176 responses so far ↓

• Nina // Jul 15, 2003 at 11:20 am

  I have been on Neurontin for the past 8yrs. At which time I was started on 3100mg and now down to 2100mg daily.

  Last Friday while watching Dateline, I seen that this drug was only FDA approved for Epilepsy. Then after that looking on the internet I found out that California has already file suit against Parke-Davis for the misuse of this drug.

  Yet all the Doctors I’ve seen over these years, not one has even told me or ask me to have a blood test to check for possible problems stemming from the prolong use of this drug. I was placed on it only for a chemical imbalance was what I was told, no other problems that would determine me to be on this unapproved drug for my symptoms.

  The FDA only approved this drug for epileptic seizures and only if taken in conjunction with another drug, but doctors have gone along with Parke-Davis’s other use that have not been approved and when is this going to stop after deaths have occurred?

  My questions are why is the government not doing more in stopping Parke-Davis and any other company’s fraud by now?

  Parke-Davis, a division of Warner-Lambert has made billons of dollars off the people that have been prescribe Neurontin. When is our government going to stop setting back while the big corporate companies ruin lives?

  Where can I go for a good lawyer to fight back because our government will not fight for its citizens?

• Marilyn N. Richardson // Jul 29, 2003 at 7:54 am

  My dad takes Neurontin for Manic-Depressive behavior. It supposedly controls his mania. Does anyone have information on the long-term effects of this drug?

  Thank you for your help!

• Debra // Aug 6, 2003 at 4:11 pm

  I have been taking Neurontin ever since beginning to recover from Guillain Barre Symdrome ( a reaction from my flu shot in 2000)I had neuropthy from the waist down after my getting out of the hospital. The effects fo this drug have been amazing to my life. I can feel my legs getting more sensations all the time. And the neurontin helps get me through the day, every day. I have had two occasions where I wasn’t able to take the Neurontin, one when I lost my prescription bottle out of my purse, another when I forgot to bring it along with me for a weekend vacation. I can certainly tell you that I know that it works for me.

• Deborah Kee // Aug 18, 2003 at 7:10 am

  I am from Alabama, and my little brother has taken Neurontin for several years for ADHD, my mother is intrested in getting in on a Class Action Suite aganist this company. If anyone has any information as to how to find out who may be fighting this case, please e-mail with the information. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advanced!

• Dawn // Aug 21, 2003 at 9:26 pm

  I have been on many medications for my Bipolar Two Disorder. Neurontin is the FIRST Medication that is helping me! I have been on it for over 4 months, and I love it! I am calmer and more alert, and I feel more relaxed since I don’t have the Mania! I just don’t understand the law suit! My doctor has many patients, like me, that can’t handle anti depressants, mood stabilizers, and then they go on Neurontin, they are doing better! My Doc works with the State and they are only allowed to perscribe certain medications for Bipolar! I couldn’t take a beta blocker, so Neurontin is used for a lot of things, finally it worked!

  I have friends who have MS and Nerve pain. We all take Neurontin, and WE all LOVE IT!

  I don’t understand this law suit and situation. What is up and who is ACTUALLY AT FAULT????????

• Nancy // Sep 29, 2003 at 5:04 pm

  I saw the segment on dateline back in July at which time I was taking neurontin for arthritis pain. When I called my Dr. on ot only being approved for seizuers she told me many studies have been done and you can’t believe everything you hear on t.v. Needless to say I stopped taking it that day since it was not helping me. Was my Dr. on the take?

• Kim // Oct 2, 2003 at 1:44 pm

  I am wondering where I can get involved in the class action lawsuit for the neurontin. I was prescribed it for off label uses and it really hurt me. I need some information as to how I can find a lawyer who is involved with this class action lawsuit.

  I was prescribed this medication for so called nerve pain, which I still have, plus eyesight problems which I didn’t have before taking the neurontin, memory problems, chemical sensitivities, etc… What a nightmare Neurontin has causes for my marriage as well. I would appreciate all of the help I can get. Thank you very much!!!

  Kim

• Robyn // Oct 6, 2003 at 1:26 pm

  I’ve been on neurotin for 3 yrs. Its helped me feel normal. Its also helped my aggressive behavior. I don’t get provoked my little things so easy.

  Of course I’m interested in long time effects.I started at 1800 mg. and have brought myself down to 600mg to 900mg with no side effects. That I’m aware of.

• shelly // Oct 9, 2003 at 10:19 am

  I began taking Neurontin 2yrs. ago after a lower leg amputation. I was in so much pain until they gave me this drug! I just saw a commercial about suicide and Neurontin. I didn’t catch the phone number though. I am still taking the drug and now I am a little worried that maybe it could be the reason I feel so suicidal.I stay so depressed too. Wish I never had to leave the house. The fatigue is almost overwhelming! I don’t even want to lift an arm! I have also had to buy reading glasses since beginning the drug and never had a problem with my eyesight before! My memory is just GONE! Could all this be the result of taking Neurontin? I hope not because it really does seem to help the phantom pain from the amputation.

• Debra // Oct 9, 2003 at 10:24 am

  I was on Neurontin for over 1 year for nerve pain associated with MS. Not only did it NOT help the pain and abnormal sensations, it caused a world of problems. I was so severely depressed while taking it that I considered suicide almost daily. It also caused severe problems with my family as I was unable to do alot of normal daily functions. I have a four year old and I finally stopped taking it as it wasnt helping anyway. I would like to learn more about this class action lawsiut.

• Mary Ann Thompson // Oct 9, 2003 at 5:46 pm

  Where can I get information on a class action suit?

• Loretta Snow // Oct 9, 2003 at 6:29 pm

  I have been taking Neurontin for several months now for nerve pain caused by an auto accident. I had been trying to find out why I’ve been so depressed, tired and feeling like I would rather die than feel this way. I asked doctors about the side effects of Neurontin and was informed that this medication would not be the cause. Please be careful. I have been on a very low dose, at higher doses I sleep constantly. It has helped with my nerve pain, but the cost is much to high. What about long term effects?

• Holly // Oct 12, 2003 at 11:00 am

  I was perscribed neurontin during a months long manic episode. It really helped calm and focus me almost immediatley. I was so relieved not to be a mess, it took me ahile to notice the negative changes. I feel an addiction to this drug however, maybe it is mental? I can’t help but notice and feel drastic moods, anxiety, and dissastisfaction under the masking the drug provides. It is a struggle I keep to my self mostly because I feel my companion is too reliant on the outwardly “calming” effects it has on my personality. After over a year, I don’t know which way is up, and am starting to wonder about my doctor. He doesn’t see any real need to evaluate me, and in fact had known me for only 10 minutes before he put me on it. I feel seperate from my life, which of coarse helps a person with bi-polar, but it verges on something neglectful. I have gained almost 50 lbs in a year and barely have energy to accomplish much more than my job, and that feels like it is going to do me in. On other days, I feel grateful that my behavior is not out of control, and I don’t seem to interact in the same crazy way with my environment. But at what cost? Does anyone have any information on going of this drug? When I have missed it for a day or so, I felt really screwed up.

• Kelly from Baltimore, MD // Oct 13, 2003 at 11:43 am

  I was prescribed Neurontin for Bi-polar disorder in 1999 and paired with Ambien, during that time period I became severely depressed and tried to commit suicide, I don’t even remember doing it, I had overdosed on all of my Ambien. I had lived at college and as a result of my suicide attempt was barred from living on campus. I immediately stopped all the medication I had been taking and slowly I got back to my normal self. Come to find out my new doctor says I am not Bipolar, but suffered from Major depression, just a swing of life that was normal for my age group. Neurontin messed me up and so did the doctor that prescribed it.

• mary ellen yates // Oct 13, 2003 at 5:54 pm

  how can i get more info on the class action lawsuit aganist neurotin

• Tina // Oct 13, 2003 at 6:32 pm

  I have been on Neurontin for about 9 months to a year for Depression and panic attacks. It has helped me but I have one terrible side effect from this medication that has made me decide to stop this medication. MY MEMORY is gone, I can’t remember anything and I’m getting ready to go back to college and I am just so tired of forgetting and not being able to remember nothing. PLEASE email me and let me know if anyone has the same side effects.

• gwen // Oct 14, 2003 at 5:28 pm

  I HAVE BEEN ON NEURONTIN FOR A WHILE. I WAS PRESCRIBE THIS MEDICATION,FOR A NERVE PROBLEM. I BEGAN TO FEEL DEPRESS AND VERY SUICIDAL.I TRYED GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, BUT MY MEMORY IS NOT WHAT IT USE TO BE.MY RELATONSHIP WITH MY FAMILY HAS SUFFER A GREAT LOSS, BECAUSE I AM NOT THE PERSON THAT I USE TO BE. WHERE CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION SUIT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW,THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

• Larry W. // Oct 15, 2003 at 6:40 pm

  I have been taking Neurontin for about 8 months now, to help with anxiety. I take 800 mg. a day, & have found that this shit really works!! Whats the big stink about??

• Tim Contreras // Oct 20, 2003 at 8:32 pm

  I was perscribed neurontin for head aches 3,000 mg a day I’ve had 3 suicide attemts and was caught all three time. I was a successfull musician and have broke and threw out over $500,000 worth of recording equipment and My girls ring and artwork. I’ve never yell at her or my child and now for the past year are affraid to say good morning. It’s not fair to them and or us. Excuse my spelling I lost that and speach including short term memorie. I hope if there is more like you out there. I think we can over come this, one way or another. All the best TC

• Brett // Oct 21, 2003 at 10:09 am

  While I have a solid diagnosis for MDD, my doctor has not ruled out Bipolar II. I have been on neurontin, 1200 to 1600 mg/day, for about 18 months. Getting off of paxil is its own nightmare (and class-action), but my ability to focus and short term memory loss is decidedly from the neurontin. The memory loss is fairly typical from the people with whom I have communicated. I have “kind of” gotten used to it and my brain seems to have adapted to rerouting thoughts so that my pauses in speech are mostly noticeable to me alone. It is the “why am I blanking on this common word I want to use” syndrome. I guess I will just keep on researching. Where can I find info on the neurontin/suicide nexus?

• Lisa // Oct 22, 2003 at 6:46 am

  I have been taking neurontin for almost 2 years. I have had a problem with being very fatigue & my memory is not good at times, also feel very depressed. I ask my Dr. If any of my meds. would cause these problems he said no. But he took me off neurontin a month ago & I feel better without taking it. I saw on T.V. about dangers of neurontin, please inform me about this & law suit againt the company. Thank you.

• Nancy // Oct 22, 2003 at 5:25 pm

  I have been on neurotin for about 2 years for diabetic neuropothy. It has worked for the pain in my feet and legs, I swore by neurotin, but it is effecting my memory, moods and I am getting more depressed. I satarted out on 300 mg 3 times a day now I am up to 600 mg 3 times a day. My daughter noticed first that I have been getting more depressed all of the time, I go to work and go right home, on the weekends I dont leave my house. THIS IS NOT ME.I dont know what to do because it deffinetly helps the pain.

• Emily // Oct 23, 2003 at 12:29 pm

  I was placed on neurontin around 2 years ago for bipolar ii disorder. During the first few months of taking the drug, I noticed a change in my mood that affected me positively. However, before I was placed on neurontin, I handled any type of crisis with a great deal of emotion but had restraint and self control. A few months after I had been taking neurontin, I now realize that it severely effected my reaction to all emotional situations. I became preoccupied with suicidal thoughts and in a period of 10 months attempted suicide 4 times. I lost the ability to retain information in my classes and had previously been a scholar in college and in high school. I lost control of my ability to handle money situations. In addition to all of these things, I managed to alienate and anger my friends and family. I was arrested by the police for invasion and dui because I attempting to get them to shoot me and was drinking in order to crash the car. This drug has helped me to have a police record, lose friends, injure family and friends mentally, lowered my grades, and created a horrible financial crisis. I would greatly appreciate help and support to fight the drug companies and the doctors who allowed this drug to be prescribed to me. If anyone has any additional information on the class action lawsuit, I would love to hear more about it.

• Doreen // Oct 23, 2003 at 12:39 pm

  I have been on neurontin 300 mgs 4x/day due to a injury with my neck in 1997 by a neurologist that I cannot locate now. I have experienced memory loss and thought it was just stress. I have considered and fought the desire to “end it all” and commit suicide several times, and only because I sought help instead of following through with my plans that I haven’t actually done it. I have suffered from mild to severe boughts of depression and mood swings yet I have been told it was me and not any medications. Because of that diagnosis, I have been in counseling and under psychotherapy as a short term remedy but the same problems eventually flare back up…fatigue, memory loss, depression, thoughts of suicide and severe mood swings. I have been on neurontin since 1997 and I saw a commercial on tv associated with neurontin and suicide, which was a relief that maybe a medicine was perpetuating that and not myself personally. How do I find out more about this situation because my prescription was during the time that this medicine was being promoted…it helps some with the pain I experience but I still have prolonged motor skills problems with my right arm, hand, shoulder and neck, and because I type for a living, the pain gradually comes back-thus I have to take it or I cannot stand the pain at the end of the work day. Please help me get more info.

• Doreen // Oct 23, 2003 at 12:46 pm

  as u can tell, it has affected my memory because i repeat myself in my text and i have gotten in trouble at work for doing that…

• Kitt Samuel // Oct 24, 2003 at 10:48 am

  I too can echo some or most of what others have said here. I am in need of information on who iI may contact for legal help in getting in on a Class Action Suite aganist this company. If anyone has any information as to how to find out who may be fighting this case, please e-mail with the information. I would greatly appreciate it.

  Kitt dr_khs@yahoo.com

• LaDonna Miller // Oct 24, 2003 at 12:40 pm

  I have been on neurontin for only 1 year now. Prescribed to help with neuralgia pain and tremors, as some of my symptoms of fibromyalgia. In just this years time, I have gone from 200 mgs-3 times a day, to 800 mgs-3 times a day. No help with the pain. It doesn’t come close to touching my pain! But my dosage just keeps going up every time I have an appointment with my neurologist. I can hardly motivate on this high dosage. But that is what he prescribes. No pain medication, because he doesn’t want me to get dependent on them!! Well, imagine that! Now I am stuck on the neurontin, which doesn’t help, and I just can’t quit taking it because of the danger of having seizures! YES. We need a suit against this product! And YES, I want to be a part of it!

  Thanks,

  LaDonna Miller

  1288 S. Hardin Rd.

  Harrod, OH 45850

• Joyce Penney // Oct 24, 2003 at 4:52 pm

  because of neurontin i developed trigimenal neuralgia how do i know? i took it for just short of two months on 8-18-03 i woke up at 3 AM with i thought was a tooth ache. It passed in about 30 min. the nxt day i went to work about 10 am it hit again it was unlike any pain i had ever experienced this was a strange tooth ache. i called my dentist it was a sat. he called i said i was having a really bad tooth ache but really strange. he called a pain med and antibiotic into my pharmacy. i got the prescription filled the next morning after being up about 10 min. it hit again the pills did not help. i called my dr. and discribed the pain he said we’ll have to do some tests but it sounds like tn. every morning i would get up and the pain would hit like a bolt of lightning hitting me in the face over and over for as long as 6 hrs periods of time. i was tested for ms and cleared. so i had tn what was it? how did i get it? why did i get? what had i done different i was prescribed neurontin for herniated disc’s in my neck, could that have caused this i went on the enternet looked neurontin, i saw that it was being used for the treatment of tn if i did’nt have tn then took neurontin and developed tn could it have been the neurontin? i sat and cried for hours at a time the pain was so excuriating i could not touch my face to wipe my face it hurt to bad so i would sit in pain and cry, tears and my nose running down my face. i went to two different neuraligists the first one said he also prescribed neurontin for his tn patients and that i should just bite the bullet at which i told him to bite my @## and never went back. the next one said that he too prescribed neurontin for his tn patients,he put me on a medication that after a week i was gettinf peralisis in my rt. side i was dropping everything when i told him he said most of my female pat. love this med. it makes them lose weight nice trade off i’ll be skinny but parilized on my rt side needless to say i dropped him. i went to my general practioner he put me on tegratol it worked but was eating my white blood cells. i was on a support group website for people with tn i kept seeing that several had, had surgery. i looked up surgeons that specialized in this type of surgery i called one in md i live in fl to make an app. i was told by that off. that the best dr in the world was in gainesville fl i made an app. on 6/16/03 i had brain surgery because of neurontin. how do i know for sure i called the pharmisitcal co park davis pyser and spoke to a pharmisist on staff yes i have her name the date and time i spoke to her i asked could neurontin have caused my tn at first she said there was nothing in the clinical trials that associated tn with neurontin. i was cring i was so angry about the whole thing. she said wait a minute put me on hold for a few seconds then came back she said there are new clinical trials that have not been released and in them facial pain is one of the side effects of neurontin. i asked if she could send them to me she said she would. when i got them they were the old clinical trials. i called again and asked for her i was given to someone else yes i got her name to date and time i was told that those clinical trials could not be released. approx four days later i received a letter from thier attorny saying that i was only to contact her from then on and that parke davis pyser would pay for any medical and dr bills for “what ever may have caused my pain” i’ve been on a one women crusade ever since. i have been in touch with a reporter for ny times she is researching my claim. someone has got to stop this craziness get it off the market. were you aware that they are experimenting with babies as young as 3 months. how as a free country can we allow this to happen. i have talked to people who were prescribed neurontin fir migraines and developed tn, people who had back aches took it now have tn. well thats my story jp

• Diana Whinery // Oct 24, 2003 at 8:26 pm

  OMG! I have been taking neurontin since about 1995 for a condition in my neck from a car accident. I was had a successful career working for the State of Kansas in Vocational Rehabilitation Services for 11 years. I have not been able to work for about three years. It will be four years in February. All because I am so depressed I cannot hardly get out of bed. I have been suicidal more than once. I have no joy left in my life. My doctors have tried all kinds of depression medications to try and help me but none works for long. If what I read here is true neurontin is responsible for ruining my life! I want to know why the medical community has not come forward with this information. Surely someone knew of this side effect! I say we sue the bastards that made this pill a cure all which it is not!

