156 responses so far ↓

• Jill M. Kleczko // Apr 6, 2003 at 11:53 am

  Hi-

  This comment is for Dr. David P. Franklin- can you please email me your lawyer’s name and phone number? A similar thing happened to me that involves the circumstances of this case.

  Thank you!

  Jill M. Kleczko

• Eric G // Jul 11, 2003 at 6:33 pm

  I just discovered this - on Dateline of all places. My wife was improperly prescribed Neurontin for bipolar disorder and subsequently had a very destructive manic episode from which we are still recovering 3 years later. Is there a class-action lawsuit that could make some noise about this and maybe help us recover some of the enormous sums of money we went through trying to stabilize her illness?

• Nelson Lee Knipple // Jul 12, 2003 at 3:36 am

  I was put on massive doses of Neurontin in 1995 after a motor vehicle accident, I was hit by a drunk driver.

  I had to have neck surgery and I have burning pain that is RSD.

  The hospital doctor and my doctors put me on Neurotin and I suffered for years until 1998 when I almost died from Acute Pancreatitis (which is a side effect in the PDR with a small percentage of patients).

  The amount of Neurontin that I was given was ridiculous but they kept upping it when the pain did not go away.

  I lost my job and could not get disability do to too much red tape and the cost of fighting it.

  I was a minister but had to leave all that and just sit home.

  I have had breathing problems and loss of balance.

  It has been a nightmare.

  I just saw the Dateline last night and I am so angry.

  It cost us 30,000. for the hospital for the Acute Pancreatitis after all the insurance from the accident paid. We are STILL paying that off.

  Is there anything or any attorney that we can call to get in on litigation?

  We have lost all our savings and we are being helped by family.

  It has caused us such hardship and pain emotionally and me physicially.

  It is terrible to have the accident but NOW to find out that the medication was not helping me and caused me to almost DIE.

  I have NEVER been the same since the acute pancreatitis with my breathing.

  I had 105 degree fever and they thought I would die at the hospital.

  I was there for close to a month.

• Len Goforth // Jul 12, 2003 at 4:55 am

  The litigation against Warner-Lambert regarding off-label prescriptions is just the tip of the iceberg. Neurontin is not the only drug that has been marketed agressively and unethically. Pfizer’s own Zoloft has been pushed on the public in the same manner, and I’m certain that there are many other drugs that have been marketed illegally.

  Gimme a break! Just look at the price of Neurontin and/or Zoloft. These drugs are manufactured by machines, are plentiful, and there is NO REASON that these drugs need to carry such a high tag. Yet, they are being prescribed at an alarming rate for illnesses in which they have no proven efficacy! THIS HAS GOT TO STOP, and the only way to make it stop is to get angy and get involved. The cost of medical care in the US is way out of line, and the rate that the costs are going up is out of line with ‘normal’ inflation. It is YOUR responsibility to do something by speaking up. Write your congressmen. Write your senators. Opt in to the class action suits. DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THE PHARMACEUTICALS STOP THESE GREEDY PRACTICES, or your children and grandchildren will be left to wallow in the same situation that you’re in.

  ANY DRUG THAT IS “NOT HABIT FORMING”, yet requires a tapering off schedule is a dead give-away: This is a dangerous, addictive drug! It is no wonder to me why these drugs come with such a high price tag. These pharmaceuticals are nothing more than white collar drug pushers. Do your best to make them go away!

• Brenda Marks // Jul 12, 2003 at 3:48 pm

  I too was just made aware of this. My son was switched to Neurontin last year. I had been wondering why we have had to endure the year from hell until last night. Dateline said it all. My son has suffered severely, unneccessarily. To say nothing of the destruction this drug has done to our family, my marriage, our finances, and our life. Somebody start a class action, I will gladly be an initiating Plaintiff, because the whole neighborhood can document the change in my son! Keep it up Dateline!

• Frank Chisholm // Jul 13, 2003 at 6:15 am

  I hadto retire after starting Neurontin for peripheral neuropathy. I never connected the retirement issues with Neurontin until I read the Dateline story. How do I join the class action lawsuit?

• faye tinstman // Jul 13, 2003 at 10:04 am

  iused neurontin for trigemenal, started about1997 pain all the time even with pain center when o new dr. was taken off neurontin pain stop 4 days later only one pill more aday with tegertol.

• Jill Buxie // Jul 13, 2003 at 12:31 pm

  I am 23 year old female who has been on neurontin for almost a year in combination with zoloft. The Neurontin was supposed to be treating slight mania, impulsive behavior, and sleep problems. After the dateline special I’ve completely stopped taking it and I am furious. Not only did I have a terrible year full of self doubt and guilt that I wasn’t improving, we’ve wasted tons of money on drugs and untrustworthy doctors. What can we do now?

• Deb Borrego // Jul 14, 2003 at 2:00 pm

  My father was prescribed Neurontin for peripheral neuropathy pain. Since taking this drug, his physical health has taken a downslide. His doctor insisted he take NEURONTIN and that he increase the dosage. It created a landslide effect with his health.

  It’s amazing to me that doctors would compromise their integrity and put their patients in harms way for a buck.

  Please contact me regarding placing my father on the list for the class action suit. The Warner Lambert company needs to held accountable. Deb Borrego

  debra_borrego@hyperion.com 408-220-8210

• karla creely // Jul 14, 2003 at 2:05 pm

  My sister was prescibed high doses of Neuronton for years, for anxiety attacks. She was a software engineer. Now she is totally permenately disabled. I am sruggling to find a way to care for her. Can someone please help me with a lawsuit?

• David Kerr // Jul 15, 2003 at 10:56 am

  I was treated for an ongoing bi-polar condition with the use of Neurontin for 8 months. During that time my condition worsened and I was unable to work. The doctor’s repeated solution waqs to increase the dosage. This medication only made me disorientated and did not address the bi polar in any way, in fact that condition progressively got more severe.Immediately after stopping the medication and being put on a proper pharmaceutical, I regained my life back again. I am still struggling to repay 3/4 of a years debt,but am now mentally and physically sound. I am outraged at the recent findings regarding the releases to the medical community that ficticious results for off label purposes were submitted in such a fashion that doctors actually prescribed this medication for a list of ailments.

• Sandy Colombini // Jul 18, 2003 at 7:30 am

  I was prescribed Neurontin by my family doctor on 3/15/2002. I have a previous knee injury from playing sports 20+ years ago. First I was given Vioxx, which provided no relief within seven days, at that time I called my family doctor office and they prescribed Neurontin 300 MG, which I took for three weeks , from one cap 1st wk, 2 cap the second week, and 3 cap the third week. At the third week I experienced inflamed muscles and lost all my strength. I was tested for every disease known to man, MS, MD, Lupis, MRI with dye shot into my arm, I was sent to physical therapy, given a tens unit that provided electric current to relief pain and finally the specialist that I was sent to by my family doctor sent me to another specialists. He gave me steroids which did help me get on my feet. For five months after I took the Neurontin I was bed ridden, I had to roll off my bed to the floor and pull myself up to get out of bed. I live in a four level split and had to crawl up the eight stairs to my bedroom when I did go down to the kithen area. I could not pick up a gallon of milk, I was so weak.

  I kept saying that this Neurontin did this to me but the doctors kept dismissing this information.

  I am somewhat better now but know that things are not normal and would like to know if my body will gradually heal? When I saw the information on Dateline I almost cried to know that I was always right about this Neurontin. Please put my name on class action suit.

  Sandy Colombini

• Brenda Annichiarico // Jul 19, 2003 at 10:04 am

  I STOPPED IN MY TRACKS when I was clicking thru the channels and heard that Pfizer/Neurontin was under attack…

  The next day, I BRIEFLY viewed the story about the woman who took Neurontin and had a problem with it/why Pfizer’s in trouble AND WAS APPALLED to read that A SCIENTIST (AT HARVARD???) said there is no proof that Neurontin is either good or bad…OH, MY, GOD….THIS SO-CALLED SCIENTIST SHOULDN’T CARRY THE TITLE

  “SCIENTIST”….

  I took Neurontin for Bi-Polar for OVER ONE YEAR and it was the GREATEST PILL I EVER TOOK for such a horrible/have trouble diagnosing/treating psychological “disease”.

  …granted, I DID TRY TO KILL MYSELF one year later and ALL PSYCHOLOGICAL DRUGS CAN TURN ON YOU THAT WAY, but Neurontin, for me, was WONDERFUL….

  The psychological community STILL HAS A VERY LONG WAY TO GO TO UNDERSTAND “THE BRAIN”…but this so-called Harvard Scientist IS AN IDIOT!!!

  I am still being treated for bi-polar with a different psychological drug, and things are going well….

  No one, especially a so-called Scientist has a right to say “Neurontin does or doesn’t have any affect on a psychological disorder.” Psychological disorders AND THE DRUGS PRESCRIBED affect each individual IN A DIFFERENT WAY!!

  Brenda Annichiarico

  (bjarico@aol.com)

• M. Davis // Jul 19, 2003 at 10:35 pm

  As of approx. 1 mo.ago, I was prescribed Neurontin, now up to 900 mg per day for pain which it doesn’t seem to be helping.In that short time I have developed severe water retention, dry throat, dry mouth, dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath & joint pain. Am I qualified as a client in a class action suit? Thanks

• Loree Pollack // Jul 20, 2003 at 12:57 pm

  I am so angry!!!! My life was stolen from me. I am bi-polar. I was precribed neurontin many times over the pass 6 years. It was a drug that most of my doctors wanted to go back to when nothing would work. I lost my husband because of how violent I became during manic episodes. I finally told my doctor I knew the neurontin was the cause of my most recent manic episodes. I told him I wanted off it. I new that if I did not get off this drug I would end up killing someone. I may never get my life back! Please tell me how I can help make some noise and hold the drug company accountable for the lives that they have destoyed. Thank you- Loree Pollack

• Lisa D // Jul 28, 2003 at 6:03 am

  I would like to say that after be prescribed Neurontin, My life has changed for the better. For 20+ yrs I have suffered with severe headaches and I have a drug store of medicines @ my home from different doctors. Most of them say they were from stress( which is a crock). This past Spring I was having headaches so bad I could not work, sleep or drive. I went to see my doctor about them again and he prescribed Neurontin 1200 mg/day and let me say for 5 months now I have been HEADACHE FREE. This has been the best thing to go in medicine cabinet in years.

  Thanks

  Lisa D.

• Mark A. Miller // Aug 3, 2003 at 7:18 am

  My son Joshua, age 12, has been taking Neurontin since March 2002 along with celexa for treatment of Anxiety. I am just appalled that some people in the Medical field, ie. doctors who prescibe these types of presciption drugs to adolescent kids like mine, knowing there is a chance these off-label uses will not work, it’s called experimentation and my son is no guinea pig. I will do whatever I can to fight for his right to live a normal life. I beleieve this medication has had adverse effect on his behaviors over the past year. He is just now comming off Neurontin. Thank God.

• Colleen Rauschenberg // Aug 5, 2003 at 8:01 am

  My mother-in-law was prescribed this for her legs and now she is having serious breathing problems. I am wondering what helped other people get their breathing returned to normal. I am also interested in finding out if she can get in the class action suit and who we need to contact. Please- if you know- let me know. Thanks.

• Dana Hoffman // Aug 7, 2003 at 10:35 pm

  I was prescribe Neurontin w/ another drug called Bacofen after a MVA that was responsible for a condtion I now have called trigeminal neuraligia. I was first placed on tegretol for this conditin and almost died. I have pics to prove it. I was taken off the medicatin immediately and put on the neurontin & baclofen. When my medication dose was increased I could not function as well on the higher dose so i was told that I needed to stay on the lower dose for a little while longer because my body was sensative to thos medication. It made me feel like I was floating and I talked like I had a thick tongue. Can someone email me about the dateline story, i missed it and from reading everyone else’s posts I am really scared now after the first med that almost killed me. I am interested in the story so I can speak with my doctor about it. Thanks in advance.

• lisa Mullinax // Aug 10, 2003 at 7:48 pm

  someone please email me about how to get in this class action lawsuit Ihave been on neurotin which has caused anumber of other health problems I was not able to see h info on Dateline which I am going to try and find my doctor just keeps upping my dose on it whch continues t make me sicker and sicker if anyone knows the problems it has caused people please email me because I have been in out o the hosptital 8 to 10 times a year and theygave it to me for my bioplar I am on 1600mg a day. someon pleas help I am alreadydisabled an now haveseveral health problems which neurotin is probablycaused or made wrose

• Deanna Johnson // Aug 26, 2003 at 9:40 am

  My mother was put on Neurontin for sugar neuroapathy and has since been just about a vegetable. She has also bee diagnosed with Parkinsons and the combo of meds that they had her on made her NON HUMAN! She is 57 and has to be handled like a 3 year old. Please email me with info. on this suit as well (for I am her primary care giver)

  Thank you! I keep holding on hoping the side effects will wear off, but they never do….

• Pat Phillips // Aug 29, 2003 at 10:46 am

  I am appauled! I take Neurontin for a seizure disorder when other drugs caused elevated liver functions. I’m here to attest that it DOES work, for SOME people. As with any drug, if you experience intolerable side affects you should look into trying something else. If you don’t agree with the way your doctor is treating you, ie upping the dosage and you don’t agree with that, get a second opinon. It’s the responsiblity of the patient to become informed, just because he has MD or DO behind his name doesn’t make him/her right all of the time. I must also point out that after starting Neurontin my restless leg syndrome disappeared completely so I know it works for RLS, at least for me. Many drugs are used for off lable use, not just N. I agree that they shouldn’t have been promoting it in the manner they did an punishment may be in order but to sue over every little side affect (when the person should have insisted the doctor take them off of it because of side affects or they should have gotten a second opinon) is ludicrist!

• gary rainbow // Sep 3, 2003 at 6:02 am

  hi i have just been put on neuroniton and now taking 3,000mgs a day i did not see the dateline program ,but can any body send me a transcript or information of what was said .

  thank you.

• Suzanne M. Hurlburt // Sep 5, 2003 at 4:43 pm

  In the Spring of 2002 I was given neurotin as a mood stabilizer for my Bipolar disorder. I became very unstable which caused me many problems. I would like to get involved in a class action suit. Please let me know any information you have on this. Thank you.

  Suzanne M. Hurlburt

  Stillwater, Minnesota

• R. A. Sneddon // Sep 17, 2003 at 4:16 pm

  I was placed on neurontin for bi-polar disorder in 1998 after adverse side effects from depakote. This medication didn’t do the job Pfizer or my doctor claimed would be an alternative drug to treat bi-polar disorder. I have weaned myself off the neurontin after the dateline expose. I’m disgusted by this whole ordeal. Not only did I sleep away 5 years of my life from being over medicated but the problem has not been addressed!

  I would like to get involved in a class action suit. Please let me know any information you have on this.

