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Gabapentin prescribed for Klonopin WD. How to taper? what to do?

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aaron03723
aaron03723

I have been on a fairly low dose of Klonopin since November 2017  .5 Mg once per day.  I was taking it due to some health issues with my father and combine with a stressful job I felt like I needed a little relief.  Not being a drinker at all, I can tell you in this moment, I wish I had just had a few drinks every night.   I did a CT on the Klonopin after taking it for only 8 days ( in a row )  by the night of the 4th day I spent the entire night awake,  after day 5 things slowly started to improve, but by day 20 I was finding my sleep still lacking and dealing with a lot of stress.  I can see clearly now that this is the moment when I made a decision that has cost me a lot.  I started taking the Klonopin again,  I took them for 5 days , then decided I had had enough of taking pills.  The withdrawel was so bad I could not believe it.  I must be really sensitive to this stuff. 

my symptoms are extreme panic, constant anxiety, feeling of not being real or present, fear based out of nothing,  falling sleep and jolting awake,  strange random thoughts upon trying to sleep that make no sense at all.  So it was back on the Klonopin again,  after doing some research I decided a slow taper was the way to go. (My version of slow was cutting half the dose every 5 days).   I got down to .125  and jumped off.  I had some Withdrawels,  mainly sleeping between 3 and 4 hours per night and daytime anxiety,  but other than that, I felt like I was on my way out of it.  I remember day 6 was very hard but day 7 was surprisingly good on day 8 I got hit with it, all at once... I feeling like I have never known,  I thought my mind had some unhinged.  Fear, Anxiety, I just got in bed and laid there like a baby.  I toughed it out for about 2 hours before I broke down and popped the Klonopin again.  Since then I have been on a slow taper,  but everyday Is hard, I do not feel normal, I do not sleep well, and it takes me sometimes 3 hours to fall asleep. 

I spoke with my Dr last month who does not see how this is possible, so he told me to stop the Klonopin completely and start the Gabapentin.  He assured me that the Gabapentin was no addictive, it works in a similair way as klonopin but it does not down regulate the receptors by binding to them.  He said this would allow my brain to heal its receptors and learn how to work with the Klonopin while the Gabapentin would cover the majority of the Withdrawel symptoms.   I (like so many of us) just blindly accepted what he told me.  I never googled it, or even questioned what he told me.  He started me at 300mg in the morning,  300 in the afternoon, and 1200 at night.  Yes... My starting dose was  1800 MG.  He told me I could take as much of the stuff as I wanted ( up to 3200 mg)   So for about a week I did exactly that, and you know... it did cover up the Klonopin WD.  I slept pretty good, anxiety was low.  But... something was wrong.  My Pupils were huge,  I was forgetting things, I was pretty  much emotionless and indifferent to everything around me.  At that time I called my pharmacist and asked him if I could quit Cold Turkey.  He said I could.  So I did...  then the next day was one of the worst days I have ever experienced.  Now the problem I have is... are these Gaba Withdrawels , Klonopin withdrawels, or both?  Impossible to answer I suppose.   Realizing my doctor and my pharmacist do not have the answers I started looking for online help.  Another big mistake,  reading horror stories about people stuck in "Hell" for years.  so that just added to my anxiety.  

I realize this is getting to be long... So I will get to the point. This is the schedule I made for myself.   I am currently taking 200 mg of Gaba at Noon, and 300 mg of Gaba about an hour before bedtime.  I am also taking  .225 Klonopin at night.  I figured I would "wean' myself off of both of them slowly , since I do not know what is creating the problem, and my guess is its probably a little of both. 

Current Symptoms

-trouble falling asleep

-trouble staying asleep

-increased heart rate

-very poor memory ( could be the sleep deprivation)

-mild to moderate anxiety most of the day.

I am pretty tough, I can deal with my symptoms as they are, I am just worried about them getting worse as I taper.

Keep in mind I have only taken .5 Klonopin per day, and over a 4 month period of time I would say I have taken no more than a total of  30 Miligrams of Klonopin. 

I have read that a really high quality Magnesium will really help with Gabapentin Withdrawels, but I have read that Magnesium makes Benzo WD worse.  So I am very frustrated.  

I am 42 years old,  not over weight, and until now have been fairly healthy for the last 5 years.  I have enough Klonopin and Gabapentin left to do the following taper plan.  This Taper would have me off of both medications by April 2nd.   Does anyone out there have any ideas?  Please no Horror stories, I need some positive stories, ideas, and encouragement.     Like I said if I have to live with some sleeplessness and some anxiety through this taper and even a little while after I am off,  I can deal with that.  I get that my brain needs to learn how to manage its chemicals on its own again.  I just do not want to end up back in that really scary place again.  My doctor is of no help, he gave me 3 more medications to add.  Luvox, Ambilify, and Restoril.    