• Mike Oberg // Oct 26, 2003 at 1:26 am

  I took Neurontin for 5 years for an unknown seizure disorder. I became so clinically depressed that I attempted suicide and was hospitalized for a month. Even then nobody ever made the distinction that Neurontin may have caused the problem. Against all doctor’s advice, I took myself off Neurontin and my problems went away. I still suffer from extreme memory loss, migraines, and small painful swelling on my forehead and eyes. Has anyone else experienced this?? The issue now is to prove that Neuronyin caused these problems. I thought for a whole year that I was literally going crazy. I felt like my life was being sucked away and seriously felt like I was losing my mind. I hope someone can give me more information in how I can somehow get something back from this travesty, and move on with my life. I’m sure we all share similar stories and can all identify with these feelings of anger and outrage.

• Thyme Leach // Oct 26, 2003 at 8:51 am

  I dont really no where to begin my daughter was first put on nurtion for a moood stablizer I found her on the bthroom floor trying to remove the spotts fron the tile

• liza // Oct 26, 2003 at 9:27 am

  TO ALL WHO HAVE WRITTEN RE A CLASS ACTION SUIT: I have gotten in contact with a litigation team in DC - I will post any information I get as soon as I get it.

  I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder three years ago and put on Neurontin - I was already on Paxil (80 mg a day- a sign that my doctor had NO idea what he was doing - but hey, what did I know?). Seven months later I was in a psychiatric facility for attempted suicide. For those of you new on the drug, it takes about 6 months to start screwing up your brain. I got a new shrink who also didn’t read medical journals, and stayed on the Neurontin. Another suicide attempt (BTW - overdosing on Paxil will only make you throw up). I finally have a GREAT doc. I would highly recommend a psychopharmacologist if you can find one in your area. No Paxil, no Neurontin. The meds I’m on still affect my coordination and thought, but it’s a small price to pay for being alive.

• Thyme Leach // Oct 26, 2003 at 10:07 am

  My daughter was prescribed neurontin 600mg.x4 a day. For bi-polar disorder in 1999. Emily was seventeen years of age.

  After one week on neurontin. I found Emily on the bathroom floor. Emily was trying to pick the specks off the tiled floor. When I asked her what she was doing? She said I didn’t know. But the specks have to come off!

  After one week she started to have mood swings, personality changes, headaches, aggression, violent, hallucinatinting, disoriented, and she wanted off the drug.

  Emily took herself off neurontin after weeks. She flushed them down the toilet. After a week without neurontin she started feeling more normal. It took her a month to the way she did before starting neurontin.

  My son was prescribed neurontin in 2001. By another doctor his shrink. It was prescribed for his ADHD and headaches. 600mg. 2x aday.

  After a week of taking neurontin. Trace started he started breaking windows at home, knocking holes in the walls, cutting his arms and wrist with glass, knives, or anything that would cut him, and his head hurt all the time.

  He told his doctor how he was feeling after a month. The doctor increased his dosage to 600mg. x3 a day.

  Trace mood swings, headaches, self- inflected wounds, aggression, and behavior patterns increased with the higher dosage of neurontin.

  His grades were failing at the age of sixteen. Lost focus, short memory loss, suicide attempts several times a day, with the feeling of no reason to live.

  He was addicted to neurontin and he couldn’t go without neurontin for his headaches became worse! Trace would say that his head was pounding intensively and have to take his dosage so his head wouldn’t hurt as bad. His headaches were more intense being on neurontin. His social life was terrible!

  Trace has been on neurontin from 2001 to October 2003. His doctor insisted that his had to take the drug. Trace refused and is now lowing his dose to be neurontin free. His behavior is still affected by neurontin.

  I wonder if I will ever have my son back to the way his was before neurontin destroyed and took him far away from himself, family , and friends?

  Now comes myself. I have RSD, nerve damage of my left arm. I went to a medical pain specialist in 2-10-2003. I had to sign a agreement to follow his instructions only.

  The specailist give me a dosage of 600mg. 12x a day for relief of pain. My behavior started changing after a week. I became aggrassive, suicidal, wanted to hurt people, I actually attacked my daughter with a knife and cut her throat and was going for her stomach, the knife was taking from my hand from her friends. I probably would have been up on murder charges if i wasn’t stopped!

  My whole life was turned upside down. I told the pain specialist and he increased my dosage to 600mg. 24 x a day.

  ~~Look Out ò¿ò ~~ Now I was a totally out of control ! I lost my friends and almost killed my family. I also tried to kill myself and was in the physic ward for seven days.

  The doctors at the hospital said the dosage was way to high. They lowered my dosage to 16 600mgs. a day.

  I realized I need to come off neurontin. It was so hard. I couldn’t handle the pain and withdrawls I suffered during this ordeal. Which took over a three months.

  Needless to say I changed doctors. I have now been neurontin free for two months. I never want to take or would advise anyone to take neurontin. It never did take away my pain and only created other medcial disorders.

  Please! If anyone has any imfomation on the CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST NEURONTIN EMAIL ME!

• Emely // Oct 27, 2003 at 3:42 am

  I’m not sure how long I’ve been on Neurontin, 8-10 months now I think. My concern is my most recent experience. I didn’t have enough money for my co-pay to pick up my prescription - Neurontin and Topomax so I hadn’t taken my meds for well over two weeks. The first week was fine, I didn’t feel a thing. I slept well which was the biggest concern of mine since these drugs knock me out. The second week was completely different. Although I could sleep, the body aches were tremendous! I have never felt so much pain in my muscles. I have horrendous headaches, severe memory loss - but the one thing that just surfaced was the feeling that I was myself again. I’m not sure if that makes sense to folks, but I felt like the old me (along with excruciating pain). I’m back on it. It was prescribed for my bipolar II or episodic depression - the jury is still out on what I’m suffering with and I’m terrified of slipping into another depression so I’m back on it. I do notice that upon taking it after having been off it for some time, that I have “brain buzzes”, is that common? My heart goes out to all who have suffered from the ill-effects of this drug - I truly understand, and I worry about the long term effects of a drug that is so widely prescribed for such dramatically different illnesses. Where does one begin to work against the company that promotes this drug so haphazardly?

• Jennifer // Oct 27, 2003 at 4:24 pm

  I know how it feels to be on Neurontin. I am a 19 year old college student. But my senior year in high school was a living hell due to the drug. At the beginning of the year I was having muscle pains in my legs. I was recommended to a neurologist. He put me on Neurontin at 600 mg doses 3x a day, to control the pain. It didn’t help. It made it worse, gave me severe spike headaches, and I had mood swings. I would be violent against my brothers and depressed most of the time. Which isn’t like me at all. I am usually a very happy, non-violent person. Later I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Again the neurologist kept me on the Neurontin. The symptoms only got worse. I missed nearly 100 days out of the school year because of the drug. I only passed because I was home schooled and got what minimum work I needed done. But I barely did that. My parents helped me. I was too out of it, too depressed to even care. There were times that I wondered why was I even alive. I had no use. The pain was so bad, perhaps if I killed myself, the world would be a better place. That is not at all like me. I enjoy life to the fullest always have. I am glad a lawsuit may go against them. No one needs to have their lives screwed over. And No one needs their last year of high school messed up either. That’s something I will never get back all because of Neurontin.

• annie // Oct 27, 2003 at 10:20 pm

  I have been on neurotins for over 5 yrs for pain,, since my accident,, I have been suicidal,, most depressed,, an very disfunctional,, costing me my family,, marriage,, an my life,,WHY would drs, not check into meds more carefully ,, not caring about patients whose lifes they are entrusted with??? annie

• Harri // Oct 28, 2003 at 6:19 am

  I have seen commercials on TV for a class action suit against Neurontin. Has anyone received any information from the law firm ? They never contacted me.

• shad // Oct 29, 2003 at 7:00 am

  Please someone email me with the number of the class-action law suit about neurontin and suicide.

  shad

  shadbris@comcast.net

• J.P. // Nov 1, 2003 at 5:04 pm

  those of you who took neurontin and had no side effects are so lucky you don’t know how lucky. this medication is lethal and the way it is used has got ot be stoped. i do not have epelipsy never had it but that is what neurontin was developed for and i guess it works for that. but think about epilepsy its a nerve condition severe at that. if you don’t have a severe nerve condition and are prescribed neurontin what does it do to the nerves of a person without epilepsy or ms? if you take it, come off slowly don’t just stop thats what i did. i sujest to anyone taking it for anything other than epilepsy or ms talk to your dr. but don’t be sirprised when they say there is no connection because they probable prescribe it for off market uses too. after all they make big money from parke davis physer experimenting on us. if they say they don’t, ask them about conferemces in aspen where they took thier family and skied staying in a very exclusive lodge being waited on hand and foot. those are called incentives to push a drug that no one knows for sure what it will do to us. and the dr’s do what they are paid to do push the drug whatever it might be this month. am i bitter damn right i had brain surgery because i took neurontin it effected my nervious system and allmost took my life the pain was so bad i almost killed myself rather than wake up one more morning with “THE PAIN” larry w. and dawn good luck i hope you never know what this medication is capable of its a monster just waiting to kill someone and i’m not being dramatic as i said i had brain surgery directly associated to neurontin parke davis physer told me this was fact. but would not send me conformation because those “clinical trial’s could not be released” someone please protect us from the large pharmicutical company’s it’s time to let them know that between thier dr’s and lawyer’s we still have a voice.

• Debbie Deaton // Nov 2, 2003 at 8:16 am

  I was put on neurontin back in 2000 for anxiety and bipolar i have since been suffering with dizzy spells and put in the hospital to find out what was causing them I do have ms but the mri showed that that wasnt what was causing the dizzy spells and the pain in my neck after i came out of the hospital with no answer as to what is causing my dizzy spells my pshychiatris would not see me anymore because i went to another doctor which was a neuroligist that i was going to before him for my ms and he was trying to find out what was causing the dizzy off balnced feeling i cant drive most of the time i feel like i am going to pass out and nobody knows what is wrong? If anyone knows how to go about this class action lawsuit please e-mail me back with the information i would very much appreciate it. Thank You and Good Luck

• J.P. // Nov 2, 2003 at 5:01 pm

  I read this site every nite hopping to get some info. on a class action suit. I have signed up on several sites but have not heard anything from them. There seem to be so many of us we need to stick together and do something. I’m encluding my e-mail add. Please feel free to contact me with any information that you may come accross. I know that there are a lot more of us out there they just have’nt put it together yet. Parke Davis Physer is really tring to cover all of this up. My best advice is to read, read, read everything you can about neurontin, its side effects etc.

• J.P. // Nov 2, 2003 at 5:23 pm

  try pal@prescriptionaccesslitigation.org

• Wendy Bird // Nov 3, 2003 at 4:22 am

  To all of you who are describing memory problems, I have documented testing that proves I now have problems with the memory/cognitive functions I described. It appears that the neurontin damaged the Central Auditory Processing part of my brain.

  (I was only on neurontin a short time, but was started at a very high dosage, and was on morphine at the same time, and was abrutply taken off the drug)

  There was nothing wrong with my mind before the drug.

  I have had every test(I felt like a lab rat) that my Doctors could think of (including a liver biopsy) to try to blame my problems on something else. Every test was negative. I was even sent to a psychiatrist (Ican’t spell either) Luckily, I got a really good psychiatrist, and he confirmed these problems were not phychological, but had a physical cause. He got me into speech therapy, an audiologist who specilized in auditory processing testing, and a good psychologist who has done extensive nueropsychological testing, that show which part of my brain no longer works. He also got me some GOOD councelling to help me deal with the drastic changes in my life and to keep me grounded. I am very fortunate, I have a very loving and supportive family, even when I am difficult. and some days are very bad.

  One of the things to be aware of is that I can no longer concentrate or absorb information when there is background noise, or alot of conversations at once, this results in mix ups, confusion and frustration for all of us. I am trying to be aware of these things and leave the room, use ear plugs in public, and count to ten and try to think before I react to situations I find confusing and frustrating, particularly when dealing with my children and husband.

  I also find it difficult to accept help to do things that I used to take for granted. But accepting my situation has gone a long way towards understanding what has happened to me and helping me to deal with it on a daily basis. It is exhausting, lots of days I am in bed for the night by 7, and I have to have frequent naps, but I still can think and reason, and try to creat situations in which I can find enjoyment in new ways. I hope this may help someone out there. If you have any other “coping” ideas lets share them.

• J.P. // Nov 4, 2003 at 5:03 pm

  Of course it is possible for certain people to take neurontin and not be effected in the same way it seems to attach the nervous system, people have different reactions to the same drugs all the time thats why they have clinical trials to find out how it effects people differently. The thing with neurontin was that they did not do all the clinical trial they should have. They started touting it as a cure all for everything, not knowing nor caring how it would effect you and I. The truth is corp. didn’t care they just saw a chance to become even richer as of now over 3 billion on neurontin and a lot of people very badly hurt.

• Brenda // Nov 4, 2003 at 9:51 pm

  I have been on Neurontin for 4 years for arachnoiditis of the lumbar spine. I started at 300 mgs 3x day and am now up to 1200 mgs 3x day. It has been a god send since this disease has no known cure and caused among other things debiliting pain. But I have also gained 120 lbs., have NO short term memory and have had a ringing and numbness in my right ear. Now I know why. Any help with a Class Action Suite in New Jersey would help

• Amanda // Nov 5, 2003 at 1:26 pm

  I saw the commerical on TV, but did not get the phone number to call. Can anyone give it to me?

  I was taking neurontin and sufferd from depression, mood swings, memory loss and many thoughts of suicide. I am off the drug now and doing much better!

• Keith Altman // Nov 8, 2003 at 11:09 am

  I have the FDA adverse event data in my posession and have been analyzing it for Neurontin adverse events. If anyone is interested in discussing my results, send me an e-mail to altmanm@optonline.net

• Wendy Bird // Nov 9, 2003 at 12:40 pm

  Keith, about the FDA averse reaction data, I tried to e-mail you but my email was returned to me. Can you post on this site where we can get this info ? Thank you Wendy

• P.C. // Nov 10, 2003 at 6:54 am

  I have been on Neurontin since the early part of 2003. It was prescribed to me for nerve pain as I have a RSD condition. I started with 300 MG and my neurologist put me up to 1600 MG. I really struggled with this drug and increasing the dosage. It does help with my pain and my sleep at night. The downside is the depression that I am now suffering, extreme mood swings, memory loss both short and long term, NOT WANTING TO LIVE and my vision has really deterioted since I started taking this drug.I want off the drug and it is now making sense to me why I am so depressed, feeling worthless and not wanting to live. I can only hope by getting off this drug, that I won’t have permanent damage to my brain. People…really think about this drug before you begin taking and do a thorough research. When prescribed to me, I was told that it was for epilespy/seizures etc. however both the Dr. and the Pharmacist say they have good results for people with nerve pain. I beg to differ when considering the other problems associated with this drug.

