Documents filed in U.S. District Court in Dr. David P. Franklin’s whistleblower lawsuit against Warner-Lambert and its parent company Pfizer Inc., allege they paid dozens of doctors tens of thousands of dollars each to promote Neurontin, an epilepsy drug, to other physicians for non-approved uses. The top spokesperson for Neurontin received than $300,000 for speeches given from 1994 to 1997, according to a court filing. The court papers also show how some doctors were paid to prescribe Neurontin based on the findings of a clinical trial that Warner-Lambert created to market the drug.
Franklin says the company’s marketing strategy, which enabled Neurontin to bring in more than $2 billion in revenues, is illegal. He says the government paid hundreds of millions of dollars for Neurontin as doctors prescribed the drug to Medicaid patients for off-label uses.
(via New York Times)
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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.
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!!!!)
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?
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.
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
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!!!
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.
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?
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
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 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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
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 .
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
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
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?
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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….
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
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.
Does anyone know what the quidelines are for filing a claim in this neurotin lawsuit?
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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