Gabapentin Withdrawal Horror

I had one. I never had one my entire 55 years!!

Likewise michele, I've never had one before and I'm 37! Is yours clear now?? 

There is a common issue with most people on gaba,,, or wding from gaba the first few months....infections. I would be very cautious having surgery during this time. If surgery is a must, which it usually is, remember if you get an infection its more than likely its because of the gaba. But if we explain this to the surgeon they may not do the surgery. Its something every individual has to weigh out themselves on whether or not to tell their dr or not. I know that sounds crazy, but remember, most drs "DO NOT" understand this medication in its entirety and are clueless of the actual wd symptoms. You have to go through this type of wd to understand it. Its NOTHING like a wd from a opiod. Also consider that the wd can go on for quite awaile when considering when to have surgery. For myself, everyone is different, i feel pretty confident at 4 months to undergo surgrry. You will know your body. The gaba receptors in the brain have been compromised. Scrambled. Thats why theres much confusion. The entire nervous system has been compromised. Every nerve throughout the body including the nerves in the brain is effected. Thats why we experience several different medical issues, but many times when we explain this to our dr whats happening, and they test us, it comes back as negative. Its the nerves in that area. If you wait a few days or sometimes weeks, that symptom will be gone, but another crazy symptom starts.

Having trouble urinating is a side effect of gab, for me it was very subtle, more like the bashful bladder we get in a public restroom. But as I started tapering off the gab, I found that problem decreased. I'd give it more time before seeking other medical intervention. Some of the meds they give like Cipro cause similar symptoms to the gab, which is crazy, but true.

I worked as a medical secretary for 30 years so I have a healthy skepticism of the medical field and also have avoided meds, but I agree. Dealing with gab makes me think even longer and harder before I'd take any medication. My faith in doctors is REALLY shaken.

Leenz,

Interesting you mention this. My urine has had an odor for a long time, my blood just the other day showed protein in it, meaning possible UTI, hence I just started antibiotics the other day. Never would I have linked it to the withdrawals! 

Me as well, in my 57 years have maybe had one in my life... What's next????

I've never had one, knock wood, but as women, our anatomy makes us more likely to get them and as we age, the decrease in hormones make the "environment" more inviting to the bad germs. Elderly women get them a LOT. My Mom had one every other month, it was miserable.

Michele, I wish I had know that before getting my knee surgery.  And I can't help but wonder if it had anything to do with my DVT and PE and subsequent pneumonia, and ear infection when I got home.  My knee around the incision got a nasty rash as did my entire back.  Of course I went cold turkey the day of the surgery.  So not only was I going through the pain of the incision, and then the PE and DVT and Pneumonia, but terrible stomach pains and nausea.  My knee is also healing very slowly.  My surgeon said it's because my body is trying to heal the PE and heart.  So now longer to heal, longer wd symptoms, and more missed work.  I did inform the surgeon about reading that you are not supposed to have surgery if you are on gab.  He kind of did a hmmm and probably was thinking another self made doctor wanna be looking at too much on the web.  Lol

I had back surgery 4 months after I started taking this horrible drug. Hense interfering with healing.

Many drs dont know enough about gaba, Neurolgists do. Because gaba effects every nerve in the body and the brain, the entire nervous system has been compromised. I didnt know all this either. It wasnt until i had many side effects while on the gaba. Heart rate was off, chest pains, left arm pain, pelvic pain, extreme leg pain, swollen glands, and more. I went to have each of these health issues checked and it always came back normal, negative. Once i stopped the gaba, yes i went thru the horrible wd, but within one month ALL of those symptoms STOPPED and didnt return. By reading many forums, and thru my own experiences it all became clear. The entire body and brain HAS been compromised. The good news is that we are aware of it all now. We have to fight through the wd until the gaba receptors are normal again. Coming off opiods is a walk in the park compared to coming off gaba. Opiods isnt easy by any means, but its over a whole lot faster. Gaba wd goes on and on. Trying to explain what we are feeling and going through is very hard. The ONLY people that can truely understand is someone who is or has gone thru it. If you MUST have a surgery, i think it would be smart to explain to the dr exactly what weve learned so the dr can treat us with a antibiotic the day of surgery. Give us a bag of antibiotics thru the iv just before going under anesthesia. I believe that could possibly help avoid many infections that could cause complications.