• Willow // Nov 10, 2003 at 7:26 am

  Thank you J.P. for the phone number and web site for litigation on Neurontin. I’ve been taking it for almost 5 yrs. now. Diagnosed w/ Bipolar II, I was started out w/small dosages as most folks are, but my dosage went as high as 4800 mg/day! I was begging the doctor to let me try an anti-depressant because I still felt depressed, but the doctor just kept on increasing the Neurontin. I had never had a manic episode, only depression, yet the doctor thought an anti-depressant “might bring on a manic episode”….huh?. I’ve since changed doctors, and am now down to 2400 mg/day, and taking Wellbutrin and Lexapro for depression. What a difference! I’m not walking around in a fog anymore. My new doctor has encouraged me to slowly drop the dosage of Neurontin a bit more to see what happens, but I’m finding it difficult. I had a sneaking suspicion that this stuff is addictive. I am interested in the long term effects of usage, and am a little frightened by what I’ve read here today. I’ll keep checking for new information. Thanks, Lisa

• J.P. (Joyce Penney) // Nov 10, 2003 at 12:46 pm

  my email add is pen587@aol.com i would really like to know how many people that were given neurontin for pain, ect. developed nerve damage? is there anyone out there who experienced nerve problems. the depression is established in all your comments. but what about perminate nerve damage? the atnny. whos number i submitted in an earlier comment is only interested in clients who have tried to commit suicide after taking neurontin. i really afraid that there are people who developed nerve damage that have not put it together with neurontin yet. i was given neurontin and morphine for herniated disc’s that i find i can tolerate that pain after having brain surgery for the nerve damage that i developed after neurontin. i’m repeating myself i have aready commented on all of this. i guess i will not be happy till someone blows up parke davis physer pharmicutical co. i have never felt so helpless,bitter,angry,confused in my life,to know that what i have gone through was not nessesary that it was because of big business and thier lack of concern for the every day joe. the fact that they pushed this med. knowing that the did not have all the facts,that they had not done enough research to prescribe it in the manner that they are. the fact that thier are new clinical trials that you and i cannot get that associate facial pain and a lot of other things. just good luck to all of us

• Keith Altman // Nov 10, 2003 at 7:08 pm

  Wendy,

  Try fibonacci6@aol.com

• Michele // Nov 11, 2003 at 6:35 am

  Good morning. I was delighted to see some interaction on this important topic. I, too, was harmed as a result of this fraudulently marketed medication.

  I’ve started an MSN group for those of us who may wish to collectively (or individually) bring suit against Parke-Davis/Pfizer. It can be found at: http://groups.msn.com/NeurontinLitigants.

  I am going to be gathering information on suitable firms to handle this. I spoke with a representative from Hagens-Berman late yesterday afternoon. Unfortunately, at least according to the attorney with whom I spoke, it sounds like personal injury-related claims are typically handled individually, rather than as a class action type of matter. He (the attorney) did offer to ‘take my information’. It sounded to me, though, that they are more interested in non personal injury-related actions against the company. In fact, he noted that they are not alleging that there was anything damaging about the drug, per se, rather that it was fraudlently marketed.

  As I mentioned before, I am going to be making some inquiries this week. If you like, feel free to come to the MSN group to tell your story, post links, add information, and interact with one another as we embark on this journey.

  I, for one, do not plan to just ‘let this go’. This medication very nearly cost me my life. In my opinion, someone needs to answer for that. Huge pharmaceutical companies (e.g., Pfizer) ‘hear’ only through $$. So that’s exactly how I plan to make my story heard.

  Who’s with me?

  ~Michele~

• Michele // Nov 11, 2003 at 7:21 am

  Here is an interesting article related to the litigation against Parke-Davis/Pfizer’s Neurontin. Although it speaks generally to the FDA’s (purportedly limimted) free speech rights, it seems relevent to the issue at hand. The article can be found at: http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/nov2002/tc20021114_1107.htm.

• chris daniels // Nov 11, 2003 at 8:39 am

  i don’t know what to do anymore.they prescribed neurontin after my back surgery.I now have little to know feeling in my legs anymore.i hate to even go outside anymore and get all shaky.i just don’t know what to do.any help would be great

• J.P. // Nov 11, 2003 at 3:48 pm

  michael tried the website can’t get on yes anything to do something.

• Michele // Nov 11, 2003 at 4:40 pm

  JP, try http://groups.msn.com/NeurontinLitigants . Hope you can get it rolling!

• michele // Nov 11, 2003 at 4:42 pm

  I’m just getting started with the MSN group. I’m hoping that it might end up serving as a centralized location for us to use. What do you think?

• J.P. // Nov 11, 2003 at 5:25 pm

  pen587@aol.com michael i’m for anything that will make thes b*&^%$#s pay for what they have done to me. i will never be the same. come on all of us need to ban together there is power in numbers and we all know that just the people we have on this little website can you imagine all of the people out there who don’t know where to go people like us that have been injured and don’t know where to go. michael this had better not be anything shady on your part, you had better be on the up and up with this. your dealing with a lot of very emotional people here after we have been through enough due to a little pill called neurontin, i could have died and if i had not had the brain surgery i would have killed myself rather than experience the pain that i had. i was told that i could die during surgery, i didn’t care i knew that i had to be able to live a fairly normal life, not what i was living at the time. a pain that would hit me like lighting in my face hitting over and over 8 times a minute. now michael tell me your not going to F888 with me or any of these other nice people.

• michele // Nov 11, 2003 at 5:33 pm

  Not sure if the Michael you are referring to is actually me (Michele). I am not an attorney. I am a fellow former consumer of neurontin who has suffered as a result of having taken the drug. The MSN group is a place for us to gather to discuss the possibilities. I messaged you using AIM, btw, but did not get any response. I hope we can really get something rolling. I’m waiting on the paperwork to arrive from the 1800lawfirm people. Did anyone else get this paperwork yet?

• J.P. // Nov 11, 2003 at 5:53 pm

  I’m sorry mechele i have become very bitter since this all started 8-18-02 to present. please don’t mistake my comments i appreciate anything you can do to help. i have unfortunatly become very bitter distrustful, angry, after all who can you trust if you can’t trust your dr. to do the best for you and not themselves. again i’m sorry thst i came over being a b#@*%h i am very bitter. lets work together maybe we can make a difference good luck to us all.

• michele // Nov 12, 2003 at 4:26 am

  No worries, JP. Anger, fear, dissapointment, and grief seem to be a piece of the neurontin experience for many people. It’s certainly done a great deal of harm (along with the benefits that some experienced) to a great many people.

  We did have a very interesting comment on the MSN group from one of the persons working with the 1-800-XXXXXXX folks (the organization that has advertised on television in this matter). His comments were helpful, insightful, and valuable, in my opinion. Perhaps others will join the group soon, as well. ~Blessings~ Michele

• Tina Johanson // Nov 12, 2003 at 11:40 am

  I saw a advertizement on a class action law suit on the drug nerontin and have taking this drug for nerve damage due to a back surgery and suffered sever depreshion and tried to kill my self i got so dpressed while on this pill i stoped taking them after about a two year spand also this drug started to make my teeth crumble i would like to know where i can get this number they advertized on cnbc please contact me as soon as possable thank much tina

• Drew // Nov 12, 2003 at 10:10 pm

  My brother tried walking into a train on neurontin, Any help?

• Dianna Galligar // Nov 13, 2003 at 6:45 am

  My name is Dianna my husband was taking Neurotin for a couple of years after his surgery. He became psycho and abusive I always said it was because of the medicine. He died on 12-26-2000. The doctors said it was an accidental drug overdose. You guessed it he overdosed on Neurotin. He was 35 with 3 children. Now what do I do. Can I do something?

• michele // Nov 13, 2003 at 11:10 am

  I heard back from the Finkelstein firm today. The woman I spoke to on the phone said they had had literally THousAnDS of people call in re: the neurontin case. Sounds like the majority of that (and what they are focusing on, to my knowledge) is suicide-based cases. If literally THOUSANDS of folks are already on board, and if personal injury stuff is handled individually rather than collectively (e.g., class action litigation), then I’m not sure if I should consider this good news or bad news. I suppose it’s ‘good’ (depending on how you look at it) for my case, in that it’s definitely not unique, but could also be ‘bad’, in that Pfizer surely won’t shell out settlements to thousands of people. What do you all think??

• Dianna // Nov 13, 2003 at 12:12 pm

  Dear Michele,

  I believe in Class Action Suits they take the most severe one’s and they get a larger amount than the rest. But most cases some people get money even though it is not alot because of the amount of people.

• Rachel // Nov 13, 2003 at 1:57 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.

  Zaraglittergirl@sbcglobal.net

• J.P. // Nov 13, 2003 at 5:24 pm

  pen587@aol.com how are all of you tonight? a couple of new things,Hagens berman/225 franklin street/boston,ma 02110 617-482-3700 also MedWatch on the web. as far as money i could care less i just want this co. to pay for what they have done. because of them i have a metal plate in my head, brain surgery,and just p###ed. i know we would all like to get a lot of money out of this but if thats not going to happen, would’nt you like to see this med. off the market. and even though we as indevidials get just a few dollars. think of the people we would be saving from the things we have been through. They are using this s%$t on babies as young as three months old what is it doing to them. i would like to blow up pfizer and all of the people in it that made these decisions to push this the way that they are. we need to stop them for ourselves and those who are just about to experience the hell that is neurontin.

• Amanda Guidry // Nov 21, 2003 at 10:16 am

  I AM IN SHOCK!!! I am normally working but I had the day off so I decided to watch some mindless t.v. I was relaxed on the couch watching a talk show when I saw the commercial about Neurontin and suicide. My mouth dropped open and I started to cry… I am a 29 year old female diagnosed bipolar type 2 in March. I was put in the hospital for a week for depression and they changed the diagnosis to bipolar. The psychiatrist started me on 800mg and then worked up to 2400mgs of Neurontin to control mania. I was only out of the hospital for a couple of months and one day I took a pocket knife and began carving on my legs and arms and eventually slitting my wrists. Luckily my boyfriend came home and called 911. This was on May 20 of this year. I was in the hospital for another week and they started me on Lithium. I relocated after that and my new psychiatrist started to decrease the dosage gradually because I was complaining of being so tired during the day. I was just getting off Neurontin in October and one night after a stressful day I overdosed on over 100 pills of various sorts. At the moment I am not sure what to do about all of this. I need to find out as much info. as I can about this. I will try to call the attorneys as soon as I can. In the meantime…anyone that has a comment or suggestion please email me @ amandablythe1973@yahoo.com

  Thanks and I look forward to hearing from all of you!

  Peace,Love,&Happiness,

  Amanda Guidry

• DEBRA MAYO // Nov 21, 2003 at 8:00 pm

  i am currently taken nurontin for chronic severe pain i take 300mgs x 3

  i am curious has anyone been diagnose with a brain tumor. i have been diagnose with a benign menigioma in june of 2003. i have had mri before and there was never no signs of a tumor in 1995. see i woke up on the morning of 7/18/02 with severe pain raking my entire body and was rush to the er where they ran test for a heart attack which i inform them i was not having because i had no colesterol problems they check my sed rate and found it elevated they gave me daypro and loritab. nothing seem to help i was still in severe pain. i seen a arithis dr who started prescribing rx’s such as ultram which didn’t work you could not even touch my body it hurt so bad so they check all my bone structures they said i had bone spurs on the hips but this was not the cause of my pain so inlate august they put me on nurontin 300mg x3 a day but my pain still stayed with me i had to switch arithis dr because the other did not want to prescribe a stronger pain med than the darvocet that i had been on for years for pain she did not care and everyday i was getting worse. so finally the new dr said i had mild fibromyalgia, myalgia, and some really bad dics in my back and could not understand why i was not suffering from them. so he added celebrix and loritabs along with the nurontion. this was in feb. i began to feel better i only took the pain meds at night when the pain was severe i am not one for pain meds unless i have to have it . well i did well for about two month when i started to have numbness on my left side slurred speech and stumbling alot when i walk. in may i found myself back in the er because i was completely numb on the left side and in pain they did a cat scan on my head and found what they call calcified palque on the left frontal lobe of the brain but get this they did not tell me.i had to find out the hard way. i was taken to the er 2 more times for the same thing but also had a crawling sensation all on my left side. finally i was seen by a nuerologist who did and mri of the brain and neck. i also brought the recent cat scan and a previous mri from 95. that when i found out i had a brain tumor. i have been getting worse they are going to take it out in jan since the last mri they did on me showed it was growing so now i am wondering if the nurontin could have cause this tumor if anyone out there has had a tumor to come from taking nurontin i sure would like to know.

  also if you have the sensatation of things crawlings on you. i am for a law suit against the company because they were very misleading on pushing this as a cure all for everything now i have to have surgery to remove this tumor. that there was never an evidence of before. not only do i have to suffer through that i have to suffer through doses of methotirate which is a form of chemo because i have psoraias of the scalp and body that has to be cleared before surgery. i also suffer from short term memory lost as well. i am sorry this is so long but i just needed to get it off my chest because if it is provern that the nurontin cause my tumor then how many more people out there has been plaque with a tumor from takening this drug. i also have develope nuralgia of the face and my entire body burn and hurt severely from it. i will take part in a class action suit against them to thank for listen sincerely debra j mayo

  email address mayo2965@charter.net

• L.M. // Nov 22, 2003 at 4:56 am

  I just heard an advertisement on TV for anyone that had taken Neurontin and tried or had committed suicide, to call 1-800-XXXXXXX. I was shocked to hear this because I never put together the connection with this drug and my attempted suicide. I too was prescribed this drug back in 2001 for perphial neuropathy and had taken the medication for about two months and told the doctor I really did not want to take it because it made me so tired and I could not work. He told me I needed to take it and it would take awhile before it would start to work. In the meantime, I do have to first say that I had a very successful career and I am an extreme happy person and have a great family with grandchildren that I love more then life itself and had everything to live for. One day I noticed I was very depressed and could not figure out why. I woke up one morning and just decided I did not want to live anymore. I called off of work and told them I had the flu. I was on prozac and had been on that drug for about 5 years for compulsive behavior,i.e. eating a bag of cookies and not one, going out of town with a moment notice, just compulsive and the doctor said this drug might help me with not eating the way I do and would not harm me. So anyways, I would take one pill a day and it just came normal for me to continue to take this drug. So back to when I woke up that one morning back in Oct. 2001, I had a brand new perscription of prozac, 60 pills, and 22 Klonipin and 7 vicodin in my house. I took all these pills at once. I was just hoping to go too sleep and never wake up. I went too bed and could not fall asleep. I could not understand why this was when I could take one klonipin and sleep all night. I then looked in my cubboards for any liquor (which I really never drank) but sometimes people brought something over and I had a pint of whiskey in the cubboard and a 5th of strawberry daquir. I drank them both at one time. I then went to go lay back down and nothing would happen. I then got the sharpest knife I could find which was a butcher knife and cut both of my wrist. This all took place within two days. To make a long story short, a friend of mine found me and I was rushed to the hospital. I had to get stitches in my wrist and was hospitalized for over two weeks. I could not explain why I did what I did. The doctors said it was a miracle that I was alive because of all I did. I thank god too this day that I am alive and I never thought about the neurontin since I had quit taken that drug about a month before. Now that I heard that advertisement on TV I am really conern and wonder if this was the cause. If anyone has anymore information with this class action law suit please email me with your information. I am wondering why they are talking about people that have tried or committed suicide? I would of never thought this drug had anything too do with what I did too myself. I look forward hearing from you and thank ou in advance. L.M.

• L.M. // Nov 22, 2003 at 5:08 am

  This is L.M., I just thought about it and did not leave my email address so here it is if anyone wants to email me and let me know what they think of this medication and if they also had attempted suicide. Thank you, email me at lgrahek@yahoo.com

• Teri-Anne Jordan // Nov 23, 2003 at 6:46 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?

