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Does Dementia, Headache With Neck Stiffness Related To Peripheral Neuropathy?
Question: Taking 100mg gabapentin 2 T BID. Had a scary dementia type experience doing a daily drive to work. Couldn't figure out how to back up while parking. This was followed up with confusion and a headache with neck stiffness on left side. My doctor has me tapering back down to 1 T BID. Today still having the strange headache with neck stiffness. The gabapentin is for severe periphal neuropathy which is non diabetic related. Should I seek immediate medical attention?
Brief Answer:
Yes, it would be best to approach your prescribing doctor at the earliest
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Based on the description of your experience, it is clear that the tapering is not doing you any good sir.
I would urge you to re-visit your doctor and report your symptoms to him/her. Also, it would be best to avoid involving in any activities that involve your complete attention, if at all this episode would have taken place while you were driving (and on the move) then this could have resulted in more serious consequences. Please revisit your doctor, who I am guessing (based on your medical system) is the only one who has the power to control your dosage of gabapentin.
I hope you find my response helpful and can seek medical attention at the earliest. If at all you cannot get to your doctor immediately, then while you wait (however long the wait whether hours or days), please do consider taking my advise and avoiding involving in any activities that require your complete attention ma'am.
Best wishes.
Yes, it would be best to approach your prescribing doctor at the earliest
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Based on the description of your experience, it is clear that the tapering is not doing you any good sir.
I would urge you to re-visit your doctor and report your symptoms to him/her. Also, it would be best to avoid involving in any activities that involve your complete attention, if at all this episode would have taken place while you were driving (and on the move) then this could have resulted in more serious consequences. Please revisit your doctor, who I am guessing (based on your medical system) is the only one who has the power to control your dosage of gabapentin.
I hope you find my response helpful and can seek medical attention at the earliest. If at all you cannot get to your doctor immediately, then while you wait (however long the wait whether hours or days), please do consider taking my advise and avoiding involving in any activities that require your complete attention ma'am.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
What about the headache and neck stiffness? You haven't told me anything common sense tells me.
Brief Answer:
Surely I shall explain that to you ma'am
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
You were prescribed gabapentin for peripheral neuropathy, which has various symptoms depending on which type of nerves are affected. There are three types:
+Sensory nerves: Control touch, feeling of temperature, vibration, pain, etc.
+Motor nerves: Control muscles, movements, etc.
+Autonomic nerves: control heart rate, digestion, blood pressure, etc.
The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy depend on which nerves are being affected. As your dose of gabapentin reduces, the effect of the drug has begun to reduce which will cause the symptoms to appear. Your symptoms of headaches could be due to your autonomic nerves being affected, which can cause a raise in blood pressure or a drop, resulting in the headaches. As for the neck stiffness, this could possibly be due to your motor nerves being effected, resulted in muscular stiffness.
All your symptoms will be related to your underlying condition (i.e. peripheral neuropathy) ma'am, and a reduced dose of gabapentin will indefinitely bring them out. I do not think the reduction in the dose is doing you any good, and so you should consult your doctor at the earliest.
I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you, and also hope things are more clear to you now. If at all I have failed to explain anything to you, or you still have queries, please write to me and I shall be more than happy to help.
Best wishes.
Surely I shall explain that to you ma'am
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
You were prescribed gabapentin for peripheral neuropathy, which has various symptoms depending on which type of nerves are affected. There are three types:
+Sensory nerves: Control touch, feeling of temperature, vibration, pain, etc.
+Motor nerves: Control muscles, movements, etc.
+Autonomic nerves: control heart rate, digestion, blood pressure, etc.
The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy depend on which nerves are being affected. As your dose of gabapentin reduces, the effect of the drug has begun to reduce which will cause the symptoms to appear. Your symptoms of headaches could be due to your autonomic nerves being affected, which can cause a raise in blood pressure or a drop, resulting in the headaches. As for the neck stiffness, this could possibly be due to your motor nerves being effected, resulted in muscular stiffness.
All your symptoms will be related to your underlying condition (i.e. peripheral neuropathy) ma'am, and a reduced dose of gabapentin will indefinitely bring them out. I do not think the reduction in the dose is doing you any good, and so you should consult your doctor at the earliest.
I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you, and also hope things are more clear to you now. If at all I have failed to explain anything to you, or you still have queries, please write to me and I shall be more than happy to help.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you. That was truly very helpful. Thanks you for taking the time to address my concerns.
Brief Answer:
It was my pleasure entirely
Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.
You are truly welcome. Please do not hesitate now or in the future to ever write to me, I am always here to help, and explain things best understood by you.
God bless.
It was my pleasure entirely
Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.
You are truly welcome. Please do not hesitate now or in the future to ever write to me, I am always here to help, and explain things best understood by you.
God bless.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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