What's in your med cabinet?
@1creekgirl (43778)
United States
May 10, 2025 7:07pm CST
I made the most amazing discovery last week. I have taken Gabapentin for a couple of years since I had breast cancer and a partial lung removed. It worked well for nerve pain.
But for a good while now I've been really concerned that my balance is getting worse and really becoming a problem. I'm always concerned that I'm going to fall if I don't hold on to things.
I got to wondering if any of the meds I take could be having this effect on my lack of stability. I knew this could be a side effect of Gabapentin, so decided to quit taking it.
My pain level has not changed for the better or worse. But my steadiness on my feet has actually improved to a certain extent. And I think my mind is a little clearer, which is a true blessing. I was on a very low dose, so it didn't seem to hurt to stop the medicine. I wouldn't recommend this without talking to your doctor first.
I know Gabapentin makes some people sleepy, although it didn't seem to affect me that way. But I suspect there are a lot of meds and drugs that have bad side effects. I know sometimes we don't have a choice but to take them, but it's something maybe we need to be more aware of.
Do you have a lot of side effects from medicines you have to take? Are there any alternative drugs you could use?
15 people like this
14 responses
@1creekgirl (43778)
• United States
11 May
I had no idea it would make such a difference. I still have an issue with balance, but at least it's better. The Gabapentin helped when I was healing from the lung removal, but thankful I don't seem to need it now.
3 people like this
@1creekgirl (43778)
• United States
11 May
I truly think God revealed it to me. I hope I'll continue to improve.
How are things with your son who needs to move?
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (43778)
• United States
11 May
@JudyEv We'll keep praying for all of you.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (357178)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 May
@1creekgirl Thanks for asking. He still hasn't anywhere to go but is waiting for more information on a possible place. Meantime, he is sorting through stuff and decluttering as much as possible. After 20 years in a place, he has accumulated a lot of stuff - just like most of us.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (191968)
• United States
11 May
Not really, but I have to be careful to make sure I am keeping my BP steady. A couple of times it has gotten too high I do like to supplement with CQ10 and fish oil. It seems to have a good effect. Did you tell your doc you got off of it? It sounds like not taking it is working for you
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (43778)
• United States
11 May
You know what, I didn't think to tell him! I definitely will, though.
2 people like this
@marguicha (227702)
• Chile
11 May
I quit taking my pain pills while I had my stomach ailment. I will start taking them again next week maybe.
2 people like this
@marguicha (227702)
• Chile
11 May
@1creekgirl I´ll ask a doctor first. I´m still on probiotics.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (43778)
• United States
11 May
I hope they will help and not hurt your stomach.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (86497)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11 May
I take no medications but want to purchase some ibuprofen in case I ever need it,
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (86497)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 May
@1creekgirl my mom was the same way until she got sclerosis in the head in Latvia and got all confused.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (43778)
• United States
13 May
Gabapentin does make some people sleepy.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (43778)
• United States
13 May
@TheHorse It's unusual to be able to quit taking a prescription med.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (228152)
• Walnut Creek, California
13 May
@1creekgirl I am glad your balance has improved and your pain is no worse. Glad you did the "experiment."
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (164439)
• United States
11 May
Right now I am not taking any presccriptions at all except a muscle relaxer as needed. I try to stay very aware of side effects. Most of the meds I have taken made me hurt in my bones and muscles.
1 person likes this
@luisadannointed (7693)
• Philippines
20 May
I think I am having side effect on my thyroids' meds... but I thank God I think it was lssen and everything is back to normal.
1 person likes this
@xstitcher (34656)
• Petaluma, California
11 May
I was on Gabapentin for a while, too. Weird how many different things they fix (or try to fix) with one pill.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (43778)
• United States
11 May
I'm sure it's a good medicine, but I'm thankful I don't need it now.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (37991)
• Toccoa, Georgia
11 May
My husband took Gabapentin for a short time. I don't think he had any bad reactions to it.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (54005)
• Canada
12 May
Although I do not take Gebapentin, I do take 2 anti-convulsant pills each day. The side effects make you dizzy.
I also take a really really low dose of blood pressure medication, which also makes me dizzy.
I dislike both of those pills only for the side effects, yet am thankful that I have them to control the health issues that they do.
I have been on the anti-convulsant since I was 16 years old and they only began to make me dizzy in the past couple of years. I believe that age is a factor. I hope to be able to try chair yoga in a couple of years when I retire as it is supposed to aid you with balance.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (54005)
• Canada
12 May
@1creekgirl My concern is that I have severe osteoporosis, and cannot afford a fall as I will fracture something somewhere. I fractured discs from coughing when I had pneumonia in the early part of 2024.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (43778)
• United States
12 May
I hope you'll get some relief. It's miserable and dangerous to be unbalanced.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (43778)
• United States
13 May
@Juliaacv My goodness, you really do have to be careful.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (477597)
• Italy
11 May
@1creekgirl - I know, I feel so lucky not to need medications.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (43778)
• United States
11 May
You're very blessed to not need a lot of meds.
1 person likes this
@jnrdutton (3344)
• United States
11 May
I try to avoid medication as much as possible, I am glad your steadiness improved. The worst side effect I ever had was from a med called baclofen, and my father quickly took me off of it, thankfully. I am just glad the side effect wasn't permanent.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (43778)
• United States
13 May
@jnrdutton People react differently to meds. I had to try several antidepressants for migraines before insurance would pay for Botox. Those meds were horrible with really bad side effects.
1 person likes this
@jnrdutton (3344)
• United States
13 May
@1creekgirl some people are fine on it and I'm happy for them, but I'd never want to go through what I experienced with it again.
1 person likes this
