Can You Take Gabapentin for Sciatica Nerve Pain ? (Review on Uses, & Side Effects)

The cases of sciatic nerve pain or sciatica are rising day by day. People with this issue are looking for a strong drug that can cure this pain right away. Most of the time, doctors prescribe Gabapentin for sciatica, which is an excellent aid to postherpetic neuralgia and neuropathic pain, as well as the Sciatica. This blog will clear all doubts on ‘Will Gabapentin help sciatica?, and the other detailed reviews on Gabapentin.

Is Gabapentin Good For Sciatica?

An Insight Into Gabapentin

Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant pain medication used to treat seizures and postherpetic neuralgia. It is also used as an off-label remedy for diabetic nerve pain, sleeping, and anxiety issues. You can only have Gabapentin with a doctor’s prescription, as it is slightly dangerous if misused. It still has less potency, which is the reason why it is labelled as a non-controlled drug. It can be found with many brand names: Horizant, Grallise, and Neurontin, to name a few. Gabapentin works by entering the calcium channels in our nerves, where it binds with certain alpha subunits. The binding slows down the transfer of neurotransmitters and stops the overreactive nerves that cause pain sensation.

Can You Take Gabapentin for Sciatica?

There is quite a debate among healthcare professionals about using Gabapentin for sciatica nerve pain. Many believe that the anticonvulsant is very effective for chronic sciatica. This is because the overreaction of the nerves is too much in this form of pain. Some believe Gabapentin is a bit weak for sciatic pain as it is a non-opioid, and sciatic pain is a very strong form of nerve pain. This has been proved by recent studies. Gabapentin is still prescribed off-label for sciatic pain by many doctors because it is one of the safest painkillers available today. So if your doctor tells you to take Gabapentin for sciatica pain, then you can.

Benefits of Using Gabapentin For Sciatic Nerve Pain

There are a good number of advantages of using an anticonvulsant to treat the rigid sciatic pain. Doctors administer the drug on these parameters. Let us understand why people with sciatica can use Gabapentin.

• As a nerve pain, sciatica creates restlessness in nerves that can only be calmed down by Gabapentin.
• In a long term chronic pain, Gabapentin is seen as a very effective option.
• If you use the drug just after the pain starts its course, then you can prevent the oversensitization of the central nervous system.
• Gabapentin has almost no interaction. So when you take with other drugs like NSAIDs, then your sciatica will heal even better.

Why Gabapentin Can Be Weak For Sciatic Nerve Pain?

As mentioned above, many professionals believe Gabapentin can prove to be weak for sciatic nerve pain. From evident studies to the need to titrate the Gabapentin dose there are many ways in which Gabapentin can seem ineffective for this neuropathy.

• Many recent studies have been done, and it has been found that Gabapentin is almost ineffective for acute sciatica.
• It is neither an FDA-approved treatment for sciatica nor the first-line treatment.
• Gabapentin fails to treat the cause of sciatic pain, i.e., compression caused by herniated disks and inflammation.
• You have to gradually adjust the dose for Gabapentin from time to time to make it work effectively.

Side Effects of Gabapentin

Sometimes Gabapentin can become too good for any kind of pain. When it works well for sciatic and other pains, patients start misusing the drug. Gabapentin may not be a highly potent drug, but overdosing on it can lead to many side effects. It is even more serious when it comes to sciatica. Here are some of the Gabapentin for sciatica side effects.

Common Side Effects

• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Blurred Vision
• Dry Mouth
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weight Gain
• Memory Issues
• Irregular Mobility

Serious Side Effects

• Swelling of hands and feet
• Confusion
• Hallucinations
• Unusual bleeding
• Muscle pain
• Slow or Shallow Breathing
• Aggressive Thoughts
• Self-harm
• Suicidal Thoughts

How to Use Gabapentin Safely?

There is always a possibility that one can use a medication for an issue, and it causes no harm to them. The same is for sciatica and Gabapentin. Here are the safety measures a person must follow while taking the anticonvulsant for sciatic pain.

• Starting the medication with a normal dosage of Gabapentin for sciatica, i.e., lower in the beginning and increasing it gradually.
• If the stomach starts feeling upset while taking the drug, one must take Gabapentin with their food.
• There might be fewer interactions, but taking Gabapentin with opioids can worsen respiratory health. So it is better to avoid opioids or similar strong painkillers
• Waiting for at least two hours to take Gabapentin if someone is on supplements.
• If the person starts feeling the onset of side effects, they must immediately consult the doctor.
• Avoid alcohol consumption because Gabapentin it brings depression symptoms.
• If one has to stop the medication due to overdose, they should not stop it immediately.

Alternatives for Sciatic Nerve Pain

When Gabapentin does not perform well for your sciatica, ask your doctor and change your medication. Many medications can replace the anticonvulsant. Let us see these alternatives one by one.

Prescription Alternatives

• Pregabalin
• Amitriptyline
• Oxycodone
• Cymbalta
• Hydrocodone
• Flexeril
• Tramadol
• Trazodone

Non-prescription Alternatives

• Acetaminophen
• Ibuprofen
• Advil
• Aleve
• Lidocaine
• Capsaicin

Natural Alternatives

• Cucurmin
• White Willow Bark
• Devil’s Claw
• Peppermint Oil
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Arnica
• Lavender Oil
• Magnesium
• Vitamin (B12, D)

Conclusion

Gabapentin can be effective for chronic sciatic nerve pain, but many doubt its effectiveness for the acute version. One can definitely use Gabapentin anyhow if the doctor has told them to do so. But if your anticonvulsant shows some side effects, you can switch the alternatives. Nonetheless, Gabapentin is a good choice for sciatica.