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Gabapentin Withdrawal Horror

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G.Allyn
G.Allyn

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

1046 Replies

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  • gail30132
    gail30132 G.Allyn

    Posted

    Hi there, I have just been reading everyone's comments re this drug!!!. my story is march/April last year I had to have two back to back major spine operations (within 6 days from ea other) as a result I have nerve damage in my right leg and right foot still. I have been on Gabapentin 300mg x 1 tab x 3 times a day  for over a yr. After talking to my surgeon we have decided to start stepping me down to off. the plan I am wanting to work with will be as of this Sunday I stop taking the morning tab for 4 weeks then I stop taking the lunch tab for 4 weeks then the dinner one. I am hoping this will work!!!!. but will not know til I start.

    • beth97678
      beth97678 gail30132

      Posted

      Hello gail30132,I have to say reducing the dose rather than dropping out a dose seems a safer and more acceptable way to get off this medicine.You say you are taking tablets that are marked 300mg.I would ask your GP if you could have some 200,100 and 50 mg tablets.Then you can mix and match depending on which month in your withdrawal procedure you're in.The Pregabalin (newer version of gabapentin) has tablets that go up in increments of 25 from 25 to 300.(max dose daily of 600mg).Take it slowly  and see how your body reacts.If the pain is just as bad after reducing at any time,it will only take 20 minutes for the drug to work-you could take another 25mg for a second month and try to reduce again.Don't be pressurised by your surgeon or GP.Only you know how it feels.At the very least,try reducing the daily dose to 299 three times daily for a few months ,then 199 mg three times daily for a further few months.then if there's a lower dose tablet,make use of it.Good luck and best wishes for a successful elimination of this drug.It's useful for the nerve pain,but too easy to increase and overdose,And nobody told me either that it would cause all these weird side effects and stopping them could be a nasty experience.

    • beth97678
      beth97678

      Posted

      EDIT:-Should read......

      XXX"at the very least ,try reducing the daily dose to 200 three times daily for a few months ,then 100mg three times daily for a further few months".

      x Beth

    • babs99203
      babs99203 gail30132

      Posted

      I also support what Beth says. Many people would have trouble tapering that quickly. All the doctors seem to think it's a good way, but they seldom talk to us as to how it's going!! I've been tapering since last year, at 100 mg/month which is what forums, blogs and FB posts suggest. I worked in healthcare for over 30 years, but I'm astounded at how little doctors understand about this drug. I think they all got the same info 20 years ago, and never followed-up on it. Just now researchers  are discovering what we already know.  

      I use a mixture of 300 and 100 mg pills to decrease. I've never found 25 or 50 mg tablets of gab, I would have used them if I could. You MAY be one of the people who handles this better than most, but knowing how I feel doing it slowly and carefully, I wouldn't risk it.

      BTW, there are about (sorry to tell you this) but about 15-20 different weird things that can happen. Often you get increased pain, confusion, memory issues, insomnia or fatigue, depression, anxiety etc. BUT much of this is very transient. Just say, OK, it's the drug, I'm getting better and it WILL go away.

    • lorajean
      lorajean gail30132

      Posted

      I've taken 3,600 mg a day for several years. I want desperately to discontinue this medicine. Do you believe it is safe to allow my family doctor to help with this?

    • amanda1575
      amanda1575 babs99203

      Posted

      I really like what you said! It is a drug and it will go away! I pray!!!
  • lorajean
    lorajean G.Allyn

    Posted

    I'm so scared. I have taken Gabapentin for several years. I take 3600 mg a day. a few years ago I was in a situation where I was suddenly without it cold turkey. I have never felt such pain, nausea and diarrhea before in my life. I HAVE TO GET OFF OF IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! Who do i ask for help and will they believe me? Thanks and GOD bless.

    Moderator comment: I have removed the email address as we do not publish these in the forums. If users wish to exchange contact details please use the Private Message service.

    • babs99203
      babs99203 lorajean

      Posted

      Technically, I've read of taking other meds to counter the gab withdrawal, but as you now know, it's a scary and dangerous thing to do. It should be done with a doctor's care. If you contact addiction centers they may be able to help you. However, if you can avoid the idea of ASAP discontinuation, you can always turn to people here or other support groups. Benzoid buddies is an online group, Facebook has support groups with info also. The safest way is a 10-25% taper over about 4 weeks. There'll still be side effects and problems, but they'll be tolerable (more or less LOL).

  • Specialforces10
    Specialforces10 G.Allyn

    Posted

    Hi all. I had 2 very strange sensations last night and I'm wondering if it's due to gaba reduction. I am down from 1800 mg to 1200 mgs for 2 1/2 weeks. Last night my eye balls were hurting, had a really bad earache and my tongue felt like it was being pinched really hard. Has anyone felt this? I don't want to start thinking every negative thing happening is due to gabapentin although it wouldn't surprise me at this point.