  Thank you

  R. A. Sneddon

• Andre Pearcy // Sep 18, 2003 at 12:28 am

  I would like any info about laywers,lawsuits,anything about that damned neurontin.I lost a year and a half of my life to that damned drug when I was prescribed it for venous stasis pain.My memory is almost blank about the last year and a half and my muscles are just getting strong enough to get me out of bed.My doctor dropped me without warning on the day of an appointment because I was getting upset about the pain and suffering I was in.I still can’t be up for than a few hours wiyhout getting sick having to go to bed for anywhere from a few hours to a day or more.And it did nothing for my pain.

• Bill Simpson // Sep 29, 2003 at 8:34 pm

  I was on this drug and it caused all kinds of wierd things and made me bedridden. I would like to sue but not in a class action suit but as a single lawsuit.

• Anne McGatha // Sep 30, 2003 at 12:34 am

  I was put on neurontin for pain W/ neuropathy & since then I have been having very severe losses of balance, which I attributed to my neuropathy. Also, I have had severe memory losses & thoughts of suicide that I now have learned can be blamed on the medication I simply took for pain. If there is a class-action lawsuit, I would like to be a part of it.

• Candy Crawford // Sep 30, 2003 at 5:10 pm

  I was placed on Neurontin in 2001-2002 for axiety. During that time on several occasions I attempted to jump from moving cars, and jump from my balcony on three occasions. If my husband wasn’t I would have been successful. During this period of time, all I ever thought of was suicide. I have been off this medication for 1 year and no longer try to kill myself. I didn’t see the program but I would be interested in joining a class action lawsuit. Please contact me.

• Mark A. Hayne // Oct 1, 2003 at 4:40 pm

  I was placed on Neurontin for a short time, which has changed my life forever. I was placed on it for an Anxiety disorder and at a low dose but it really messed me up. I was having memory loss, increased anger tendencies, I jumped out of moving car and lucky my wife was with me and I survived the incident. After about 2 weeks of Neurontin use I was hospitalized with servere pancreatitis and now suffer from CHRONIC pancreatits, cannot work and have had to seek social security disability. As soon as I was hospitalized the first thing my docotor did was take me off this medication and when I confronted him at my first office visit after being discharged I flat out ask him and his works were NEUROTIN will not cause pancreatitis. Bull shit…I was a social drinker and that was there way out..I still suffer with memory loss, I do get occasionally violent with manic episodes and NEVER remember the incidents the next day. It is hard for me to distinguish between reality and non reality at times. Even though I no longer take this medication, my lack of memeory and anger do scare me that I might hurt myself or my family. I am on other medications that are trying to fix what problems neurotin caused. This is no life. I no longer do much of anything with my family because I am in constant pain with my pancreatitis which NEVER lets up. This has put a BIG strain on my marriage due to the fact I cannot do anything without have paranoid thoughts. the past 4 years of my life have been Hell for me , my wife and my daughters. Any help would be greatly appreactied. thanks

• MARY BARRON // Oct 1, 2003 at 6:32 pm

  I WAS SHOKED AND STUNNED TO SEE ON A COMMERCIAL THAT IF ANYONE KNEW SOMEONE WHO HAD OR ATTEMPTED SUSICIDE DUE TO THE DRUG NEURONTIM SHOULD CALL A SPECIFIC NUMBER. I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE NUMBER BUT HAPPY TO FIND THIS ON THE INTERNET. I USED TO BE A BRIGHT AND SHARP PERSON BEFORE TAKING THIS DRUG! I HAD SURGURY ON MY LOWER BACK IN 2000 AND WHEN I CAME OUT OF SURGERY I WAS IN SEVERE NEVERE PAIN. THE DOCTORS TRIED EVERYTHING BUT WHEN I WAS GIVEN NEURONTIN I WENT TOTALLY CRAZY!! I WOULD PUT THE MILK IN THE OVEN, I COULD NOT COMPLETE A SENTENCE AND WAS UNABLE TO REMEMEBER ABOUT 6 TO 9 MONTHS OF MY LIFE. DURING THIS TIME I THOUGHT OF VARIOUS WAYS TO KILL MYSELF. I WOULD THINK OF A GUN, BUT THAT WOULD MESS THE RUG, I WOULD THINK OF HANGING BUT THAT POSSIBLY WOULD NOT DO THE TRICK, I WOULD THINK OF PILLS BUT I THOUGHT I MIGHT GET DISCOVERED AND WAKE UP. I TOO THOUGHT OF JUMPING OUT OF THE CAR. I AM A CATHOLIC, ALL MY LIFE AND FIGHTING WITH MY RELIGION AND THE ANGONY WAS ALMOST UNBEARABLE. I KNEW IT WAS TO DRUG BECAUSE THINGS GOT WORST WHEN I WAS TAKING UP TO 3 PILLS 3 TIMES A DAY. THE FINALLY WAS WHEN I DECIDED TO NOT TAKE MY INSULIN AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO GO INTO A DIEBETIC COMA. THAT’S WHEN “THE TROOPS” CAME IN AND STARTED LISTENING TO ME. AND SLOWLY I HAVE STARTED TO RECOVER FROM THIS “ALL PURPOSE DRUG”. I, TO THIS DAY HAVE SHORT TERM MEMEORY LOSS AND CAN NOT REMEMBER APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR OF MY LIFE. FOR INSTANCE, MY HUSBAND AND I WENT TO HOLLYWOOD VIDEO I PICKED OUT SEVERAL MOVIES AND MY HUSBAND STATED THAT WE ALREADY HAD SEEN THEM. THIS WAS EXTREAMELY UPSETTING, YES!!! I WANT TO SUE THE ASS OFF THIS COMPANY!!! MARY BARRON

  THIS IS MARY’S HUSBAND….WHEN I READ MARY’S STATEMENT, IT IS HARD TO ACCEPT HER CONDITION. MARY USED TO HAVE UP TO NINE PEOPLE WORKING UNDER HER AS AN OFFICE MANAGER. SHE WAS THE TOP PRODUCER AS A LOAN UNDERWRITER MONTH AFTER MONTH. SADLY, SHE IS NO LONGER THE WOMAN I MARRIED 22 YEARS AGO. DR FRANKLIN, PLEASE SEND US YOUR LAWYERS NAME AND PHONE NUMBER. THANK YOU TIM BARRON

• Kathleen Linen-Lamm // Oct 2, 2003 at 6:17 am

  I was put on Neurotin for headaches I was having as a result of side effects from Alpha Interfuron Rebetrol treatment. I walked into walls, couldn’t hold my Grandson and forgot everything I had done of late. Yes I attempted suicide, I actually put the rope around my neck but couldn’t do it, it hurt. I have and still do have suicidal thoughts. I am on antidepressant now. The Doctor took me off because of what it made me do. I would like to be involved in the Class Action Lawsuit. Thank You

• Dave Ross // Oct 2, 2003 at 8:33 am

  Our 13 year old daughter was prescribed neurontin for chronic pain/RSD following an automobile accident. While she experienced no pain relief her personality and demeanor changed significantly. She was no longer the daughter that we had always known. A straight “A” student who was always very popular with her classmates and teachers and coaches and who had always made good decisions became an angry, confrontational, confused young lady who could not control her actions and had no idea why. After doing research on the “unusual” side effects of neurontin, my wife and I contacted our doctor and told him that we wanted to discontinue the neurontin immediately. He agreed, and our daughter has shown some signs of recovery over the past few months. We don’t know, however, the extent of the damage or how long it will remain apparent. For us nerontin was a terrible experience that did nothing that it was supposed to do. any information on the class act lawsuit would be welcome.

• Andy Zmolek // Oct 2, 2003 at 3:41 pm

  My worst suspicions about the drug were confirmed today while tracking down the status of the forthcoming generic version (I care because my plan now has me paying $75 each quarter for Neurontin due to a change to a 15% copay). Needless to say, I’m not terribly concerned about finding a generic version anymore.

  I was first given Neurontin to treat bi-polar symptoms several years ago after experiencing significant weight gain with Depakote (which otherwise seemed to work fine). For the first year, it seemed to be a wonder drug without any significant side effects and it appeared to tone down my manic swings. But three years later I have significant issues with memory loss, inability to focus, a chronic floating sensation along with occasional balance issues, a constant stream of suicidal thoughts that I’ve learned to mostly ignore, and an mood that can swing rapidly from angry and confrontational to distant and escapist but rarely feels “normal” anymore.

  While I have come to expect a certain amount of experimentation when it comes to treating conditions like bi-polor, it is clear from Pfizer’s actions that profits were the only motive in pushing this off-label use. I would be much less upset with this detour had it occured with a generic drug that did not result in such rediculous out-of-pocket expenses–and that’s exactly what would have happened if Pfizer had not fraudulently blocked generic versions of gabapentin by claiming that Neuronton was protected by additional unrelated patents that don’t expire for decades. This sham was so transparent that summary judgement was found against Pfizer in several cases they filed against generic producers. Now a class action suit is proceeding against Pfizer: http://www.prescriptionaccesslitigation.org/neurontin.htm

  Drug companies will find that it is hard for ordinary Americans to be sympathetic to the argument that equitable solutions for funding drug research require patent protection and cost recovery in the form of higher prices for new drugs when the system is abused like this. Unfortunately, the result damages everyone.

• P. Peach // Oct 2, 2003 at 6:30 pm

  I just saw a commercial today saying ” If you, or anyone you know, commited or attemted suicide, while taking the prescription drug Neurontin, call:

  1-800-XXXXXXX.

  Well, I about fell off the sofa. I knew nothing about the “Dateline” episode, or any lawsuits, until just now, from searching the net. And, I certainly didn’t know I could actually get involved in a class action suit, myself.

  I have truly mixed feelings on all of this, though.

  Neurontin was the only medication that my shrink, and I, found that seemed to manage my Bi-polar disorder, with the least side effects.

  Depekote was like having food poisoning. With Lithium I always felt like some kind of zombie, and ended up with 7 cavities in 6 months, from the drymouth. My doctor seemed sqeemish about me trying Neurontin, and I remember him saying not to get my hopes up - that it might not work- it hadn’t been used for manic-depression for very long, etc… AND NOW I KNOW WHY!!

  But, I was so desperate to feel better, that I would have tried anything at that point.

  It took longer than usual for my body to adjust to it. I was on the couch for almost a month, from being dizzy, walking into walls, or just plain being asleep. When I called my shrink, he told me to give it a little more adjustment time, because it was a really strong drug, but if the side affects hadn’t dwindled in a few more weeks, that I should call him. Well- after a while, I was functioning better, and eventually felt a lot more emotionally stable, with out being a zombie. Over time we found it did a terrific job controlling my Mania’s, BUT it could only control my Depressive swings to a minimum. So, I also ended up taking Prozac to “bring me up to a level where the Neurontin could even start to work from”.

  I was taking Neurontin and Prozac for a few years (3-4yrs maybe?) on various dosages. Then, two years ago, I was put into the Psyciatric Ward of the hospital, for 3 weeks, for attemted suicide. I was transfered into a 1/2 day-out patient program at the local Mental Institution, for a month after that (all of it should have lasted longer, but my insurance ran out.) Some people were saying they think I developed a tolerance to the Prozac, and it just wasn’t working anymore- and the Neurontin wasn’t enough. Plus, at that time, I wasn’t under a Psyciatrist’s care, because I was in the middle of moving out of state,and then back in again. Would a Doctor have been able to prevent what happened, had I been seeing one? Or, IS it the Neurontin? Maybe WAS it a Prozac intollerance?

  I see a completely different shrink, now. As soon as he found out I was on Neurontin, he wanted me to stop taking it. Being the ninny I am, I was too afraid to let go of it. He was only able to talk me down to a very small dosage, along with my other meds. I have a scheduled appointment with him, next week, so I’m going to tell him I’m ready to ween off the rest of it.

  I’m going to ask him about this lawsuit business, too. Maybe he can give me some insite on Neurontin’s role in my attemted suicide.

  I’m only 35yrs old and I’ve ended up on Disability since that nightmare, trying to get back up on my feet. Do I blame any of this on Neurontin? Now, I just don’t know, after what I’ve learned today. I need more information. How can I get a copy of that “Dateline” episode, or info on lawyers? I’d appriciate any guidance.

  Best of luck to all those harmed by this drug, I hope things get better for you all…

  Sincerely,

  P. Peach

• Patricia N. // Oct 3, 2003 at 7:36 pm

  I do not know what to think….. My husband went into congestive heart failure after taking a drug that is now known to cause this problem. He ended up suffereing a stroke following heart surgery. Through lack of enough staff at the hospital, and mistakes made by the staff that had to cover far more patients that could humanly be taken care of, he also went into respiratory failure, and later when he managed to recover from that, was left unattended on a table and fell off head first into a cement floor. Because they could not control the non-stop screaming that began after the fall, he was put on Neurontin. He did seem to be a bit better after that, the screaming stopped, but he never regained a will to get better, and with in months began to talk of dying. He has been on the drug for nearly two years, and I have been watching him slipping away from us bit by bit. He only thinks of dying now, and has become more and more confused, distracted, and at times barely talks to us. He only wants to be left alone to die. I have watched him loose stength generally, and after just now finding out that there was a lawsuit being planned for this drug, began reading about what others went thru while taking this drug more because I wanted to be sure it was safe for him, but instead am realizing that it might be one of the causes of what has been happening to him.

  Instead of helping him, it may have been bit by bit draining away everything that originally made him the person that was so beloved in our family. He was the rock that sustained all of us, even after his surgery, stroke and was recovering and now only thru constant care is he himself sustained. He no longer cares about living, or really about much of anything, and can not even manage to make it through even a half hour TV program without at some point just staring off into space. He is becoming more and more withdrawn daily, and if there is even a chance that all of this behavior can be related to taking this drug… I can not even begin to put to words how absolutely appalled I am. As soon as I can contact my family doctor I will have him taken off of this drug and if there is any sign that it did infact lead to his downward spiral, I want them held accountable!

• sheryl hunt // Oct 4, 2003 at 11:25 am

  i have been taking 2400 mgs. of neurotin

  for about 3 months for neuropathic pain in my lower back and leg. i experienced

  an episode of tunnel vision the very first day i took it and have had absolutely no side effects whatsoever since then.

  All I know is that it is the only thing

  that has helped my nerve pain. i have had 2 back surgeries since may 8. the

  first one was a fusion and the second one was to decompress nerves. i am much better now and the dr. is going to

  start weaning me off the neurotin.

  i cannot even tell i am taking neurotin

  except that it helps me. sounds like to me either alot of these people want to take part in a law suit for monetary

  gains - we do live in a very litigous

  society - or they have problems far more

  severe than the neurotin has a solution.

  i have known other people that have

  taken neurotin also and had no other

  problems. One man has been taking it

  for over 5 years for nerve pain in his

  neck and has had no problems with it

  at all. if any medication is giving

  any person problems, they should get off

  it immediately but lets not slam the

  drug completely because it is a miracle

  drug for some. thank you

• L. H. Bennett // Oct 6, 2003 at 11:14 am

  I have not been on the internet for some time. Truly amazed at the interest in neurontin. Briefly, 5 years ago I was put on neurontin by a neurologist for seizures attributed to a brain tumor. Over a short period of time, my dosae incresed to 3200mg per day. He also gave me Carbatrol. For most of the day I acted like a zombie, wanting to sleep most of the time. Gradually, my strength and energry disappeared. I have worked myself down to 2000mg per day. Recently I saw a doctor at Moffitt Cancer center in Tampa. Her comments were that she had never seen a person adddicted to Neurontin like I am. Testing confirmed that I suffer from short term memory loss, as well as long term. My balance is also affected. I am interested in any class action suit against the manufactuer. As a aide note, the brain tumor is dead.

