Gabapentin Withdrawal Horror
Posted , 180 users are following.
I want to start by giving an apology for my doubts towards patients who posted about problems with gabapentin withdrawal. How hard could it be? It has a short half life. It is not an opioid.
My plan was to write about my extremely painful and unexpected withdrawal experience after I felt better, but it has been FIFTEEN months.
I was on 1800-3600 mg /day for 20 years. My physician put me on a six day weaning schedule. The day I took my last dose my pain skyrocketed, but the pain has changed from low back to toes pain, to pain mostly to my anterior legs below my knees. Unfortunately, it is a very slow process. The internal nerve shaking that accompanies the pain is beyond annoying.
I often read patients on forums stating they have no problem with gabapentin. I did not think my problems were that terrible before I went off the drug. They all come with cautions and potential problems. I wish I had known of how difficult this drug was to discontinue before I had ever taken the first pill. I wish someone had warned me.
Good luck to everyone trying to discontinue gabapentin. I hope your experience is easier than mine.
18 likes, 1046 replies
Guest G.Allyn
Posted
Guest Billyboy179
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sheila14764 G.Allyn
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I was taking 400 mgs of gabapentin a day and when I was taken off of them I had terrible headaches,dizziness and body aches. I met a older lady and we were talking about it and she said it will sound crazy but if I would take one fish oil pill morning,noon and night it would help. Well I'm here to tell you I can't explain it but in two days my withdrawal was over.
This worked for me and I'm grateful to the elderly lady that gave me that advice.
I sincerely hope it helps others also.
Billyboy179 sheila14764
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Thank you so much! I've been taking them for a few days now and will continue to do so. I also read that sweet marjoram oil is helpful, and have been rubbing that on my chest too. I'll try anything. Today is day 21, and the withdrawals are still prevalent, but noticeably lessening, thank God. I really appreciate the fish oil tip. I hope you continue to do well. Remember, there may still be bad days where the withdrawals come back with a vengeance. I'm really impatient, so when I have a good day and then the next one is bad, I get discouraged. I just have to keep telling myself, "it will get better" . Blessings
sheila14764 Billyboy179
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Billyboy179 sheila14764
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It's strange you'd mention that, as I had taken paxil years ago as well as just before the gaba, but never had any issues or withdrawals - my point is not to diminish your experience with paxil, but to outline that it's strange how we all have physiology that reacts so different from another with these drugs. I'm sure there are a large number of people who had/have minimal negative effects from gabapentin, but unfortunately that's not you or I or anyone on this forum. I'm so glad there are others here to share these experiences with. It definitely softens the blow and despair from the withdrawals, knowing we're not alone in this
terrie02561 G.Allyn
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OMG oh dear, oh damn, i mean, oh darn, i just decided tonite to go off my 800mg x 3 a day habit and wondered if i should taper or not. i take it for nerve neuropathy is what they call the ulcers along my tongue....ten at a time!!!....that ive had for over 2 yrs and the whatever it is when my entire mouth catches on fire for a few day. after steriods didnt help, l......Lets try gabapentin...its the new hydrocodone, i guess. i prefer the hydrocodone........but...ive gained 32lbs and im 67 and ive never weighed this much in my life!!!! always tall and skinny. now, also, ive lost 3" off my height so now im old, im short, and im fat!!!! and i guess im mad! sorry to ramble. but after all those years and they only put you on 6 days weaning? hmmmm seems it should be longer. i ask google and it sent me here....which im already a member. i dont know what to do. well. G.Allyn , maybe you should take just a couple of hundred a day for awhile and then very, very slowly go off that. good luck. i know you are in a world of pain and im sorry. tcc
G.Allyn terrie02561
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Hello terrie,
Thanks for the suggestion, but I tried a dose of 100 mg at hs and had all the side effects and no relief. I am done with gabapentin.
I too, had weight gain from gabapentin. The doctor said I was just fat. After discontinuing the gabapentin I lost 30 pounds of fluid weight in a month. At this point I was on 1800 mg per day (600 mg for 3X/day). When I was on 3600 mg I had what is called +4 edema in my legs. One winter I could not wear any of my shoes. I had one pair of boots I could wear unbuckled when I had a doctor's appointment. Don't I sound attractive? Who knows how much fluid I had on board at this point. My guess is 40 lbs.
Anyway, the physician was fully aware of this issue and never suggested I discontinue the drug. It was my idea and I am glad I insisted on finally taking control of the situation.
terrie02561 G.Allyn
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hi gallyn, im so glad you told me this. im having trouble in other areas the i think my legs are maybe swelling just a bit and maybe feet. im on 2400mg gaba and i now weight 200lbs. i used to weigh 165. ive got to quit taking them. i think ill just try and go cold turkey. its time, right now, for my nightly dose. im going to skip it. ive got to lose this weight.. i now have a hiatal hernia that has to be repaired and i bet this extra weight it why. the doctor, after endoscopy, said its "massive." well, gotta go. wish me luck tonite. but then, i have insomnia anyway so maybe i wont know if it bother me. lol later.
Billyboy179 terrie02561
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babs99203 terrie02561
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Terrie, PLEASE do not go cold turkey!! It's actually dangerous and can cause seizures. Also you may have problems that last for months from this. The only good thing is that at that level, you could probably drop 300 mg/day which means 100 mg/dose (if you take it the normal way, which is three times a day).
Yes, you WILL KNOW as the symptoms don't just occur immediately, they come in a variety of ways and can go over the month IF you have the problems that many of us do. I've been tapering for a year and here's what I get, at different times and at different levels: increased pain, confusion, fatigue, depression, memory and cognitive problems, anxiety and panic, dizziness, blurred vision. If you notice it's what you can get from starting gab, you're correct. As you go down, the body actually tries to replace the drug by itself. Please look up the NY Times article from about a week ago on getting off anti-depressants, gab works very much the same way. Look up benzoid tapering for info also.
I WILL get off these meds, but every month on the 25th when I taper,it's hard, because I know what I'll deal with. They won't call it withdrawal, they call it discontinuation syndrome. Please check into it. Again, you may NOT have problems, but you don't want to risk it.
terrie02561 G.Allyn
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USofAnxiety G.Allyn
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You took the exact words out of my mouth "internal nerve shaking" is exactly how I've described it to my family trying to help them understand why sometimes I may appear fine outwards but im being attacked inside with all kinds of excess activity in my nervous system...its a struggle and im still fighting it 5 months after my last dose. At one point in time I was so hopeless I honestly thought I might not ever make it off this dirty drug but there is hope and im so grateful I've made it this far . Hope all of you continue to make good progress
michele51746 G.Allyn
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Billyboy179 G.Allyn
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consider the amount of profit made off of you over the course of 20 years. This is why you weren't warned. The intent of gabapentin is to be life long. They don't want people getting off of it
Specialforces10 Billyboy179
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Your absolutely right BillyBoy they don't care about us. I'm not opposed to Drs. Being well off. They pay their dues because they go to school for a long time and it cost alot of money. I just would like them to live up to the oath they all have to swear to. Sadly, I don't think most of them do. " first, to do no harm". All of us have been victims of their failure to do so. They prescribe medications without knowledge of the harmful side effects. They in my opinion should have someone in their office, a member of their staff to do research on the drugs before they start writing scripts for patient's.