    • leenz
      leenz Specialforces10

      Posted

      Yes I've recently been feeling the same. Eyeballs hurt from the back and tongue feels like the entire muscle is tight or like someone's put chilly on it!! Lol

  • leenz
    leenz G.Allyn

    Posted

    I can't believe you took it for 20 years sad I took it for 3.5 and coming off them has been the worst nightmare ever. The constant anxiety and emotional rollercoaster is the worst. I initially came off gabapentin in Nov 17 after which I had to take cimetidine in order to be able to eat. By February 18 I'd come off meds altogether.

    I cannot thank God enough for all the help I've had in my recovery and what's helped me the most is taking oyster shell water (every half an hour) which helped reduced so much of the heat and acid in my body and I also have been taking chromotherapy water (basically it's different colours of water that is charged in natural sunlight to produce vitamins and minerals that the body requires in order to cope with the withdrawal). The chromotherapy water has gotten rid of most my symptoms in 5 weeks. Mostly what I'm struggling with now is my thighs and knees feeling like jelly and constant anxiety but the rest of the symptoms have faded away.

    If anyone would like any info on the water I've been taking, please don't hesitate.... I'm open to sharing everything as I know first hand what kind of hell this is. I am able to make/charge the water myself and can also share with you all how to make it (no cost, I'd just like to help if I can).

    Good luck to all who are battling this crazy withdrawal. You're all in my prayers!! 

  • leenz
    leenz G.Allyn

    Posted

    Forgot to mention that I'd been taking 600mg for 3.5 years and I have stopped them cold turkey. The meds were starting to destroy my liver so I had no choice but to stop cold. It CAN be done and I believe that I'm hopefully over the worst. 

  • sandra29227
    sandra29227 G.Allyn

    Posted

    I have been off Gabapentin for about a month, cold turkey. I had been abusing it since 2013. My last prescribed dosage was 3200 mg per day, but I would take as many as 13 of the 800 mg tablets at the end. Last time I ran out, about a month ago, I asked the clinic where I get my meds not to give me anymore because I abuse it.

    I feel terrible. Irritability is off the charts. Finally vot some Melatonin for sleeping. Wish I knew when to expect to feel better.

    • lorajean
      lorajean sandra29227

      Posted

      When I was in a situation where I could not have gabapentin it wasn't 2 hours past when I should have taken it I was experiencing intense vomiting and loose bowls. With you going cold turkey do you have those symptoms? You've got courage my friend. You can do this!

    • babs99203
      babs99203 sandra29227

      Posted

      Sandra, this is very dangerous. You can have PWS Prolonged Withdrawal Syndrome. If a person goes cold turkey, even at much lower levels than you, the symptoms may last years. Yes, years. You may develop seizures, serious depression, suicidal thoughts, severe anger, confusion etc. Severe insomnia is also likely. There is no easy way to get off it, but I recommend you contact a substance abuse center for advice. I hesitate to tell you to go back on it, but the recommended taper is 10% per 2-4 weeks. It may take years to get off. PLEASE SEEK HELP.

    • v2806
      v2806 babs99203

      Posted

      I totally agree with you in regard to these tablets.

      Gabapentin should never be just stopped.

      Sandra needs help to get her to taper off them.you just can't go Cold turkey.

    • michele51746
      michele51746 v2806

      Posted

      It must be tapered but there is no escaping the wd symtoms. They WILL happen whether your on 2 weeks w months or 2 years. Its unfortunate. But plz know it does get better.
    • michele51746
      michele51746 sandra29227

      Posted

      I only took 300 mg 1 time at night. Lowered 100 mg every 21 days. Took me 2 months to stop. Cvs puts out a sleep aid called,,,sleep aid (diphenhydramine) cvs brand. The best. it will help tremendously. I sleep great on it and its really really important to get a good nights rest to deal with the wd. Im on day 109. 1st month was the hardest. 2nd was hard but very diff symptoms. 3rd month better, tolerable. Still a bit strange here and there. Sometimes for a day sometimes for a week, but not all day long. Much more clarity. Still have double vision a bit. Hot then cold,, body Temperature still screwed up.
    • michele51746
      michele51746 v2806

      Posted

      Agreed!! Dangerous, i tapered the low dose i was on and during the 1st month, one whole day 1/2 of my body was paralyzed. Another day i had a very loud vibration on the left side of my head, it was like an electric air compressor. Very frightening, but only lasted about 2 minutes. Thank GOD
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