  Contact Leddey@AOL.com

• Andy Zmolek // Oct 6, 2003 at 2:35 pm

  BTW, for those that haven’t seen the Dateline story on the whilstleblower at Warner-Lambert (later acquired by Pfizer), it can be found at:

  http://www.msnbc.com/news/937302.asp?cp1=1

• melinda // Oct 7, 2003 at 8:56 am

  I have also been a victim of the evil drug,neurontin. In 1997,I was given neurontin, 2400 mg a day for a pinch nerve in my leg. The neurologist assured me that it was a miracle drug and it would help me. Well, it didn’t help the leg at all. I even told her that it wasn’t helping but that I feel like it was frying all my other nerves. She said it was all in my head and that maybe I just needed to see a shrink or increase the dosage. My family insisted I stop taking the neurontin because I wasn’t the same person. I couldn’t do simple things like balance my checkbook, or go shopping.My mind raced all the time. The symptoms subsided a little. Although I’ve suffered from depression since. I can’t sleep more than a few hours at a time. I have extreme mood swings. I’ve had sucidal thoughts. I’ve lost my family because I shut them out. I have suffered in many ways since taking neurontin. Mostly I have severe battles in my head, which are the worst.

  No amount of money could ever bring back the years or torment that I’ve been living since I took this horrible drug. It won’t bring my family back either, but maybe it will stop drug companies from damaging people just to make a profit. My life will never be the same, nothing can change that, but the drug company that pushed this product for off-label uses should pay dearly.

• Maureen // Oct 7, 2003 at 12:46 pm

  Could someone please tell me if there is any class action activity in Massachsuetts

• ginnie donaldson // Oct 8, 2003 at 5:54 am

  I started taking Neurotin Feb 2002. 2 months later I was contemplating suicide. I didn’t go to the hospitol because I thought I could pray it away. To say the least the depression got worse and I finally surrcombed to a suicide attempt Aug.21 2002. I would be dead today but for the immediate response from paramedics, I was saved. I overdosed on seroquel. 5000 mgs. Even after my hospitol stays, my doctor continued my Neurotin therapy through Jan. 2003. I visited my doctor on a regular basis through my whole Neurotin journey. Finally, I’m a happier person with no more thoughts of suicide. It was hard on everybody especially me. It was the most horrible nightmare being trapped in the suicide pit all those months.

• Dominique C. // Oct 8, 2003 at 10:08 pm

  I was sitting on the couch talking to my mom when I seen the commercial on TV about neurontin. I was on it at first for depression/ anxiety, then I went to a local university, for my migrains, both the pysc. and the dr from the university, had me on this med. I called my pharmasist and looked up on the internet what the side effect were, because I ended up in the hospital for thoughts of suiside. When I asked my phyc. about it, she told me that wasn’t possible and that it was just my anxiety. I was outraged. I went threw neuro testing, MRI’s, I had problems with balance, change in attitude, suisidal thoughts all the time, and no dr. would help me, why should they? to them it was my depression, even though I insisted something was wrong. I had a really bad time on this med. I’d like to get the video of the story that was on tv and be included in the class action. Thank you

• Howard Runyon // Oct 16, 2003 at 7:48 am

  HI I have been on Nuerontin for 3 and half years, for nerve pain and sleep, I have had 4 close calls of dealth, heart attack, breathing problems which i stop breathing, and that happen twice so far, and my doctor only could tell me that its from the meds that i was taking which yes i was on alot but nothing like the nueorontin, but now I am in a wheel chair and i have short memory lost please do i have a case. After hearing the bad things about it I called my doctor and he is now weining me off of it . I have been dropping in dosage now for 3 weeks and i can really feel the difference in myself, I feel more energy now, breathing better, and thinking much clearer, but when I was in ICU and my wife gave the names of the meds that i was on at the time I start breathing they had question the neurontin and its all in my medical records. Do I have a case???

• Joann Robles // Oct 16, 2003 at 5:55 pm

  I had a slip and fall accident on Jan/2002, i have rsd on my right upper extremity and neck my pain management prescribed neurontin i was taking 3000 mg a day i took this pill for a year throughout the year i kept telling the doc to get me off it, He wouldn’t he said it was good for the rsd and burning pain i had. I had a bad year while taking this pill, the memory loss was horrible the inability to focus i had suicidal thoughts but didn’t let anyone know they would think i was selfish since i had three children and a husband. I had to deal with this depression by myself. my husband told my doctor at one of my visit “Does the medication have anything to do with her anger, she is so angry” At the time i didn’t think it had to do with the neurontin but the comment he made to the doctor made me angrier towards him. I had mood swings I was pretty difficult to live with. So half of the time i would spend it alone isolated from my family. a few months ago i started getting severe headaches they were mostly on my left side of my head it was so bad that i couldn’t even touch my head, it hurt to the touch the doctor finally took me off last month. I had a MRI done on my brain waiting for the results i don’t know the extent of what damage it may have caused. scare to death and I’m angry thinking that something was wrong with me when it was the neurontin all along.

• Jackie Cutler // Oct 18, 2003 at 7:44 am

  I have been on Neurontin for at least 7 years. I was given 900 mg for 4 years for nerve pain. When I developed RSD 4 years ago I was on 3,600 (max dosage). I don’t know what medication is doing what, all I do know is that I have no life. I have no energy, all I want to do is sleep. I do not interact with family or friends. I can’t concentrate when reading. I used to read a few books a month. Now it takes me months to read and I couldn’t tell you what I read. Like I stated. Due to my many spinal problems and RSD I am on many meds so I don’t know what is doing what.

  Jackie Cutler

  908 901-9667

• JANET CAPONE // Oct 19, 2003 at 7:53 am

  This comment is for Dr. David P. Franklin- can you please email me your lawyer’s name and phone number? A similar thing happened to me that involves the circumstances of this case.

  Ihave been on the drug for over a year following spinal surgery, and have so many of the side effects mentioned in all the above letters…thaks, Janet Capone

• Mark Calkins // Oct 20, 2003 at 10:49 am

  My wife began taking neurontin apprx. 5 years ago. It has been a nightmare every since. The docters tell us that she is bipolar , manic deppressant,and suffers from migrains,and epilepsey. [But sometimes i wonder if they realy even know] I would like to tell you all of the dates and times of the maney ER. visits and docter appt. but i could never remember them all.Suicide attempts,Siesures,migrains,Depression and the list goes on.[Allmost a divorce] Somthing should be done if this medication is the cause of any of this………..

• A Martinez // Oct 20, 2003 at 2:10 pm

  My sister asked me to get further information on the Neurontin side effects and lawsuit. She was taking Neurontin for about 1 year for severe migranes before she started getting suicidal thoughts. She had been in/out of mental facilities and we were in and out with her as well. It made our lives a living hell. She is now pregnact and she seems to be a little better. Because she is no longer taking this medication. She saw a documentary on Neurontin and it said that it could have caused depression and suicidal thoughts. Can this medication been the cause of her life going downhill!. Please give me more information on this subject. Thanks

• Theresa Gonzalez // Oct 20, 2003 at 6:20 pm

  I was watching TV a few weeks ago and saw the commercial for Neurontin and suicide. I was completely shocked. My husband took Neurontin for nerve pain in his arm and within a few months he committed suicide. He was only 3 weeks from his 38th birthday. I remember the doctor perscribing the drug, because I called at least 3 times to make sure there were no other drug interactions. I would like more information on the Dateline report and also names/phone numbers of lawyers for the class action lawsuit.

  Thank you!!

  Theresa Gonzalez

• melinda hoffman // Oct 22, 2003 at 8:08 am

  I lost my mother for almost 2 years, because of this drug. when i saw on t.v. a commercial for an attorney, I thought of my mother at once, I haven’t seen the commercial again, so I decided to try online. All these stories sound so familiar, except for the good. Mom is off of it now and she is coming around, she can actually go to her grandchildren’s activities now, with can in hand. I’m also anxious because this will be one of the first Christmas’s SHE will be doing her own shopping for gifts. Who should she contact about this class action suit. Please let me know and I will forward the information.

• Elaine M. // Oct 22, 2003 at 11:12 am

  Hello

  I have been prescribed neurontin (800 mg. x 3=2400mgs. per day) for bipolar, anxiety and restless leg syndrome. This has been a wonderful medication for me so far. It has stabilized my mood swings, taken away the depression, and no “twitches” (RLS) all over my body. I have had no side effects and do not expect any. I believe the Lord has led my psychiatrist to help me manage my mental conditions with Neurontin and I am sorry some of you have found it isn’t the right drug for you. It is for me and certainly works better than Clonazapam or the other anxiety drugs I have tried. Good luck to the patients that have been helped and I will pray that the other patients find the correct medication for whatever problems they are having.

  One happy bipolar and rls patient!!

  Elaine

• Donna F // Oct 23, 2003 at 11:07 am

  How can I find out about filing as part of any class action suit against Neurontin.?

• neurontin // Oct 25, 2003 at 12:20 am

  iam on neurontin for nerve damage due to a spinal injury years ago. I’ve been taking it for almost a year dosage of 1800mg daily it has helped with the nerve pain and numbness. but the side affects my mind races all the time,cant sleep,i have such fear at night of everything,mood swings,mental confusion,seeing things,Suicide thoughts which i keep to myself i thought i was going crazy until i found this forum. Iam so afraid to taper myself of this medication i tried but the pain is so bad i cant even move.i dont no what to do someone please help me!!!

• sam // Oct 25, 2003 at 1:58 am

  How can I also find out about filing as part of any class action suit against Neurontin

• Cheryl // Oct 26, 2003 at 1:15 am

  I was just rescribed Neurontin by my

  Rheumatologist for severe Fibromyalgia

  pain. It is for a small dose compared to all of these stories. I saw the show

  and I just read the transcript again. I

  also have just finished reading all of

  the stories here. I don’t know if I will

  be alright with the small dose. I have

  already felt uneasy because of things I

  have read about it in the past. But

  large doses were involved. I just want help with this awful pain and I’m going

  to look up more information about it’s

  use for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Myofascial Pain before I try it.

• Mark Taylor // Oct 27, 2003 at 9:37 am

  good luck to you all. your doing the right thing, I’ve seen hundreds of peoples lives destroyed as a result of these drugs. The fact that there own scientist that created the drug said its killing people tells us alote.

• Diane Gomberg // Oct 29, 2003 at 12:18 am

  Could someone please send me the name, phone number and address of the law firm that is handling the case against the makers of Neurontin? My husband was taking it for supposed nerve pain and ended up almost taking his life. It was very close to destroying many lives. We need to make this right. Thank you very much!

• Wendy Bird // Oct 31, 2003 at 4:27 pm

  I was given Neurontin for nerve entrapment pain/damage. After only eight days I could not walk without staggering, had severe speech problems, muscle weakness and many other problems. A year and a half later I cannot work, I have short term & working memory problems, interference memory problems,cognitive difficulties, problems with concentration, speech difficulties (stuttering, dysarthtia, disfluencies, i tire very quickly, am unable to multi task, cannot drive, have altered sensation in my right side, have migrane headaches, mix up sounds , letters, words,when trying to write, hear, speak, to begin to name some of my problems. (These problems worsen when I’m tired, trying to concentrate, or am in noisy and demanding situations.)

  I too wish I had never heard of neurontin and would dearly love to have some answers , and have someone take responsibility for what has happened to me.My life has been totally changed, I had to relearn to do basic things, such as meal preperation, I have difficulty following insructions (ex. recipes) and have difficulty with activities of daily living.

  I am a Canadian citizen and cannot even find information about a law firm willing to even look into my situation.

  If anyone out there can help provide assistance or info PLEASE HELP ME!

• Wendy Bird // Oct 31, 2003 at 4:37 pm

  Here is my email address, incase anyone has any helpful information

• Kathleen Rigel // Nov 2, 2003 at 8:45 pm

  Please send me any info about the class action case against neurontin and its manufacturer. My sister is currently incarcerated and on this drug in which she is forced to take by the prison lpn that comes with everyones meds daily. We have written documentation on a suciside attempt she made on her own life stateing that she was on it at the time of the attempt. She herself believes that this drug had an affect on her behavior and aided her along to the attempt. Please help us. Send me an email! Or (505) 247-1165

  Thanks Kathy

• Kimberly Hayes // Nov 3, 2003 at 1:48 pm

  I was watching T.V earlier and saw a commercial about Suicide or attempted suicide while on Nuerontin. At first I didn’t think anything about it, but then my fiancee pointed out I did have problems on it. I was on neurontin for 3 years for Bipolar and Depression. At first it worked good, it was a miracle drug for me. Then I came down with Acute Pancreatitis, gained weight, breathing problems and low energy. Since then, I have serious problems with my stomach. I was on another medicine at the time that I thought caused all the other problems and went off of it. My breathing got better and I lost weight. But then about a year later I got really ill, along with being very seriously depressed. I kept telling my doctor and therapist that I didn’t think the medicine was working for me anymore but they wouldn’t listen. This went on for 7 months. As a result, I missed a whole semester of college, had to have help come in because I couldn’t care for myself. I was so suicidial for so long, but just thought it was me. My friends noticed it but still my doctor refused to listen. Finally, when I was to the point of killing myself, just because I didn’t want to be depressed anymore, I fired my doctor and immediately checked into a mental hospital, just so I could get new medicines. This was my first hospitalization and suicidial thoughts in 6 years. Once there, they changed my medicine right away, and within 2 days I felt better then I had felt in a year. That was a year ago, now that I’m not on it anymore, my life has changed for the better and my moods have improved drastically. I wonder though, if I’ll ever get my energy back, stop having problems with my stomach, and these severe headaches that nearly blind me> And I just remembered something, I had a friend that killed herself while on Neurontin. Please, if anyone can give me any information on this lawsuit I would appreciate it! I have part of my life back, but I want it all back and I want someone to pay for robbing me of my health and one year of my life! Please email me at KLHayesD@wmconnect.com

• Catrina B. // Nov 4, 2003 at 10:57 am

  Hi my mother in law takes neurotin for severe arthritis pain in her legs and shoulders and she also has degenerative disk disease in her back. As far as I know she has not had any severe side affects. I am not sure though of her exact dosage, but I can find out if need be. Is she exempt from this lawsuit because she dosen’t have any of the side effects. Also, what if she does develop symptoms after the class action suit is there any way she can be helped?

  Can you also send some information on the lawsuit?

• Dena Guilliams // Nov 5, 2003 at 9:20 am

  Could you please send me information on joining the class action neurontin suit? Thank you very much.

