Wednesday, December 9, 2015

"Before taking this medicine"

"You should not use gabapentin if you are allergic to it.

"To make sure gabapentin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
  • kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
  • epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
  • diabetes;
  • liver disease;
  • a history of depression, mood disorder, drug abuse, or suicidal thoughts or actions;
  • heart disease; or
  • (for patients with RLS) if you are a day sleeper or work a night shift.
"Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking this medicine. Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using gabapentin. 

"Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms."

Read more:  http://www.drugs.com/gabapentin.html


In other words, this drug may kill me.

6 comments:

OrbsCorbs said...

Sorry for all the ranting. It just pisses me off mightily when I compare their "business" with the others I've been involved in. If I treated customers the way doctors treat their patients, I'd be out of business in a hurry.

Toad said...

I have a bottle and half left. It didn't do shit for me. Maybe that's what caused my recent episode?

kkdither said...

If this is being prescribed for neuropathy pain associated with your shingles, depending on the severity of your pain, I'd be more inclined to ask the doctor about possibly using capsaicin cream as a first attempt at pain relief. It has very little side effects, and the drug interaction level is pretty non-existent since it is a topical ointment. Capsaicin is also used for this type of pain, according to the side panel of "like" drugs on the web url you linked to. Your medications, your kidney issues, and your history of significant depression makes me very uneasy about you being on this drug, especially living alone as you do.

I'm not a doctor, but I play one on the JTI.... will you be paying cash or by check? Be informed and drive your own boat. (with the captain's approval, of course)

OrbsCorbs said...

My primary care doctor mentioned a cream, but wasn't very enthused about it.

I spoke with his nurse the day before I got the prescription. I'm sure my doctor had already decided on the gabapentin before I got there. When I expressed concerns about using the drugs, my doctor said, "10 out 0f 10 neurologists would prescribe this medicine."

Toad said...

They don't have 10 Neurologists at All Saint's. I'm REALLY concerned about this shit affecting my Thanksgiving, even though I have a problem yearly. In 66 years this was the FIRST time i didn't attend the family gathering. I would have to count to see how many I took out of the bottle, but since It didn't do shit for my toes, I didn't take anymore. They even sent me a re-fill after I told them I didn't want It. Now I have LOTS of them. When the LAWYER shit comes out be sure to let me know. MY Thanksgiving was so bad, you wouldn't even believe It. THANKS ORB'S. BTW, I'm wondering WHY the Dr. ordered this stuff when he knows all about my depression, and the drugs I take for It? Also, WHY didn't the Pharmacist question It? He certainly see's my depression script?

Toad said...

I figure I took about 40 of them. ALL before Thanksgiving. Interesting.