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BEWARE OF THIS DRUGS WITHDRAWAL

Posted , 14 users are following.

USofAnxiety
USofAnxiety

I was recently put on a filthy drug aka GABAPENTIN 300 MG once daily ,then 300 MG twice daily after one week(for "daily migraines") I am so terrified to keep taking it as it has caused me side effects . This is around my second week of taking it & in the first week I just didn't feel like it was something I needed to be taking but doctor said I need to give it 3 months in my system. At the end of the first week experiencing the twitching,fogginess,weird feeling, as side effects I decided I did not want to continue . My doctor said just stop taking it cold turkey ...MISTAKE! STOPPING GABAPENTIN SUDDENLY HAS CAUSED A VERY BAD WITHDRAWAL!! I MEAN IT IS NASTY THE WORST PAIN IVE FELT!! Even though I was only taking 300 MG once a day for 1 week, when I quit cold turkey I felt horrible pain by the second day....

All kinds of sharp pains EVERYWHERE ...in my eyes,ears,neck,whole body. Also jerky movements through out my legs, horrible head pain , loud gurgling stomach noises & heart papilations. Feels like my body is going to start shaking uncontrollably. My body literally felt like it is jumping out my skin trying to get more of the drug. JUST LIKE DRUG ADDICTS SAY HAPPENS DURING WITHDRAWAL. I never increased the drug & I'm so glad because after only taking a low dose for one week I feel like my body is hooked! I feel like my neurologist should have advised me a taper dose to help wean my body off. I do not want to keep taking this but I'm also terrified of suddenly stopping ....

I ended up in the ER after two days of quitting cold turkey, with a bad headache. They gave me reglan,dilaudid,& benedryl which took away the headache. But by the next day my body was literally SPAZZING OUT BAD so I took a piece of a capsule & within a couple hours it seemed to help. Now I haven't been able to see or talk to my neurologist to get help with weening off of this!! I have just been taking smaller amounts but I want to be off this ..PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS BLINDLY ESPECIALLY FOR OFF LABEL USE.

1 like, 33 replies

33 Replies

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  • sandy97889
    sandy97889 USofAnxiety

    Posted

    I just am finally feeling better. Have been off Gabby for 42 days. First 3 weeks was horrid. Was brought down to quickly!

    Take it slowly

    Good luck!

  • ashlie54752
    ashlie54752 USofAnxiety

    Posted

    Hi

    I was tasking 4 x 300mg, 3 times a day and after it not working for me (i suffer chronic migraines) and it doesnt make a difference. i habe now started weaning off and find that going down 300mg a week , it doesnt seem to have given me any side effects at all, maybe that could help?

    The side effects when i first started taking them were horrendous but now nothing at all.

    hope you feel better soon

    • tyler_54849
      tyler_54849 ashlie54752

      Posted

      Hi Ashley, I understand that you’ve stopped taking gabapentin now. I was put on gabapentin for neuropathic pain & since starting it I’ve had HORRIBLE mental side effects! 

      I’m wondering how your feeling now since stopping them? 

      Has your mind recovered?? 

      I’m terrified that my mind won’t recover & im stuck like this? 

    • deb97335
      deb97335 tyler_54849

      Posted

      For me unfortunately I am up to 900 mg a day. Looks like my Dr wants to put me on the wait list for medical marijuana. I experience pain through my entire body, it's very debilitating. A long time ago I was on gabapentin, I did a slow wean off and did very well. I'm on such high doses now because I have excruciating nerve Thompson amongst other areas. It's a drug I hate being on because of the side effects. How long ago did you get off?

  • Shammah
    Shammah USofAnxiety

    Posted

    I'm so sorry you are going through this. Unfortunately, the information that comes with this medication says there are no withdrawals, do doctors think it's safe to suddenly stop taking it at lower doses. That is far from true as you found. If you are very sensitive to medication, you want to taper down slowly. I am having to taper down 10 mg every 3 weeks to avoid severe side effects. If your symptoms get unbearable from going down too, increase the dose a little for some relief and come down slower. Be patient with coming off to keep your body safe. I'm sure you have had testing about the migraines, but I know people who have food sensitivety or can't take stimulants like sugar or caffeine. I had lots of health problems and the doctors could not help me so I contacted a naturopathic doctor who took me off 5 food groups and I'm doing soooo much better. I removed refined sugar, all grains, dairy, caffeine and soy from my diet for 6 months. I will slowly reintroduce some of these foods and see how I react. So far, so good. I wish you the best with getting off this terrible medication.
    • USofAnxiety
      USofAnxiety Shammah

      Posted

      Wow so I might still be tapering to quickly ...I started taking half the capsule by breaking it & I also was scared to even do so because I don't know if I should be breaking the capsule. What were your side effects like? I also notice right after I take it my throat feels like its hard to swallow like I have to force myself...ANYBODY HAD ISSUES WITH THIER THROAT AFTER TAKING GAB??
    • sandy97889
      sandy97889 USofAnxiety

      Posted

      No throat problems but the first month was anxiety, nervousness, no appetite, couldn't sleep. Came from 3200 mgs to 1600 mgs to 800 all in about two weeks! Way to fast. 42 days without now feeling much better.

      Do it slowly.

