AboutMary E Scott, RPh, CGP Expertise I am a certified geriatric pharmacist with over 23 years experience as a long-term care consultant to nursing homes. I also do community-based consulting on an individual basis. My facility-based monthly newsletter on pharmacy topics is read by nurses in over 200 long-term care facilities in 5 states.
Experience I received a BS in Pharmacy in 1980 with post-graduate work in public health. I have had a Consultant Pharmacist license since 1984.
Organizations American Society of Consultant Pharmacists .I received certification in geriatric pharmacy in 1998.
Question Hi;
I'm a 73 yr. woman with major spine surgery 4 yrs. ago, which resulted in neuropathy. One yr. ago diabetes was also dfiagnosed, take Glyburide/Metformin 5/500 2x daily for that. The neuropathy worsend considerably and the original Neurontin scrip was replaced with Gabapentin 300mg and just upped to 3x daily, when I had told the Dr. I could not even take it 2x!! Only at bedtime can I take it, because it allows me some sleep, but if I take it in the daytime it knocks me out in an hr. and I'm non-functional for hours! I can't even think what 3 would do! I'm very sensitive to all allopathic medicine. So my question is - is there anything from any field that would give me relief, while staying alert during daytime hours, when I often have to drive also??? My Dr.is fairly open to my requests.
Thank you very much!
Ms. Jutta
Answer Hi,Jutta,
There are 2 other medications you could try that may not knock you out as much as Neurontin (gabapentin), Lyrica and Cymbalta. Are you taking any other medication that may be contributing to the drowsiness? Other meds such as muscle relaxants,antidepressants,other pain meds taken together with gabapentin can cause a 2 +2= 5 kind of reaction. If you would like to list all the meds you are on, I could take a look at them and make suggestions. Hope this helps, Mary