• Lori // Nov 24, 2003 at 5:57 am

  I also attempted suicide after one 600 mg dose. I was baker acted for 4 days, and I am mad as he## at my doctor for prescribing it to me. He gave it to me for chronic pain in my back. If anyone has the 800 number please email it to me, as I haven’t seen the commercial.

  After having the dose adjusted I am still on it, although the only thing it has affected is my sleep, not my pain. I think I need to get off of it, after hearing that it is not approved for use in chronic pain patients. Someone please let me know the phone # so I can get on the bandwagon. Oh, and I live in Gainesville Fl., home of the doctor at the Univ. of Florida who made all the money lecturing about this stuff. Wonder if my doctor heard him speak? I bet he did. Thanks.

  Lori

• Andrew // Nov 25, 2003 at 3:11 am

  Lori -

  The phone number is 800 ####### they send you a questionairre to help determine if you have a case

• Karen Platt // Nov 28, 2003 at 5:51 pm

  5 days after starting neurontin and when I got to only 500 mgs- I had a suicidal/homicidal episode and got rushed to the hospital- immediatley after stopping neurontin I was fine again. This drug should be taken off the market.

• j.p. // Nov 30, 2003 at 4:51 pm

  give this web site to your atnys. have them read some of what has been said here

• CG // Dec 2, 2003 at 4:39 pm

  I was put on neurontin for a psedo brain tumor about two years ago. Everything has been going wrong with my body everysince. Has anyone had any problems with tooth decaying and excessive weight gain. I often fall into a deep depression for 2-3 days at a time. I have had thoughts of suicide but never took any actions towards it.

• Laurie // Dec 3, 2003 at 10:13 pm

  Will someone please email me the 1-800 number? Every single number here has been xxxx out? I am not going to post all my problems since being on neurontin since everything you all wright pretty much sums up my life. Thanks for the help with the number.

• Debbie // Dec 7, 2003 at 5:27 am

  I would really like to know who in california is handling this class action suit. I was put on this by my pain manager and so was all the other patients that seen same pain manager. I took it for aprox 2 yrs and went off and was recently put back on it for nerve damage, my memory is bad, I felt very depressed and felt like id be better off not here in this life, I did quit taking it and felt like myself again however i still have memory loss, also numbness through out my upper limbs, Im not one to ever think of being better off out of this life, Im still raising 4 children and they keep me very head strong at that time, when I was told about this neurontin contraversy it really hit home, now I know why I felt like I did and I thought it was just a fluke thing. Now I have put it all together by speaking to my cousin who told me about the NEWS channel and this is the first I have read on this awful drug. I would really appreciate a law firm # sent to my email addy please. I can’t believe all these people here and what they have to say this is terrible and something needs to be done about it. Good Luck to everyone thanks for your insights DEB

• Jennifer // Dec 7, 2003 at 1:10 pm

  My father was prescribed Neurontin for his arthritis last year. He was taking 200 mg. 3x a day. His moods changed and he became very depressed. After reading these comments I now understand why dad was even having memory loss. We could not figure out what was really going on with him, he even went to counseling to see what was wrong. On June 6, 2003 my father committed suicide. Last week a friend had seen a commercial on tv about Neurontin and how people were trying to commit suicide or had. I cannot believe that because of this drug I no longer have my best friend (my dad) here with me to enjoy watching his 4 yr. old grandson and my 3 yr. old niece grow up. He was only 57 yrs. old he had a lot of living to do yet, but because a company thinks about money and not about the life it will hurt I no longer have my dad. They probably get to enjoy the holidays with their loved one’s, but I only get to go to the cemetary if I want to spend it with my dad. I am outraged at the fact this company decided to be so deceiving about this drug that so many lives have been hurt. It’s not only the person who is taking the pill but the family members and friends of those special people who are hurt by this company. I do not want to see anyone hurt like my sister and I have these last 6 months. The last words that I have from my dad are on paper because he took his life and left us a note. No money could ever measure up to what we have lost, it will not bring him back, but I do not want to see another person suffer like we have. Something has to be done so they do not get away with this, and that they take the pill off of the market. To many lives have already been hurt, how many more will be before something is done. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Let us stand together so that they don’t hurt anyone else. If anyone has any information they can give me, I would truely appreciate it. I am gonna do whatever I can to make sure no one else suffers like I have.

• j.p. // Dec 8, 2003 at 1:20 am

  I hope you all know that this is a dead end e-mail sight. the only one monitering this is us. We may feel better talking about what we think,feel and have been through. But the buck stops here. After all I’ve been through I am not to sure if this is not a Parke Davis Physer web site to keep us from going to someone else. They are truley evel people with hundreds of millions at thier disposal don’t trust them or anyone. I was told that I was correct,in that neurontin in new cinical trials, facial pain was a side effect the pharmisist with parke davis pyser was not around the next time i called, nor will she ever be I’m sure she was let go.

• Stan (fake name due to millitary status) // Dec 8, 2003 at 2:42 pm

  I have been takn neurontin for the past 5 days. In the past two days I have had violent mood swings. I man at a 7-11 asked me for some money to help him out. I usually do. This time I chucked him against the wall and said some profane things that I wont repeat. Im usually a nice guy. Two years ago about when I got to my current duty station. I was in a small car accident. Few months later started getting severe headaches. I been on fiorcet, that stopped working while I was in Iraq so they sent me home since then the only thing that has helped has been hydrocodone and oxycodone. Even with them if I dont catch the pain early enough I end up in the ER. The docs say I have a pinched nerve in my neck and on in my jaw area by the head. My neurologist is a high ranking officer and its a lil hard to argue when you dont out rank somebody. If someone is prior service or anybody has any thoughs at all please email. Cuz Im more scared now then dif times when i was In Iraq.

• michele // Dec 9, 2003 at 7:45 pm

  Hello”

  I am horrified by all that i have read tonight. I only accidently heard the commercial on tv yesterday and have been trying to get information all day. When I asked the dr’s office about this i got no answer I also asked the pharmist and he could not tell me anything. I am a mother of four who is blind and lives a very good life in spite of being blind. I have been on 3200 mg of this med for almost 18 months. I went on it for pain in my left shoulder. I also have had places on body that hurt when they were touched and the dr thold me that i had some kind of nueralgic disorder. The med helped for a while and all was good. As i said i am blind but have never been depressed about that– I live a very good life–I have wonderful kids and good people in my life. For the past few months I have been experiencing bad mood swings, depression and pain in the bottom of my feet– this is bad because i like to walk alot. I have asked the dr on several occassion if the med was making me nervous and upset but he said that the med should do just the opposite. I seem to be taking alot more of this med then most of the people whose letters i have read. Anybody who can send me teh name and address of the lawyers and can give me information about other side affects, I ma really scared. HELP– send me any e mails anybody can.

• joe m. // Dec 10, 2003 at 12:23 pm

  I had extream headaches in 2000, it got so bad i was on about evry pain med avalible. Eventually i treid to commit suicide it didn’t work thank god but when i was in the hostpital i was prescribed neurontin 1800 mg a day and was told if headaches continue to go to 2400mg. Welll about a week or so after that i was having facial ticks and hearing what seamed to be homicidal voices and severe mood swings also felt like i had to hurt people i was getting into fights and confrintations for any reason. not sure what other side affects there are but now it is all making sence! if anyone knows a 1800number i can call i would appreciate it very much thanks. jm @ mills507@bellsouth.net

• Joyce manning // Dec 13, 2003 at 6:40 pm

  My dad was on neurotin for years ,he allwas talked about suicide. And on nov.10,2003 he shot my sister 4 times . could this have been the pill? she wated on him hand and foot ,we took turns driving 500 miles to care for him it just so happened it was her turn , or I would be in her place. could someone please help. her children have a lawsuit against our Estate , I want to know what went wrong, there is a lot of cover up in chatt. ten. please help . the money is not important to me .she was my best friend I miss her so .oh yes he died on Easter Sun . 2003 He told me on his dieing bed he did not do it HELP joymead51@yahoo.com

• Diane Henderson Gregory // Jan 2, 2004 at 1:06 pm

  Could you please send me information about the nuerontin lawsuite, so I can also place a lawsuite against the company, because Iv’e been taking the medicatin called neurontin for chronic pain,and I too wanted to commit suicide.

• Annie // Jan 9, 2004 at 2:42 pm

  I have been taking Neurontin since 1997. It was originally prescribed for me for a nerve injury. However, I find it helpful as a sleep aid and as a calming agent. It does not cause me to be depressed, however, my cognitive abilities have declined severely during this period. First it was short-term memory, then ability to write, followed by inability to concentrate. I did not realize until now that the Neurontin is almost 100% responsible for the cognitive losses. I am extremely fearful these impairments are permanent. Also, I do not know how long I have to stay off this drug before my intellectual abilities will stabilize. Has anyone had any experience with return of cognitive functioning after quitting Neurontin?

• Annie // Jan 9, 2004 at 2:45 pm

  As a follow-up to my previous message, anyone should feel free to contact me directly (akrinsky@socal.rr.com) regarding Neurontin and cognitive functioning. We all need to do some research here. It appears this is a dangerous medication.

• Wendy Bird // Jan 9, 2004 at 5:35 pm

  Annie, It has been almost two years since I took neurontin. For the first few months I could barely talk, couldn’t walk without staggering, and couldn’t hold a thought in my head. After eight months of very hard work I have relearnt alot of things and have developed compensority stragities to work around the things I cannot do. Since then there has been little/no improvement in my cognitive abilities. The specialist I have seen believe it (neurontin) has damaged the Central Auditory Processing part of my brain (likely permenantly). I have been tested annually with little change.

  Intensive work with a speech therapist has helped with fluency, and we are now working on trying to read simple sentences aloud, numbers, and simple memory tasks. Memory loss, both short term and interferance memory, speech problems (stuttering and dsythria), mixing up words, sounds, ect. when speaking and writing, oral reading. Inability to concentrate, especially in noisy or demanding situations, and even soome days trying to do simple things like following a recipie are impossible. Some days it is all I can do to look after myself. These are just a few specific areas of my life that have been affected.If you want to talk more specifically contact me at birdjw@nb.sympatico.ca, I understand how you feel. Soryy this is mixed up I hope it makes sense to you.

• Brenda // Jan 15, 2004 at 12:16 am

  I just wanted to let you know that I was taking Neurontin with pain meds. I keep telling my Dr that I was having sever headaches and he said nothing. I would call the office and ask them to note in my records about the headaches I don’t know if they did. When I went to the Dr for my check up and get my pain meds the nurse would always ask me my pain level from 0 being the least pain and 10 being the worst pain. Even after taking pain meds for my pain before my visit I was still in the 7 to 8 and 9 of pain level. I know it was from the nerve med I was taking. I quite taking it because I couldn’t take the pain any more. I didn’t tell the Dr about stopping the meds because I was moving to a new state and would be seeing a new pain doctor. They new that the Neurontin was the reason for my headaches when I told them I wasn’t taking the med for the nerve anymore they stated it would cause headaches but they didn’t say anything else it would cause. But they did give me a new nerve med to take and I’m not taking it either. I will not be a giney pig I will only take pain meds that I know people have been taking for over 20 years and they are fine today. I have Arachnoiditis and I know I will never be the same but I do know I will take an active role in my pain management of what I will take and what I won’t take. If you don’t know what arachnoiditis is it is the harding of the nerves in the spinal cord. This is due to test done on the spine and special xrays,nerve blocks and epidurals for even blocking the pain of birthing babys. Any way if you want to talk just email me and I can even call you. If we don’t stand up for our rights and get the government to help then we might as well crawl in a whole. Someone has to listen. The governor will hear what is going on with the people but only if we talk and comumicate with as many people as we can. The internet has so much information on any thing you need to know about this growing problem. Please lets help each other and ourselves before it is to little to late. Brenda Kapa 1/15/04

• Anne // Jan 18, 2004 at 10:55 am

  Just found this site via search engine. Tried to look up info on Neurontin and Topomax. I’m on both for Arachnoiditis of lower spine. I also have Fibromyalgia and Sleep Apnea, so I’ve been attributing my memory loss and depression to that, HOWEVER, in light of all these letters, I want more info on these meds and this lawsuit. Can someone fill me in? Is there a phone number to call regarding the lawsuit? Thanks for any info any of you send.

• Heather // Jan 28, 2004 at 3:48 pm

  I Have been taking nuerontin for 6 months for severe anxiety. I had tried all types of antianxiety and antidepressants yet had severe side effects from them so my doctor started me on nuerontin which helped me finally get some sleep at nightand did decrease the anxiety in the day abit. Oh and I tried all kinds of sleepers too and they caused me to have incresed anxiety with their hangover effect. Anyway, a month or so after starting the neurontin I started having short term memory loss. My Dr. said it was due to the anxiety so she increased it which didn’t seem to help and then I was getting very sad and tearful at times and she said it was from the anxiety and all the stress in my life. So I excepted that and 2 wks ago I went back to see her and told her that I was still having alot of memory problems and that my dreams were running into my wake state. I couldn’t figure out if it really happened or was it a dream? So she increased it again saying it was anxiety. A couple of days after the increase my depression got worse started thinking about suicide and was very anxious. When i called her she said uh oh decrease the medication. I have always been an anxious person but have never been depressed or suicidal!! I then looked up info on nuerontin and found this and can’t believe what I am reading. I looked it up 6 months ago but didn’t see anything like this. Could someone please tell me where I can get more updated info on this and has anyone got their short term memory back after stopping this. I am so afraid that this will cause permanent damage. HELP!!!!!!! Heather

• heather // Jan 28, 2004 at 4:00 pm

  I thought my E-mail would show but it didn’t so I will try again. shawnhunter@nethere.com thanks Heather

• Barbara LaPointe // Feb 6, 2004 at 10:20 am

  My brother was prescribed Neurontin in 1996 for epilepsy. At the time it wasn’t quite FDA approved. My brother was subject to violent mood swings. One mood swing in which he and I got into a fight and my head was slammed into an entertainment center. This lawsuit that is going on, is that soley for the “off market” prescriptions or is it for anyone that has been subject to any side effects of Neurontin including those who were prescribed it for an anti-seizure drug? Can someone please e-mail me and let me know. Thanks!

• MIMI j. // Feb 16, 2004 at 10:48 am

  My son has been on nurontin 200mg for a month now. Until reading with web page I couldn’t understand the change in him.Some depression etc. I thought just staying home all the time is hard enough thus causing his symptoms but the meds must surely multiply the symptoms. I’ll keep posted.

• Marie Brown // Feb 17, 2004 at 9:25 am

  A friend of mine showed me this post. My mom was on Neurontin for who knows how long, at least a year i would say. She had MS (multiple schlerosis) and was had tried many different medications for pain and sleeping problems. Nothing worked according to her and I’m not 100% sure why she was even taking the the Neurontin. This i need to look into. Recently in a conversation she had told me that she saw a study that Neurontin was causing people to commit suicide. I instantly wanted her to stop taking the drug. She had dropped the subject and said she couldn’t stop taking it. I insisted she at least see her doctor, but she had become very difficult over the past couple of years. Just a few days ago, i recieved a call alerting me that she had actually done it and killed herself. Before this drug, she would have down periods but nothing so severe. If this drug was even remotely responsible for her death, i would like to know.

  I’m even thinking about calling a lawyer. Who knows how many people this could have effected. I can’t believe that if it’s even been documented once or twice they would still be giving this med to patients. And especially if there was some type of payout to doctors to give it out un-needed. I don’t know, this all just happened, so i’m still pretty emotional still. But now would be the best time to find out and do something instead of waiting til later. Any info would help…thanks

• Michael Sr. // Feb 19, 2004 at 9:21 am

  It’s funny..looking for the same “poor” souls that had to suffer through what I did with Neurontin & I also see Oxycontin…Lortabs on the same site together. I was prescribed both, for pain in the back from multiple car accidents. I actually had the auduacty to refuse one of them as I told the Dr. I didn’t want 2 Rx’s for pain….Lortabs (oxycontin) and the other Neurontin (I didn’t have epilepsy) They then told me the Neurontin is not for epilepsy (the FDA approved indication) it’s for pain. I told them about the Lortabs…they said…”O.K. smart ass…we’ll d/c BOTH!!! “Enjoy the pain you WILL me in.” I din’t…I was!!! Nuff-said there!!!