I am not taking any of them!!!

This is the tapering plan I came up with.

                                  Afternoon / Night

Feb27  250 klon    200 gaba  / 300 gaba

28       .250 klon     200 gaba  / 300 gaba

Mar01  250 klon    150 gaba  / 300 gaba

02       .250 klon    150gaba  / 300 gaba

03       .250 klon    150  gaba / 300 gaba

04       .250 klon    100 gaba  / 300 gaba

05        .125 klon    100 gaba  / 300 gaba

06        .125 klon    100 gaba  / 300 gaba

07        .125 klon     100 gaba  / 300 gaba

08         .125 klon      100   gaba  / 300 gaba

09         .125 klon     50    gaba  / 300 gaba

10         .125 klon      50 gaba  / 300 gaba

11           .125 klon     50 gaba  / 300 gaba

12           .125 klon                        / 300 gaba

13           .125 klon                       / 250 gaba

14           .125 klon                       / 250 gaba

15           .125 klon                       / 250 gaba

16           .125 klon                       / 200 gaba

17           .125 klon                       / 200 gaba

18            .125 klon                       / 200 gaba

19             .075 klon                        / 150 gaba

20             .075 klon                        / 150 gaba

21              .075 klon                        / 150 gaba

22              .075 klon                        / 100 gaba

23              .075 klon                        / 100 gaba

24              .075 klon                        / 100 gaba

25               .075 klon                        / 50 gaba

26               .075 klon                        / 50 gaba

27                                                     / 50 gaba

28                .075 klon                       / 25 gaba

29                                                     / 25 gaba

30                 .075 klon                      / 25 gaba

April01                                              / 25 gaba

02                 .075 klon                       

 

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • mary25674
    mary25674 aaron03723

    Posted

    Aaron, I tapered off of 1200 mg of Gaba for 21/2 months, didn't have the other drugs you are dealing with. Last Gaba was Nov 17,17 , 3mos off now.  1st two months was the hell you have described. Then it started easing up. I used Mag, epsom salt soaks 2x,s a day,  Smoked pot, OTC pain pills, heavy use of all the "B" vit..          .https://mentalhealthdaily.com/2014/04/19/gabapentin-neurontin-withdrawal-symptoms-duration/     this is a site that has a lot of infor. Hope some of it helps you, keep searching.  I have learned that 98% of Drs. really don't know what they are doing, and into much of a hurry to think.  There are others on this site that will be helpful as soon as they find you.  Let us know how you are doing, anymore questions, we will do our best to help.   Hang in there, keep fighting it. We here are with you in the battle

     

    • aaron03723
      aaron03723 mary25674

      Posted

      If you do not mind.  How long were you taking the 1200? weeks? months?  Years?
  • mary25674
    mary25674 aaron03723

    Posted

    7 yrs. 
    • aaron03723
      aaron03723 mary25674

      Posted

      Thanks.  I am amazed at how doctors push these meds, I am even more amazed that they get approved.  7 Years is a long time,  did you experience suffering during your taper or more after you hit 0?  I am going to take up smoking Pot I think.  I have read there are some Indica strains that can really help Drug WD.   I am hoping since I have only been on the Gaba for a total of 20 some days,  that a 30 day taper is more than reasonable.  My biggest worry is the Klonopin,  it has pretty much the same side effects as Gabapenctin.  But at least I am on a super low dose of that. 

      Thank you for the writing.

  • deebee777
    deebee777 aaron03723

    Posted

    Hi Aaron, I was on gabapentin for 2.5 months, max dose was 3x 100mg/day, then tapered myself to 100mg/day then quit within a week, maybe too quick.

    Hadn’t been on any other meds though did have some old diazepam and I took 2.5- 5mg some days when withdrawals felt bad. I worried that that contributed to my withdrawal, too. I had the same symptoms as you during w/d.

    A slow taper is recommended by many and I think your taper plan is good, check with your Doc. 

    I will be off gabapentin for 2 months March 2. Feeling much much better, occasional odd day but def manageable. The good days are adding up!

    I take vitamin b1 and b12, both said to help with nerve/memory/anxiety issues. I am not a medical professional, just relaying. 

    And as Mary said .. we will get better!  Let us know how you are doing, we’re  here with you. 

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