Gabapentin withdrawal after short term use?

I was on a high does of Gabby for almost a year. Dr brought me off to fast and withdrawal is awful! Anxiety, nervousness, chest pain etc... It's been 7 weeks now and still having stomach issues but each day gets better.

You need to do a very slow taper on this drug.

Good Luck

That might be too fast for you to taper off. I don't believe there is any damage done. After only a few days on this drug your brain adapts to working with an depending on it to function. A quick discontinuing does not give your brain enough time to adapt without it. The fastest taper would be 50% for a couple weeks, then 50% down again for a couple weeks, staying at that until you are off. You may need to go down much slower than that. The medication takes 6 days to completely leave your body. Then, your nervous system and your brain may take several weeks to get used to running without it. The withdrawals effects are bad with this drug for most people. The lower the dose you are on, the more biavailable it is in your body so you will feel the withdrawals even at lower doses. I was only on 100 mg for 6 months and could not get off it because of the withdrawals. My doctor put me on the liquid form and I'm currently tapering down by 10 mg every 3 weeks... currently down to 10 mg. I'm still having withdrawals, but I am able to live with it, although it's still not good at all. Unfortunately, the leaflet that comes with the medication tells doctors that this medication is safe and has no withdrawals. That is not true at all. The doctors don't know what to do because the information that comes from the manufacture makes it seem easy to get on or off. It has put me through hell, even at a low dose. I could not imagine trying to get off a high dose.  : \

Hi David...I have been on gaba for about 6 months now maybe even 7.......I started with 300 then after one month I went to 400....I am now tapered off to 100 a day...when I went to 100 every other day it was like WOW so I went to 100 a day and Im good...I think your doctor pushed up the dosage way to fast for you  and no you did not do damage ...some people can not take it...and yes you MUST be tapered off slowly....I went down 100 mg every 3 weeks....was doing pretty good until the end...I think April 21 we are going to try and go lower  ........and yes the medicine can give you those thoughts .....when that happens your doctor needs to start getting you off........you need to find another doctor....this is not a drug to fool around with.......and yes the side effects can be awful.......Remember once you are completely off side effects can last for weeks...Good Luck.....keep posting

Hi David, I'm sorry you're suffering. I was prescribed 900mg gabapentin last summer for sciatica. When I first started taking it it was 300mg to be increased over several weeks but after reading about the drug I decided to keep it at the 300mg level and try and manage the pain with other drugs.

Initially I had flu like symptoms which did go after a few days.

I have recently come off the 300mg( I took it at night to help me sleep)

I did it by reducing 100mg every two weeks until I finally stopped.

During that time I was anxious, in pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, slurring words. Not sleeping. I was adamant I was coming off them, I had tried before but couldn't bear the pain. As my body readjusted to not taking them the pain has eased. I still get a bit jittery. I've been off then for a fortnight now. I feel much better but I'm not sleeping well. I feel tired but can't sleep so get headaches.

Are you able to speak to another Dr?

Although the drug worked and did help me I am very relieved to be off it. I am hoping that the side effects disappear.

It sounds like you came off them very quickly. Speak to a pharmacist if not a Dr. They should be able to give you some advice. Good luck and I hope your symptoms ease soon.

David this will.wear.off. I'm wild.for not weaning of drugs slowly but I always go back to normal. Give it another few weeks. Gabapentin are ridiculous for side effects but I promise this will pass as soon as it leaves your system.which takes a while.