Gabitril

Description

Side effects

(Don't be unduly alarmed. All drugs cause side effects for some patients)

Warnings

(These are standard cautions but may not be applicable to your case)

Comments

I have RSD in my left foot after four surgeries and possibly in my left hand. I am hypersensitive to many drugs. I looked at the list of drugs at Drugs at RSD Alert. I tried many and no good results, too many side effects. I wanted to add the new drug I am presently on - Gabitril 4mg. When I take one in the morning and 1 at night, I am dizzy all the time. If I take 2 at night time, usually right after dinner (you have to eat with them) I have a hard time sleeping. Also, if I don't eat, I found that I couldn't even hold my head up or walk without holding on to things. I am going to try 2 mg one in the morning and one in the afternoon and maybe I won't be dizzy and will be able to sleep. Linda - Bangor, Pennsylvania, USA

My Doctor has started me on Gabitril slowly at 2 mg and I am up to 2mg X 3 at night and 2 mg. X 2 in the morning. I too am very dizzy all the time. I started the morning does about 10 days ago and now can hardly eat because I am dizzy, a bit shaky and all around sick feeling all day long. I do think it is starting to help my RDS (which I got in my right foot after tearing a ligament - then surgery made it worse!) I don't know about this drug. The drug reference guide says there have been some cases of sudden death so I am a bit scared of it! Lois - Arizona, USA

I have had RSD for a little over two years now. I have been on several different types of drugs. Neurontin didnt work at all. So currently I am on Topamax and my doctor just started me on Gabitril. I woke up this morning and I still felt dizzy, but I also noticed that I have no appetite what so ever. Is this one of the side effects? I know it is with Topamax, but at least I am hungry normally by lunchtime. I'm not today. Paula, New Jersey

I have recently begun taking 4 mg of Gabitril at bed time for restless leg syndrome. A few days after I started taking it I began to notice intense muscle soreness in my abdominal area and now I am having sensitivity to touch on the right side of my face. Could this be a side effect, or is it more likely that something else is going on? Penny - UK
The sensitivity could be a side effect. However, sensitivity is a major issue with RSD, with or without the intervention of medications. Talk to your doctor about it before making any changes.

To the people who have written in about Gabitril. BEWARE!! I have RSD and am very drug sensitive. I was taken off Neurontin last year due to short term memory loss and put on zonegran. Zonegran gave me a kidney stone and lapses in memory (this doesn't usally present itself till 10-12 weeks into the drug) So the doctor started to wean me off Zonegran and put me on Gabitril. I started at 2 mgs and went to 4 mgs/day. I was in dire trouble within 10 days of starting this drug. I had urinary retention, extreme dizziness upon standing, very lightheaded, couldn't walk straight, tremors, severe migraine and became light sensitive. I had problems answering questions. There is no counteragent for this drug. I had to be put in the hospital and the drug was flushed out of me. The diagnosis was brain swelling due to gabitril. My heart rate would drop drastically when I stood up and I developed a heart arrythmeia problems. Even after this drug was flushed out of my system it took me months of no meds of this type to get my thought processes back. I was told this is the worst reaction they had seen here or in Philadelphia. The drug almost killed me. Don't let anyone blow off your symptoms. Suzanne - USA

I started out with 2mg at bedtime. It was doing nothing for the pain I was experiencing with the RSD. My dosage was gradually upped to 4mg tablets, two during the day and two at bedtime. I have experienced severe side effects with the Gabitril. I have had nervousness, emotional behavior change (get short with my boss, not good) dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, waking up several times a night, fatigue, have a hard time walking in a straight line (I have to hold the wall and the handrail to make sure that I do not fall down the stairs), abdominal pain with diarrhea. I have trouble concentrating and have some short term memory loss. However, one thing I do encourage people with RSD to do is to keep active. I have seen people who become inactive because of this condition. They develop muscle atrophy, nerve damage and osteoporis. I have had this condition for 5 years. I have been treating for it for 3 years. I refuse to give up. I do as much as I can do. I still work a full-time job (however I could not do it if it wasn't for an understanding boss). My husband is very understanding and helps me around the house, I also have someone who comes in to clean my house. Whatever you need to do to improve your quality of life, do it. It is OK to do something for yourself that will take your mind off what you are going through. We were not put on this earth to suffer. One day they will find out why this happens to us and how to fix it. In the meantime, we have to control the pain and not let the pain control us. Debbie - North Carolina, USA