      Good Luck

    • Shammah
      Shammah USofAnxiety

      Posted

      You may be able to taper faster than 10 mg every 3 weeks. Your body will tell you. Some people can go down by 100 mg a week from 300 mg. You might be able to come down by 50 mg every two weeks or 30 mg? You really need to work with a doctor who is familiar with the side effects of this drug and work with you and your body to come down safely. The lower the dose, the slower the taper. I switched to the liquid version for easier measuring at lower doses. It comes in 100 mg capsules or liquid. I've heard of people breaking the capsules and mixing it with applesauce. That is what they sometimes do with children. I was nervous to do that, so I asked for liquid. Most pharmacies have to order it, but it's the easiest for me. I had very dry throat taking it. You may need to mix the granules with something like applesauce to go down better? Best wishes!
    • USofAnxiety
      USofAnxiety Shammah

      Posted

      Yesterday was a nightmare FIRST PANIC ATTACK I have ever experienced. I believe it was from (48 hours) not taking any Gabapentin. The side effects from withdrawal were racing heart,nervousness,cold feeling in chest , &,feeling like I was about to black out. I was in such distress I had my 9 yr old call an ambulance. I went to the ER TWICE though yesterday because I was terrified which I think is because the withdrawal was causing the WORST ANXIETY I EVER EXPERIENCED. Once I returned home from the second trip I was so exhausted & decided to take more Gabapentin because I hadn't slept ,as soon as I took it my heart stopped racing & I felt better.

      Now I can make it a full 24hrs on this smaller dose without severe side effects so maybe i can take it 24hrs apart for the next week then see about going two days without. I am taking a very little amount but it works for a full 24hr period. How are you doing with yours?

    • Shammah
      Shammah USofAnxiety

      Posted

      I have tapered down from 100 mg and currently at 20 mg since March 5th. I set my alarm to take it at 9:00am every morning. If I forget to take it, within a couple hours I am feeling jittery and that is at only 20 mg. I wait 3 weeks and then take 10 mg less, so on March 26th I will only take 10 mg once daily for 3 weeks, then stop taking it altogether. 

      What is your current dose? Most people can't just stop taking it until they are at 100 mg or lower. There is no way my body would allow me to stop taking it at 100 mg. I'm too sensitive to medication, so I'm tapering down 10 mg every 3 weeks. I will not stop it altogether until I have been at 10 mg for 3 weeks. Then I will stop taking it. My last 10 mg dose is schedule for April 15th 2016, then I will be off of it.

    • sandy97889
      sandy97889 Shammah

      Posted

      Good luck! I was brought down way to fast. Last dose was 800 mgs. That was Feb 1 St

      The next month was horrible. Nausea, anxiety, nervousness, no appetite.

      I can finally say that this past week I am starting to feel much better! Been without Gabapentin for 45 days!

      Take it slowly

    • Shammah
      Shammah sandy97889

      Posted

      Oh my gosh!!! You stopped at 800 mgs???? I can see why you would have such horrible withdrawals. I'm sorry to hear you had to go through that. Did you doctor take you off at 800 mg? I'm glad you are starting to feel better. Why were you taking Gabapentin? What was your highest dose?
    • sandy97889
      sandy97889 Shammah

      Posted

      I was taking 3200 mgs. Built up over time was on Gabby for about 13 months for Osteo arthritis of feet and knees! Did not do much for pain but I slept great!

      My Dr told me to drop to 1600 for 5 days then 800 for 5 days then I could stop!

      This was my Rheumatoligist too!

      My family Dr was not happy. Wanted me back on it to taper slowly but by then I had been off for two weeks!

      Was not a fun time! And they say Gabby is not a narcotic!!

    • Fee124
      Fee124 sandy97889

      Posted

      Hi I'm on gavapenden for osteoarthritis aswell 1800 a day ... having weird breathing issues when I bend or start to do stuff get short of breath and abdominal swelling.. I think the tablets are causing it cos my breathing and stomache were fine before iv started weaning myself off to just 600 a day ( haven't told my doctor) was just wondering how long u think to stop completely

      Thanks in advance x

    • jessica87017
      jessica87017 Shammah

      Posted

      I'm on 3600 mg daily for past year. For chronic pain. I hate it, it doesn't work just makes me stupid. If people were to meet me for the first time they would think I was hit by a car with brain damage.drs and specialist want me off it. My family Dr told me Monday it's safe to go down to 1800 daily cut it in half. I got nerve blocker injections last Thursday to help with pain. After math of that is worse pain. But I cut them in half starting Tuesday unimaginable pain can't sit stand lay down.. bath and pool. But I also have not had more that 3 hrs sleep starting Wednesday night. Could the insomnia be a side affect off going down to fast. It seemed like to much to me.

    • Rener
      Rener jessica87017

      Posted

      Jessica, I thought I was reading a reply I made about Myself! Down to 3600 mg to side effects!
    • Rener
      Rener USofAnxiety

      Posted

      Hard time swallowing and hoarseness. Same side effects taking and worse when withdrawing!
    • tyler_54849
      tyler_54849 sandy97889

      Posted

      HI sandy, I just wanted to ask when you say your feeling better, is that mentally aswell as physical ?? 

      Gabapentin has caused me so much suffering mentally & im just really hoping that my mind can go back to the way it was before I started taking this terrible drug. 

      Thankyou 

    • brendaNJ
      brendaNJ USofAnxiety

      Posted

      hello. i know your post was two years ago but i was doing a Google search and came across it. i seem to be having throat issues as well since coming off gaba. hard to swallow, feel like something is stuck there and a terrible nasal drip. did your issue go away?

    • brendaNJ
      brendaNJ Rener

      Posted

      Hi Rener. I know you posted this some time ago, but i seem to be going through the same issue now. I have a terrible post nasal drip and it feels so hard to swallow, like something is stuck in there. Did this fade for you. My last dose was 12 days ago. i am so upset I am going to an ENT just so he can check it out.

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