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Gabapentin withdrawal after short term use?

Posted , 13 users are following.

david96583
david96583

Hi there,

I was prescribed gabapentin for a nerve issue. The goal was to start at 100mg and work up to 800mg by adding 100mg every 3 days or 4 days.

I started to feel badly at 300mg (slurring words, irritable, feeling violent), and then did one day of 400 mg and could take no more (feeling extraordinary irritated/borderline suicidal). This increase took place over about 16 days.

I cut back on the drug for a day or two (down to 100 mg), still felt no better, and then stopped.

That was a week ago, and I still feel horrible. Exhaustion, splitting headache, anxiety.

1) is it possible this drug caused permanent damage in the short time I was on it?

2) The effects of the drug were so awful, I couldn't bear to take another pill. Is it possible damage was done because I didn't wean slowly? Even after two weeks?

3) I have a message into my doctor, who has been very unhelpful through all this.

Thanks.

0 likes, 28 replies

28 Replies

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  • anthony78371
    anthony78371 david96583

    Posted

    I hated Gabapentin< asked doctor h

    how did i gain 20 lbs in 3 weeks"

    she says "i don't know"

    shes a dummy, it was the gabapentin

    then i got all depressed when i came off it.

    it made me feel all weird too, and like i was in another dimension.

    they can have it.

    i could not take lyrica either,

    felt like i was drinking the night before. asked="" doctor="" h="" how="" did="" i="" gain="" 20="" lbs="" in="" 3="" weeks"="" she="" says="" "i="" don't="" know"="" shes="" a="" dummy,="" it="" was="" the="" gabapentin="" then="" i="" got="" all="" depressed="" when="" i="" came="" off="" it.="" it="" made="" me="" feel="" all="" weird="" too,="" and="" like="" i="" was="" in="" another="" dimension.="" they="" can="" have="" it.="" i="" could="" not="" take="" lyrica="" either,="" felt="" like="" i="" was="" drinking="" the="" night="">

    how did i gain 20 lbs in 3 weeks"

    she says "i don't know"

    shes a dummy, it was the gabapentin

    then i got all depressed when i came off it.

    it made me feel all weird too, and like i was in another dimension.

    they can have it.

    i could not take lyrica either,

    felt like i was drinking the night before.>

    • rita52071
      rita52071 anthony78371

      Posted

      yep...you need a dr that knows what they are doing....a powerful drug
  • anthony78371
    anthony78371 david96583

    Posted

    Thank you I know.

    lots O times, I tell her something, she just looks at me.

    LOL

    Another Doctor has me on Cmbalta, It helps a little.

  • david96583
    david96583

    Posted

    Thanks for all the responses.

    Does it make sense to go back on the drug and wean more slowly? Or is that pointless after about a week being off it?

    • Shammah
      Shammah david96583

      Posted

      It depends on whether you want to deal with severe or less severe withdrawals. You will have withdrawals either way. Day 6 and 14 following a taper were the worst for me. If it was me, I would start back at 200 mg for a couple weeks, then taper down from there. Some people taper down by 50%, some by 30% and others like me by 10%. After starting at 200 mg for two weeks, you can try tapering down to 150 mg for a couple weeks and step down by 50 mg every two weeks and see if you are able to handle that. It's best to work with a doctor though. A psychiatrist would be more familiar with tapering you off than a medical doctor. Since you are experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts, you should get in to work with a psychiatrist to help with your medication as soon as possible. Best wishes on your journey.
    • rita52071
      rita52071 david96583

      Posted

      David if I was you and the withdrawals are this bad I would go back on it  but do it with a good doctor that knows about this medicine....your brain needs time to adjust to the change....dont forget this drug changes your brain......listen I went back to 100 mg everyday and my doctor wants me to stay on it for one month...ok its probably a smaller dosage than you but youreaaly need to be under a dr care...You will be fine it takes time....I am also on Depakoe 500mg at night...thats stronger than gaba....I am really worried about that one...might only be able to due 50 mg every 3 weeks.......but we will see
    • rita52071
      rita52071 sandy97889

      Posted

      they say it could be months ....some people say a year longer still experiencing withdrawals  everyone is different......I am trying to get off of the 100 mg a day I am taking........then I need to tackle depakoe....God help me..........I am considering myself very lucky when I came off of gabapentin until I got to one every other day......thats why I went to 100 a day.........I seem to have a very very good headache specialist although we are still working on this dizziness since Sept 2015
    • sandy97889
      sandy97889 rita52071

      Posted

      Right now only thing bothering me is stomach issues. Last night was the first time in months I slept all night! smile. Was wonderful!

      Good Luck. Keep me posted!

      Weird how Gabby affects your whole body!

  • tim72430
    tim72430 david96583

    Posted

    Hey David. As you can see, you aren't alone in having serious side effects from Gabapentin. It seems you had a bad reaction from your first dose, and got worse and worse. It takes time for the chemisrty of your brain to get back to normal. Doctors will tell you that Gabapentin has a half life of 6/5 hours, which they think lleaves your system in no time. That maybe true, but the side effects linger for a hell of a long time. I was on 900mg for only a few week. My last dose was on the 16th of Febuary and i'm still coming taking it day by day in recovery. It is horrible, not an easy road back. You will be fine though, after a couple of weeks the anxiety will reduce less and less and your gognitive functions will get back to normal. Take it easy dude. Stay away from all stimulants( Coffee,Tea,Sugar and fizzy drinks) and stay hydrated as much as possible to flush your liver(or Kidneys i can't recall which one rids toxins from the body). Get some excersize and see a naturopath if you need help from a doc. They helped me greatly. Try some hypnotherapy on youtube to reduce stress and help with sleep. 

    You have a great support network on here. They all helped me when i needed suppport at my worst moments.

    All the best David.

  • sandy97889
    sandy97889 david96583

    Posted

    Glad to hear I am not alone in this up hill battle with Gabby..Its been 8 weeks and still fighting it daily..although the anxiety, nervousness, headaches, and happy to report I have slept thru the night these past two nights..

    ​Still dealing with appetite and stomach issues..hoping this to shall pass.

    ​I was on 3200 for quite a while..didn't help with pain but made me sleep like a baby. I decided I didn't want to take this anymore so ask my Rheumatoligist that put me on it and he said to drop to 1600 for 5 days then to 800 for 5 days and I should be good to get off of it..boy was he wrong and then told me he didn't think there was any withdrawal???  Wow that first month I never left my house..felt horrid.

    ​So praying that soon this will all go away and will hopefully be normal again.

    ​Good Luck..

  • jackie54344
    jackie54344 david96583

    Posted

    I was on short term after hip replacement n I am going thru anxiety, no sleep restless legs. I was on 300mg 1xday at night n 2xday for 2 weeks n then back to one. Only at night. The pharmacist yold me n agreed with these withdrawals wish my doctor had told me. I feel for you I refuse to take anymore! Terrible drug. My pharmacist told me they aren't evendors sure what effect on the brain.

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