I think Lyrica is the “new” version of Gabapentin- it is more expensive. Unfortunately all you can do is give it time to see if the side effects go away- for me, some of them do, some of them don’t, and then you have to see what you can live with.
Tony- has the gabapentin helped you? are you on anything else?
Hi , I am relevantly new to the forum, 
jane
Hi Jane
Did Dr S put you on this as your primary MAV med? Are you coming off the pizotifen? What side effects did you have?
I only tried Gabapentin once (300mg) and felt horrid so I stopped but I am going to see Dr S shortly for a first appt. I am wondering if he will tell me to try it again for longer (another neuro put me on it). I am already on nori. I wanted to up the nori first. Did Dr S tell you what side effects to expect from Gabapentin? What dose are you on? x
hi Jem- i am seeing Dr S - and he put me on Nori first., currently on 30mg but he told me i could up it each month by 10mg - back to see him later this month.
Hi Jem, I saw Dr S 2 days ago for my 2nd appointment and he already knew i had stopped the Pizotifen, i was only on it for 3 weeks and tried twice to go from one tab to two tabs on the second try the chemist told me to stop it, i was so lethargic and very slow moving around, i felt out of it, but it was the agitation and generally feeling unwell like a flu was to much for me, anyways Dr S gave me the Gabapentin 100mg to take one a night for a week then two a day for second week and then 3 a day for the third week, he said to me on thursday " would you like to try this medicine " he explained what is was and i said i will give it a go, i have been quite sensitive to medicines for a long time but i did not mention this , so i will wait and see 
Sorry for delay in getting back to you Jem , i have just found the option box and ticked the one that say, " notify me when a reply is posted " , i will get the hang of it. lol.
Jane x
Hi brianbonesdennis
I wondered is the nori helping? I am only at 25mg of nori, sometimes I think it’s helping then I’m not sure. I wondered when you see Dr S does he schedule a follow up fairly quickly and then how often do you have to see him? It’s just that I live a long way from London so getting there every few months might be very hard for me. Does he ever do telephone consultations after the initial appt for people located a long way from him? x
Hi Jane
How long have you had MAV? Did Dr S diagnose you? I tried one 300mg gabapentin and I felt awful. It was prescribed by another doctor but I want to wait till I see Dr S before taking any more. I am also on 25mg nori. How is the gabapentin for you? Do you get side effects? x
— Begin quote from “Blondie”
I know of a friend on this I could try and put you in touch with her shes lovely but she has had success on it combined with pitzotifen shes under Dr S X
— End quote
Hi I have started the Gabapentin and wondered if i could be put in touch with your friend to please. Jane x
hi, was given the 10mg nori 6m ago, went up 10mg each month but only gone up to 30mg at the mo - Dr S said to see him in 6m which is this month so i am back to see him in 2 weeks time - not sure if he does telephone consultations? ts about a 2hr drive for me so not too bad. It def helped to start with but not sure if its now worn off or i need to up it more…will see what he says.
Jane are you on facebook?
Brian you can go a lot higher on the nori about 75mg is normally the therapeutic dose
Hi Blondie, Yes i am on face book
Hi Jem,
Thursday this week Dr S ( my 2nd appt ) prescribed Gabapentin 100mg a night for the first week building up to 300mg a day in 3 weeks time.
I took my second tablet last night and today i feel rough, but im not sure if its the gabapentin completely or a bug or both, well that’s what it feels like, the first tablet was fine except tiredness which i expected, i had no head pressure yesterday but today i have a lot.
I only took Pixotifen for a couple of weeks before i came of it.
I saw Dr S 8 weeks ago and yes he diagnosed Migraine Variant, he put me on the diet and the exercises.
Im booked me for a routine head scan to look at the ears he said, and im booked to see the physio early December for cognitive and breathing work , also im being sent to my local hospital for a hearing test, and in January the Vestibular exercise lady is going to have a phone consultation with me to see how i am getting on with the new exercise she gave me this wee.
Jane x
Hi Jane
That is interesting. The person blondie is putting you in touch with is on Pizo and she has just been put on Gabapentin by Dr S. She described the same side effects you have just mentioned. It would be useful for you to talk to her I think.
I only took one 300mg Gabapentin from the other neuro I saw and felt so woozy and tired. I want to see Dr S before I take any more. I am so tired today, I haven’t got any reason for it other than this horrid illness and feeling so depressed about it. You know when you feel so tired it’s almost scary. Are you seeing Dr S privately. Sounds like he is very thorough. I really feel like I need some help dealing with this mentally x
Hi Jem,
I saw Dr S privately for the first appt as i had a dental plan at the time and i could use it to see a consultant once in 12 months, then transferred back on the NHS at the Maritime Medway Kent.
I am on a small dose of mirtazipine ( which i had been on for quite some time ) which Dr S said stay on dont come of it , lets get this MV better first, i guess thats why he did not prescribe nori which i see a few people are on, as they are all anti depressant/anxiety meds .
I am thinking of not taking it tonight ,the gaba that is and wait 3 days or so to clear this added feeling of unwellness and try again, i do wish i had asked Dr S if apart from the ant deppressant/anxiety meds do you have to have these other tablets, i was also wondering if anyone has got better with out them by just following his regime of diet / exercise and physio ???
Jane x
I have heard of a few people who have got a lot better just by diet and exercise but for some they need the meds.
I read on the side effects of gaba that it can cause flu like viral symptoms as a side effect so maybe that is what you are experiencing, it’s hard to know isn’t it. Maybe check with Dr S. I hope they work for you anyway x
Yes i just read that as well Gem, also low feelings , feel like i have been snowballed , did that other lady stop taking it or did the side effects wear of do you know ? i am not taking it tonight and see what happens in the next few days .
When do you see Dr Surenthiran, and yes you are right he seems very thourgh and such a lovely man to :-).
Jane x
Yes just check the side effect list with the medication packet if you have it, I am sure it said viral symptoms as a side effect. She carried on with the gaba and said the side effects eased off after a few weeks. She has just upped her dose and was having more side effects again I think. I tried one tablet and didn’t like it so stopped but if I had more reassurance of what to expect then I would be prepared to give it more time. That is why I want to see Dr S, he is my final hope really now. His secretary is trying to fit me in next Sat but they haven’t confirmed a time yet x
Let me know how you get on when you see the lovely Dr S, will you need to travel far Gem ?
I have just read on the internet that MAV MVV sufferers are quite often very sensitive to medicines as with other things like, " triggers " makes so much sense.
Jane x
Yes I read that too, I know of a few people who can’t seem to tolerate many meds at all. Maybe I am lucky to tolerate the nori so far.
I will have to travel from Cheshire (near Manchester) so yes it’s a long drive, about 4 hours. My partner is driving luckily and we may have to stay overnight. I am a bit worried about how I will feel after all that x
Well you rest when you need to Gem and i look forward to hearing how you get on, OK
Jane x