Gabapentine, Yuk!
I was on Gabapentine for about a year and it turned me into a zombie. One day while working in the lab, I collapsed and fell onto my Bunsen Burner! Luckily, it went out and I was not burned. I got sent home though and then sent to the Doctor. The Doctor swapped it for another version called Pregabelin and once again I had to build up my dose, until I rattled when I walked. In total I was on about twelve tablets a day of various meds. When I finally came off of them, the withdrawal was horrible and I spent two months throwing up in the street every time we went out! The TENS machine was great though, when I got bored I could use it to zap my friends!
( Rev. Jayneflakes Buy my book, I need the cash for drugs and hookers, Sat 29 May 2010, 10:47, 1 reply)

I'm down to about 1000mg a day now
but on it for the forseeable future. Some days I'm probably a bit zombie-like, more lethargic than anything, but have improved since dropping the carbamazapine. Getting a degree while on these meds though is like wading through treacle.

Haha I never got a TENS machine, sad times
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Sat 29 May 2010, 12:30, closed)

I rarely need my TENS anymore
But still take a lot of pain killers. I went through a whole list of drugs to combat neuropathic pain following some major surgery, but Pregabalin and Gabapentine were by far the worst. When I was on loads of them, my bowel started to grow thin and would periodically split, pouring blood out of my arse, sounds funny, but was actually horribly embarrassing and scary when it happened. Getting your degree while taking these things is worthy of praise, well done. I could barely stay awake at work, let alone read complex textbooks.
The TENS was brilliant though and I used it every day right up until late last year. I even underwent most of my motorcycle training wired up, however when the pain clinic wanted to put me back on meds, I told them to fuck off. Riding a big bike and being a zombie are not a great way to continue with a good life expectancy!
( Rev. Jayneflakes Buy my book, I need the cash for drugs and hookers, Sat 29 May 2010, 16:31, closed)