Gabapentin

[sibs]

I know received wisdom is that Gabapentin is relatively side effect free but is this so? Last week took Lace to the vets as she has been getting progressively weaker in her back leg(pin and plated one) and has arthritis in front wrist so has been stumbling a lot and going up and especially down stairs now very problematic . I was worrying that she may have displaced the plate. Lace has been on long term Rimadyl with good effect. On the presumption that she may have some neuro pain she has been given Gabapentin capsule bd. I became concerned and have stopped it as after 3 days her backend seemed to get even weaker ie as she stood still her back legs would gradually buckle to the extent that she was effectively sitting down and unable to stand. Having stopped the drug she does seem to be steadier but am now trying to stop her following me upstairs.

[Milothemonster]

Herbie has been on Gabapentin off and on since his amputation. He is currently being weaned off it after another few weeks on it due to an arthritis flare up and is now down from three tabs a day to one. It is suppose to help the nerve pain due to the arthritis he has developed in his back/hips and he seems to tolerate it very well.

I know that it does tend to have a slightly sedating effect and have discussed this with my vet, hence Herbie only has his one tablet at night now.This sedating effect may therefore cause the dogs muscles to be more relaxed and maybe this is seen as weakness?

I know when we took Herbie off the Gabapentin after his first initial dose immediately after amputaton he did seem a lot more energetic and did more mobility wise. I will be looking to see if the same happens again during the cause of this week as we wean him off the Gabapentin again, they cannot stop taking it suddenly they have to follow a reduction dose etc.

I will let you know if I notice him buck up etc

[sibs]

Thanks L, I was aware that stopping it suddenly was not advised but felt I was safe as Lace had only had 3 days on it. She does seem steadier since I have stopped it. I have added Yumove which seems to be helping. I think if I feel she needs to go back on Gabapentin I will do what you have been doing ie night time only. Really want to keep her as mobile as possible. Now how to figure getting her safely up or down the stairs so I can stop sleeping on the sofa.

[lurcherlot]

To help with the safety of going up and down stairs, have you got a roughware harness? The handle on the top of the harness would steady her up and down stairs (or could be held firmly!) and you wouldn't need to worry about her legs giving way.