,380 posts)they rely on whatever the pharma pusher tells them.
HuckleB
(35,773 posts)Sheesh.
hedgehog
(36,286 posts)all the side effects, the patient will develop all the side effects.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)People get an idea of some sort into their mind, and it becomes reality.
HuckleB
(35,773 posts)Also, in this case, the side effect doesn't appear to be particularly common, and would fall in line with a list that would be absolutely cumbersome. Most patients wouldn't begin to remember the specifics.