• Timothy S. Ireland // Feb 22, 2004 at 10:35 am

  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. 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.

• donna packard // Feb 23, 2004 at 8:02 pm

  i’v been takeing neurontin for 6 year’s and i’v taken a ride for my life . my memory is shot . i was working as a sale’s manager with my husband, now I can’t even manage my life. someone has got too help us people do somthing about this so-called medicen…………D.Packard.

• Jackie B. // Mar 2, 2004 at 2:51 pm

  I have been have my mother read most of the discussion to me, i have been living in my basement for almost 3 years now and i don’nt have any more friends and i did’nt evern want to be around my own family. I have pretty much of every thing that has been discussed about. I lost my job because of this drug i can’nt work-out I can’nt walk very well and it just goes on and on In the mornings when i wake up i just some time that i just would never wake! But i have 2 childen and a husband that neen me and i need them, but thay don’t understand what is wrong with me,i used to be always happy,outgoing,and I and i’m a artist, i havent been intrested in any thing now.I’m on depression med’s and still in so must pain. Please help ( i don’nt want to die!!!!)

• Belinda // Mar 8, 2004 at 12:03 pm

  My new Dr. just put me on Neurontin. 2 weeks ago, to be exact. I am feeling miserable today and decided to look up this medication online…MY GOD I had no idea what this drug has done and can do. Do I stop taking it now? Am I suppossed to trust my dr. now? I am afraid I will continue to feel this bad. I’d rather be extremely moody than to feel this way. Any advice?

• Lois Rizzardi // Mar 8, 2004 at 5:27 pm

  My son Michael was diagnosed as manic depressive/bi-polar. He was prescribed Neurontin in early 2002, he committed suicide April 10th, 2002. All I can say is be very careful about this drug, I believe it killed my son. If you want the number of one of the law offices that is handling a class-action suit against Parke-Davis/Pfizer, the name and number is, Finkelstein & Partners, 800-634-1212. God Bless you all.

• Rob // Mar 10, 2004 at 10:01 am

  Well i dont know where to start i been on 800Mg of Neurontin for about 5 yrs for panic Disorder and dont see where it help at all i loss # of jobs just cant get going in the morning i am so tired i am on5MgXANIX ANSD .5Mg. Kloipine and 15 Mg REMORON i just feel as thougt i am on to much meds and i always told im not but i dont feel any better ifthere anyone out there that whould like to talk email me aand im contacted the lawer and the said that you had to try and kill youself befor there anything they can do what i joke so your sorpose to try to kill yourself and get it noted and then there help these Dr. need to get on the ball and find a better drug from these that we can send a damn rocket to mars but cant find any help for thing here on earth i guss all the people getting rich off this drug just dont care so i hope there happy knowing there a drug out there doing this to people and can live happyly wile we all suffer i guss i said anof take care and contact me on any new news

• Mike V. // Mar 11, 2004 at 9:43 pm

  Please, I am not a good researcher on the internet and just happened to stumble across this. I take neurontin @ 1800mg a day for periphial neurapathy in my lower legs and feet due to aggressive chemotherapy since 2000. I still have the neurapathy and my doctors must think I am crazy when I tell them that I am no better than I was when I started. My memory has gone south, balance is a joke and trying to function everyday is almost out of the question. I believe that I may be suffering from ill side effects. Can any one PLEASE share some of the side effects that they may of had? Thank you so much!!!

• ms.Johnson // Mar 14, 2004 at 8:29 pm

  I have been on Wellbutrin and Nurontin since 1995 I believe. I tend to forget my husbands name and children. When I am talking to someone like my boss and they ask me a question, I just go blank. Not a thought I feel almost frozen. People laugh and I do to but it is very scarry. I have depression, anxiety/bypolar, who knows. They never really give me a straight line. They give me directions in the doctors office and as soon as it is said, I forget and cannot recall. I use to type well, but my hand stammers’ left and right. My left eye twitches and I have chest pains. I will tell you what it is like and as the doctor does, he just stares at me like I am crazy. It hits in my left upper chest and it becomes painful to breath. It’s like a fake bullett in the movies, when it hits the window it shots off in all directions looking like broken glass. It seemed to be in my shoulder this last one. Doctor calls, it anxiety. My bowels are so off that nothing helps. It is very painful down in my right side by my hip. All the answer to anything is, lets try this medicine. He never writes it down. Doctors do not write much down at all anymore. Maybe this makes them unlieable. My word ( someone who puts all the wrong words in the wrong places and freezes when ask a simple question) against his. My balance it off, I fall and tip easily. More times than others.I walk off to one side or the other. I miss judge when someone is moving and where I should be. I have had a swollen throat which makes it hard to swollow, but its not the medicine. Nothing is the medicine. Maybe we are all guines pigs. I have never thought of sucide but when I have one of my attacks I do think of sucide. I have never told anyone because they think I a nut anyway. I get so upset at my husband I just scream because I can’t focus and then I do not understand anything. Driving is so scarry. I drove a large vehicle. I asked the doctor if it was okay, sure its fine. My judgement is not so bad in a car but I day dream. My eyes are so blurry that when they get tired, glasse do not help. I wear glasses but it does not help. I beleive its the meds. Doctor, do you wear them all the times. I told him no, for they do not help. Give them a month or two, then come in again and lets talk. I take trazadone at night and this makes me tired during the day with all the rest of the meds. too. How do I stop the medicine. Everyone tells me I will be worse off without it. I am sick all the time, tired, confused. My short term memory is frightening. What will I be when I am old. Even remembering where I have been. I am so afraid that when this medicine is done, I will be too.

  I feel sick to my stomach I need to go and try to think it away.

  thank you for your time.

• Gigi // Mar 19, 2004 at 9:16 am

  I just discovered this website after a friend told me that he had heard about people having problems with Neurontin. I just started taking it a week ago as a mood stabilizer. I have Borderline Personality Disorder and I have problems with cutting and I recently fled from the police to hit a tree. This was before I started taking Neurontin. In the hospital my physician put me on this and it is helping me with the impulsive behavior. I haven’t cut in three days. I’m scared though of all the testimonies I have read. Am I going to try to commit suicide? I have had problems with BPD, Major Depression, Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Anorexia. I have tried to kill myself twice since 1/1/04. I am terrified that since I just started taking this drug that it will make me do it again. I am really scared. Should I stop taking a drug that is helping me because of what it has done to other people and might happen to me? Or do I stop the drug and suffer with the severe mood swings and major cutting episodes. Does anyone have any advise?

• TOMMY // Mar 26, 2004 at 6:09 pm

  MY WIFE HAS RSD. SHE SUFFERS 24/7 WITH PAIN. HAVING TROUBLE FINDING A DOCTOR THAT WILL HELP HER. LIVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU

• mitchell walker // Mar 31, 2004 at 9:34 am

  I started Neurontin in 2000. I take 800 mg 4x per day. I was Rx Neurontin for chronic pain due to bilateral knee injuries that occurred during my military career. This drug was used as an adjunct to increase the effects of the percocet I was also chronically taking. Today, my short term memory…well, it is only a memory. I have trouble with balance and inability to concentrate at times. I have had two traffic accidents since starting the medication but prior to 2000, was accident free. What scares me more than anything is my mother is also on this medication for Shingles. She has also suffered short term memory loss, balance problems, and the marked inability to concentrate. The way this drug was marketed and portrayed is unbelievable and criminal. The drug company needs to feel the effects of what they have done to thousands of trusting individuals. I was an Independent Duty Hospital Corpsman in the Navy for 15 years. I treated thousands of patients during that time frame. If I new then what I know now about this drug, I would have loved to been the person to blow the whistle on this drug. I am a person who is faithful to this country and all of the wonderful things this country does for us. But if the drug company involved with Neurontin is able to spend their money unscathed, that maybe we need to take a hard look at our present judicial system. My heart goes out to all who are burdeoned with the use of this drug wether it be themselves or family members. Please feel free to e-mail me at anytime. May God Bless You and keep you and your loved ones safe.

• Lisa A Carter // Mar 31, 2004 at 2:32 pm

  Lisa A.Carter says:

  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! silentembers@aol.com

• Jody // Apr 1, 2004 at 8:27 pm

  I filled a precription for this drug yesterday, and decided to look it up on the internet. I have disc disease and pinched nerve in lower back. I have been taking percocet, and soma for the pain, and now my doc says lets change. I think not, after reading this page. Some scary stuff. Why do the doctors take away the things that work, and try u on something that can kill u, make u not remember yesterday, and god knows what else. Its all about money. Sad but true.

• m // Apr 2, 2004 at 3:59 pm

  I have read through quite a few of these and it concerns me that most if not all of them are anti-nuerontin. I am not sure if those who take neurontin and have problems seek out more info or these letters are censored. I happened upon this page one night and was surprised. First, let me say that I take wellbutrin, neurontin and seroquel. I was prescribed nuertontin(1800 mg) about five years ago. My psychaitrist is also a neurologist and said this epilepitc drug had shown promise for those having troubles sleeping. I suffered from racing thoughts that kept me awake until I could no longer hold my eyes open. And this drug helped. I hate to think that lawyers may be using mentally ill people such as myself for their own gain. I think we can all admit we are not the best judge of our mental state all the time. Merely suggesting a drug causes forgetfulness may be too suggestive to a depressed person. I myself questioned whether these symptoms had affected me. But they have not. Not anymore than a person not taking the drug. I will fully admit I find suspicious the increasing occurance of general physicians prescribing psychotropic drugs. But that is why it is so important to find a good psychiatrist. None of us would go to a urologist for a cough and we should not go to GPs for mental illness. I think these doctors are the ones who should be called out. I am not familiar with the non-psychiatric uses and experiences so I will not comment on those emails. But I would say to anyone reading this page and thinking twice about taking neurontin: Weigh the costs. There will always be side effects (tylenol can kill you). It is the advantages that must be weighed against those. I can sleep. I am not depressed. I am not anxious. My sanity is number one. I, for one, wish a physician would offer up their opinion. I assume none of us are medical doctors so we are relying on word of mouth and fear. Thank you and good luck to all of you. Mental illness is such a hard thing to face and conquer, but for those of us that have been helped it is worth it all.

• mike adcock // Apr 5, 2004 at 7:41 am

  Ihave been taking nuerontin 300mg since 3-3-2004 (prescription 1st wk. 1 at bedtime,2nd wk. 1 every 12 hours,3rd wk. 1 every 8 hours.I was taking this for a rotator cuff tear and for a degenerative disc between my 5th and 6th vertebre in my neck. I was unable to sleep since 12-2-2003 and was prescribed this medicine to relax the nerves. about two weeks later I started having memory loss (short term).before taking nuerontin I could remember everything in my life almost to the day. I have cut back to taking this drug once per day at bedtime per doctors orders and still cant remember what I ate for breakfast. whats worse I have a 9 year old son with autism who needs to be on a schedual for everything , I believe nuerontin is the problem, apperantly so does the doctor.

• Tonya // Apr 17, 2004 at 9:34 pm

  My sister takes the nuerontin drug for her epilepsy that she has had since birth. She is 31 years old and has been on nuerontin for approximately 7 years. She lives in a facility for the handicapped. The clinical director of Illinois has ordered that the dispensing of nuerontin be stopped at this facility as well as others statewide. My mother and I are concerned that she begin having seizures again. I was wondering if the stories shared here were some of the reasons this drug has been elected to be ceased????? If anyone has any answers for me please let me know.

• C C Boomer // Apr 18, 2004 at 3:22 pm

  Was prescribed Neurontin in the late 90’s by a Neurologist when side effects from tegretol were unbearable. I took the Neurontin for several years and I must say, it left me numbbrained with no positive effect. Since it wasn’t helping nor hurting the doctor just kept upping dosage to 3600 mcgs until we just weaned off. In the meantime I lost years of time numbed but unhelped by this drug. I am angry and very much in pain.

• Jennifer // Apr 20, 2004 at 3:19 pm

  I have taken Neurontin for two years and I love it!! Every drug has side effects. If it doesn’t work for you then don’t take it.

• Terry Lancaster // Apr 21, 2004 at 7:45 pm

  My mother was prescribed 800mg 4x daily for pain. Several months after this dosage increase, she was hospitalized with a blood clot in the lung–in October of 2003. They put her on Coumadin while in the hospital and to date she has to go in to have a blood test done weekly as we can not get her blood clotting properly. Has anyone experienced this type of problem while taking the neurotin? My hair dresser told me today that one of her other clients had had a stroke and her doctor felt it was directly related to the neurotin. This is what made me start thinking that Mother’s blood clotting problem may be linked to the neurotin. Thanks for any info anyone can pass on to me.

• Tom // Apr 23, 2004 at 6:03 pm

  Thanks to this site I decided not to take this drug! I was givin neurontin for nerve pain for my L5 S1 disc problem and nerve pain that radiates down my right leg! Is there anything else that might help me besides this drug?

• Olivia // May 4, 2004 at 11:46 am

  My husband of 10 years has been on Neurontin now for 3 years. His dosage is 800 mg 4x a day. He was prescribed the drug for depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder & alcoholism. The medication has done nothing but wonders for him and our family. Before my husband was on this drug he would lash out at me for the smallest thing. He would get upset about things a typical person would not get upset about. I felt like I was living on pins & needles with him for a very long time. I couldn’t understand why such a good person had feelings the way he did. When I got pregnant with our child I decided this needed to stop or I was going to leave him. He’s been under doctors care now & has was prescribed Nerontin and Celexa for his disorders. My husband can now speak in front of big groups with no anxiety, he has extreme patience, he no longer has mood swings, he’s happier and is now able to sleep without waking up several times in the middle of the night. He has had no side effects other than being sleepy at times. We do however worry about the withdrawls of this medicine if he should ever go off it. As this is a daily medication, my husband has forgotten to get his pills refilled at times. When he goes off his medication he can’t sleep, sweats, gets nervous & the mood swings start. Does anyone know if Nerontin can be a life long medication?

• G. Wright // May 14, 2004 at 8:03 am

  The benefits that I have gotten from Nuerontin are emense. I was first prescribed Nuerontin in early 2002, I had just turned 36 years old. Nuerontin has been the only drug that has helped take the edge off of my severe chronic pain from Fibromyalgia. I have documentation from five different health care professionals that support my use of Nuerontin for my nerve pain. I suffered for many years, undiagnosed and misdiagnosed since fibromyalgia can’t be diagnosed with a blood test. Unable to sleep, unbearable pain, and anxiety resulting from these conditions, had forced this happy-go-lucky optimist to the edge and into a pit of desperation. I read some of the above comments, and maybe it is true that Nuerontin may be harmful with to those with mood disorders, but I strongly believe that the anxiety and depression that is related to chronic pain, will go away with the use of this drug. Anxiety, insomnia, and depression from pain is not the same as chronic depression and other mood disorder conditions…like comparing apples and oranges. A whole different ball park involving completely different physiological occurences. The points that I would like to make here are that 1. We need to stop putting our doctors on pedestals, they don’t want to be there anyway. Get a second opinion whenever you have concerns about a drug prescribed to you and/or aren’t sure if your doctors diagnosis is correct. Nuerontin takes the edge off for chonic nerve pain but, only based on the above comments, probably shouldn’t be given to those with chronic depression, bi-polar, or other related psychological disorders. Prior to taking Nuerontin, even I considered suicide. At 31, I purchased alcohol for the very first time in my life, in a desparate search to find something to numb my physical pain and make me sleep. This was only after many pleas to my doc to test my blood again and my insistence that something was indeed very wrong with my health. I hate the out of control feeling of intoxication but it was my only way to get a little temporary relief from my unimaginable pain, discomfort, and the resulting anxiety from continuing to function as normally as I could. The sole provider for my two kid’s, I had no choice but to continue working. The alcohol wound up only adding to my depression and though it may knock someone out, it actually disprupts one’s ability to get restful sleep even more. I had even gotten to the point where I was praying for the strength to commit suicide in order to help my kids. After years of struggling to put up with the pain and begging my doc to help me, I came to a conclusion that I had run out of hope. I knew for a fact that I could not continue working, the pain was too great, so suicide had become an option as a means to provide income for my children (my life insurance). On a couple occassions, I had tried to get myself drunk enough to go through with it but just couldn’t. However, I did learn from my meager attempts that I could at least get a doctors note to stay home and rest if I pulled this stunt. I was in such torture conditions that I was willing to take all the bad that came with that just to rest and be allowed to not move. Since I have been on Nuerontin, I have had no desire to drink for relief and no thoughts of suicide. I don’t work anymore and am merely existing, in bed most of the time. I am unable to shop, drive, or socialize and I only leave my home when my parents drive me to the doctors’ or take me to their home on holidays. Undoubtably most people could not handle these conditions but for a person who is forced to endure inhumane discomfort for so many years, a tolerance for adversity is developed and their coping skills strengthen. So to me, though I may live without the pleasures from friends and work that most people just take for granted, the relief I get from rest and Nuerontin make my life seem beautiful with much to be greatful for. I may be foolishly hanging on to hope that there will soon be more advancements in medicine so that someday I will get a chance to start living again where my life let off, and conclude that I am so grateful that a doctor, in 2002, did decide to try an off lable use for Nuerontin on me. Just taking off the edge, is like a miracle.