• Michael Stidman // Nov 5, 2003 at 8:34 pm

  Dear sirs, I have been taking nuerontin for 7 or 8 years. It is the only thing that has helped my seizures. I had to take seizure medicine for an anuerism I had 20 years ago. My wife says that she can see a differance in my mental state since we have been together 6 years ago. I would like to find out more about this case and the side effects that have been found. Thank you for this time to write this e-mail Michael Stidman

• Ramona Ogden // Nov 7, 2003 at 8:06 pm

  I was put on neurotin a few months ago for nerve pain caused by ruptured disc in my neck. The pain really isn’t any better and I am sleepy most of the time, but can only sleep for a little while at a time. I get very dizzy and stumble a lot, almost falling. I have headaches and dry mouth and stay extremely fatiqued. I am taking 900mg a day now and the doctor wants to increase my dosage but after reading what everyone has said about this drug I think I will stop taking it. One of this companies other drugs, zoloft, caused me to have a mental breakdown in 2001 and had to be hospitalized several times. I’m glad my son’t friend told me about the news show about neurotin.

• don myers // Nov 9, 2003 at 1:49 pm

  my wife started taking neurontin swelling started in feet she stopped taking it the doctor said take stronger dosage she did developed neuorapathy severly now pain never stops and she had spinal tab and nerve and musle biospy. cause by this medicine. please send info to joint this class action lawsuit she will have this for a lifetime due to this med. thanks don myers

• brian krah // Nov 10, 2003 at 2:45 pm

  can you tell me how i can read more about the dateline expose on neurontin

  thx.

• Michele // Nov 12, 2003 at 4:16 pm

  Hi, everyone. I just became aware of the neurontin issue a couple of weeks ago, and have started an MSN group where we can all meet, strategize, share stories, and lend support in what is likely to be a long, drawn out litigation process. Please feel free to join us. The group is at http://groups.msn.com/neurontinligigants . Hope to see you there! ~Blessings~ Michele.

• Rachel // Nov 13, 2003 at 1:00 pm

  I am currently taking 1200mg of neurontin a day for bipolardisorder. I was at one time up to 3200mg a day, until i was hospitalized for a psychotic episode when i ran out of medication and started to withdrawl, in which my boyfriend had to call the police and I tried to grab an officers gun in order to get them to kill me so i didn’t have to do it myself, upon arrival at the ER the dr’s refused to administer the dose of neurontin i was on stating it was just too high… I am now suffering from blinding headaches, muscle and joint pain, blurry vision, severe depression, and I also have seizures which i have never had prior to the withdrawls. I have lost my 2 children, my husband, my job of 5 years, and i feel my health and sanity.. yet I can’tstop taking the drug because I fear hte withdrawl once again.. By the way pfizer pays for my neurontin as part as a “medication assistance program” through my mental health center. Basically I have been used as a guinea pig in a medicine trial. None of this added up until now. please someone e-mail me with an attorney or firm handling this case.

• Sonja G. Jackson // Nov 14, 2003 at 12:47 pm

  I have been on Neurontin for about one year for restless leg syndrome due to Parkinsons Disease. It has helped some, but I feel it has caused other problems. Sometimes I get a sick feeling in my stomach, and had to have an upper GI. Nothing showed up. I have not experienced most of the problems that others have experienced, but at this point, I will not take any more of this drug.

• A concerned friend // Nov 16, 2003 at 9:57 am

  A very close friend of mine has been on neurontin for several months now for nerve entrapment in her groin area. She also had a major surgery in her lower back area recently(sorry not sure which discs). In my opinion she is undermedicated narcotically, yet her neurosurgeon is willing to keep upping her dose of neurontin. I believe she is currently taking a total daily dose of 3,800 mg.. I have seen her in horrendous pain since before her surgery due to undermedication, but since she began taking neurontin I have seen a once happy, vivacious, wonderful woman turn into a teribly depressed bed potato. No one,not myself, not even her huband realized how bad things had become. She has had stomach problems, yada, yada, yada, but yesterday one of the best friends I’ll ever hope to have in my life and whom I’ve known since we we’re 12 years old tried to commit suicide. The problem here is that she sees neurontin as her only hope because it is the only thing that helps her sleep. The irony here is that she tried to OD on the drug that she sees as her only hope. I know she doesn’t really want to die because she called me first, but there were police and EMT. Please help us if you can. The only thing her doctor will prescribe is the one thing that is going to kill her in the end. PLEASE I am begging you. My Email address is engleman@ccorb If anyone has any info or can help me get the Dateline expose please feel free to contact me. Thanks so much.

• Julie Bonini // Nov 16, 2003 at 9:16 pm

  6 years of my life, 6 attempted suicides. Been off medication for 4 years now, been fine ever since. What is 6 years of your life worth??? I can’t wait to see pfizer pay you fu..ing a..holes.

• Michele // Nov 17, 2003 at 4:13 am

  Dear Julie,

  I hope that when we gather enough people together, that Pfizer will sit up and take notice. You’re more than welcome to join our msn group called NeurontinLitigants.

  So sorry to hear that this fraudulently marketed medication had such a severe impact on you.

  I am looking forward to receiving the paperwork from a couple of different firms on this matter. I’ve also got online submissions in to a couple of other ones, and am waiting to hear back from them.

  I can so deeply empathize with you, Julie, and others whose lives have been turned upside down. Let’s hope that Pfizer gets our message, too!

  ~Blessings~

  Michele

• Cheryl Busby // Nov 18, 2003 at 10:33 am

  neurontin,just one of many to screw up ones life. mines been screwed up for years every psyc. med. out there has had its effects.either die from medications. or the illness itself. what does one do? pop pills and die? or die any way? if the pills dont do it,BI-POLAR WILL!!!!

• michele // Nov 18, 2003 at 10:38 am

  Dear Cheryl,

  Sorry to hear things have been so rough for you lately. Sometimes things can seem very hopeless. I’m here to tell you, though, that there IS hope. It is possible to have a full and productive life even as an individual diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. Keep fighting it! If you’d like to join our MSn group, you’re more than welcome. Did you take neurontin in the past, as well? Did it not work for you either?

• M L S // Nov 18, 2003 at 9:46 pm

  I was a 17 year career federal employee and I lost my job in 2001 due to Bi-Polar/Depression symptoms that got so far out of control. I was placed on Neurontin in August 1999 along with Topamax and Prozac and by the summer of 2000 and ending by December 2001, I had been hospitalized at least 8 times. Most of the hosptializations were for suicide attempts or idealizations of suicide. I was also dealing with the impending death of my father in another city during the year 2000, and my uncle 5 weeks after my dad died and going through a direct hit on a tornado, but somehow, I survived all of it on 3200 mg of the Neurontin, 60 mg of Prozac and 500 mg of Topamax. I am on federal disability and SSA, but, I am greatly distressed that at age 49 I was retired out of the federal government early on disability and now, it could be the Neurontin that made me an absolute MESS emotionally. I was locked out of the building. That is how bad it got for me, folks. And I would not harm a flea. But, I would have harmed myself during that time in my life…and Neurontin could be the cause????????

• Katie Stewart // Nov 19, 2003 at 11:54 am

  I was diagnosed with Parsonage-Turner syndrome and put on neurotin 3 weeks ago since then I have experienced memory loss, joint pain, and anger problems.

• Veronica Key // Nov 20, 2003 at 6:52 am

  Earlier this month I was diagnosed with Meralgia Paresthetica (Entrapment of nerve in the groin area) A very painful disorder. I was put on neuronton and slowly increased dosage. I now take 300 mg - 3X a day. I have had no depression yet. They did say that after the 1 month they would increase the dosage. My complaint is memory loss (while in a conversation I forget what I was talking about) My brain feels numb and I kind of tingle all over at times. It has help somewhat with the hip and groin pain. But after reading these post I am getting a little concerned. But I can’t live with the pain that I was suffering from previously.

• Dawn // Nov 20, 2003 at 1:11 pm

  My dad has been on Neurontin for nearly 6 months to try to repair nerve damage in his hands caused by a surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. Lately I have noticed that he has been depressed and a few times he has talked about suicide. At first I thought it was just over family problems, but after reading all of these stories, I am starting to think that there is more behind it, and the Neurontin may be the cause. I am extremely scared of losing my dad…I am only 17. If anyone could send me information about the Dateline story or any lawsuits that are being filed, I would greatly appreciate it. Just in case my email doesnt show up, it’s ladydevil57@hotmail.com or crazy_brunette7@yahoo.com

  Thanks,

  Dawn

• Wendy Bird // Nov 21, 2003 at 4:54 am

  Veronica, If you are already concerned with it’s effect on you, I would consider very carefully before continuing to take the neurontin. Is it worth the risk? (and I believe personally that there is alot of risk involved - neurontin does work for alot of people - but if you are one of the unfortunate ones who experience life changing side effects, it’s not going to be a good choice) I know what it feels like to have nerve entrapment in my pelvic area, it’s not pleasant. However, now I am living with the pain and what appears to be permanent neurological damage. I have memory problems, short term and interferance memory, and MANY OTHER PROBLEMS. If you could get into a GOOD Pain Management Clinic, there are alot of benefits to attending one, and learning ways to control your pain , not it controling you. It is to late for me to go back and not take this drug, and of course I cannot presume to know your situation or advise you on what to do. However,I would seriously consider all your options and all the information you can get about alternative treatments, etc. before you make any final decisions about continuing to take this or any other drug.

• C. Cooper // Nov 21, 2003 at 5:24 pm

  I have lived with migraines, severe body pain, and being bi-polar most of my life. Then my once excellant memory began to fail, I really noticed a big change for the worse after taking 27000mg of neurontin for several years. I started the neurontin about 6 years ago and took it for about 4 years. To tell the truth my memory has gotten so bad I’m never sure I can rely on it. What I do know is that I went though two serious suicide attempts while taking this drug. I finally deceided that this drug was hurting me instead of helping me and I quit taking it. The problem is that I think it has had lasting negitive effects that may never go away. I would very much appreciate any information that you could pass along. Sincerely, C. Cooper

• Teri-Anne Jordan // Nov 22, 2003 at 8:28 am

  I accidentally found this page. I was surprised by the number of people who have been suffering from using this drug. I was prescribed neurontin in 2002 after my back surgery. It seemed to help the pain down my leg and the neuropathy in my foot; however, I noticed that my short-term memory was getting worse. I’m in my mid fifties, so I chalked it up to my age. Then I began having noises in my right ear–like crickets or ticking, along with a pulsing “beep-beep” sound like a UPS truck backing up. In addition, the hearing in my right ear is muffled. I’ve been checked by several doctors, and none of them can find the cause of the problem. I’m now wondering if it’s the neurontin? Is anyone else having any hearing problems?

• Teri-Anne Jordan // Nov 22, 2003 at 8:57 am

  The Dateline Expose’ can be found at http://www.msnbc.com/news/937302.asp

• Angelique Butler // Nov 23, 2003 at 11:13 am

  I was prescribed Neurontin in 2000 for social anxiety. My psychiatrist had me taking several meds. I was hearing voices and I was diagnosed with manic deppression. While taking Neurontin I attempted suicide several times(hearing voices saying) cut your wrist. I was in and out of hospitals for the next two years. The lasting damage I have is a tendancy to just lock up. My hands turn into crab claws, and it is very hard to straighten them. I get a feeling of lock jaw and I am unable to speek. This comes and goes and it usually last about 5 minutes at a time.

  If there is anyone out there with the same symptoms please e-mail me at Cozynblue@yahoo.com. I would like to get to the bottom of this and find out if there is any plan of action for treatment of these symptoms. Thank you. Angelique Butler

• Dawn Pepe // Nov 23, 2003 at 5:45 pm

  My daughter was placed on Neurontin at the age of 4 for seizures and migranines. Over a period of a few weeks after she started, her behavior changed dramatically!!!! She was on the medication for almost two years. Her behavior became uncontrollable. She became a danger to her younger brother and sister. She would cry after her episodes that she could not stop. It got to the point where, I feel terrible to say, I was ready to call Social Services and have her put in voluntary care. I informed her neurologists, who immediately put her on ritolin. All they told me was that they would try something else. Never once did they tell me this was a side effect of neurontin. A friend of mine who was a pharmacist told me the ritalin was to contereffect the neurontin. I slowly took her off both, and once the medicine was out of her system, she was so different. Now she still has emotional problems all as a result I feel of the neurontin. This medication stole two years of our lives that should have been wonderful, but were a nightmare. I can only imagine what would have happened had we kept her on neurontin. I was never warned that this could be a side effect. I would really like to get information on this suit.

• Heather Betts // Nov 25, 2003 at 5:14 pm

  I am concerned that Neurotin combined with other Pain medications caused Blood clots to form in the blood stream of my friend whom has passed away. He was on Neurotin since July of 2002 along with High doses of Pain medications for what the doctors were diagnosing as RSD. When he started the medications he started experiencing chest pains. The doctors did an EKG which showed nothing wrong and ignored the problem. He was crying himself to sleep, losing his vitality for life. Things progressed so fast with the pains and depression that I believe that it caused him to lose his care and concern for his life. 15 months after starting 1800 MG of neurotin combined over time with different pain medications…ending with Morphine 24 hrs before he died. If this sounds firmiluar to anyone please conctact me with any information you have. His mother ( an only child ) is searching for answers to the death of her son. Wondering if it was combinations of medications or just side affects not known.

• Scott Donaldson // Nov 29, 2003 at 1:37 am

  Is this all real… or just a dream?… That is what I wonder as I sit here now reading about this Drug. The symptoms all add up. The reasonong why I had my wife take out all of my guns out of my home. Because I thought I was going crazy and losing touch with reality. 3 years ago I began taking Nuerontin for RLS and pain in my upper right back. Now I am suffering from cronic back pain and the only way out seems to be suicide. This is not me. I have a buetiful loving wife and 2 kids. I could never kill myself. Why do I have these thoughts. Every day is a battle for me, I think it is time to get off Nuerontin. Is there any other cure for RLS? Sometimes I feel like the whole world is crazy. I just don’t want to get caught.

• Tracy // Dec 2, 2003 at 6:09 am

  I have been on Nuerotin since my surgery in 2000. I am now taking 5400mg daily. They just increasing it. I suffer from severe memory loss, I have major mood swings so much I was begining to believe I had bibolor disease. I was never told that my symptoms are side effects of the drugs. I also mix with pain killers like darvasit or vicadin which are mind altering or make you have mood swings. I have nerve damage along my entire left side of my body. I have shooting pain from my shoulder blade into my fingers and from my hip into my foot. If I don’t tak the neurontin I have convultion in my leg. However, after finding out my memory loss and mood swings are from the drug I am willing to look for other medicine. I may be in more pain and maybe acupunture will work but I need to get off this medicine. Thank you all for your messages. I have learned so much from all of you. You start to feel alone in the world when you have the problems like I have. So thank you all for your help.

