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What Are The Side Effects Of Long Term Usage Of Gabapentin?
Question: A few days ago, I got a "plan of action" regarding my chronic headaches as a result of a SAH eight years ago from Dr. XXXXXXX Saghafi.
Follow up question: Do you have any suggestions of a Neurologist/headache Dr. in the Kansas City or XXXXXXX KS vicinity?
I've gone to a pain management clinic in the past and seen an anesthesiologist practicing pain management. That's where I got on to Gabapentin - which helps with the 24/7 headaches and makes it at least possible for me to be active for a few hours each day (3-4 hours before the headaches cause me to lose concentration on almost anything else). I've search (online) for neurologists in these areas and they all are brain or back surgeons and apparently only practice pain management as follow up with surgical procedures. KU Med. in KC is where I received my initial treatment after the SAH. They were not able to find any specific cause after numerous CT scans, MRI scans, and several cerebral angiograms. I was sent home with a script for vicodin (two tabs every four hours for 2-3 months). After that I have transitioned to Gabapentin and XXXXXXX doses of OTC Tylenol every day. Still not acceptable results.
Thanks.
XXXXX
Follow up question: Do you have any suggestions of a Neurologist/headache Dr. in the Kansas City or XXXXXXX KS vicinity?
I've gone to a pain management clinic in the past and seen an anesthesiologist practicing pain management. That's where I got on to Gabapentin - which helps with the 24/7 headaches and makes it at least possible for me to be active for a few hours each day (3-4 hours before the headaches cause me to lose concentration on almost anything else). I've search (online) for neurologists in these areas and they all are brain or back surgeons and apparently only practice pain management as follow up with surgical procedures. KU Med. in KC is where I received my initial treatment after the SAH. They were not able to find any specific cause after numerous CT scans, MRI scans, and several cerebral angiograms. I was sent home with a script for vicodin (two tabs every four hours for 2-3 months). After that I have transitioned to Gabapentin and XXXXXXX doses of OTC Tylenol every day. Still not acceptable results.
Thanks.
XXXXX
Brief Answer:
Headache specialists
Detailed Answer:
Thank you so much for your follow up question for me and I dearly wish I knew of individuals in Kansas City...but I really don't. May I suggest a couple of resources?
1. The XXXXXXX Headache Society (AHS)- Phone: 856-423-0043- They likely maintain a list of headache specialists in your local area and could probably give you some specific names to check in with then, you could take those names and run them through something HEALTHGRADES or something similar to see reviews and criticisms by other patients to decide whether you'd be interesting in meeting them or not.
2. The XXXXXXX Academy of Neurology- Tel: (800) 879-1960. Same idea....ask if they have any leads on headache specialists in your area...preferably somehow who is also affiliated with the AHS as well.
3. You could perform the same GOOGLE SEARCH on "headache specialists in Kansas City) and simply track down folks, in whatever geographical area you are located). If there are no headache specialists then, the best thing is to secure an ADULT NEUROLOGIST, not a dentist, not an internist other doctor who says they're INTERESTED in headaches....but a genuine headache specialist who is also a neurologist.
As I've said before the use of medications such as Tylenol or Motrin or any abortive type of headache medication on a daily basis or near daily basis is far too frequent is there is a high risk for developing what are called MEDICATION OVERUSE HEADACHES. Gabapentin in not a 1st line headache medication, not for acute headaches and not for chronic headaches. Vicodin is a poor choice for your type of headaches prescribed as frequently as it was and will lead to many more problems than solutions.
There are far better agents available and a headache specialist should address your concerns much more objectively by using a headache diary and then, using that data to determine the best approach or intervention going forward. They will also help you get off the daily abortive medications that could be causing you to have the rebound or MEDICATION OVERUSE HEADACHES (MOH) and get you on an agent designed to effectively PREVENT headaches from even starting while also trying to figure out the UNDERLYING CAUSE. In your case it is likely due to the previous SAH you had which is known to cause SECONDARY HEADACHE DISORDER but this is manageable using the correct approach.
Again, you really need to seek out a headache specialist.....or come visit us here in VERY XXXXXXX VERY HOT, AND VERY HUMID XXXXXXX OHIO and I'll happy to not only help you turn your headaches around but make sure you have an excellent itinerary to follow to get to know our fair town and how best to experience the RENAISSANCE going on right now...especially with those HOT XXXXXXX Indians, those even HOTTER XXXXXXX Cavaliers.....and the "Let's Cross Our Fingers XXXXXXX Browns and hope they don't put a damper on the rest of the sports year that has gone so well to this point!" LOL!
If once again I've adequately addressed your concerns could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating to our 2nd encounter if you feel my suggestions have helped you? Again, many thanks for posing your question.
Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.
This query has utilized a total of 35 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Headache specialists
Detailed Answer:
Thank you so much for your follow up question for me and I dearly wish I knew of individuals in Kansas City...but I really don't. May I suggest a couple of resources?
1. The XXXXXXX Headache Society (AHS)- Phone: 856-423-0043- They likely maintain a list of headache specialists in your local area and could probably give you some specific names to check in with then, you could take those names and run them through something HEALTHGRADES or something similar to see reviews and criticisms by other patients to decide whether you'd be interesting in meeting them or not.
2. The XXXXXXX Academy of Neurology- Tel: (800) 879-1960. Same idea....ask if they have any leads on headache specialists in your area...preferably somehow who is also affiliated with the AHS as well.
3. You could perform the same GOOGLE SEARCH on "headache specialists in Kansas City) and simply track down folks, in whatever geographical area you are located). If there are no headache specialists then, the best thing is to secure an ADULT NEUROLOGIST, not a dentist, not an internist other doctor who says they're INTERESTED in headaches....but a genuine headache specialist who is also a neurologist.
As I've said before the use of medications such as Tylenol or Motrin or any abortive type of headache medication on a daily basis or near daily basis is far too frequent is there is a high risk for developing what are called MEDICATION OVERUSE HEADACHES. Gabapentin in not a 1st line headache medication, not for acute headaches and not for chronic headaches. Vicodin is a poor choice for your type of headaches prescribed as frequently as it was and will lead to many more problems than solutions.
There are far better agents available and a headache specialist should address your concerns much more objectively by using a headache diary and then, using that data to determine the best approach or intervention going forward. They will also help you get off the daily abortive medications that could be causing you to have the rebound or MEDICATION OVERUSE HEADACHES (MOH) and get you on an agent designed to effectively PREVENT headaches from even starting while also trying to figure out the UNDERLYING CAUSE. In your case it is likely due to the previous SAH you had which is known to cause SECONDARY HEADACHE DISORDER but this is manageable using the correct approach.
Again, you really need to seek out a headache specialist.....or come visit us here in VERY XXXXXXX VERY HOT, AND VERY HUMID XXXXXXX OHIO and I'll happy to not only help you turn your headaches around but make sure you have an excellent itinerary to follow to get to know our fair town and how best to experience the RENAISSANCE going on right now...especially with those HOT XXXXXXX Indians, those even HOTTER XXXXXXX Cavaliers.....and the "Let's Cross Our Fingers XXXXXXX Browns and hope they don't put a damper on the rest of the sports year that has gone so well to this point!" LOL!
If once again I've adequately addressed your concerns could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating to our 2nd encounter if you feel my suggestions have helped you? Again, many thanks for posing your question.
Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.
This query has utilized a total of 35 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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