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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> Neurontin - Tightness and Redness in Face???
        
(Message started by: kim on Apr 12^th, 2002, 7:30am)

Title: Neurontin - Tightness and Redness in Face???
Post by kim on Apr 12^th, 2002, 7:30am

Been on Neurontin for about a month. Have been noticing my face is red and skin is tight. Especially on my forehead. Has this ever happened to anyone? I'm going back to Neuro tomorrow, but was curious. ???

Title: Re: Neurontin - Tightness and Redness in Face???
Post by Greg_A on Apr 12^th, 2002, 7:57am

Hey Kim,

I have never used that but have noticed that from the meds i take my face is red alot. Mainly around my eyes, nose and chin. Sometimes its like blotchy red then goes away after awhile.

Skin isnt really tight but is warm. Sorry couldnt help

greg

Title: Re: Neurontin - Tightness and Redness in Face???
Post by kim on Apr 12^th, 2002, 8:08am

Hey Greg, i sure hope you had a good night last night! Yeah, my skin is also on the blotchy side and I got a red nose too. Wish i could blame it on too much fun at the Pub. ;D I'll have to see what the doc says tomorrow. ..Be well!

Title: Re: Neurontin - Tightness and Redness in Face???
Post by Elaine on Apr 12^th, 2002, 12:34pm

I used it and I did not have that happen to me but thats not to say it would not happen.
Please be careful with this drug. I noyiced you said you was going back on it. I hope when you take the drug when you stop you don't stop cold turkey you wing yourself off. I stopped cold turkey went into a deep depression, so deep I almost took my life.
You can find some information at this link.

http://www.rxlist.com/frame/display.cgi?drug=NEURONTIN

If you go to this site you can out about most drugs just type in the name. The link is on Ch.coms link page but I will post it any way its a good site to keep on hand.

http://www.rxlist.com

Title: Re: Neurontin - Tightness and Redness in Face???
Post by kim on Apr 12^th, 2002, 12:52pm

thank you Elaine for the input. I did go to rx web. You are right about not stopping cold turkey. It states that explicitly. I did that with prednisone once and all the muscles in my body failed to function, my face went hot red and flushed. Scary what these medicines can do to you. be well Elaine! Kim
PS: your post on drug addiction was SO familiar!

Title: Re: Neurontin - Tightness and Redness in Face???
Post by Lori on Apr 12^th, 2002, 1:56pm

Hi Kim,
Did you go back to your neuro yet? I thought I remember you had an appt this week with him? How are you and the HA"S? Hope you are well...and PF!

Title: Re: Neurontin - Tightness and Redness in Face???
Post by Greg_A on Apr 12^th, 2002, 2:58pm

Actually Kim-- I DID!!!!!,,, i slept the whole night-- well most of it, i woke up at 3:30a to see if i had a HA (guess my body is used to waking up or something) and still as of now no HA, its going on 4pm Fla time.

I did have some minor shadows but dissapeard within a few minutes. The true test will be tonight about 8pm. Keep the fingers crossed.

Might be on to something here with the regular verap. I'm also taking lithium @ 450mg and Ibuprophen @ 600mgx4 a day. Dahm i hope this works.

Also gettin O2 on monday. I thought i had to wait but i guess not. Bring it on.

Also i mail ordered some Imitrex shots offshore last week, they showed up today. Now i have a little stock pile atleast.

AND, i may even have a new job coming up soon so today has been all around a good day.

Hope your havin a pain free day over there.

lata

Title: Re: Neurontin - Tightness and Redness in Face???
Post by kim on Apr 12^th, 2002, 4:57pm

I'm making happy snooring sounds for ya! :)
Aside from my appearance problems, things are ok :) 1 30 min. attack per evenin. Walk in the park...

Lori, i go to Neuro tomorrow. :) Still smiling!!!!Albeit somewhat kooky lookin! Be well and congrats on O.U.C.H. !!!!! Kim

Title: Re: Neurontin - Tightness and Redness in Face???
Post by kim on Apr 14^th, 2002, 5:49pm

Thanks to finding this website (and subsequent feedback, etc), I have (after 25 years!) learned SO much. I can't even express it really. I only know that after coming here, for the first time, I'm able to more clearly see my illness (from outside in, instead of inside out, if ya know what I mean)...
This brings me to Neurontin issue. Saw doc yesterday. I got a rash. I can't remember SHIT! I am anxious and irritable (much more than my usual pain in the ass self),etc.
FINALLY. I know that I am senitive to many drugs (i am on LOW dose -only 300 mg day!!!). Now I see why after trying so many different preventatives, I was always getting messed up. For the people who tolerate drugs well, this might seem "foo". Whatever. all I'm saying is that for over two decades I've tried so many different medications for this illness. Most of the time, I ended up more screwed up than ever. Now I realize that my system is probably not as tolerable as some. This causes me to re-evaluate my original frustration with past treatments. Maybe I was too quick to chuck out an idea rather than wait and give it time and thought.
What I'm trying to say is that without the added input of all the folks around here, i'd a never got to this point. So, in conclusion, I'm a slow learner. HAH! If one person understands what I'm saying - cool.

Title: Re: Neurontin - Tightness and Redness in Face???
Post by Greg_A on Apr 14^th, 2002, 6:43pm

Hear ya screamin over there Kim-- Hopefully some med will work out for ya or somthin. We all know the pain and the frustration of trying new things expecting results right away. (well atleast i do)

I too have learned alot on the these boards and continue to search everywhere for something someone has tried that worked. You never know-- there is that one thing that will just make all the pain go away for good, and i will keep looking till i find it.