• Gala Wright // May 14, 2004 at 8:30 am

  I just read at the Pfizer site that Neurontin was approved for nerve pain in 2002. My previous comment suggests that my use of it is an off lable use but I was wrong. It looks like Warner-Lambert’s mistake was marketing it for psychological problems. My mistake…it does work good for chronic pain sufferers who, like me, refuse to have anything to do with narcotics.

• Gigi // May 14, 2004 at 10:26 am

  I just read Jennifer’s comments of April 20th. It’s that easy, Jennifer, to just stop taking a drug that your psychiatrist has prescribed especially when other medications tried before have not worked. First of all the physician wants the patient to stay on it and possibly up the dosage and will tell you that your body will get used to it. You find out that it’s working a little but then find that your short-term memory is going, along with other side effects. When you get tired of the side effects you cannot just stop taking the drug either. You have to be weaned off. After that the physician can put you on another medication that you’ll have to start all over with. I’ve been battling with all of this for two years. I believe that, along with the medication, the frustration alone will make someone suicidal.

  Please remember that it’s not just so easy to stop a med if you don’t like it.

• Elena Solorio // May 15, 2004 at 11:50 am

  I am outragged about the lack of scruples of pfizer in claiming Neurontin as a drug to treat bipolar disorder. I was prescribed this drug and in about 2 or 3 weeks I was in a manic state. Not only that but it affected my balance and my memory. I thought I was going crazy.

  Does the consumer have any recourse when it comes to big powerful corporations that lack any morals and principles that makes them think they can play with people’s health. Shame on the government for allowing such things to happen.

• steve // May 17, 2004 at 10:36 am

  neurontin has saved my life, really ! I was told by my doctor i have diebetic neuropathy in both my shoulders and arms and hands. I though I would spend the rest of my life helpless and in pain. I couldn’t even button my shirt.I know i needed to exercise, but how can you when you are in so much pain. when I started neurontin, about 7 mo.ago,I was a vegetable. Now I am able to exercise daily,building muscles I never knew I had, and becoming strong and in control of my life again.This year I will do things that i never thought I would do again, like Waterskiing and climbing in and out of my son’s boat using the ladder which I could not do for two years.So far I have had no ill effects, but after reading this site I will be monitoring my feelings closely . I credit the intense exercise for my renewed condition,and the medication that allowed me to exercise.I thought some positive feedback was needed here. Too much negetivity. Maybe rightly so, I;ll keep watching my health.

• Terry // May 21, 2004 at 5:41 pm

  Back in early 1997 I was Rx’d neurontin by three different doctors who worked together to establish a ‘working dose.” I was on 7,200 MG for THREE YEARS for mood stability (bipolar disorder), pain management (degenerative disk disease, arthritis and FMS) and for damaged nerves (diabetic neuropathy). I never could tell I was taking anything. It made short-term history a daily problem. I was stumbling over air currents and feeling disoriented alot. Frankly, it did NOTHING for pain, NOTHING for neuropathy and NOTHING for mood stability. I kept taking the stuff for three years, simply following the directions of three physicians: psychiatrist, orthopedic surgeon and an endocrinilogist. I do not blame my doctors — they were simply following the advice of the pharm company sales people. The pain never left, the neuropathy became much worse and my mood swings were as bad as if I was on nothing. I’ve sent found out that this drug has never been tested for use for pain management, is useless for neuropathy and is about as good for bipolar mood swings as a sugar pill! No longer will I allow ANY med to be RXd to me UNLESS it is used for ONLY FDA-approved uses. It’s not worth the time, the potential for worsening pain and mood swings/suidical ideation. This is MY LIFE they experimented on. I wish I could sue them for all the horrible things I endured for that three years — when everyone kept saying I was being a hypocrite! The problems were not in ‘my head’ and Neurontin certainly did NOTHING to alleviate the problems. Caveat Emptor!

• Keith Altman // May 22, 2004 at 4:28 pm

  While I have not posted on this board for some time, I wanted all of you to know that my firm, Finkelstein & Partners, has been working hard on the Neurontin front. This week I filed a petition with the FDA concerning the suicide and attempted suicide issues associated with Neurontin. For anyone that is interested, a link to the petition is :

  www .onlinelawyersource.com/neurontin

  (remove the space between www and “.” . The Wall Street Journal has picked up the story and more papers are interested. Things will start to happen more quickly now. More info will follow later.

• Amber L. Henderson // May 24, 2004 at 10:41 am

  I have been taking nuerontin for a little over a year for dejenerate disc osteo arthritis & nerve problems. I have been paranoid, & no short term memory @ all. I am usually very dis oriented & dizzy. I have finally eased myself off the meds but am trying to find out how long it stays in ones system. I quit taking this med 2 weeks ago but am still not really any better. Can anyone shed light. Thanks so much.

• Outraged Daughter // Jun 6, 2004 at 8:36 am

  I am outraged!

  I will be posting this on all message boards.

  I am happy for all who have success stories, bless you all, that is what medication should be developed, researched and legally approved for, sadly not all user’s experienced your benefits. Some have been damaged more by taking this medication which now I know why it was “FALSELY AND ILLEGALLY PROMOTED” - my battle for answers is over!

  First, I need to thank, from my entire family, Dr. Franklin - your actions may have saved many from what my mother has and is experiencing. I am not sure why you descided to “whisleblow” but I am grafeful to you for solving a 6 month mystery that had 6 doctors mystified - my blessing to you sir!

  I am the daughter of a Diabetic mother who suffers from Diabetic Neuropathy. She was prescribed, by her Neurologist, 3,200 mgs DAILY for her condition. In Novemeber of 2003, I noticed she began slight tremors (shaking). Her condition worsened to the point of what seemed to be seizures. Of course, I had notified her doctors when the condition started and asked them if this was MS or Parkinson’s - both conditions were ruled out. In March of 2004 my mother lost control of her legs (she would colapse in an instant), her speech became extremely slurred and her memory was failing. She was rushed to the hospital 5 times in 6 weeks due to her legs colapsing. When she colapsed, she could not get up - no coordination of leg function. During her many hospital stays, she was tested for: brain tumor, viral brain infection, spinal tap, brain/spinal cancer, TIA’S, strokes and variuos other conditions, all revealed negitive results. Her doctors were mystified over her condition. They started to think it maybe drug related and took her off Neurontin. I contacted Pfizer and questioned the medication. I explained EXACTLY the dose and that she was using it for Diabetic Neuropathy. They took my phone number and promised me a return call to answer my concerns…they NEVER RETURNED MY CALL…I called three times, I wanted to understand and asked specifically how this medication helped her condition and were these just side effects of the medication.

  After “magically” getting better…the doctors have put her back on Neurotin because they truly felt it was a viral condition…she is back on 2,500 mg DAILY again. I see the tremors starting and her walk is becoming stagered…then I saw the Dateline news clip on June 4. I am so upset.

  So Pfizer, yes, I will be contacting you once again to tell you what you did to our my Mother and our family. Her falls were not minor…we prayed that she would make it through each day with these massive tremors. I will call her doctors first thing in the morning to GET HER OFF the medication, but knowing them, they will probably call me first if they have beome aware of the disgraceful act that you company has willing created.

  Mr. CEO…is my Mother’s life so meaningless to you because you want a better vacation for you and your family while my Mother is suffering in the hospital from your injustice?

  I am outraged.

• Kat Stevenson // Jun 12, 2004 at 10:33 am

  I am one of the persons who suffer from Arachnoiditis, the horrible scalding type burning with the chronic intractable pain. I was on Neurontin and it wasn’t working, they kept upping the dose until we got to 2600 mgs a day. I was just getting worse and worse plus the swelling up of my whole body. When I first heard the news about the illegal promoting of this drug, I tried to tell people in a group that I belonged to and no one would listen to me, they said it was helping them and that they didn’t care, that they were going to continue tot ake it. but I make you a bet, all those that insisted they were going to continue to take it, are going to put their hands in the settlement pot now that the ruling against Pfizer has been made. I think the amount is 250 million dollars that Pfizer is ordered to pay. I am just glad that I quit taking it. It ruined me, I had to go to Clonezapam for the spasms, am not taking anything for the burning, but as long as the spasms are kept to a minimum, the burning spells aren’t ass bad. I mean it, I bet now that the lawsuit is over, I would just love to see how many of these people who insisted they were going to continue taking the Neurontin change their minds and dream up a case, that it ruined them, with all that money at hand.

  Kat

• John // Jun 22, 2004 at 5:06 pm

  I have been taking neurontin for a long time now and it has made me so very dizy and it seems like I can not get off of them, I hate this drug and never knew that it would change me .

• Aurora // Jul 6, 2004 at 12:19 am

  Whew! Ihave idiopathic generalized epilepsy. Meansit’s genetic, not from an injury to any onepart of my brain. I have been on Dilantin (too dizzy to stand), Depakote ( gaveme jaundice within a week) and Tegretol (headaches from hell, intense vertigo, got off quick). When i went to the neuro, she read me my medical file like an indictment for crimes of disobedience, told me that if I didn’t take the meds she gave me it meant I didn’t want to get well and then prescribed Neurontin as a monotherapy for epilepsy. I never filled the prescription and now I’m so glad!!! I’ve had so many doctors tellme the side effects i was having couldn’t possibly be from the drug, even when they were listed in the manufacturer’s own literature! I’ve also been on Xanax. Clonipin, remeron and Prozac and had problems with all of them, some serious, all dismissed by doctors. Now i ALWAYS research the side effects of anything I’m offered before deciding whether to take it, and i look for material not written by the company that makes it. Notonly do i now discover Neurontin cannot be legally prescribed as anonly drug for epilepsy I found out some time ago that it is useless for my kind of seizure. Didn’t stop my neuro from trying to bully me into taking it. hang int her everyone–someday medicine in this country won’t be run by pharmaceutical companies!

  Aurora

• shawna graves // Jul 14, 2004 at 6:05 pm

  Hi,

  My brother Jeff Myers has taken Neurontin from 9-25-02 thru (according to his medical records I have gathered so far)1-17-03.During that time he became very depressed and duranged. On Sept. of 2002 he tryed to commit suicide several times. He was commited into Moccasin Bend Mental Hospital in Chattanooga Tn. A family member signed him out after a short month stay. From that day forward my brothers life has gone terribly wrong. A girl that he was living with desided that since Jeff no longer wanted a relationship with her that she would get even. So she and a 13yr.old daugther made up a story that he had raped the girl. Jeff had a serious motor cycle accident and was life fighted to Erangler Hospital in Chattanooga Tn. with extreme head trama. Long story short he is now incarcerated in Whiteville Tn.on attempted rape serving 6yrs at 30%. He pleaded quilty (thou he doesn’t remeber doing so)because he was told to do so and given only 18 minutes to do so. He has ringing in his ears and is pain continiuosly from that accident(torn rotor cuff,blurred vision just to name a few). He has served 21 months already and should hopefully be coming home within a few months(we hope). Can you tell me if my brother has a case concerning the Neurontin law suit or not. I do not have all the dates for sure as to the actual start and stopping of the medication but I will list all the pharmacys I do have proof of refills and you can contact the mental instituition and Erlanger Hospital for further information. Please advise.

  Sincerely,

  Shawna Graves

  sgraves21@juno.com

  615-459-3615

  615-948-2465

  Erlanger Hospital 423-778-4185

  Moccassin Bend Mental Hosp.423-265-2271

  Sparta Discount Drugs ?

  Payless Family Pharmacy 931-836-3187

• Samra Roth // Jul 19, 2004 at 5:21 pm

  I am an attorney in California. I am representing a woman who is accused of beating her mother to death in a homicidal rage. She had a history of mental illnes, seizures, diabetes and high blood pressure. She was taking Neurontin among other things. Anybody have any idea if there is a link between the Neurontin and the homicidal behavior?

• Judith // Jul 21, 2004 at 7:57 pm

  I have been taking neurontin for about 3 years now. I have found that it helps my mood, panic disorder stay in check. I really think that people posting all the negitive comments about the drug have problems that exist from other things. I think that it may be easy for people to place blame on a drug instead of admitting that their disorder would exist without ever taking the drug in the first place. The only issue I have with the drug is the cost of it!

• Shanon E. // Jul 22, 2004 at 2:39 pm

  Despite what may or may not be true about how Neurontin has been marketed, I firmly believe that it does help and is positive for many people with different diseases and disorders. Think rationally about the effects certain over the counter medications have on you versus your friends; some people take fizzy tablets when they are sick and they feel BETTER. For other people, it has no effect, but if they take a certain cold tablet….they are suddenly up and about and able to breathe; one medication does not work for everyone, for everything. I have Trigeminal Neuralgia, one of the facial pain disorders that makes you so misarable you want to rip your head off at times. For me Tegretol removes the pain, but it makes dizzy and forgetful (so I ate more to offset the negative effects of the drug, which helped; and then gained weight which created a cycle because that made me miserable about how I looked). Now, I am on Neurontin with both good and “no” effects; while I am heavier amd wanting to get back in shape, I believe Neurontin has helped me mentally. I feel happier and have more energy - that is something really good! But, if my pain gets worse I will have to go to something else because I know this won’t stop my bigger triggers. Some people get sucked in by doctors. I will not up the dose much more! If I don’t feel enough response at 900 mg, then I doubt I would at a higher dose. But it doesn’t mean it’s a bad drug; just not the one for me, for what I need it to do. Everyone needs to be smart - don’t get scared by reports. Check your blood as directed for liver health regularly. If it works, keep on it and be happier. If you want to get off it; do it SLOWLY!!! Take more than a week or to to wean yourself off it - never go cold-turkey; that is where more problems will set in (for most people, there are exceptions of course). Please keep in mind that Neurontin is a mood stablilizer for many; going off it too fast may change your brain’s chemicals and depression will set in. Stay aware of any changes and seek medical advice. Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet; may people who write in, and not well educated, believe too much of the hype. Yes, there are issues, with every drug, even Tylenol.

• Randy Cline // Jul 27, 2004 at 8:08 pm

  I just lost my 16 year old son Christopher on july 14th from a prescription drug overdose after being on a combination of neurontin and lexapro. It started when he was 11 years old and the teachers said he was hyper and should be put on Cylert. It went down hill from there, violent mood swings, self mutilation and threatend suicide ending in his death. I will go to my grave knowing that these drugs killed a highly intellegent child many others and I will fight to see that the people making these evil decisions are not just “fined’ but are brought to justice.

• pat mayfield // Aug 14, 2004 at 6:48 pm

  my husband has been on neurontin 300mg 4times a day for 3 years. it is for bad headaces. but i have seen a chang in him he wonts to argue a lot and it doesnt help the headaces. he falls weck legs, he is 70 years old someone told me about the meds.so i am looking this up.he has a lot of the same simptoms.

• Michelle D. // Aug 19, 2004 at 10:18 pm

  Neurontin has been wonderful for my ADHD - the first drug that really worked for me. I take 1200mg at 10am and then 600 at 3pm.

  Neurontin changed my life. I was struggling in several ways and now my life is totally on track again. I quit my job to work for myself and I make the same money for 1/2 the stress and in 1/2 the time. My marriage is doing much better and I just feel like I’ve been given this huge gift of my life back!

