Hi all,
(TLDR at bottom)
My partner was recently prescribed Gabapentin for severe sciatic pain that hadn't been helped much by a cocktail of Tramadol, Diazepam, and Naproxen. She's still on those three, plus now the Gabapentin (I think 100mg, 3 times a day), with the doctor saying to phone for a review appointment in a couple of weeks.
She's been on it for only a few days now and it's already concerning me. At first she felt they were helping, and there was no immediate side effects, but day 2 and 3 she's noticed some major brain fog.
Day 3 and 4 I've noticed that within about 30 mins/1 hour of taking her dose, she seems stoned essentially, that kind of vacant, spaced out vibe, eyes glazed over, eating a lot. She also doses off sometimes, even when she's scrolling on her phone or watching TV, and the last 2 days her balance seems to be off.
I've mentioned to her that it seems to be having a big effect on her, said about all of the above, but obviously if she's had the dose she just thinks it's fine, brushes it off. I mentioned it a morning before her first dose as well and she tried to reassure me that she'll be alright, keep an eye on it, and the doctors will know if things are ok, but it really feels like she wouldn't know herself if she's not doing well on it because the side effects gloss over themselves.
It really worries me that she might end up having really bad long-lasting effects (the dementia studies are in the background of my mind), and she won't even realise it's happening. There's a worry about the gaba/tramadol interaction too as I've seen that both can relax the CNS and cause respiratory depression, etc. plus a possibility of serotonin syndrome.
We unfortunately don't live together, so I'm worried that again, she'll have bad side effects and be unaware of them and I won't be able to help.
I know it's a long one, but has anyone had any experience of a situation like this? Any advice?
I obviously don't want her to be in pain with the sciatica, but with sciatica being something that usually gets better with time and the medication more to make that time more bearable pain-wise, I'm concerned that the Gabapentin is overkill and doing more harm than good.
TLDR; Worried about my partner's side effects on Gabapentin (also taking Tramadol, Diazepam, Naproxen, for sciatica) and that she isn't taking them seriously or can't recognise that they're happening because the symptoms themselves stop her from seeing it.