Hope you have a good night, 30 min seems like a walk in the park but still hurts like hell :)

lata,,,,,,g

Title: Update................Neurontin...
Post by kim on Apr 30^th, 2002, 5:39pm

This is the first cycle I have ever taken the preventative Neurontin. I am weening (sp) now.
This cycle lasted just about 8 weeks. I did not go to ER ONCE. At peak cycle, I still got hit numerous times a day with awful shadow pain in between. I got a lot of attacks where I was seriously struggling....but not to the point where go to hospital...
Side effects were not too good. Felt rubber brained, had several small encounters with objects while operating a car, was irritable, emotional, somewhat depressed, etc.
I look back and ask myself "Well, did it WORK?"
I DON'T KNOW. Coulda been a weaker cycle. Coulda been some relief from the Neurontin. I just don't know. This is the first cycle I can recall 8 weeks (usually longer). This is the first cycle with NO TRIP TO ER.
Did some looking in archives and did not come upon anyone who states anything earth shattering about Neurontin in connection with ch specifically.
Still puzzled................. ???
Neurologist speaks with cofidence that it performed it's preventative task. I'm not so sure....as usual......so hard to tell!

Title: Re: Neurontin - Tightness and Redness in Face???
Post by Greg_A on May 1^st, 2002, 2:49pm

Hey Kim-- atleast the pain is gone and you can live in peace.

I guess next time around you will have to try it again.

Just think, since your cycle is done i guess the wildlife out back wont have to dodge anymore coffee cups for a while... and your car can get a well deserved break ;D

Hope you stay PF for a long long time...

Greg

Title: Re: Neurontin - Tightness and Redness in Face???
Post by kim on May 1^st, 2002, 7:46pm

Thanks Greg. You are a prince ;) Took my LAST neurontin pill today. Still no ch. LIFE IS GOOD.... (Kim on Neurontin = "Leonard" from "Awakenings" Egaaads!)

But you know I'm from NY and will always be a bitch :D

You jus keep suckin that 02 and gettin on with yur bad self ;D

Stay Pain Free.
Your red faced, hazardous driving, red faced, pin headed, foul mouthed, bad tempered, and very grateful............friend. Be well GOD DAMNIT! Kim
PS: Maybe I'll buy a motocycle............LOL, (can you hear the debris in my wake.............) :D

Title: Re: Neurontin - Tightness and Redness in Face???
Post by Head_case77 on May 1^st, 2002, 10:57pm

Kim,

I again tried the Neurontin last week and again yesterday, but I just can't seem to tolerate this medication more than a few days, even though it is supposed to have a low side effect profile. Yes, it did make my face red come to think of it. Also, it made me dizzy, and I just don't trust this medication since it's so new. But...who knows? Maybe if someone gives it a good trial (like four weeks) it can effect a change for the positive. One bit of advise----don't come off of it cold turkey. I did that last November and it was right after that that the worst bout of my life began. (I don't know how much of a role the Neurontin played in this, as I had come off three or four other medications simultaneously---that's another story).

Keep up the great work, Kim.

Franco

Title: Re: Neurontin - Tightness and Redness in Face???
Post by kim on May 2^nd, 2002, 8:25am

Hi Franco,

Today is the first day in over 1 month that I will NOT take any Neurontin at all. Been tapering since Sunday...

To tell you the truth, i'm trying to stay positive about this medication, but all joking aside, it gave me unfavorable side effects. Especially memory related and just thinking straight.

If my cycle is indeed over and done, then Iwill put it behind me and move on. However, if and when the beast knocks at my door in the future, I am going to immediately try the newer oxygen methods and see about verapimil. Reading all the posts and archives here, it seems to be the most positive and effective course. There are soooo many meds out there being sampled on us clusterheads. This clusterhead is getting mighty tired and fed up with the side effects.

I don't want to ramble, but boy oh boy, I could tell you stories....As can everyone here I bet....So frantic to end the pain you try anything, many times with frightening results.

thanks Franco for your reply. Be well. Kim

Title: Re: Neurontin - Tightness and Redness in Face???
Post by Head_case77 on May 2^nd, 2002, 11:59am

Kim,

Oh, go ahead and ramble, I do it all the time! ;) Yes, you are right that there are allot of medications out there, and hopefully more and better meds are on the way. Allot of it is hit and miss with we vascular headache PATIENTS. I want to try the verapamil and the oxygen again; it's been years since I've tried these. I don't believe I took the verapamil for more than a few days. This time I will give it a good run. I switched from the headache clinic to an alternative doctor now who prescribes medication as necessary, but also uses acupuncture, cranio-sacral therapy, Swedish massage, and other alternative modalities. I'm going to ask him about the oxygen, I think, next visit.

Oh boy, my neighbor who hardly ever leaves his apt. just turned his stereo on and the annoying booming has started. It's not like it's thashing loud, but i'm very sensitive to sound and prefer it very quiet. Unfortunately, my apt. is located off the main artery of this city! Can you imagine? And I guess, I'm the only one who complains about the traffic noise here! Either I'm nuts or I'm the only sane person left in this apartment complet.

Kim keep on keepin' on!

Franco