  And my doc has added 10mg of lexapro for some mild social anxiety and the combination has been great.

  Neither drug gives me any side effects, except I need to make sure to eat enough each day (i have always tended to forget at times in general).

  So Randy, I’m so so sorry you lost your child but that very combination f meds has made my life wonderful. Those previous problems should have made his doctors monitor his meds more clearly. I don’t think it is fair to remove the drug for the rest of us because the drs failed your son who took an overdose.

• laverne // Aug 22, 2004 at 6:31 am

  august 22,2004,i was prescribed neurontin this past week for a thumb injury,the next morning,my speech was slurred,had little control of my arms and legs headache,blurred vision,felt numb all over,hands were shaking,i was scared to death.called dr. he said stop taking,,,i only took 1 300mg at that time,what would have happened if i had took more,i ask the dr. about side affects,got no answer,the drugust told me it would make me sleepy/or dizzy.why couldn;t i get the truth,now thats 94.00 dollar down the drain,why are doctors trying to make us like zombies.luckly i was not by myself at the time,i slept most of the day,finally 2 days after i took the pill,i began to feel like myself again.

• Howard, Re Sam Roth // Sep 10, 2004 at 2:41 pm

  Ms Roth I certainly do bebleave your client may well have had some major changes in her life due to taking neurontin.. I, after taking neurontin for noly three weeks was making marked changes for the worse. I became suicidal, as well as homicidal. i attempted to kill a family member in a rage induced by neurontin. I still am not the same after taking neurontin, it seems as if my reflexes are slower and i am somewhat emotionless. It has been a few years since i took the drug and I am not in anyway recouperating from, detachment of self, lose of memory, and reflex. i hope you well and hope this info will be of help. If you have any questions feel free to ask….

• RLW // Sep 11, 2004 at 10:45 am

  I have been on neurontin 1200mg per day for 4 years. I am a Vet. with primary diagnosis PTSD. I also have wrestless leg syndrome…Which can come on at any time and my legs feel like tooth aches.(or “growing pains” if you’ve ever had them) Neurotin has rarely helped this problem…and the other side effects have been a very degrading personal experience for me. Neurontin has given me such trouble but I was willing to stay on it for I trusted my VA Doctor. These have been some of the horrible side effects which practically turned me into a recluce (sp)? Short term memory problems…common sense with trival tasks of putting things together, making crafts…I just can’t think! And the worst is my speech problems that occured within the first week of taking this aweful drug!! My sentences can be totally garbled…make no sense at all…embarasses my family out in public…I can’t explain myself when having conversation…Just last week I could tell my father was quiet when we hung up the phone…I called back and asked him what was wrong…he repeated back to me what I had said and it was totally off the mark. I apologized up and down and told him I would try harder and try to focus more when I speak. Communication problems can leave a person feeling like they are playing sherades constantly…if my speech isn’t a mess…then I can’t think of a Word. I can explain the word I’m looking for.. before I can continue a meaningful conversation with someone I love. I can see the look on my loved ones faces and I hear a sigh…and they will try to be supportive and not show their impatience and say…”RLW, the word your looking for is handrail.” And damn can I ramble like a skip in an old 45 record…I never had this before as well! My depression gets worse…I was an x-ray tech for 15 years…and yes, I have PTSD and I am a vet…that’s not what needs to be said here about MY STORY…that word bugs me too…”STORY” This is my LIFE I’m talking about here. Another huge problem is I have drank around 10 times since I was put on this drug 4 years ago. I am a recoving alcoholic…and was 6 years sober before being put on this drug. Well now I have a different VA Dr. who respects and really listens to me…he is putting me back on what worked before…I am only speaking for ME…okay? What helped with my wrestless leg syndrome and anxiety was clonazepam 1mg tab 3 times a day and Effexor 300mg per day. Effexor for Me..takes away the cloud of suicidal feelings. My former VA Doc. didn’t want me to be on Clonazepam eventhough it’s such a small dose, which I have Never abused. because I was a recovering alcoholic and a faithful member of AA and I was 6 years sober at the time. He didn’t believe me there was a correlation to staying sober in my case and neurontin. I never expected neurontin could be what I was battling all along. You don’t know me…but I educate myself on my illness(PTSD) and my meds. I don’t pity myself…ever! I had no clue about how this drug was marketed. When I complained to my former VA Doc about falling off the wagon and my speech and communication problems…and felt such distance between myself, my family, and the world…he said it was definately Not the neurontin…for it’s also a mood stabilizer and helps with anxiety. I was talking to a Wall. He then threatened me if I drank again, he would “fire me..let me go as a patient, for he didn’t want to waste his time on me when there are many vets who want help.” I was shamed by him. So then I became the unstable mental patient across my forehead…instead of a person who had an education…a life…worked in the medical field and loved working with my patients….which is not neurontin’s fault, but certainly cannot be excused as a Major Road Block for my Recovery. I am still isolating myself….but keeping myself going to AA meetings and have been sober now for 9 months and slowly weening myself off neurontin. All I hope for is my speech gets back to normal, like it was before this nightmare drug. If only that comes back I’d be happy…for maybe I can rebuild a life again…even just doing volunteer work…and then finding peace within myself with being a disabled veteran. And not having to hang my head in shame for having to play sherades for 4 years.

  In closing, I believe most of us know our symptoms better than anyone. If this drug works for you I am very happy for you…more than you could know!! I wish I had smarted up sooner…maybe I wouldn’t have lost acquaintances…and respect from my family. My mother died of cancer May 12th. She died angry & worn down emotionaly with me. We used to be so close…I always told her I’d try harder, work harder to get better…For I lost the ability to reach her and stay close to her because of this drug. I AM SURE OF THIS! I never wanted her to worry even more about me. Or take away the valuable peace of mind and patience she so desperately needed towards the end of her life…the chemo maintence program…she was terminal…I cried all the time…our relationship fell apart so long ago and I didn’t know what else to do… So I didn’t visit as much as I would have liked, nor did I invite my parents as much as I would have like to my home. It’s a damn shame. I can’t make up for lost time and hurt relationship with my mother for she’s dead now…in heaven..yes…but as for me….I have to live with the looks of embarassment I remember on not just her face but others as well. Thank you for your time….RLW

• Tammy West // Sep 12, 2004 at 6:54 am

  I was given Neurontin and I became sick, my anxienty became worse and I prayed constantly to die. I am so mad at the Dr. who put me on this that I could scream. I hope the company that put this out there hurting people get what they deserve.

• b // Sep 14, 2004 at 7:53 pm

  Does anyone know what the quidelines are for filing a claim in this neurotin lawsuit?

• marcia cutter neel // Sep 19, 2004 at 1:45 pm

  I have never been a depressed person. I was attacked by a autistic student in my classroom and after surgeries I was put on Neurontin. There is much more to this story but I made a serious suicide attempt and spent one week in a psychiatric facility. I have two daughters, one grand daughter, and one grandson who are my life. I would never try to end my life. It just came over me that I had nothing to live for and to help my grand family I should kill myself. It was a very serious attempt. This changed my life. It was horrible but I recently saw an add on an Austin, Texas television station talking about this. I reallized that I was not the only one out there that has experienced this. Where do I go from here?

  Sincerely,

  Marcia Cutter Neel

• Ellen R // Sep 21, 2004 at 10:12 am

  I have now made five telephone calls to find out who is handling the class action suit for patients who have taken neurontin. No one seems to know. I need information. If anyone knows, please send me the information. I am in CT.

• Valerie B. // Oct 16, 2004 at 8:58 pm

  My 10 yr old daughter was on this med for almost 2 years before I took her off of it myself due to the side effects. She has been off it for 1 1/2 years now but unfortunetly seems to have lasting effects and damage. She has problems with concentration, focusing, short term memory, feelings of depression as if everyone in the world is against her - the poor pitiful me complex. She struggles greatly. When she was on the meds she had a list as tall as a tree of side effects. I just found out about this law suit and the improper use of the drug. Can anybody help me know what to do to make sure this doesn’t happen to anybody else.

• LA JUAN // Oct 18, 2004 at 3:50 pm

  ON SEPTEMBER THE 2ND I WAS HIT BY A SEMI-TRUCK RESULTING WITH ME HAVING SEVERE PAIN DAILY. I WAS SENT TO A NEUROLOGIST FOR AND EMG TEST, AFTER READING THE RESULTS I WAS PUT ON NEUROTIN 300MG 3XDAILY. I WORK FOR A DOCTOR AND I TOLD HIM OF THE MANY MEDICATION I WAS ON. THE FIRST THING HE SAID TO ME WAS THAT NEUROTIN IS NO GOOD IT WILL NOT HELP YOU. AT THAT TIME KNOW ONE KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME. ALL I KNOW WAS THAT I WAS IN SEVERE PAIN. WITH IN FIVE DAYS OF TAKING THE RX WHILE SPEAKING TO A PATIENT I COULD NOT REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION WE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT. I CONTINUED TO TAKE THE RX, BUT I ALSO CONTINUED TO HAVE DIFFICULTING CONCENTRATING OR JUST DOING RUN OF THE MILL DUTIES. I CONTACTED THE NEUROLOGIST I WAS SEEING, AND SHE TOLD ME TO DECREASE DOWN TO 1 A DAY. THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM I BECAME DEPRESSED, AGGITATED, SHORT TEMPERED ALL OUT OF CHARACTER FOR ME. I TOOK MY SELF OFF AFTER ABOUT THREE WEEKS. MY DR. SAID THAT I JUST WAS’NT A DRUG FOR ME IT WAS JUST TO STRONG. LATER I WAS SENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, WHERE I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH RSD. THE FIRST THING THEY WANTED TO TRY ME ON WAS THAT HORRIBLE DRUG NEUROTIN. NATURALLY I SREAMED,ARE YOU GUYS TRYING TO KILL ME NO WAY. BE CAREFULL AND STAND UP FOR YOUR SELF BECAUSE DOCTORS CAN ONLY GUESS AND WHAT MAY WORK BUT YOUR BODY WILL TELL WHAT DOES WORK, JUST LISTEN.

  POSTED BY:LA JUAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2004

• Alison // Oct 21, 2004 at 7:02 pm

  I have an idea - let’s blame neurontin for all of our problems. And then try to get money from a lawsuit, because money makes everything better, right? Come on, people. This isn’t rat poison. It’s an FDA approved drug. And the few dimes you get out of a class action suit isn’t going to do much for all of your problems. If you have a marital problem, see a therapist. Take some responsibility. Don’t blame a prescription drug.

  I have been on Neurontin for 6 months for a sleep disorder (off-label use). It has cut my insomnia in 1/2, and I have no side effects @ 900 mg once per day.

• brad // Nov 22, 2004 at 7:17 pm

  I was involved in a accident at work over a year ago which amputated fingers on my right hand. Since then my surgeon/doctor had perscribed Neurontin slowly up to 2400mg a day since I tried to ween off of the medicine got to 1200mg a day and nerve pains started again bumped back to 1800mg a day since my memory has gone downhill I have had bad outbursts towards family members, I feel like a zombie, I can not stay awake. I also take 150mg a day of effexor xr for depression and emotional problems. I also have diabetes and have a hard time keeping it inline due to my psych. nerve medicine problems. I also started schooling to learn a new career and had problems concentrating on everything, tired all the time and had to drop out of school because of all the anxiety and issues. I have problems with driving due to concentration issues. I feel as if I don’t want to go anywhere or even function on a daily basis. I just wish that all of this had never happened. I was a hard worker and cared about what I did with my life. Now I feel as if I would just not wake up again. I have a wife and three children and feel as if I am a burden to them. I have had thoughts of suicide, depression, no emotion, out of touch with myself. I do suffer from PTSD due to the accident but it was never this bad before. I just do not understand why I feel like this please help me please help me. I just want my life back I feel as if it has been taken from me. I also wish I would not just wake up. my pshyc. doctor said that Neurontin is good for anxiety problems and said to stay on it even if the surgeon/dr that perscribed it stopped it. What the hell one says get off the other says keep taking. I am so unsure who to believe I am sick to my stomach. I have lost all interest in all activities I did before. I just wish someone could hear me. That is all I wish. I just can’t take it anymore.

• Bobbie // Nov 23, 2004 at 7:50 am

  Hi I dont know to much about this lawsuit,but I do Know about nuerotin.I have been on it for 3 years.I take 1200 at bed every night.I to suffer from memory loss.And if I miss a dose I have a nervous breakdown, I become very angry and violent,suicidal even.Now the reason I am on it is for bypolar disorder, Italso helps me sleep. without it Icant sleep at all. Please give me more info about the dangers of this drug! I have 4 children to think about, Idont want anything irreversible to happen to me. thank you.

• Lesia // Nov 23, 2004 at 3:35 pm

  I have back trouble causing severe pain. I have had years of treatments, but no surgeries. This year, about june or july of 2004, I was put on Neurotin for a reduction of neurological pain. Like an idiot, I took what they gave me and I thought maybe it was a little better. There was so much pain in my back I was ready to try anything. I was also put on Bextra after Celebrex did not help and now I am having so many other problems.

  I am retaining water and waiting now to see a doctor to find out exactly what this has done to my body. I have sores on my genitals, edema, trouble concentrating, remembering, constructing sentences, spelling, etc.

  I have a 4-year degree in journalism with a minor in English and I have trouble now helping my daughters with thier homework. A few years ago I was helping home school my oldest.

  I read one about someone on here having leg spasms - try large doses of magnesium and add some potasium. I am now going to see about checking out some of the other many medications I am on.

  Good Luck to us all.

• Help Me // Nov 24, 2004 at 10:49 am

  DON’T TAKE NEURONTIN!!! Here’s my “story”…..I’m a 22 y/o female and have been on it for almost three years now for bipolar disorder. I have just recently contacted my physician to help get me off of it. I was always told that I had a memory like an elephant (supposedly that have great memories) but lately, i can hardly remember the days events that occured the day before. I cannot concentrate, focus, or react properly to almost anything. I am in college and sometimes when I have to do an assignement, I just start to daze and it’s almost like my mind is playing a recording or something and then I snap out of it, but still cannot focus properly. I have been going to this nightclub about 25 mins from my house for about a year now, well when a friend came to visit from out of state so I wanted to take her. I GOT LOST! I got lost driving to a place that I had just driven to the week before and the week before that. End of “story.” I’ll leave it at that. I’m 22 and wondering if I’ll ever be the same. 22! My life has barely started and I feel as though it’s ending. I am so scared every single day of my life.

• missy smith // Nov 24, 2004 at 9:13 pm

  I conduct surveys in a local mall and we have a survey that is asking the public to watch a commercial for Nexium and give thier opinions on what the commercial is saying to them. I have seen the real commercial on t.v. and it is different than the one we are showing to the public. The man who is talking in the commercial on the survey, is not moving his lips to the words spoken. I know there is a lawsuit against Nexium and the thousands of signed documents that will be presented in court and fraudulant. I am not sure where to turn on this matter. If anyone knows who to contact…please let me know.

• Jan Smith // Nov 25, 2004 at 8:13 pm

  This is the attorney that I contacted. I live in Mississippi and they are in NJ so I suppose they take cases nationwide on this.

  http://sskrplaw.com/

• John O'Malley // Dec 15, 2004 at 9:37 am

  I have been on Neurontin for two years due to back issues and pinched nerves in my lower back causing chronic leg / foot pain. I am currently taking 800 mg in the morning and afternoon and 1200 mg at night. I used to have what my associates called a “photographic memory” before taking Neurontin. Now I can go shopping with a grocery list and forget that the list is in my hand. After hearing of the side effects and the lawsuits regarding Neurontin, I took the information to my Doctor because I wanted off this medication, after all 2800 mg of anything can’t be good. Not only did he not take me off Neurontin, he also told me that he would take me up to 3600 mg a day if he had to do that.