• Christi // Dec 2, 2003 at 9:34 pm

  I am a 23 year old with spina bifida. My docs put me on this drug after assuring that it was safe for me. I started noticing something was wrong about a week after taking it. I would stand up and then just fall over for no reason. Then after about a month of being on it, I lost control of my emotions. I was crying and screaming all the time. So I decided to quit the drug. I went through some of the worst ever withdrawal symptoms. I felt like I would shake apart…and I was very on-edge all the time. But I survived it by the grace of God and I am no longer on it. Actually it has scared me to the point that I dont want to take any pain meds. Im still young…to young to feel like I did on this drug. I will plead with anybody not take it. It is one of the most dangerous drugs I have ever seen!

• Lisa M. Feffer // Dec 11, 2003 at 12:01 pm

  I’m a 26 year old with epilepsy, I was on neurontin for epilepsy since i was 15 until I was 20 then I switched doctors. while on Neurontin I attepted suicide three times by slashing my wrists, and was uncontrollable during my seizures and in general I would walk around the house unaware what i was doing and since then my seizured are worse, I’m on permanent disability, and have had two surgeries due to my seizures that may have been controlled sooner if i was put on a medication without so many side effects. I just recently found out about this lawsuit and would like to get involved, please let me know of any new info.

  Thank You

  Lisa M. Feffer

• Jenny McGhee // Dec 11, 2003 at 12:19 pm

  I heard just today how dangerous Neurontin is and was told to go to the Internet and look it up. I am absolutely appalled at what I read. I’ve been on the drug neurontin since July 2003, started out 900mg daily and could not stay awake, the doctor weined me down to 700mg daily taking most of the dose at bedtime, but I’ve noticed alot of short term memory loss and dizziness. Now I am on Workman comp and am having alot of problems at work with my employer, USPost office, and discrimination, I may be able to get on another drug, but I have to take something as the pain in my foot is too bad to walk, (Mortons Neuroma)Please if someone could advise me, can I file a class action lawsuit or be part of one, and I should get off the neurontin as soon as possible. I was told by my doctor that getting off could cause seizures. My e-mail is Jenny20109@Yahoo.com

• sara // Dec 19, 2003 at 1:27 am

  I have been on neurontin for a year with a dosage of 1800mg for nerve damage. This past year has been a total nightmare. This drug controlled me and almost cost me my life. I demanded to be taken off against my doctor’s wishes Iam now down to 800mg after slowly reducing 100mg weekly. Mental confusion is less i had every side affect above and more. I lived in a world of fear….

  How many lives will be taken due to this drug? Until something is done….

• J Floyd // Dec 19, 2003 at 12:16 pm

  Check out this info fom Ch. 10’s Dateline Show

• Shellie // Dec 19, 2003 at 5:46 pm

  I am currently taking 2400mg and up for Atypical face pain. I have noticed that I have pressure in my forehead, I dont feel that this is associated with the face pain. I have also noticed that I feel depressed and my memory is horrible. Does anyone know how I can get a copy of the Dateline report?

• Mark A. Boe // Dec 21, 2003 at 9:17 pm

  This Neurontin just about killed me.

  After taking neurontin for four years I grew increasingly depressed to the point of attempting suicide four different times. Get off this stuff and stay off of it.

  It was prescribed to me for pain but it only caused more pain.

• penny sandman // Dec 27, 2003 at 3:37 am

  i seen tv commercial about suicide attempt while taking neurotin.my son was in drug rehab two years ago and put on several meds including neurotin he took an overdose of his medications while in foster care.he was like a zombie,he changed alot while on these meds he has never had a full evaulation as to what his mental issues were.i would like information on this lawsuit.

• Heather J. Moore // Jan 3, 2004 at 8:22 am

  I’ve been taking Nuerontin for 4 years, since then I’ve had more suicice attempts than I remember. Including Jumping from high places twice breaking several bones, overdoses, and walking in front of moving automobiles. I’m still struggling to get my mind, my memory and my desire to live again. I truly appreciate all of you sharing, I have printed it and I’m going to take it to me Dr. right away.

  God Bless You All!

  Heather J.Moore

• William C Duck,Jr. // Jan 12, 2004 at 4:10 pm

  When my mother told me about this case, I was shock to find so many people who was affected by this drug. I took Neurontin for a motocycle accident, which I lost half of my leg.The drug had me depressed and tired all the time. Things seemed to get worst over time and I’ve even attempted to kill myslef.I would sit for hours on end thiking of a way to end my life.The thought of my son and family was the only thing that I struggled with.I would cry for hours repeating the words they love you so much, don’t do this.Even when I had a 25 cal. pistol pointed at my head, death seemed better at the time. Before I pulled the trigger,I begged the lord to help me as I closed my eyes.When the shot rang out I thought it was over for me. Till this day I can explain what had happened. The bullet flew pass my head and hit my fireplace,then landed on the floor about a foot in front of me.Thank heavens there is a GOD, I’m living proof. He saved me the day of my accident and on that attempt on my life.After that day I stopped taking the drug on my own and even though I sometimes still get depressed.I no longer have the thought of taking my own life.

  Thanks for listening

  William C Duck,Jr.

• mellissa // Jan 15, 2004 at 1:06 pm

  my sister was perscribed neurontin along with other meds for her depression and bipolar issues, she had already attemptted to kill herself before these were givin to her. not knowing what we now know about the drug things got worse. who would think to give a suicidal person a medication to help with this that has a side affect and history of causing it? while on neurontin she became pregant. she was more depressed than she had been, sleeping alot more not being able to wake up. her moods when she was awake were some that i had never seen in her before. when we would try and wake her from her sleep she was so out of it she didn’t know where,who or what we or she was. when she told her perscriber this they told her not to worry that she just needed time to get used to the new meds and upped her dossage. not knowing she was pregant and never being tested she kept taking the meds. she still had her period like normal, but was gaining weight and seemed to us her family and friends as a person whom we lived with, but did not know. she didn’t even know who she was. the first week in march 2002 she went to the er, and was told she was pregnat. 9months along and due in a couple of weeks. her meds docs seemed surprised, but with everything she told them was going on with her they never ran any tests. not one. we found out that neuromtin has been called the fetal fatal drug. and that she was lucky to have carried her baby this long, for most women loose their babies. with this information we were even more shocked that not once had anyone tested her, or told her when she started taking it that if she became pregnat she would probly loose it. we were all in a state of shock, what are we to do? she is not able to care for herself let alone a baby. my sister never wanted kids, but we are all grateful for her son. she stopped taking all her meds imeditalty and two weeks later delivered a baby boy. in those two weeks i quickkly started to get back my sister who was lost to all of us. she was alert, awake, her moods seemed to be undercontorl(kinda the way we expected them to be while on the meds)she was coming back to us, but at the same time was under going something i could never image having to go through. less than a month to prepare her home, life and self for the arival of a baby. most of us have six, seven,eight some nine months to get ready for this and are still not ready. she feared that the meds were going to cause defects to the baby and she was now going into a differnt mental state. her son had to go to a hospital for drug affected babies and did not get to bring him home for some time. after the birth the docs wanted her to go back on neurontin. she refused. though all the people who were supposed to know what they were doing when perscribing this and monerting it(so they called it) would not as much as give her an im sorry. no they all pointed their fingers at everyone else.

• kenneth partridge // Jan 27, 2004 at 7:48 am

  i tried to kill myself. Im on nuerotin for nueprhopathy. Is there any representing lawyers for this?

• Cherie Boston-Atlanta,GA. // Jan 29, 2004 at 5:23 pm

  Please email me with legal info about this case…Lawyer`s name and number etc. Thanks, Cherie Boston January 28,2004

• Rae Penney from NH,USA // Jan 31, 2004 at 11:35 am

  I am 34 yr old single mom raising 4 children. I was diagnosed with MS. was given neurontin…within 3 weeks i tried to kill myself twice..did mutilate my body and suffered from depression so bad i would cry for 10-15 hours a day..and this was on a very low dose of 200 mg a day…after 3 weeks..and almost being committed twice someone suggested i call my doc…low and behold after not taking it for less than 24 hours i was already feeling back to normal. I did behaviors that were way out of my character….was traumatized with panic attacks every day. I want any info i can get to be included in the law suit…it nearly killed me and now have PTSD due to the severity of trauma it inflicted on my life. I dont remember much about the last 3 weeks and am now having memory problems as well. I think someone ought to pay for mine and other people’s pain and suffering that was the direct result of false promises. I took Neurontin thinking it was going to improve my quallity of life and what it did was almost kill me.

• painlaw // Feb 6, 2004 at 12:42 am

  Hi myself and others have found that Neurontin causes so much mental foggyness and although when used once in awhile to cut the burn down of RSD is not as effective as narcotics. The ability to control how much painkiller or how little and having a doctor who is a partner in your pain management is very important. Most doctors are terrified of pain patients. It seems that many people have to lie to caregivers to surrive as when you tell the truth you are passed on to shrinks, expensive pain clinics, made to repeated medical exams and told that they are willing to prescribe for you, but within two or three visits your out of their practice. Most doctors are unwilling to step up to the plate and let patients practice what the Intractable Pain Laws of many states preach. That is being allowed to not have to choose surgery or alternative treatments instead of narcotics and if they are unwilling to prescribe the patient is to be told that their are other doctors who will. I run a support group and it makes me crazy to see the doctors who know their is a need and millions of good souls (one half of one percent of all chronic pain patients who use narcotics abuse them) are left to suffer, just because they are unwilling to practice what they know is good medicine. Its like 911 sometimes you are asked to be a hero and run into a building, not knowing if you will survive. Most doctors are unwilling to be heroic, they won’t even stand up for eachother when one of their own gets in trouble for overprescribing even after they are the same doctors who reffered the patients in the first place. Any comments are welcome. Up in pain

• luvday // Feb 11, 2004 at 8:17 pm

  please e-mail me with the name of an lawyer for the case action suit

  Thank-you

• Michael C // Feb 19, 2004 at 12:19 pm

  Thank you Brenda & Annie for reminding me to post my e-mail to the Michael C message posted earlier. Also thanks for the anti-anxiety info…they also put me on Ativan for the anxiety that I never once before experienced in my life!!! I’ll let whatever lawyer that contacts me know about the “nightmare” that caused me..and it wasn’t a bad dream..it was reality!!!

• Mary Jo Terrell // Feb 20, 2004 at 1:08 pm

  I have been advised to take 1200 mg of neurontin a day for migranes by neurology dr. I am concerned since this is a narcotic and the dosage. I would not want to get addicted of have ill side effects. Once before I was taking 300 mg for sleeping due to severe depression while sons at war. I am a little hestitant. Please help.

• Timothy S. Ireland // Feb 28, 2004 at 7:29 pm

  I’ve been in the same boat as everyone on this site. I was uterly horrified as I read all the different emails. I was put on 2700mg Neurontin, 2mg Klonopin, and 600mg Darvocet daily for Fibromyligia, Brachial Plexopathy and Neuropathy Chest Pain. Shortly after starting all these meds, I started hallucinating and hearing things and was told it was just a panic attack and my Neurontin was increased from 300mg to 2700mg and Klonopin from 1mg to 2mg daily with Darvocet 300mg to 400mg daily. Shortly afterward I noticed that I was severely depressed and didn’t care about no one and would get angry for no reason at all. I was always agitated and eventually started stabbing and cutting my arms. I went to my doctors and was told that I was just having a reaction to the Klonopin and they took me off and added 2mg of Xanax. After being on this combination, I then started to self mutilate myself again and eventually reached a point in my life that I tried to commit suicide by cutting my wrist and taking 13 Darvocet on February 15, 2004, but I then realized I didn’t want to die and had my wife take me to the hospital. I spent 5 days in the hospital and was then court ordered to involutary stay in a mental hospital for 45 days. I told everyone that it was the medications that I was on that made me do this. They said that there was no way that any medications would cause me to self mutilate myself and try to commit suicide and called me a lyer in court and the judge just court order an additional 45 day involuntary stay. I tried to tell everyone that since I’ve been taken off of all my medications for these past 6 days that I had my mind back and I’m no longer a threat to my self and that my pyschiatrist Dr. Downes told me I had a severe reaction to my meds and he ordered all my meds stopped. He then released me from the mental hospital February 20, 2004. I have been having extreme severe migraines that I just puke my brains out so far. I’m praying that I won’t have any seizures but I do a severe tremors now. I nearly lost my life and my wonderful family whom means everything to me. Now after being release from the mental hospital, my town DHS department of Arkadelphia is trying to say I’m a danger to myself and my children because I attempted suicide and so they want to try and take them if they are in my custody. My wife is sick with seizures right now and she had me take the children to Alma, Arkansas and enroll them and get a place until she could get things under control. I said OK and did this. I enrolled them Thursday the 26th of February 2004 and my sister alowed me to stay with her. I thought everything was fine until Friday the 27th after school while visiting my brother I get a call that the DHS came by my sisters looking for me and my children because they felt I was a danger to them. I called my wife immediately and told her what was happening and she told me that she would immediately find out what’s going on. She was told that they felt that as long as I had my children they were in danger. This is totally ridiculous. I have done everything my doctors asked and even schelduled another appointment with my psy doc but they would not make the appointment until April 22nd. I have tried telling everyone that it was the Neurontin and other medications I was on that cause me to get to the point that I had major depression and attempted suicide but was told I was a lair and that no medication would cause a person to self mutilate themselves and attempt suicide. Where is the world going to? Please if you have any advice or know how to help me in my situation, please email me. Thankyou. I go to my doctors for help for my diseases and all they do is nearly kill me. They should be held accountable for all of this. Everyone on this site are in my prayers and my sincere condolense for your lost loved ones due to this horrendous medication Neurontin. We all need to get together and fight for are rights and put a stop to this drug company continual maketing a drug that is killing people. My email is tquestor@sbcglobal.net please email me if any further information is available. I have already filed with this class action lawsuit.

• Celeste Bergerson // Mar 1, 2004 at 1:14 am

  Thank you so very much for this site! As many have previously stated… I thought I was alone with my terrifying neurontin experience! Just today, I was made aware of the many horrors caused by this drug! I have lived with the belief that I alone, had these effects described above - all the way to suicide attempt. Would you please e-mail the attorney contact information and anything pertaining with the lawsuit. I believe it is mandatory that this info. is broadcast throughout the land as I am sure there are many other persons unaware that they are not alone and must cease the use of this medicine before it is too late!

  Thank you again.

  Celeste Bergerson

  email address: theones@sbcglobal.net

• Lisa A.Carter // Mar 8, 2004 at 2:52 pm

  I am appalled at what I have just found out! All this time I thought I was justgoing crazy! I am so mad! I went to the mental health clinic to get help because I hadnt slept for about 10 days. I could not get any sleep because of the pain from Fibromialgia. They had me volunteer to admit myself into the mental health hospital. All I wanted was some help to sleep. They put me on neurontin,trazadone,synthroid,remron,prozac! I found out my thyroid was way out of wack.My life went down hill from then on.I have had depression on and off at times in my life but it turned into a contant state of anger,sadness and more pain! I stayed in my room all the time. I was just existing. Things got so bad my husband left and my sons went wild! I couldnt work anymore or take care of my family. I was hearing voices and always thinking about killing myself. My husband came back and tied to deal with me and my sickness. Then one day I just snapped and in front of my kids i took an overdose of all those pills, a bowl full! I chewed them up so they would work faster!My kids tring to stop me, but all I wanted to do is die. I thank God he saved my life! I have had many health problems since then and trying to deal with the guilt of doing that in front of my sons! Now to find out it was that drug that was supposed to help me! It destoyed my life for 4 yrs!! I Had to stop taking it because I lost my health insurance and couldnt pay for it..A blessing in disquise! I am better now but still have alot of problems do to with all of this,also my whole family! God Bless you all and you are in my prayers. Please help us! Add us to the list please!