Oh my gosh! Im praying that your body has fought this hard. Thats a double wammy. Hang in there! Im so sorry, i know all too well what you are going through. Are you doing any better yet? What kind of back surgery did you have? I had 2 back surgeries back to back but didnt start gaba til after the 2nd one. What a horror back surgery is in itself! Please let me know how your doing. Im not a dr, but ive been thru enuf to undrrstand your pain and experience of gaba. I sure wish they would ban this medication, it def does more harm than good. I hate to say this, but i think they know it too. We are the generation for testing drugs.

Im praying for all the people here who are suffering. Its quite the journey and we all need to support, lift, and encourage one another. The Lord has sustained me daily through this storm. I can honestly say that it is Gods word, the Bible that has helped me daily. My faith grew stronger, and I spent time each morning reading the scriptures. IT WORKS!! When I feel discouraged or exhausted I remember the LORDS promises and I get through that moment. Again, Im praying that the Lord strengthens and heals each and and everyone of us QUICKLY! God bless all of us!

Patproto,

How are you doing? Better than me I hope. I’ve already had a few recurring UTI’s with internal fevers that have completely drained me. I had two lots of nitrofurantoin but they didn’t help at all. So I resorted to d-mannose which broke my fever in a day (from Swiss Natural Health, based in UK) and live kefir for natural probiotics from the Live Kefir Company. So far so good..... that was until I started getting kidney fevers this week and my liver is very inflamed. Feeling beyond fed up.

Such a beautiful msg Michele and I agree. This process increases ur faith and it’s the one thing that carries you through. But despite being brought up with a very spiritual and practising faith, I’m finding myself waivering at every step. May God help us all through it.

Big pharma has a lot to answer for. They know exactly what they’re doing. Just as Africa was the testing ground for aids, so are we the guinea pigs for fat pigs lining their pockets. Sorry for being rude... honestly I’m just so fed up of this. They know exactly what they’re doing and none of them creating these drugs would touch them with a barge pole

Hi babs,

I refuse to take any more meds. I’d much rather let myself suffer than suffer the side effects of prescribed meds. I tried d-mannose and live kefir which works if I keep taking them. Then other bigger problems start to surface. I’m starting to feel like it’ll never end. My liver is very inflamed since withdrawing and it’s worrying me, a lot. Hoping that it’ll slowly readjust itself as the withdrawal wears off

Thanks for this Michele! Yes, crazy journey. I’ve had so many blood tests and 99% are coming back fine. My magnesium, calcium, vit d, vit b’s, potassium, sodium... everything fine and yet I feel like I’m dying every day. Can’t wait for this to end. 

May I please ask how long have you been off gaba??

I also wonder how long michel has been off of gaba.  I have been off for about a month and I started right away with bloating, some abdominal/stomach pain, fatigue, depression .  I hope it is the gaba doing this.  Or could ihe symptoms be something else but after the testimonies in this web site, I almost feel it is the withdrawal from this terrible drug gabapentin.  I was on it for three years.

7 months completely off it 

Hi Leenz,

So sorry to hear what you are going through. Kidney and liver issues? It's so scary what will happen next. I hope you get them under control and I don't blame you for refusing to take any other meds! 

Luckily my infections cleared up after the antibiotics. I have stabilized now for 1-1/2 months on 800 mg and I may just be seeing the old Pat somewhere. I've actually had a couple window days... first ones in 9 months! 

Hang in there and thanks for checking in! I can't wait to hear you are healthy and feeling better!

Pat

Leenze I know exactly where your coming from. I too have always had tremendous faith. I'm trying to hold unto it and not ask why. There's a reason for everything. So I figure there must be a reason for this too.

Marie

So happy to hear you’re feeling more stable Pat, long may it continue. I’m just constantly on the wrong side of fear with no end in sight. Ive been fully off the gaba for 7 months now but things don’t seem to be easing up. Perhaps it’s a bad run and praying it’ll get easier.

Hugely relieved to know the antibiotics worked for you! Here’s hoping the relief remains and you’re able to have a wonderful holiday.... ☺️

Warmest Wishes,

Lena 

I do try and tell myself the same everyday Marie. I’ve had 8yrs of non stop chronic pain and was completely bedbound for 3. My mind is simply not what it used to be.....

Leenz, I just wanted to hang on to my faith and try to this side of fear so although you may have already stated what symptoms you are having but would appreciate if you repeat and are they anything like mine which are bloating, some abdominal pain, fatigue, depression.  Thank you if you can take the time to reply. garnella.

