Question about gabapentin

[EliTobiMati]

Hi everyone!

Just for some context, my 2 year-old piggy (male, 940 grams) has been having dental work every 4 weeks since July, and has been on metacam since then. This week, the vet and I decided to try out gabapentin, to see whether it would help him out (especially with eating hay, which he barely touches). I have been giving him gabapentin since Tuesday (initially 6 mg twice a day, which I then halved to 3 mg because I felt it was making him too sleepy). However, I still haven't seen any substantial improvements. My question is, in your experience, how long before we should usually see improvements with gabapentin?

Thank you very much!

 

[hayethusiasts]

Bumping your post so the experts can see

 

[BransonClearwater]

Gabapentin often shows effects within 3–7 days, though some pigs need 1–2 weeks for noticeable improvement. If there’s no change after a week at an appropriate dose, reassessing dosage or pain control plan is reasonable.

 

[Merab]

Hi everyone!

Just for some context, my 2 year-old piggy (male, 940 grams) has been having dental work every 4 weeks since July, and has been on metacam since then. This week, the vet and I decided to try out gabapentin, to see whether it would help him out (especially with eating hay, which he barely touches). I have been giving him gabapentin since Tuesday (initially 6 mg twice a day, which I then halved to 3 mg because I felt it was making him too sleepy). However, I still haven't seen any substantial improvements. My question is, in your experience, how long before we should usually see improvements with gabapentin?

Thank you very much!

I suggest another conversation with your vet would be helpful.
It is usually best to stick with the vet’s prescribed dosage and make no changes without discussion.
Hope your boy recovers soon.
Holding you in my thoughts

 

[Merab]

Gabapentin often shows effects within 3–7 days, though some pigs need 1–2 weeks for noticeable improvement. If there’s no change after a week at an appropriate dose, reassessing dosage or pain control plan is reasonable.

Welcome to the forum.
Thank you for trying to help re the gabapentin.
Please see my response to the poster’s query.

 

[exia]

I'm not an expert, but I had three pigs on Gaba becuse of pain or stress after surgery. One multiple times. Its always hard to find the right dose, and everything depends on how stressed out or how much in pain your pig is (and size, weight etc). You need to have a good dialogue with your vet about how you should manage the dose, and you need to observe how your pig respond. Dont change the dose or stop it without a conversation with your vet. Good luck, hope your pig is better soon

 

[BransonClearwater]

Welcome to the forum.
Thank you for trying to help re the gabapentin.
Please see my response to the poster’s query.

Thank you.

 

[EliTobiMati]

I suggest another conversation with your vet would be helpful.
It is usually best to stick with the vet’s prescribed dosage and make no changes without discussion.
Hope your boy recovers soon.
Holding you in my thoughts

Thanks for your reply! Yes, the vet was the one who instructed me to decrease the dose by half if I thought my boy was feeling sleepy (and possibly increase it again once he got used to it). He seems very stable and happy, hopefully it makes him feel better in the long run

 

[Merab]

I hope he does recover soon now.
Gabapentin is powerful stuff.
I was prescribed it once for kidney stones and it completely knocked me out !

 

[BransonClearwater]

Thanks for your reply! Yes, the vet was the one who instructed me to decrease the dose by half if I thought my boy was feeling sleepy (and possibly increase it again once he got used to it). He seems very stable and happy, hopefully it makes him feel better in the long run

I am glad to hear that.

Get well soon piggy <3