Gabapentin Withdrawal Horror

I don't have any specific advice, except you need to do it when you're ready. Some people say whether it's the last 100 mg or last 200 mg, it's just as miserable, so just stop at 200 mg. I don't know, as I'm still at 1000 mg. However, I'm going VERY slowly as I need to know I'll have good days in between. I drop 100 mg/month. I was at 2700 mg in January 2017 and as I said am now at 1000 mg. I've not tapered a few times, to enjoy vacations or to be in good shape to help my husband during his surgery.

Both these drugs are powerful and I don't know if you're tapering off both at the same time. I also don't know if you should do it that way. What does your rehab group say? Remember, everyone has a different reaction, some have more trouble than others and even for me, some months are easier than others. But be proud of yourself! You'll get there.

I have been off of gabapentin for one month and I have had first bloated feeling like someone stretch my body in the stomach area, some pain and now nausea .  anyone had these kind of symptoms for as long or longer then one month and also you said babs that some months are easier.  are you still having these symptoms and were you on gabapentin?

Yes, I have been bloated too. Many many people have gained weight while on gaba too. I gained when I stopped! Go figure! It will calm down.

I have so much nausea all the time and heavy head. Strangely, I find that walking helps and fresh air makes me feel wonderful! Also have been trying Boots own brand glucose with vitamin c, I found that helped. I should have had shares in boots 😏

Hi Ashley, I was on the same amt as you for 14 mnths but Dr put me on 8 wk withdrawal. I now take my last 100 mg pill tonight. For the past 3 wks I have been on 1 100mg pill every 3 days. I have had sleeplessness. Maybe get 3-4 hrs at night. Also horrible nerve tingling in both legs from the knees down. According to Dr after last pill it will take 2-3 wks for drug to be out of my system.

Figured I'd share. Good luck to you withdrawing.

Marie

I'm on a FB group, Gabapentine Awareness and I'm learning that ALL tapers are hard. There's something called "bioavailability" which basically means at higher doses, let's say 1000 me, the body uses less of the drug. Therefore 1000mg may be like 60% or 700 mg, when you get to lower doses, the body uses more of the drug. So YOU think you're dropping (and you are) but the body ramps up what you're giving it.

They recommend 10-25% every 2-4 weeks, depending on how your body reacts. I'm VERY sensitive so I'm dropping 100 mg/month. But as I get below 1000 mg, I'm going to be dropping MORE than 10% so I think it may be tough for me.

So my short answer is that yes, you can have all the nasty stuff you had before with withdrawal, and no-one really can tell you how long that will last. BUT you WILL be done with it. Stay strong and be proud of yourself.

Hi, You are very wise to realize the importance of slowing the tapper to your own personal physical, emotional, and mental stability; however, I reduced 100mg/3-4 weeks until the last 100 mg which I divided into 4 doses equaling 25mg/dose. I put powder on my finger and took before bed. That took 1 month and a week then off for good and I feel so much better off of it. I still get very exhausted by 8-10pm strait to bed. I’m now sleeping, eating, smiling, and laughing. I move slower and can still get the strange Neurontin mind if my Na drops to low. Be careful with antacids as these will through you into withdrawl. Learn as much about the pharmacology of this awful product as possible. It takes all your mag, Na, Ca, and pushes K+, and potassium regulates smooth muscle hence cardiac rhythm. Electrolyte balance is one of the last things to get back and for me requires close attention. Not by blooddrawls but by learning symptoms of highs and lows of each. You can do this! Don’t let Dr’s intimidate you. You are important and you matter!! God Bless you as you move through the process.

My 87 year old Mom was put on this and immediately began getting confused and paranoid. He took her off after only 1 week cold turkey and she has continued to go downhill to the point where she is now hospitalized and being put on antipsychotic meds. Mom was absolutely fine before the Gabapentin. I just hope she has a chance to get back to normal but at her age I'm so fearful that her life will end this way. She's terrified all the time and I have to spend at least 8 hrs a day at the hospital with her to reassure her.

I'd suggest either switching doctors or work to manage this with your current doctor. He should NEVER have taken her off cold turkey, the elderly have great difficulty with these drugs, so it's not surprising. However, as you probably know, most doctors don't understand it's side effects and the damage that can be done. I don't know if adding additional medication is the answer, but someone has got to help. Please read about benzoid withdrawal or any other information you can find regarding this drug. Why was she put on it and at what dosage? It a way, it's irrelevant, but she CAN get better but it will take time. Just keep reassuring her that it's the drug affecting her brain, it's NOT her and that she will be OK as the drug gets out of her system. It may take days or weeks. i'm so terribly sorry. I've been on the drug for 19 months, am slowly tapering from it and learning as much as I can about it. If you want more info, try joining Gabapentin Awareness on Facebook or look up any other advice about tapering, withdrawal and gabapentin.

Thanks babs99203. Mom was put on this drug for her severe back pain. She had been getting cortisone shots for her pain prior to this but one shot she got last September basically crippled her with pain and she could barely walk. The Dr put her on 900 per day of Gaba and she was only on it for about a week. That was in January/18. We have switched Drs as the Dr who prescribed this to her was immediately defensive about me asking him not to put her on any drug of that sort again. I put it in a very tactful way but he was over the top with his reply and became terribly ignorant to me and to my brother during another appt. So, after that my Mom said she never wanted to see that Dr again and she went back to a Dr she had previously years before. I will look for that group on Facebook as well as look up the benzoid withdrawal. Of course, the nurses in the hospital are treating her like she has dementia due to her age but I know this was brought on by the Gaba as she showed no confusion etc signs prior to the Gaba. The Dr has labelled it delirium which technically could be partially true since delirium can be drug induced. It's so heart breaking to see her struggle like this at this time of her life.Thanks again. 

So either the injection went wrong or she may have had what they call a cortisone flare, where the pain greatly worsens after the injection. You may know that gab doesn't work like acetaminophen, NSAIDS or aspirin, instead it affects the brain by stopping the neurons so you don't perceive the pain in the same way.

Unfortunately, with this type of pain, it's difficult to treat and often requires a number of modalities and try and error to help. The other thing is that doctors want to be able to help, but honestly, there's less  motivation for a difficult situation like this or in the elderly. Both my parents have died, but I had to advocate for them so the doctors saw THEM, not just an elderly body. You sound like a terrific child (daughter? son?).