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
lolcatz98260 G.Allyn
Posted
I've been on Gaba 2700mg /day, quit cold turkey for 24 hours and it sucked, I felt my heart racing. So I did 900mg for 2 days, then 600mg for 2 days, then 300mg for 2 days. I didn't get any withdrawal, just don't obsess with it, it's not that bad
kelly76770 G.Allyn
Posted
Curious what you guys think, I know these posts are redundant so I'm sorry. Psychiatrist prescribed me these to combat panic attacks, 1-2 300 mgs as needed up to twice a day. Found them to be beneficial, but started to take them consistently once a day before increasing to twice a day because I was starting to feel anxious even just with the one. This was over the span of about two months. The past 5 days I am waking up anxious, possibly because I am taking them usually around 2pm the latest. Decided today to fight through the anxiety and not take it but the anxiety is horrendous. A little out of it with no appetite, but the anxiety is whats getting to me...I'm concerned this isn't due to the medicine and may just be anxiety in general but wanted some input...
SholtoG G.Allyn
Posted
Chronic short term memory loss
Drowsiness
Depression
Dizziness
Erectyle Dysfunction
Mental instability (the most darkest and crazy thoughts bordering on paranoior)
Over the past two months I have had difficulty in obtaining the prescribed Gabapentin due to the location in which I live and work. The resultant withdrawal symptoms are literally driving me to the piont of a mental breakdown. My relationship with my long time partner is at breaking point due to my behaviour and she has stoob by me since I was first diagnosed but I cant expect any more from her. I started to research this drug about 3 weeks ago and I cant believe just how mant people are suffering from the indescriminate prescribing of this drug. I was never made aware of the now documented side effects apart from a casual reference to some mild memory loss.
My question is, why is this drug so freely available and prescribed so often for a whole raft of ailments when there are documented cases of the dangers found in forums such as this? I have been cutting my dosage over the past 4 weeks and now down to 300mg x day due to the unavailability of the drug however after reading all of the negative effects it produces I am stopping today and will try to deal with the pain and the crazy pyschotic episodes I have been going through.
v2806 SholtoG
Posted
When I got down to that last 300mg dosage,which in, my case was 2x300mg day.i halved the night one by opening up the capsule and taking half out.i did that for about 5 days.then did the same with the morning one too.then I stopped the night one and again did it over several days before taking the plunge and stopping the last 150mg. I had withdrawal,but persevered, by not giving in and starting again.
That last part (having stopped) was the hardest,but push through,as your relationship will eventually pick up.im fortunate enough to have my husband put up with all your symptoms and I'm my case more,and im now getting back to some form of normality again. I stopped Nov 17 and this past month or so feel a darn site better and less stressful.
Good luck,dont give up,but don't do cold turkey
v2806
Posted
meant to say,your type of symptoms and I'm my case my other symptoms too. I got so depressed,tired,snappy,dizziness,heart palpations etc.the list was endless. All the best
G.Allyn SholtoG
Posted
Aww! I really feel for you. You have had a very difficult time. Like you, I was never made aware of the terrible side effect or the trouble with "withdrawal". The physicians are so stuck on the short half-life and think it will be a breeze.
I feel especially stupid because I took this drug for about 20 years. At one time I was on 3600 mg. You would have thought I would know better due to my professional background, but I fell for the hype by the prescribing physician.
I want answers! Does this medication cause any anatomical changes? Does it cause permanent physiological changes? I so distrust this drug and am very angry so many of us have had to suffer. Suffer is an accurate word. If withdrawal causes a pain level of 10 and all you can do is stay in bed hoping for death, you are not depressed, but you are desperate. At least this is how I have felt the last month or so.
Good luck to all.
N2healing SholtoG
Posted
I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this. I am now off all meds and just started taking CBD oil. No more pain! I wished I had taken last May when all of my horrific symptoms of withdrawal started. I had a terrible experience with Dr's as well and no longer trust them. I also started the Plexus program of detox and cleanse symptom. I am starting to feel like ME again! All my best!
SholtoG G.Allyn
Posted
Jim777 G.Allyn
Posted
Patproto Jim777
Posted
I've asked the same question about hair loss. I have a very full head of hair but am finding I'm losing a lot more than usual. I haven't seen it listed as a side-effect, not sure if it's the meds or CRPS.
Jim777 Patproto
Posted
A lot on the Net about Gaba can cause hair loss check this site, I really have noticed a lot of thining and my family is not known for that https://www.hairlossrevolution.com/does-gabapentin-cause-hair-loss/
G.Allyn Jim777
Posted
Of course, the original pain which lead to accepting the first gaba script from a physician still exists, but patients need to ask themselves if the pain is severe to the point it is worth taking the risk of side effects and painful withdrawal. My pain was tolerable in the 1990's and I should never have been put on gabapentin.
As a matter of fact, I believe gabapentin made my pain worse. This drug is insidious. You think it helps because of the short half-life. If a dose is a bit late; you feel absolutely horrible and feel you NEED this medication. Over the years, you wonder if you are simply getting worse each year due to other factors (arthritis, aging, scar tissue ect). I think I could have avoided many years of increased pain, very sleepless nights, isolation due to pain and a long list of other things if gabapentin was not part of my medical intervention. I am also concerned about the subsequent multiple blocks, physical therapy, trigger point injections and SCS surgically placed due to increased pain. Would all of this happen if gabapentin was not in the picture. This medication has some expensive side-effects to the patient and the health care system.
I didn't know gabapentin had made my pain worse until AFTER I stopped taking the drug. My physician thought I was oversensitive to opioids. I went of the two I was on without relief. Against physician advice I insisted on being weaned off the gabapentin. It was the culprit! I am so glad I stuck up for myself.
I do try to look at things from a physician's perspective. A patient comes in with a complaint of pain and gabapentin appears to be an option as a non opioid medication. My issue is there are far too many serious side-effects and withdrawal problems. Physician and patient needs to have a serious conversation about the benefits and drawbacks to taking this medication BEFORE the first script is written. Thereafter, all complaints of side-effects need to be taken seriously. Getting a pharmacy print out about side-effects is not enough.
As for the weaning phase, in my case having a six day wean off gabapentin with 20 year continuous us and a dose of 1800-3600 mg per day was unbelievably painful. Physicians do not know enough about this drug. Medicine is a science with grey areas, but this is ridiculous.
In the mid-1990's I did not have the ability to access feedback from other patients. In the 1990's, I would never have taken the first dose, if I knew then what I know know. Thank goodness there are so many patients willing to share their experiences. At least patients can make a decision with more education. The medical community seems very hesitant to admit the truth. Probably, due to huge fear of patient backlash and lawsuits. Most physicians are probably playing dumb.
I only speak so bluntly and loudly because I wish someone had warned me.
Good luck to all and continue to support each other.
marie89364 G.Allyn
Posted
I have been on Gabapentin for 16 mnths 2 to 3 100 mg at night before I go to sleep. I took this pill before I had back surgery and after. It is effecting my eyesight amongst other problems. Dr has put me on a detox at home program. Is it safe for me. I am now on 1 pill at night for the first 3 weeks. Have only been on it 4 days. Last night I felt I couldn't breathe. My lower extremities felt like Jell-O. I'm scared. Anyone else feel this way when they first started to detox.
lorajean marie89364
Posted
babs99203 lorajean
Posted
I replied to your other comment. That's the problem with these huge threads, things get lost. I can't say if you doctor will understand. Sadly, very few of them have a background in it. An addiction counselor would be your best bet, but they're dealing with a lot of opioid problems, but they could steer you in the right direction. A safe taper is at about 10-25% per month--if you're below 1200 mg, go with 10%