Anyone had success with Gabapentin?

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Hello, I am new to this forum and my 12 year old son has just been prescribed Gabapentin to help with his anxiety and to help him hopefully be able to focus better during class. He is PDD NOS and ADD yet no ADD meds have ever been more than a nuisance for the most part.

I am hoping someone can help me with any advice.

Thank you!

H

I am afraid I come with no good news concerning Gabapentin. I am a 31 year old female and was on it for about 3-4 months last year for nerve pain. At a very low dosage I could not even stand upright without becoming very dizzy and getting the spins. I had loss of balance and some loss of gross motor function, i.e. I had to lean on a wall in order to walk. Gabapentin also slowed my brain function almost to a stop and made me very confused. I understand that you are looking as a last resort because other meds have not worked, but please be very very mindful of this one. If you see any of these signs call your doctor immediately as it could cause permanant damage to the brain. I myself would advise that you find something else nor would I feel comfortable giving it to a child but I do also understand the urgency. Anti convulsants can be very benificial to patients using them for reasons outside of seizures but they can also be very detrimental.

Check out the side effects. Depression is one of them. I take Gabapentin at night for nerve pain. At the lowest dose possible. You do get used to the dizzy side-effect. But you have to wean off it. I became very depressed when I started taking more Gabapentin after a bad fall (I have permanent nerve damage in my hip).

Anxiety can be helped with other meds. Stay away from Ativan as well. Lamictal may help. My son takes that. He's seeing a new psychiatrist. If he comes up with a better idea for the anxiety I'll let you know.

Hi there, just thought I would comment that not everybody reacts in the same way to certain medications, I have been taking Gabepentin for nearly three years now 250 twice a day, after having a spinal stoke nerve pain and damage, I have never had any side effects, I changed for a brief period last year to a different type and after two weeks went back to Gabapentin,So I would keep an open mind, and see if it possible to give it a trial for a couple of weeks, Hope this helps