• Crista Perry // Mar 15, 2004 at 1:28 pm

  Thank God for this site!

• Tammy Wright // Mar 19, 2004 at 9:52 am

  My father was been take neurotin for several years. I would really be interested if a lawsuit is started concerning this medication.

• Dee O'Higgins // Mar 20, 2004 at 5:18 am

  I have doubts that this will be posted since I have good things to say about Neurontin.

  I was prescribed this medication for migraines, the horrific pain of fibromyalgia and myofacial pain syndrome, and cyclothymia (mild bi-polar). It did wonders for all 3 at a dosage of 1200 mg. per day.

  I also have a good friend (former nurse) with peripheral neuropathy. She has been on Neurontin for years and says it is the only thing that really helps her pain.

  I have found it to be a life saver because I was (metaphorically speaking) ready to end it all PRIOR to being prescribed Neurontin.

  Not all drugs are right for everyone. And what fairly new medication *doesn’t* have a few thousand lawsuits against it?

  Frankly, if this drug is taken away from me, my life will be pure hell again. It has turned me into the most functional human being I have been in many years by helping both my physical and mental illnesses.

  I pray it will be approved for the 80% of us are taking it for ‘off label’ reasons and living a better life because of it!

  Blessings,

  Dee

• Dee O'Higgins // Mar 21, 2004 at 12:59 am

  To Tim Ireland–

  I read both your letters. I’d love to talk with you privately. Is the email address you posted still current? If not, please drop me a line at phreeq13@yahoo.com …only if you want to, of course. Sounds like you’ve been through a lot of bad things that were not caused by Neurontin. I understand a lot of what you’ve been going through. (((Hugs)))

  Blessings,

  Dee

• Judith Rogers // Mar 21, 2004 at 2:43 am

  I was placed on Neurontin after my pelvis was fractured in a car accident. I never had any history of Depression before being prescribed the drug. Almost Immediately I developed the systemic rash. Still my dose was bumped up to 2400 mg. per day, even though it was not hehlping with the Peripheral Neuropathy. After several months on the Neurotin, I was extremely fatigued, had mood swings, was hostile, in addition to it basically ruining my short term memory. I attempted suicide TWICE while on the drug, the first time never succfully. This drug has ruined my life. Please help!

• S Dixon // Mar 22, 2004 at 2:21 pm

  After reading some of the comments, I’m glad I got off the Nuerontin mill relatively quickly. I didn’t leave unscathed, though. I was prescribed Nuerontin after neck surgery, appartantly I had nerve root bruising during the surgery which resulted in a lot of pain and spasms afterward. I was able to control the symptoms with Percacet and Zanaflex most of the time. I tried to keep doses on both to a minimum - so I didn’t look like “a pain addict” - Needless to say my recovery was slower than normal, but knowing the cause, in my mind, all nature needed was time to have the nerve symptoms calm down ( appx. 6 months), also verified by my Chiropractor. I was pressured into taking Nuerontin 2 months after the surgery. I protested saying I wasn’t having epileptic symptoms and the other Rxs did their job most of the time. I was accused of refusing a valid treatment for my condition - this was said by the Dr. knowing I had an accident case that would be going to trial soon and if I refused treatment it could jeapordize the outcome. This DR. also knew I tend to have bad reactions to most drugs. I had reactions to Baclifen (?)& Flexerol, antibiotics,steroids, aspirin, even the surgical tape etc..I asked the Dr. if would aid healing and he said no - but I need to take it. I did due to the pending legal action.

  Right after taking the first dose of Nuerontin (I was on a relatively low dose 600mgs a day)- I became severely disoriented, nauseated, lethargic, like I was in a stupor. I literally bounced off the walls, when after hours of trying to get up - I finally made it up. Ironic thing was it didn’t do anything for the pain or spasm. I also experienced weird mood sensations - I’m normally a pretty positive and happy indivual - these “Nuerontin reaction feelings” were not my norm and scared me. I also had vision distortions - everything “jumped” - I couldn’t look at anything that flickered - TV, the Computer, most lighting. So, I also lay in the dark for days. I only took it for 2 days and not even at the full dose on the 2nd day. After 2 more days I was still in the same state. I called the Pharmacist and he didn’t seem overly alarmed - he said call the Dr. - called the Dr. he said it would wear off. It took 3 weeks to be able to semi-functional again! I saw a Cranial-Sacral therapist and that helped a little. The one thing I haven’t been able to get rid of is the Vision distortion. It’s driving me nuts! Every few seconds things “jump”. At night I can’t sleep. Oh, that was another symptom - weird insomnia - I would reach a twilight level and just stay there, unable to sleep. I still have that also. The Zanaflex helps me get at least 3 hours of sleep now, but I’m soon awake again with the “visual lightening storms” that go on when in the dark. Does any know of any antidote? The pharmacist said there isn’t any, but I’m open to suggestions. I’m due back to full time work soon and I’m very worried about being able to do my job with no sleep and constant computer work. I’m angry and frustrated, after reading more on the unapproved use of this drug and the way Drs. are getting kick-backs - I’ll be more than happy to join any Class Action suit against Pfizer. As another writer previously stated, why does the DEA put pressure to take away something like Percacet that works for many Pain Patients. I’m not “high” - when you are truly in pain it gives you back a normal life. I have no reaction or side effects. I don’t abuse it and I haven’t increased my dose in 2 years. I’ll go into pain mode just to make sure I stay at that dose. My neck condition is here to stay - can’t be corrected. I just pray I can stay on the one drug that does work for me and maximize what function I still have relatively pain-diminished.

• Judy C // Apr 14, 2004 at 11:10 pm

  I have been on neurotin for about 5 years maybe longer, I have sensory neuropathy, When my Dr. first put me on this 300mg. 3 x day, My problem is that my feet where numb and I couldn’t stand it any longer,I ask him if there was anything that could be done about this, he told me ofcourse I was so excited that I could finally feel my feet.It help me for about 2 years. I was put on 600mg 3x a day, my feet have gotten worse to the point I can no longer drive. I can’t feel the brake pedal when I go to brake. Well anyway I have been reading all of your comments about neurotin, but I have never felt like I wanted to commit suicide, it never even crossed my mind.My head does get foggy at times where I can’t remember what I want to say but that’s about all. I am going to my nuerolgist in May and I will mention all that you have said about this drug. I wonder now if I my body is immune to this and it is no longer working?

• Tammy // Apr 21, 2004 at 2:23 am

  I am shocked to find this site i was looking on the net to see what medicines i couldnt take with neurontin so i could be safe and i came accross this site seeing if it had information. I am shocked at all that i read as it now explains why i have been feeling the way i have. I have been on this drug for 3 weeks now and in that time i have gotten severe dizzy spells so bad that i thought maybe i had had a mini stroke. I have chest pains all day long now and anger i never felt before. I have thought of suicide and even expressed it to my husband to be. I am now going to be flushing these pills. my dr had givin them to me for severe fibromyalgia he told me it might make me drowsy. It did the opposite its like speed for me. I have been getting sever headaches and bad dizzyness and my speach and memory have been affected also hence i thought maybe i had a mini stroke. I have to go to my drs in a few days and i will be giving him this site to read for himself. I am now scared at what long term affects this will have on me also even when im off them. I have a 6 month old baby girl and a 4 year old daughter to think of. hence why suicide was never a option for me.but i noticed i have been getting angry. I will now be off these pills as of tonite i was on 1800 mg a day now i will be on 0 after knowing that this might damage me for good i am not a happy woman with this company at all. But i now know why the severe dizzyness which i had told my friends about and the chest pains and the anger and the headaches and bad dry mouth and total insomnia. And the pain is seeming to be worse not better i have numbnes now that wont go away in my left hand. I am mad as all heck now and will be letting my dr know that so if this is going to affect me long term i want the name of the lawyers doing this action suit so they can add me to there list of pissed off people.

• Forrest Knight // Apr 29, 2004 at 6:44 pm

  I am both totally shocked and appalled that this medication Neurontin is being prescribed for purposes other than its intended FDA approval. Simply mind-boggling.

  I had taken this medication in 2001 prior to undergoing a lumbar laminectomy. The very first day that I took it I had a adverse reaction and became quite hostile. I did not know for sure if it was the neurontin or if it was “just me” having a bad day because at the time I was depressed and also taking other meds. On the second day however of taking this medication things really kicked in and I became almost homocidial. I was like a completely different person, experienced severe mood swings, while even the least trival things would set off intense anger. My poor loving wife didn’t know what to think because most of my hostility was directed towards her and/or our children, for really no reason that she or they could comprehend. Needless to say, I immediately stopped taking this medicine after the second day of usage and I also recall it taking a couple of days for the lingering effects to wear off. Thank the Lord; I was so relieved!

  Since I didn’t know for certain if my adverse reaction was due simply to the neurontin, I never mentioned it to my PD. I just told him that it wasn’t helping me with the pain and at that point he prescribed hydrocodone. Keep in mind that this was prior to my MRI and eventual surgery.

  Now, here’s the kicker. Apparently even to this day my PD does not know about the misleading Pfizer claim of ‘off-label’ uses. I can’t speak for him, but like many PDs they are extremely busy people with little free time to perform indept research on every medication that is marketed. Consequently, I would venture to say that many rely on pharmaceutical reps, seminary attendance, collegues, etc., to obtain the much needed information that plays into their treatment regimen for patients. One reason I say that is my wife recently underwent a MRI scan for chronic pain in her right foot. Although the MRI proved negative, our PD (same family doctor) prescribed her - you guessd it - Neurontin. In her case, she had insomnia and at approx. 3:00AM in the morning she was vomiting profusely and had a horrible migraine. She then recalled my experience (two years hence) and immediately those pills went down the drain.

  Recalling my experience with this drug, and after her experience just a few days ago, I decided to search the internet for potential side-effects that neurontin poses. In so doing I stumbed upon this site. Unbelieveable.

  Thankfully, our experience with this medication didn’t last long. However, after reading many of the posts on this board, my heart goes out to those who have suffered greater physical, emotional and complex mental disorders than we have. It’s insane that people are subjected to this type of medical malfeasence.

  If anyone has contact info to pass on concerning the class-action suit, please do. In the meantime, I will be contacting my PD and hopefully have him to do a detailed background check into this ‘off-label’ neurontin use and have him think twice the next time he prescribes it to his patients to control pain. Surely, he’s been duped.

  Thank you.

  Forrest Knight

• NANCI // May 6, 2004 at 1:27 pm

  I AM SO SHOCKED! I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE & THIS POPED UP IN FRONT OF ME,I CAN’T BELIEVE I! I HAVE BEEN ON THIS SINCE 11/03 ,I HAD CRYING SPELL’S ,TOLD MY HUSBAND I WANTED TO BLOW MY BRAIN’S OUT IN FRONT OF HIM & OTHER’S! HE HAD A SHOCKED LOOK ON HIS FACE,THIS IS SO NOT LKE ME AT ALL! I HAVE BEEN SO ANGRY ,CRYING SPELL’S ,COULD NOT CONTROL IT AT ALL! NOW IT ALL MAKE’S SENCE! THE ONYRASON I HAVE STOPPED,I COULDEN’T AFFORD IT UNTIL NEXT SOC.SEC CHECK! IT’S BEEN TWO WEEK’S,& I HAVE BEEN MORE MYSELF LATELY! I COULDEN’T UNDERTAND WHY I WAS ACTING LIKE THAT,I COULD NOT CONTROL IT! I AM NO LONGER GOING TO USE IT! I USED IT FOE NEUROAPATHY! MY SISTER IS ALSO ON IT,NOW I AM GOING TO HAVE HER READ THIS,ALSO SENDING COPY TO MY DR!THANK YOU SO MUCH! I REALLY HOUG I WAS GOING CRAZY! I HAV THE BEST HUSBANIN THE WORLD,& HE STAYED BY MY SIDE,KEPT ASKING MY ,HONEY,WHAT’S WRONG???? NANCI

• Jeff H. // May 13, 2004 at 9:48 pm

  WOW! This HAS to be a NIGHTMARE! How can it be that I have only found out TODAY what has been causing me SO much trouble?! I had an accident 9 years ago, and had to undergo MANY surgeries, during that time I developed RSD, and now, as if that isn’t bad enough, I find out that one of the drugs the doctor put me on is what has been causing my problems with suicide, vision problems, memory problems, tremors, severe heat flashes, etc. What’s worse is I can’t just stop taking it, so now I have to go through the process of slowly weaning off of it. I’m on 2400 MG per day and have been taking that amount for the past 7 to 9 yrs. I couldn’t figure out how an otherwise funloving, outgoing person, who LOVED life could be so TOTALLY turned into a suicidal freaked out person. I’m 45 years old and have been through a LOT but I NEVER thought of taking my own life till all of this, and I couldn’t figure out why I was thinking about it SO much, it’s not just a passing thought that I have once in a while, instead it’s something I think about virtually EVERY day! That just isn’t me, and even my Dad was wondering what was wrong with me, and why there was such a change in me, I have also had a TERRIBLE time with my short term memory, I am EXTREMEELY tired and listless all the time, my vision (that has ALWAYS been 20 20) has beome totally speratic, and even glasses haven’t been of much help because it changes so much. The drug does NOTHING for my pain and my tremors got worse to a point were I now take VALIUM on top of the neurontin to be able to settle the tremors. This is like kicking a person when they are already down, how could they do this to us, did they think we didn’t have ENOUGH problems already! And what makes me REAL MAD is I told my doctor at the beginning that because they didn’t know that much about RSD I was NOT going to let them use me as a “GUINEA PIG”, and they did it after all! Can ANYONE help me, I want to make them pay for what they have done to ALL of us! My heart goes out to ALL of you who are in the same spot, this NEVER should have happened! God Bless ALL of you! Sincerely, Jeff H.