 

That’s okay... I used to have a lot of bloating but not anymore, it will subside as time goes on. Try adding watermelon to ur diet, it really helped me. It’s alkaline so will help reduce the acid that’s coming up in ur digestive tract, hence the bloating. I don’t eat the fruit, I literally squeeze the juice and throw the rest away as the fruit filled me too much.

I do still get abdominal pain, but I’ve found that’s due to recurring water infection from the withdrawal which affects the kidney too. So yes, all these factors are withdrawal related and they will pass. The depression with this withdrawal is all too real and overwhelming.... I had it extremely bad for a few weeks and felt like my life was ending, I literally couldn’t see past the fog in my mind but rest assured, that too shall pass. Everything you are experiencing is withdrawal related, you’re not going mad. It’s real, it exists and no matter what any dr tells you, it’s the withdrawal!! 

Wishing you all the best going fwd on this journey 

Here's how to unsubscribe from a thread. Someone asked in one of these threads, I don't remember which. I just figured it out, I think. On the thread, go to the initial post. Right above it you should see a big red box that says "Unfollow this discussion". There ya go.

So appreciate your taking the time to reply.  Since I have started on this website I have read so many kind responses for me and other people.  God bless you.

Hi Babs, I'm sure I've already done that, as the original post has a green Follow this Discussion on it. Yet today I've had umpteen answers.. So I don't know now.....

Thanks

Garnella, I forgot to add that cold milk will really help too with your bloating. I have a pharma friend who explained to me that the ingredients used in creating the shell of the gabapentin builds acid and heat in your body, basically it’s drying out our nerves. When u withdraw from the drug, the acid begins crawling all over the body. So some individuals feel burning, some bloating and some tingling/jelly legs etc. So, a lot of what is required in managing this withdrawal is to keep your body as cool as you can through alkaline fruits, a lot of veg and jugs and jugs of water (at least 2.5-3litres of water a day). Honestly, speaking from experience, it makes this whole ordeal more manageable.

I hope this is of some use to you and anyone else reading. Can’t stress the watermelon enough, the only thing that got rid of my palpitations....

All the best

Afternoon, I went off of it I'm on 1200 mg a night. I went off of it because I was tired of taking it all the time and my doctor an increase that because neuropathy symptoms I'm not a diabetic and why I have these I don't know but I haven't had them in a while and then I was having I think every symptom they had for going off of them. And it came to the point I went back on them I couldn't take it anymore. But now my new symptoms all the time and worse and they symptoms are in my feet. I see the doctor next week I don't know what he plans on doing other than increasing my Gabapentin. My ankle was operated on almost a year ago and I went over 3 months without any symptoms now my feet tingle the half that was operated on the outer half of my left foot or left ankle the part of the foot on that side is numb. Sometimes I get sharp nerve pains sometimes it burns and yet they tingle a lot. I have no idea of the cause of this and some say it could be syroid and I am on medication for thyroid. I'm afraid to try and go off of it again not only for this but because of the withdrawal. I have been on gabapentin I know for at least 10 years. So going off of it at this point I just don't see how. So my prayers are with you and best of luck.

There is one big problem and that is I have always hated milk except perhaps when it is doctored up with chocolate.  However I will drink more water (that has to be ice water), the watermelon, and the fruit and veggies.  thanks again. garnella

My prayers are with you as well Shewholvs.  Hate to think you have to increase this medicine.  I believe it is a necessary evil in your case.  I am trying to think of what my milligram was but I believe it was more then what you are taking..  I actually gained over twenty pounds and I firmly believe that gaba was the reason for this weight gain.  That was the main reason I wanted to stop taking it.  While I was taking it however I did not have any bad side effects so perfects it is better that you stay on it.  I wish only the best for you friend as I have begun to think that everyone who has responded to my postings are now my friends..  garnella

 I should have edited the above.  I mean (perhaps) not perfects.  still fuzzy. ha ha.

Oh! Whichever suits you best 😊 I bought myself a small juicer and making fresh fruit juice which I have thrice daily, great for vitamins and strength too. I found that eating the fruit was bloating me as well but the juices are working better. Good luck !!

I've done that yesterday, yet 7 messages from Gabapentin withdrawal came today. ??

Aghhhhhh!

Hi Lucie,

I’ve been looking for your most recent comment but arghh can’t find it so replying here. I just had a quick look... I think this may work for you:

Click on the menu tab on the top right,

Go to ‘my account’

Then go to ‘forum settings’

From there you can the notifications for posts and emails.

Hope that works ☺️