Will gabapentin make me do badly on my MCAT?
I've had a herniated disc for 10 months now, and have had pretty consistent sciatica for about 6 months. I've done a bit of physiotherapy, but the pain is pretty bad and doesn't seem to be going away. My doctor prescribed me gabapentin to manage the nerve pain, but after reading some articles online and some stories in this sub, I am a bit nervous to take it.
For reference, I am a 20 year old male. I am taking the MCAT at the end of the summer, and I'm a bit worried about how taking gabapentin might affect my brain as I study and take the exam. I've read lots of stories about people getting serious brain fog and laziness (pain relief aside) from taking gabapentin. Does anyone have any stories, positive or negative, about how gabapentin has affected you in an academic sense? For example, has it made you feel "dumber", or does it mainly make you lose track of thoughts as you speak?
Also, if I try taking it and notice some negative cognitive effects in a few weeks, is it okay to stop right away, or will it be a long process of weening off the drug (and regaining my brain function)?
As a note, I completely understand that this drug affects everyone in vastly different ways. I'm just looking to hear some stories and see what others have experienced, maybe in similar contexts as me. Thanks everyone!