• Jeff H. // May 14, 2004 at 9:22 am

  WOW! This HAS to be a NIGHTMARE! How can it be that I have only found out TODAY what has been causing me SO much trouble?! I had an accident 9 years ago, and had to undergo MANY surgeries, during that time I developed RSD, and now, as if that isn’t bad enough, I find out that one of the drugs the doctor put me on is what has been causing my problems with suicide, vision problems, memory problems, tremors, severe heat flashes, etc. What’s worse is I can’t just stop taking it, so now I have to go through the process of slowly weaning off of it. I’m on 2400 MG per day and have been taking that amount for the past 7 to 9 yrs. I couldn’t figure out how an otherwise funloving, outgoing person, who LOVED life could be so TOTALLY turned into a suicidal freaked out person. I’m 45 years old and have been through a LOT but I NEVER thought of taking my own life till all of this, and I couldn’t figure out why I was thinking about it SO much, it’s not just a passing thought that I have once in a while, instead it’s something I think about virtually EVERY day! That just isn’t me, and even my Dad was wondering what was wrong with me, and why there was such a change in me, I have also had a TERRIBLE time with my short term memory, I am EXTREMEELY tired and listless all the time, my vision (that has ALWAYS been 20 20) has beome totally speratic, and even glasses haven’t been of much help because it changes so much. The drug does NOTHING for my pain and my tremors got worse to a point were I now take VALIUM on top of the neurontin to be able to settle the tremors. This is like kicking a person when they are already down, how could they do this to us, did they think we didn’t have ENOUGH problems already! And what makes me REAL MAD is I told my doctor at the beginning that because they didn’t know that much about RSD I was NOT going to let them use me as a “GUINEA PIG”, and they did it after all! Can ANYONE help me, I want to make them pay for what they have done to ALL of us! My heart goes out to ALL of you who are in the same spot, this NEVER should have happened! God Bless ALL of you! Sincerely, Jeff H.

• Frances Ingram // May 22, 2004 at 1:17 pm

  I have been on 600 mg`s a day and after reading about the bad side affects, I want to stop neuronton. Please advise how to reduce it safely.

• Edward Lofley // Jun 6, 2004 at 12:08 pm

  where do I get attorney information on class action suit ?

• Debbie Sadorf // Jun 8, 2004 at 5:43 am

  OH MY GOSH!!!! I AM SO TERRIFIED OF TAKING NEURONTIN NOW, AFTER READING THESE HORROR STORIES I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!! TWO WEEKS AGO I HAD A PROCEDURE DONE TO BURN NERVES IN MY BACK, DUE TO CHRONIC PAIN, AFTER THE PROCEDURE MY LEFT LEG WAS PARTIALLY NUMB AND PAINS SHOOTING DOWN INTO FOOT, AFTER A RETURN VISIT TO DOC FOR EPIDURAL(TO CALM PAIN) HE PUT ME ON 300 MG 3 X A DAY OF NEURONTIN, I WAS A BIT CONFUSED WHEN I SEEN IT WAS FOR EPILIPSY, ANYWAY I’VE BEEN ON IT A WEEK NOW, I HAVE NO SYMPTOMS OF ANYTHING YET!!!! BUT IT ALSO HASNT HELPED MY PAIN, I DONT SLEEP AT NIGHT…AFTER ALL THE STORIES I REALLY THINK I’LL GO OFF IT, I HAVE 4 KIDS TO THINK ABOUT…IT JUST BOGGLES ME THAT THERE SO WILLING TO PRESCRIBE DRUGS LIKE THIS BUT ARE SO NASTY ABOUT PERSCRIBING ACTUAL PAINKILLERS THAT WORK!!!!!I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ABUSE THEM BUT MOST OF US NEED THEM FOR A DECENT DAY…THANK YOU, AND IM SORRY TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE PROBLEMS YOU SUFFERED BECAUSE OF THIS, DEBBIE SADORF, JUNE 8TH 2004

• Laura // Jun 17, 2004 at 8:13 am

  I have just discovered this information after being on Neurontin for over 3 yrs now for anxiety. I now have chronic pancreatitis and was never made aware that this drug could have caused this awful disease. I have been out of work for almost 3 months now due to being in pain EVERY DAY!!! I am losing pay now and I am the major breadwinner in the family!!! This is a real double edged sword for me as I’m still taking it for anxiety because it helped me reduce the drugs I had to take for my anxiety problem I thought it was a miracle drug. I would like more info on how to sue the makers of this…..God Bless all of you that have suffered because of this drug.

  Thank you

  Laura

• Kim Eder // Jul 1, 2004 at 7:45 pm

  I took tegretal,dylanten and depekote from the age of seven til the age of sixteen. Ever since I quit taking the medications I have no memory and am fitigue all the time. My new nerologic tells me I was misdiagnosed that I have chronic fitigue and a posssible brain injury from the medication. Does any one suffer the same side effects as I do after quiting this medication?

  Anyone know a good lawyer?

• thomas austin // Jul 10, 2004 at 8:08 am

  I HAVE HAD SEVEN BACK SURGERIES AND HAVE BEEN ON NUEROTIN FOR ABOUT 3 TO 4 YRS. IT WAS PRESCRIBED TO HELP WITH THE LEG BURNING PAIN. EVERY TIME THAT I COMPLAINED THAT IT DID NOT HELP THE DOSAGE GOT HIGHER. NOW I TAKE 3200MG A DAY. IT ALL MAKES SINCE THE DEPRESSION, THE NOT WANTING TO DO ANYTHING AND LATELY THE SUICIDE FEELINGS. IN SEVEN YEARS I HAVE HAD 3 FUSIONS FROM L4 TO S1 AND I ALSO HAVE A NUEROSTEMULATOR IMPLANT. FOR THOSE NOT FAMILIAR IT IS “TAME THE PAIN” JERRY LEWISA INDORSES IT. I HAD THAT IMPLANTED SEPT 2003 AND THE REVISED 2004. IT SENDS A ELECTRICAL IMPULSE TO THE SPINAL CORD CUTTING OFF LEG PAIN ONLY. YET MY DR. STILL HAS ME ON NUEROTIN. I SAW THE ADD ON TV FOR JACOBY AND MEYERS LAW SUITE AGAINST NUEROTIN. IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFO PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANKS THOMAS AUSTIN

• JANET // Jul 15, 2004 at 11:14 am

  I THOUGHT NEURONTIN WAS RELATIVELY SAFE I THOUGHT I DID NOT KNOW THAT IT HAD STOLE MY LIFE. NOW SIX YEARS LATER I LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND WONDER WHY HOW AND AFTER SUICIDE DESIGNS ON MY RECORDS IF I DO GET WELL WHO WOULD HIRE ME ALL THIS TIME I HAVE ASK WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME. I AM 56 YEARS OLD AND EMOTIONALLY , VISUALLY AND FINANCIALLY WRECKED. I HAVE JUST LEARN THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR SETTLE ABOUT NEUROTIN , I THINK IT WAS 1 AND 1/2 BILLION DOLLARS WHY WERE WE NOT ADVISED I AM VERY VERY ANGRY WHERE IS OUR HELP. I HAVE DIED A THOUSAND DEATHS AND NO ONE HEARD. NOT MY DOC. NOR I UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO ME.HE IS VERY UPSET AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE NEURONTIN SIDE EFFECTS WILL GO AWAY SO THAT MAYBE I WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE AGAIN .JAN— s.sbeach3@verizon.net

• JANET // Jul 15, 2004 at 12:12 pm

  HEADS UP!!!!!!!!! I HAVE FOUND THAT THE LINK TO THIS SITE CONTAINS MANY LAW FIRMS WORKING FOR THE DRUG COMPANY. I THINK THAT WE MUST WORRY THEM A LOT. I CALLED UP STATE TO CHECK OUT SOME OF THE FIRMS THAT MIGHT HELP AND FOUND OUT THAT THE A MAJOR FIRM WAS REALLY HELPING THE DRUG COMPANY AND THEY WERE GATHERING INFO ABOUT US.

• cheryl bibby // Jul 18, 2004 at 6:35 am

  i am 41 year old africian american female, in the year of september 2000 i began seeing a doctor for some back pain and he prescribed me neurontin. i also had bouts with depression, ringing in my ears, and weight gain. there were times when i just wanted to die. i would get confused, just in a deep depression state. it helped the pain some but i feel i was becoming dependant on this medication. i no longer take it, but i still feel it had some side effects on me. such as i feel the depression sometimes.is it just me or did this medicine affect my system.

• Toni Rosenberg // Jul 20, 2004 at 11:30 pm

  After two years on neurontin for pain, the pain was worse and depresesion extreme. Can’t cope with daily tasks, no incentive, no future. Overwhelmed with deprssesion and negative thoughts. My pleasure is gone. Spends weeks in bed. I see no way out.

• James Boynton // Jul 22, 2004 at 2:38 pm

  I have taken neurontin for severe back pain, which eventually I had to have surgery for, the combination of Neurontin, vicadin, & naproxin kill the leg pain, but there were never any side effects mentioned that would cause ringing in the ears after stopping taking the medication. This is horrible, I hope this inproves.

  Jim

• Katrina // Aug 9, 2004 at 7:02 am

  My husband of 10 years was prescribed Neurontin for back pain. He had 2 back surgeries and was going to go in for a third one. The doctors just kept increasing his dose because it was not helping with the pain in his back and leg. He was a very outgoing, funny person who loved our 3 children very, very much. Over the last 2 years, since he had been on Neurontin, he became very withdrawn, paranoid, and very deppressed. At the time I didn’t know anything about this medicine, but last year, on October 31 he kissed us all and told us he would be sure to be with us to go Trick or Treating, and left and committed suicide. This was not the man I married. I could not believe he did this, it just was not something he would ever do. When we found him in the garage his bottle of Neurontin was open right next to him and there were pills laying everywhere so I started checking out this medicine. I beg you all, if you are on Neurontin, please, please, get off of it. It’s not worth it. Our lives turned upside down, my oldest son, who is 7, is in therapy, and my 2 little girls cry every day because they miss him and want him to come home. It’s very, very, hard to live without him. Please don’t take the chance. It literally could mean you life!

• Rhonda Williamson // Aug 25, 2004 at 5:41 pm

  Why are doctors still prescribing this drug for off-label medical problems. My doctor told my husband and I just recently that neurotin helps depression. Why don’t the doctors know about the effects and why are they still prescribing it? Can’t we go after the doctors? This has to be news that they know about? Please let me know how we can get help in Florida.

  Contact me at thevillage12@earthlink.net Thank you!!

• Back To My Old Self // Sep 13, 2004 at 8:16 am

  I wish I had found this site a year ago! Last June I was diagnosed with sudden onset of Guillain Barre Syndrome and my neurologist prescribed Neurontin to help me get through the day and night with my tremors. He claimed it was safe and non-addictive. Interestingly enough, within days of taking this drug I developed more symptoms than what my original complaint had been. I was in constant pain, had morning paralysis, breathing difficulties, acid reflux, muscle spasms, huge weight gain…final symptoms culminating in kidney stones. I’m a young female - not your typical recipient of kidney stones! Every time I would see my doctor I would list off new symptoms I had (thinking it was all related to the GBS) to which he would just respond by raising my Neurontin doseage. But after a visit to the ER for the kidney stones I decided to research in more depth the side effects of Neurontin and was amazed that it was a check list for virtually every symptom I had! So I quit “cold turkey” and when I mentioned all of this to my doctor and told him I got the list of side effects from my PDR (Physician’s Desk Reference) he merely stated that when trials are done any single episode of any side effect is always listed even if it is not attributed to the drug. Well I already knew that but this was too much to be mere coincidence.

  Now, nearly 5 months later, I am totally pain free and back to my initial GBS complaints which are nowhere as severe as the ones I had with the drug. I’ve lost weight and feel great. IF any of you can possibly get off this drug I think you will be amazed at how much better you will feel. Because sometimes the symptoms of a disease are more tolerable than the side effects of medication!

• karen mcgough // Sep 27, 2004 at 6:37 pm

  I was perscribed neurotin 6 weeks after having a double fusion neck surgery, I still had the back nerve pain. My mind whirled and couldn’t concentrate. I became angry at everyone, and tried to change jobs to move away from my family and the people that loved me. I was engaged, but no more. I did and said things I regret, and If they new what I was thinking about, well that scares me. I tried to controll myself, I started slurring and couldn’t write, my feet hurt, my pains increased. I almost totalled my car, then having whiplash. I felt like I had a triple dose of p.m.s. all the time. After 4 weeks 1800mg. per day, I started investigating Neurotin. I lowered the dosage as directed. Went into horrible suicidal depression and withdrawls much like someone coming off of Herion. I am single have 5 children to provide for, I had to call my x-fiance’ to come take care of me, talk me through this, He gave me epson salt baths (hot) to help sweat this out. My dr. called in zanax. Another dr. gave me Prozak. Along with my hydro-co. for pain. I also took muscle relaxers to freakin relax. It tops my list of worst experiences of my life and I still suffer with anxiety. I look back now and remember only suffering. I’m still finding out stuff I did, that I don’t remember. This is some scarey stuff, stay away from it.

• Nightmare of NeuROTTEN! // Oct 4, 2004 at 11:30 pm

  Well, now that you have been taking Neurontin for a couple of years do you

  find that you are PHYSICALLY ADDICTED TO IT????????

  I have HUNDREDS of “Neurontin Horror Stories” from people who

  are SUICIDAL, HOMICIDAL, HAVE UNCONTROLLABLE ANGER, RAGE &

  HOSTILITY………accompanied with NO REMORSE………..I even have have

  emails from people who’s family members have COMMITTED SUICIDE by

  Overdosing on Neurontin.

  I have emails from people who have been ARRESTED because they became

  VIOLENT while on Neurontin………..fighting……….causing serious

  bodily harm.

  Just TRY to stop taking Neurontin…………you will have the most

  horrible “out of body” experience……….you will

  HALLUCINATE……..you will feel like you are going to

  die…………….and this goes on FOREVER…….you will NEVER BE THE

  SAME………..Neurontin does something to the GABA Receptors in you

  Brain, the “Pain Control Center” of your Body.

  Neurontin has caused PERMANENT & IRREVERSABLE Brain Damage to

  me……….I am Physically Addicted to Neurontin………..My body’s

  “Internal Functions” are in complete disarray………..I have

  Chronic Diarreah……..I have IBS……..I have a “Welt Type

  Rash” that appears spontaniously on different parts of my

  body………………AND I TAKE NO OTHER MEDICATIONS EXCEPT NEURONTIN.

  Neurontin is a HORRIBLE DRUG………..It is nothing short of a

  NIGHTMARE……….Neurontin works on your MU opiate receptors!It sets off your allergy It will make you crave dope!I was a Heroin and hydrocodone addict for years.I understand the frustration you all must be suffering.I have had almost 6 months of clean time,worked the steps of AA and am free of the hell of addiction after 7 years.I’m also drug tested on probabtion weekly and Neurontin is a big NoNo for addicts in recovery.

• SE FLORIDA // Oct 6, 2004 at 8:21 am

  To Neurontin-free,

  it sounds like you were not told that opiate addicts are not supposed to take this drug. Opiate addicts get addicted to Neurontin. I went off of Neurontin- cold turkey and never suffered withdrawls, or cravings to be on it. However, I suffer too many various conditions that I had never suffered before taking the drug. I won’t name them all because they are many, but the memory loss has wrecked my life. The anxiety and fear of leaving my home is extreme. the very first thought that I have when I wake up is how I can kill myself today. I forget what state I am in; how to drive; what I’m doing, or supposed to be doing several times a day. At times, I cannot finish a conversation because I suddenly forget what I was saying. Forget dates, time, or days! I have been off the stuff for a while(at least for 2 years-I think). My memory and other physical symtoms are getting worse! I was on 2400 per night for insomia. I was on for several years–please don’t ask how many because I can’t remember. Every once in a while, suddenly; my memory seems to start working the way it used to, but that only lasts a few hours before something seems to happen and my mind feels confused and blank. I am 46.