• DiAnn // Jan 9, 2005 at 6:51 am

  I had cronic pain starting in early march of 2004, after numerous test was advised my gall bladder was not funtioning. It was removed in the first of may. The pain in my rib cage did not go away so i was sent to a pain clinic at that time i was placed on Neurontin 1800 mg daily. Since that time i have had trouble with my memory, severe panic attacks, trouble driving remembering where i am going in a town that i was born in, i can’t remember how to fix supper for my family at times,I am a full time collage student trying to get my RN after years of waiting and working as a CNA i have fear of take any classes due to fear and panic attacks and to top off a list of other problems have become very suicidal. My husband took away my Neurontin cold turkey due to the severe suicidal thoughts and the fact i could not get a return call from the Dr. When the Dr finally did contact me all that was said was that i had been on it for a long time. I still can not function properly and can not even walk in to a store or talk to people i have known for years due to the anxiety. i on;y sleep for short periods of time and wake up with a jump. I have shaking constanly. The suicidal thoughts are with me constantly and have numerous plans in motion at all times. If anybody can help me with any information on how i can get over some of this please feel free to contact me.

• CMem // Feb 8, 2005 at 3:32 am

  Came across this site by accident but the word “Neurontin” stood out like a sore thumb. I have a protruding disk in my neck as a result of a fall which lead to a large impact to the top of my head (I was very lucky really considering the far worse possibilties other than a protruding disk). Anyway, since then I am in constant pain varying from moderate to strong. I trialled neurontin a few months ago when I was barely coping with the burning sensation of nerve pain. I was stupified, I couldn’t think straight was forgetful,saying things backwards such as “can you door the close” and I just lost my normal train of thought. The scary thing was I still had to go to work and function (fortuneately I have been in my customer service job a long time and really know what I am doing so there were no adverse consequences). But this really scared me and I didn’t like it one bit. Pain is one thing and horrible to bear but at least I know what I am doing. The side effects of Neurontin are worse than the pain itself. Steer clear if you ask me!

• Marsha // Feb 14, 2005 at 5:28 pm

  I took neurotin for about 1 and 1/2 years for nerve damage in my feet that caused me severe pain when I walked. It turns out that after I had gastric bypass surgery and lost weight, I no longer had feet pain. What I have experienced however is scary. I absolutely do not have the ability to think anymore. I feel like a person that is a alcoholic and has blackouts must feel. I forget parts on my day, I can’t think of commom words or peoples names that I have known all my life. I’m scared that I have a brain tumor or some disease. I am a teacher and do not desire to get involved in a law suit because I DON’T think that will cure anything. What I would like to know, is has anyone else been on nuerotin and experienced these conditions and will it ever improve?

  Marsha G.

• JUDY // Feb 23, 2005 at 1:31 pm

  I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT 8 YEARS AGO WHICH LEFT ME PARALYZED FOR SOME TIME AND 3 SURGERIES LATER I AM STILL STRUGGLING. MY DOCTOR RECOMMENDED ACCUPUNTURE AND 300 MG NEUROTIN 3XD. THE ANEXIETY IS QUITE UPSETTING WHEN I DON’T TAKE IT AND MY LEGS AND FINGERS QUIT WORKING. I NO LONGER FEEL COMFORTABLE IN GROUPS OR IN GIVING TALKS AS I USE TO BE. I DID GO TO COLEDGE AND ALMOST MADE IT FOR MY BACHELORS DEGREE.HOWEVER, PANIC OVERCAME ME BECAUSE MY MEMORY AND LACK OF WANTING TO DO MY WORK BECAUSE I FELT THAT I WAS NOT CAPABLE ANYMORE. I DO NOT LIKE PAIN PILLS, AND I AM AFRAID OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I QUIT COLD TURKEY. IT DOES HELP MY PAIN AND IT DOES HELP ME SLEEP. BUT AM I ADDICTED TO THIS MEDICATION? I CAN’T REMEMBER ALOT OF THINGS, I CAN’T FINISH A SENTENCE WITHOUT FORGETTING WHAT I WAS SAYING. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I TRUST MY DOCTORS. BUT AM I A SLAVE TO THIS MEDICINE? 8 YEARS IS A LONG TIME. SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I HAVE DSYLEXIA.

• Carol // Feb 26, 2005 at 7:01 pm

  I was put on Neurontin for neuropathy in my hands and feet. Everytime I take even the smallest amount I have a bad headache. Has anyone else had this side effect? It does help the pain in my hands and feet, but I may not be able to tolerate this headache much longer.

• Rob // Mar 3, 2005 at 8:09 am

  I’ve been taking Neurontin for neuropathic pain for over four years. I’ve been taking a total of 2400 mg a day and I experience a lot of problems with it. I have to say it helps the pain, but after taking it for this many years I think it’s wearing it’s welcome out. I have headaches I can’t get rid of, I’m depressed, I have involuntary muscle movements, my speech becomes slurred, I feel at times like I have flu symptoms where I’m in pain from head to foot and the feeling that even my hair hurts! I stumble and fall very often, I can’t remember anything, I can’t concentrate at all, I forget what I’m doing or saying right in the middle of doing or saying something. I often have overwhelming feelings of paranoia to the point I have to keep one eye open when I’m in the shower washing my hair! I’m afraid and I know that I’m not dealing with a full deck here but I’ve never been afraid of taking a shower before I started taking Neurontin. I also lose my balance an awful lot and I’m sure my neighbors must be thinking I start out my morning with a little too much bourbon in my coffee.

  I’ve tried to wean myself off of the drug but I’m in so much pain that I cannot walk, and I get so sick all I can do is stay in bed and away from everyone…even my dogs. Last but not least…I don’t have insurance and I’m not working. If it wasn’t for a friend of mine I wouldn’t even have a place to live. Sorry I went on and on, I just wanted someone else to know what we are going through.

  Thank you,

  Rob

• Jer // Mar 21, 2005 at 1:47 pm

  I have been taking Neurontin for about 3 years for bi-polar disorder and sometimes I too have short term memory loss and trouble concentrating. I’m a full time student and also work. My wife tells me she is starting to notice the problem. My concern is that overall the drug is one of the best drugs i’ve been on for bi-polar. I’m afraid if I get off the med. my anger issues and mood swings will return. While I’m on the med. I’m the nicest guy you want to meet but when I slip up and don’t take I become the meanest man on the planet. I also teach Sunday School and I don’t want to expose the kids I teach to the side effects of me not taking the meds. Any Ideas of other meds. that do the same thing without the side effects?

• marcia cutter neel // Apr 12, 2005 at 6:16 pm

  I have never heard back from my attorney. Should I hire another one?

  Sincerely,

  Marcia Cutter Neel

• Donna // May 19, 2005 at 6:40 am

  My doctor put me on Gabapentin(Generic for Nuerotin) with in 1 week I was overwhelmed,anxiety, clenching of my teeth, tingling sensations from left side of neck up to face, to eye to head, muscles tighting up & more! I slowly took my self off of it after a month , I was also confused, dizzy,liteheaded, loss of cooridination!!! I T WAS TERRIBLE. I TOLD MY DOCTOR(DR.KOLE CPM) & CASE MGR.(REBECCA THOMPSON-CRCI) ABOUT THE REACTION I WAS HAVEING 5 TIMES BUT THEY JUST DISMISSED IT & MY CASE MGR LAUGHED AT IT & SAID YOU WANT ME TO MAKE YOU AN APPT. WITH KOLE? I SAID NO, SO I CALLED THE HOSPITAL & PHARMACY BUT THE HOSPITAL WANTS YOU TO COME DOWN IN WHICH I DID NOT WANT TO GET STUCK WITH THE BILL SO TALKED TO THE PARMACIST & KOLE FINALLY CALLED ME INTO HIS OFFICE AFTER I HAD MY MOM CALL & HE SAID HE WOULD NOT CHARGE ME BUT HE DID AS WELL AS TRY TO SEXUALLY HARRASS ME & HE WAS TOLD ABOUT IT ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS: DO NOT WORRY ABOUT MY SEX LIFE BUT WORRY ABOUT MY INJURIES! ALL THAT SAID, I HAVE NOT BEEN THE SAME SINCE & WONDER WHEN THIS TERRIBLE FEELING WILL GO AWAY???

• Brandy // May 22, 2005 at 11:04 am

  I have been on nurontin for years for my bipolar 1 rapid cycleing disorder. Last week I had to go two days without my med since I didn’t have the copay.

  After two days, four doses I was shaky, tearful, and combative. I had a lady friend over and she was getting on my LAST nerve. I’ve always heard that you should NOT go off of nurontin cold turkey. I’m wondering how much damage I may have done missin the four doses. I’m very unsure of myself and have grown to love pitch black silence. I guess some would even call me a shut in but lately that don’t even phase me. I wonder how much of what I’m going through is the meds or normal bipolar symptoms if there is such a thing.

  I have kicked myself for years since I realized that I don’t learn like others. I hear what is being said but it has no impact in my mind. I forget that I’ve said things to people and end up feeling really stupid when they remind me that I’ve mentioned that before. The starting a sentence and getting lost mid way is growing more common for me as well.

  Thanks for any feedback

  Brandy

• Ralph Gunter // Jun 8, 2005 at 10:30 am

  As a 47 year old amputee (left BK since age 19) suffering from chronic violent pain, numerous MDs have attempted to prescribe everything but a narcotic pain releiver (the only medicine so far which proved to remove my particular pain). Most have pushed this Neurantin on me. The side effects have been unsettling to say the least. They include loss of appetite, extreme difficulty getting up in the morning, dreams and nightmares filled with anger and violence (and I am not that type of person in normal everyday life), some awakening me where once awake, the actual feeling of extreme anger and particulars of the dream were just as real and present then as they were in the dreams. My coordination is adversely effected (which as a musician effects my musical and instrumental playing abilities). My vision sometimes gets blurred. These pills can knock the blankety blank (if you will) out of me.

  What bothers me more is the cost of Neurantin. Anywhere from starting out at $80 a month to a current $155 a month and they don’t even do the job! I find that annoying and sometimes in frustration I feel like taking the doctor by the throat and saying, you chop your leg off and tell me how it feels. If I genuinely suffer the violent pain I do, shouldn’t I in this day and age have a right to a medicine that works without going through the mess I do with drugs like Neurantin with its costs? I can’t help it if someone else abuses narcotics. That’s not my fault. My pain is real.

• Wendy1 // Jun 11, 2005 at 7:54 pm

  I too am a victim of Neurontin, please excuse the melodrama,it seems called for if you will. I have this entire thread tonight and am stunned. I had no Idea that there was a reason for all of my pain and suffering. I too would really like the latest info on the lawsuit and anything I can do to help anyone out there I will be happy to .email deromew@elmore.rr.com

• Lesley Momberger-Thanner // Aug 3, 2005 at 12:13 am

  Please send any information on neurontin. aia have also beenn prescribed this medication for nerve damage and severe chronic pain. Had no idea of all these side effects but have experienced many of which I have read. Have lost se of my right arm with no muscle strength which Dr. wants MRI done of the brain. Could be neurontin related. Ny information pleae contact.

• L Cox // Aug 29, 2005 at 5:05 pm

  I am wowndering if any one else has been given neuronton for neurophy? I have been taking it for about 2 years and I don’t have any side effects that I am aware of other than being sleepy a lot of the time (but I have blamed that on old age) I would like to quit taking it because I don’t feel that it is really doing much good. Maybe there is something out there that would work better. I have asked the Dr and he just kinda blows it off. Any comment sould be appreciated. +

• L Cox // Aug 29, 2005 at 5:05 pm

  I am wowndering if any one else has been given neuronton for neurophy? I have been taking it for about 2 years and I don’t have any side effects that I am aware of other than being sleepy a lot of the time (but I have blamed that on old age) I would like to quit taking it because I don’t feel that it is really doing much good. Maybe there is something out there that would work better. I have asked the Dr and he just kinda blows it off. Any comment sould be appreciated. +

• Donald Richards // Sep 11, 2005 at 3:18 pm

  I had a daughter that was diagnosed with brain cancer in January of ‘04. My daughter was prescribed neurontin, she had a lot of the side effects that I have been reading about but the whole time I complained her doctor would always blame it on a medicine called decadron . I don’t believe too much of what the doctors say . My daughter only lived ten months after diagnosis. Within the ten months she ended up with an adult case of shingles at the age of nine only a couple of days after which she was prescribed the neurontin.

• Jennifer // Sep 26, 2005 at 10:00 am

  I am a 26yr old psycology major with 4 beautiful little girls. I decided to post a message to this site because I felt that I might have something to offer some of you.

  I have multiple mental illness diagnosses and have been on medication and in therapy since my first suicide attempt at 8 yrs old. I recognize that there are various factors that contribute to things like that hapening such as environmental stability and support, genetic predispositon, and biological contributers (medication reactions, hormonal inbalances). The only way anyone can know how those things are affecting one another is if they are closely monitored by a community of people trained to work together to make sure that a heathy and stable balance is found.

  I’ll explain why I brought this up. There are so many people on this site who are talking about the dosage of medication they are taking and their side affects or the fact that they just began taking the medication and they’re frightened because their side effects are so severe. These people should have the ability to contact their prescribing physician and discuss dosage adjustment and in the case of new users they shoud have been informed that the first week taking the medication and any increases thereafter is going to bring perticularly pronounced side effects. If your physician does not take time to follow you closely and listen to how the medication is effecting YOU then you need a new physician.

  I am saying all of this from experience. I was prescribed Neurontin a couple of years ago and I had several severe suicide attempts that followed. I was on multiple medications at the time and so monitoring side effects was difficult. Since discontinuing the use of Neurontin I have not had another attempt. I also have a therapist who works closely with my psychiatrist to monitor my behavior and mood when adjustments are made to my medications. This is only because I made it clear that I recognized that medication therapy is going to be necissary for the rest of my life and new medication will become available that may work better with less severe side effects and I don’t want to be affraid to see how new meds effect me. So I have found a doctor who will fully prepare me for the side effects a medication will have and a therapist that will take the first few minuts of every session to find out if there has been any med changes or if I feel any neg effects I think might be med related.

  Working all this out took time and finding the right people to be a part of my treatment team meant going through several doctors and therapists. I did it and I want all of you to know I don’t have a fancy private insurance carrier that payed for it all. I have medicaid provided by the state. So don’t let anyone tell you you have to stick with any particular doctor because who is prescribing your medications, whatever the reasons may be, will determine how successful medication therapy is for you.

  You should never feel frightened by the idea of taking a medication. If you do, my advice is if it is not an immediately life saving medication, don’t take it. Find out more about it. It may turn out to be the right med for you after all. And, don’t just count on internet info, speak to real people. If your doctor want’s to give it to you than most likely the people waiting in the waiting room you’re in will have some knowledge of the medication. So you could say “Hey have you ever heard of whatever med?” If they have some input find out how long they’ve been taking it. Everyone is different and has a different experience but it will give you some stuff to ask your doctor about other than the tachnical stuff you can find on the net.

  Hopefully this will be helpfull.

  Take Care

• Carol Ann Watson // Oct 28, 2005 at 2:27 pm

  I have been on neurontin for more than a year for nerve pain and the doc increased dose for migraines. My memory has been getting worse and worse. I went to my gyn doc today and saw the nurse practioner…I told her about the memory problems and then I told her I was on Neurontin…she said she was going to ask me if I was on that, because it causes memory problems…I’ll live with the migraines and pain in my feet….I would rather have my mind and the pain….

• Mitch // Nov 7, 2005 at 11:42 am

  Hello all ,

  I have a friend who recently had back surgery , The Doc’s put him on Neurotin…Now my friend has always been a bit of a goof, but lately I have seen some major changes since he started this drug….. decided to do some surfing and stumbled apon this site ……Well !!!!!!! My friend now sleeps for 12-14 hours a day, 5 weeks after surgery …has started the stare with mouth wide open ….cannot complete a full sentence …mumbles like I never heard him before…and he can’t remember anything . He seems very short tempered .After reading some of the letters here I am worried for him, taking this drug !!! To many simular statements and not really sure if is going to help his back pain all that much …. but this is the drug the Doctors want to keep him on permanently rather that “real ” pain killers because he might get hooked !!!!!

  Your comments appreciated!

  Mitch

• neenamm // Dec 8, 2005 at 6:26 am

  I would like for some advice about how to get off neurontin. I have been on it for a year now for sciatic pain, both before and after back surgery. I am in physical therapy now and want to decrease the neurtontin. I ended up in the emergency room twice by reducing the dosage too quickly. Can anyone tell me how much I can reduce the dosage and how quickly? I really want to get off the stuff!!!

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