• NAME WITHELD FOR RX REASONS // Oct 12, 2004 at 12:54 pm

  I WAS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT 1988. I HAVE BEEN THRU 20 SURGERIES AND WAS SENT TO A PAIN MANAGEMENT DOCTOR. HE PUT ME ON OXYCONTIN WHICH HELPED. BUT WHEN I STARTED BECOMING IMUNE TO MY DOSAGE HE WANTED TO PUT ME ON NEURONTIN.

  WHEN I PROTESTED BECAUSE OF ALL THE NEGATIVE NEWS, HE THREATENED TO TAKE ME OFF MY PAIN MEDS AND DROP ME AS A PATIENT ALL TOGETHER. THIS WAS WITHOUT EVEN SUGGESTING ANOTHER DRUG.

  TO KEEP MY PAIN MEDS COMING BECAUSE MY LIFE WOULD BE OVER WITHOUT THEM, I TELL HIM I AM TAKING NEURONTON, BUT DON’T.

  I WANT TO TALK TO A LAWYER AND SEE IF A DOCTOR CAN FORCE YOU TO TAKE A DRUG THAT HAS SO MUCH NEGATIVE REPORTS ON IT.

  BEFORE I CHANGE DOCTORS.

• john fieldsend // Oct 30, 2004 at 3:47 pm

  my wife is suffering from nerve damage caused by a wound infection following surgery. she has been taking gabapentin for pain management at 1800 per day it has little effect on her pain well at least the pain is still present ecery day and seems to be getting worse.

  I have asked our gp many times about any ill effects from this drug and have been told it is perfectly safe with none of the symptoms described here which i can say all look too familiar. Has anyone challenged their gps on this

• meghan // Nov 3, 2004 at 8:27 pm

  I was actually wondering I have been on nuerontin for three years and I am only 20 I came to a decision that it was time to get off this medication so I have I am having horrible withdrawls and was wondering what some of you may have experienced from either withdrawls r taking this medication if any one knows how long this will take please e-mail meI need to know it’s been a week but I am still having problems with sweats irratbility and other problems if you have any info that would help me plaese do so thanks again

• Gordon M. // Nov 14, 2004 at 1:26 am

  My storyin brief. I have severe back pain due to an accident. After several months of oxycodone, muscle relaxers and PT I was put on Neurontin. That was 2 years ago. I had some side effects immediately but also had some relief of pain. When my dosing went from 900mg/day to 1800mg/day I had much better pain relief. It didn’t touch the extreme periodic pain however, the general achiness and cramping were relieved to a great degree. At that time I also experienced severe side effects. I had a terrible ringing in my ears that would never go away. The doctor said he never heard of this and told me to get a hearing test. Said it must be me getting older (I was 49). At that time I also had aching feet and legs, especially in the morning. The doctor treated me for shin splints. Said it must be from all the exercise I get. I can barely walk some days. I also get chest pains which have worried me greatly. Also, I experienced weight gain. One of the worst symptoms is the almost total lack of sleep. I am contantly dissy and extremely forgetful. I sometimes forget what I am doing. I know alot of people say that happens to them but, they won’t be sitting in a chair sometimes for an hour or two trying to figure that out. Oh, I finally got off it after two years. I experienced weight loss and extremely disturbing dreams. The worst gory movie scenes could compare to what I woke up from. I am at a new pain clinic now and the doctor just prescribed Neurontin, despite my past experience. Please, something must be done to stop this maddness. Signed, Recovering in NC.

• Mary Burrell // Dec 23, 2004 at 8:59 am

  My fiance went through a terrible divorce and the Doctor put him on Neurontin. His family said he was doing ok until this medicine took control of his life. He tried to commit suicide 3 times, once with this medicine. The doctor said in no way he should be alive today, he could not believe he pulled out of it. His family also said he was ok and dealing with the stress of it all until taking this medicine. He now forgets things, he will be telling me something and half way through forgets the rest of the story. This is sad to see and he is only 39. Will he ever recover from this? Does anyone know how to get compensation for his injurys and who to contact?? Please help. Thank you.

• Debbie // Dec 30, 2004 at 5:25 pm

  I have been taking neuontin for about 3 years. I was prescribed it for my cyatic nerve (however you spell it) and also and taking effexor for depression. It takes about 2 1/2 hours after I take the neurontin and I feel great. Im in a real good mood. But when it strts wearing off I get severly depressed. I want to quit taking it but It also makes me depressed to think I wont have that happy feeling anymore. The feeling I get 3 hours after I take it. It does actually help my pain. I dont have alot of the side effects that everyone else is talking about on here. But I do get very depressed when the meds are wearing off.

• Eddy // Jan 9, 2005 at 9:31 am

  I experienced increase pain in both feet and going thru a maze of Physicians, ended at a Pain Medicine Physician. I was diagnosed of having Diabetic Neuropathy. I was Rx 1800 mg a day at three times a day. The pain continued leaving me fatagued from lack of sleep, and hindered certain cognitive abilities. In return visit the Physician increaed my dosage of Neurotin to 800 mg. five times a day or 4,000 mg a day with also a Rx for Lidoderm Patches up to three a day or 12 hour periods. I have experienced a number of side effects and learned from others Personality changes as well other cognitive issues.. I currently await the introduction of Lyrica by Pfizer to the Public. My Case Manager from BC/BS as well of my Internal Medicine Dr have expressed concerns of the 4,000 mg a day dosage on more than one occasion.

• Joseph Turner // Jan 19, 2005 at 6:54 pm

  I have tried nuerontin a few yrs ago for leg pain and lower back pain. I have pinched nerves or nerve damage at L4 and S1 I have had back surgery at L2-L3.I have degenerative disk disease in 6 other places. I understand the pain, anxiety and depression. I have found some help. After going bankrupt and losing my health insurance. I went to the VA I currently have health insurance but choose to go to the VA hospital. They understand what where suffering from more than any regular doc’s…They have great pain management docs. He’s what I’m taking currently, finally I’m getting great relieve…50MG of Zolft in the morning for depression it works wonderful I have’nt been having thoughts of suicide since taking this medication it also helps with the pain. beware it takes 3 or 4 days for your body to get used to it you will have diarea from this at first also you may have trouble having an orgasm you can still get it up it just gives you a magic stick. I take two 50mg tabs of tramadol every 6 hrs with two 25mg capsules of hydroxyzine pamoate for pain and anxiety this also helps with the the rashes believe it or not and provides great pain relieve tramadol has the same pain relieving power as morphine without the side effects. I take a 10mg of cyclobenaprine hcl its a muscle relaxer at bed time if my back is tense. I take two 2mg capsules of loperamide for diarrhea which is something we shouldn’t have taking the tramadol which has codiene and finally I take on 30mg capsule of temazepam once every 3 nights to help me sleep do not take with muscle relaxer. if you take the teazepam or flexerile you will probably have dreams. I also understand finally why I have diarrhea if my pain gets to great or I get under any stress. Our body either fights or flee’s pain and stress our bodies first response is to shuts down our digestive system first and dumb our bowels it took me three yrs to find this out I currently am seeing a psycologist at the VA hospital this is part of their pain management programI hope this helps. Do you have dizziness I don’t have this any longer since I quit working what was causing the dizzeness was my C5-C6 disc in my neck. I heard a noise and had dizziness if I turned my head left and then fight or looked left and then right I know this sounds strange but the neck strain if you sitting alot at a desk and using the computer or have alot of upper back tension this may be your answer exercise regularily and avoid straining your back and neck by using the computer too much. I know my relieve is limited my back continues to detereorate but we have hope folks the medical profession is mapping the genes… and the spine and central nervous system with this information they will be able to build newer and better pain medicines in the next 2 yrs my psycologist tells me. If you’r hurting and not treating your pain your going to get more depressed, irritable angry and hard to get along with and you probably will not even notice it. always take your anti depressants and pain medicines and sedatives…If prescribed. Find a doctor who understands pain management get a psycologist and don’t give up until you find the proper help believe me I know what its like to suffer needlessly because you have a doctor whos is not compassionate and knowledgeable in this area. their are alot of orthopedic docs out there who don’t want to prescribe pain medicines..Get A new doctor if your is like this you don’t have to suffer the medication I take works well for everything we suffer from finally after 3 yrs I found the right docs… Hope you all do to soon.. God Bless

• mike // Feb 5, 2005 at 2:52 pm

  Ihave been on neurontin now for 2 years and i feel like it i no longer working for me… as i have tryed lots of times to come of it , the withdrawals are terrable,, neurontin also have caused me to have gastritis, acid reflux, and more pain…. comming off of this drug is hell, it has made me a very differant personnot for the better. and i need help…..

  please e mail me anyone who can help me come of of this drug….

  where do i get infomation about the lawsuit against this drug…thanks

• Chris B // Mar 28, 2005 at 2:42 pm

  I have taken Nuerontin for 3 years, it was prescribed for anxiety. I feel that I am physically addicted to it because of my real withdrawls if I miss a dose. I hate what this has done to me and I hate the fact that this company is still making money from me. I am in the middle of trying to get help to ween off but help is limited. If anyone has any good ideas to get off of this please let me know. I am also interested in a class-action.

• christina // Mar 31, 2005 at 6:08 pm

  I have interstital cystits which is pain in the bladder. So when i went to my doctor she put me on neurontin 100mg 3times a day. Well the pain was there so i went back to my docs and she said to try adding another 100 a day to make it 400mg. She also said after a week if your not feeling better to move up to 500mg. I am pretty sure i was on 300mg for about a month then 400mg for one week and then 500mg for about 3 weeks. Now after i took the 500mg for about two weeks i started to get heart palpatations. Well they lasted a week in a half and i saw my doctor and he wasnt sure if it was the neurontin ( i think it is). So this past week i have gone from 500, 400, 200 and none today. The thing is in the past 4 days i have had heart palpatations with anxiety attacks. Just wondering if anyone has had any heart palpatations on this medicine. I know one thing i really hope in the next two days i start to feel better. Thanks for listening? Would love any responses.

• KC // Apr 5, 2005 at 9:38 pm

  Hello all, I ran across this site while doing anatomy research for school; it has only been four years since my entire world fell apart. I too was prescribed Neuron tin among other drugs. I was in a three car accident as a passenger without health insurance. I suffered severe neck and low back injuries, but, was only treated with pain meds for close to two years. The accident was in 1998 but, was severely addicted by 1999. I lost my three boys in July of 1999, became homeless, was later beat up and lived in someone’s garage, most of my two year struggle with addiction I cannot remember, I call it drug induced amnesia.

  I hope no one minds me sharing my story; sometimes it is the only thing that helps keep the tears from drowning me thinking about my three sons. Anyhow, dr after dr, pain clinic, pain injections, more medication, up, up and up the dose until I forgot my family, and toward the end I forgot my own name, I wondered around with only a roll along suitcase full of prescription drugs and a planner with dates circled to indicate when to refill them. I only know some of these things by hospital, pharmacy, and other such records which I retrieved after getting off all the medication that could be addictive. It only took one year from being script free before obtaining a GED, entering a four year university and being able to contact my family (all except for my children, which children services had them adopted.

  I did not know that neurotic could be so devastating, I was also on Klonipin, Furinal and others on and off. I am getting ready to see a neurosurgeon for five protrusive disc in my cervical spine along with the removal of old fractured pieces floating within my back, I take Aleve, exercise, flexirl, bengay, chiropractic, ta chie, and I pray a lot, sure beats all those drugs and I have my mind back, one day I will see my children again and I will be holding my head up high in pride that I overcome one of the hardest things in life, ADDICTION. If you are reading this and you think you are addicted, go to a drug-Alco ct before your fam dr, they seem to always want to write more scripts, and they took my children away from me by doing so.

  Neuron tin is one of many drugs out there that should be placed on some shelf that says

  ” warning you may loose everything if you take this drug”

  It is time the consumers fight back the medical society in their scrupulous ways about how they treat their patients by way of “drugging them up, sending them home and jumping into their BMW”S without a care in the world” this goes for drug companies as well, a life is worth more than$

  Take care all good luck with all your endevours, and if you are getting off any med, just know that it will hurt like youve never felt in your life but, you can do it, you can get a life back even if it is not the one you had before.

  KC:)

• George Stevenson // Apr 11, 2005 at 11:46 am

  Hello everybody. There are some very heart felt stories that I have read and you all are in my prayers. God bless you all.

  My story is about a youngster that had his first Migraine Headache at the age of 14. First the vision goes, and then the big headache. Now I’m 56 years old and still have this problem. I have the headaches so frequently that I take a narcotic everyday for the pain. The narcotic is Oxycodone. I take one pill at 10:00 in the morning, and another one at 3:00p in the afternoon. I have only been taking the narcotic for 2 months and have my concerns about it since a person can become addicted. If I take one two or even three a day a 4 hours intervals, can I get addicted? When I don’t take them, I seem to get sweats, and fill a little jittery but am not for sure I’m feeling my first sense of addiction. Can you share your insights with me????? Thanks again.

• Judy L. // Aug 21, 2005 at 9:23 pm

  Wendy Bird, I was reading through all the entries when I came across yours. I was shocked! It was as if I had written about myself. In fact I read your entry to my mom and she thought I had written it. I pray that you might find this and get in touch with me. I took neurontin for 5 days and I have the exact same side effects as you mention you had. Plus headaches, muscle pain in my legs,dental problems I lost most of my fillings and problems swallowing. I can’t find a doctor that will agree that neurontin has caused all the problems I try to live with everyday. Even though I was told to get off neurontin, as soon as the doctor that prescribed it to me, heard me explan what I was going through. He had gave me 3 other medicines, but immediately told me to get off neurontin. Neurontin has forever changed my life,I can’t seem to manage doing the simple things, that I once took for grant. If by chance you read this please contact me. You are the only person that I have found that is dealing with the same problems. I took neurontin Nov. 2003. And I still struggle to get through each day. I will look forward to hear from you. Thank You,

  Judy L.

• Judy L. // Aug 21, 2005 at 9:46 pm

  Wendy I see it did not add my e-mail address,it’s judyjl828@hotmail.com Thanks,Judy L.

• Galanty // Sep 5, 2005 at 10:25 pm

  TIMOTHY S. IRELAND is a scam artist, please becareful. Sent him over $600 money for a product for my disabled child, and he never sent the product. I have track down several others, at least 7 others, that have been scamed by this guy. Please becareful and do not trust what he says or does. Anybody who would steal from disabled families is a really horrible person.

  Mark

• traci schrader // Sep 28, 2005 at 12:42 pm

  Hi all…

  I took neurontin for almost two years after being diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease. After about maybe a month I started getting really depressed an it never got better. It has mutilated my life. Now I don’t take the medication anymore but the depression is still severe and memory loss is also a huge problem. Plese help. Cannot live this way anymore I want to FIGHT BACK!!!!!

You must log in to post a comment.