Gabapentin Withdrawal Horror

Hello!  If I read your info correctly, it sounds like you have been on gabapentin for a very short period of time.  Did I read that right?  I suffer from what I call *pain brain* and confuse things.

Are you discontinuing gabapentin due to all the horror stories you have read?  All I can do is speak from my personal experience.  For me, the pain increased after discontinuing the gabapentin and it was very evident the first 12 hours after taking the last dose.  The pain goes on for a long time until it starts to get better.

I am sorry to hear you are suffering so much.  I think it gets worse before it gets better.  Decrease the medication according to your GP's directive along with a pace you can tolerate.  I went completely by my physician's timeline which was far too fast and the pain was unbearable.

I read your symptoms and I can see why you are concerned.  The medication is systemic and works on your central nervous system causing many problems.  This is why I am so angry about the widespread prescribing of this drug.   They don't give patients a clear picture of the pain and symptoms which occur, while on and off the med.

I was lightheaded, dizzy, lethargic, horrible increased pain, painful and red eyes, shaking nerves in my legs, abdomen and forearms, feeling weirdly hot and cold within a few minutes, numbness that one minute is to the right of mid-line and next minute the bottom of my left foot.  I cannot say enough bad things about this drug and my experience with it.

All my best to you.  I wish I could help more, but I think having different medical problems, on various pain medications and having various "withdrawal" symptoms makes it tough.  You do have my sympathy.

I am trying to get off these tablets.im taking myself off them gradually.i had got it down to x2 in the morning,x1 in afternoon,and x1 at night.

I'm trying as from today to take x1 three times a day for a week,then I'll stop the night one and stretch the afternoon one out until late afternoon-early evening for a week or so.im starting to lose weight already,thank goodness.

Let's hope this works.i don't want to be on these tablets,having read the comments.

Sounds like you have a slow discontinuation plan.  I can only tell you my experience.  On the last day of my six day wean schedule I felt a serious increase in nerve pain.  I thought it would be similar to discontinuing opioids with a 48 hours increase in pain and it would get better.

With my experience the increase in pain lasted too long.  Maybe, a slow wean schedule may keep this from happening or limit the pain.  I hope so.

My only thought is stopping the night dose may cause increased pain and disruption of sleep overnight.  It is something I experienced, but you know your body and how you feel.  The short half-life makes skipping a dose pretty miserable.  At least it was for me.  You didn't ask, but going an extra hour between doses, and doing this for a few days, may make it easier if skipping the night time dose is too difficult.

Good luck and let us know how you are doing after you get off gabapentin.

You sound like Me!' Gabapentin withdrawaing for last 3 moths. 2400 mg withdrawn. Had a bout of bacterial menegitis though!  I'm trying to recover but back to hospital because WBC to high!  I was trying to cut down 200 mg more but guess will stop!  It's horrible. 5 years! Wow! My health kept getting worse so I just want this poison out of My system. Sherri

2400 mg withdrawn? How many more to go?

Bacterial meningitis? What were your symptoms? How was that diagnosed? So what's with the White Blood Count being high? I'm wondering if this is common in others.

I thought getting off Oxy was bad and expected this to be a breeze.

Yes I want this poison out of me as well... Best of luck to you!!!

 

Hi Patproto, With the bacterial Meningitis I had just had a medtronics pain pump implanted two weeks prior. Spinal leakage began and so did infection at implantation site. Despite the fact I was taking antibiotics because of history of chronic infections. My Doctor felt controlling My pain may help with overall terrible health!   On labor day I I had a increasing severe headache and stiffening of neck. Plus I was very lethargic!  High fever! My Daughter suggested Hospital and I usually wouldn't go for severe headache and neck problem but something in my mind said go. I have very little memory of what happened. I walked in ER waiting for Daughter to park car. It was busy and I saw a spot on the floor!  I laid down and that's all I remember for 11-12 days!  Luckily My Daughter took hold of situation. I was transported to bigger Hospital and for several days on antibiotics test were ran On the 7 h my pump was removed.  Daughter said for first severa days in delirium I was trying to run around naked. Doing flips from one end of bed t the other. I was mad about bing incubated and finally I ended up in ICU on prophnol!  Plus pain meds. Huge amount of fentanyl plus oxymorphone and oxycodone!! She said fentanyl was 100 mcg per hour!! I can't imagine. I was on ventilator plus wouldn't wake up!  Of course not! Wow!! It's been a journey and I'm still recovering. I believe part of problem was I wasn't given My gabapentin!   I'm still trying to withdrawal. They did resume My Gabapentin finally but looked at old record. I had cut down to 1200 mg and I was given 2400 mg. Starting the withdrawal one more time. I dropped it fast!! I do feel better though!  My infections began wth upper respiratory where I need up in Hospital. I know Ambulance had brought Me in coded with septic shock from pnuemonia!  That was 2 years ago and infections are chronic! I have to get off gabapentin as side effects are too severe!  I couldn't even get My electrolytes balanced. Sodium so low and potassium so high!  It is a evil drug to Me. Ive heard from quite a few People mostly Women My age that have had same thing. Especially the longer Their on it!  Side effects just increase. When at My initial 3600 mg daily My Daughter had to talk to Doctors for Me. I couldn't communicate, pay bills do anything! 5 years and My Primary never suggested a decrease. No other Specialist did either!  Well finally after a seizure, my only noticeable one. A Neurologist at Hospital said that amount is way too much. Is She crazy?  Asking My Daughter!! So. Dropped 120 mg at a time. My Primaries expression was shocked when I spoke t Him. He didn't know what to say but I like this and let's keep it this way. I said no I'm getting off it!  I still don't understand why He kept prescribing it as I declined! Sherri

That was 1200 mg at a time not 120. I don't suggest doing that as it's too fast. A Doctor was watching the withdrawal. I would never recommend doing the taper on Your own!  

In my opinion there is a much better life after gabapentin (my personal experience).  Keep fighting the good fight.  Stay in touch with your physician and listen to your body.  I feel I pushed myself too hard with my six day withdrawal schedule (per physician).  Frankly, I feel a bit traumatized by all the pain (too severe and too prolonged).

OMG 600mg every 2 days for 6 days?!?!? That sounds insame! But you state your side effects cleared up quickly but it was a long and painful withdrawal and at 16 months you are just beginning to feel better.

Would like to understand what you refer to as side effects and what were your symptoms of a long and painful withdrawal?

Not sure about G Allyn but the side effects I felt and had while on my maintenance dose of Gabapentin was severe and excruitiating painful. Nausea so bad!  The worset was pelvic and lower abdominal pain. To the point it was effecting every system in My body. My adrenal gland stopped all but 2% and I now have Addison's disease taking daily steroids. Still withdrawing and the pain is increasing the more I withdrawal. I feel as if I'm going to pass out the fatigue is worse so is dizziness. Everything I had side effects from just have increased. I feel as if gabapentin is telling my brain take the medication and no to stopping!  Also have found the day before the withdrawal becomes bearable it's at it's worse!! So if I can make it threw that day the next it feels sooo much better!! For Me it's become a medical emergency to stop taking in a way. Since August I have been in ICU 3x. Chronic infections. My immune system is so compromised. High doses of various antibiotics don't work. The last being for bacterial menegitis. I left hospital after 3 weeks. Two weeks sedated in ICU!! Then to a nursing home for a week of IV antibiotics. After released went to Primary and WBC still elevated!!  So back to Hospital for different antibiotic. This drug is dangerous and not worth the supposed pain relief for My back pain. Pelvicpain a 100x worse!! I've been on it 5 years and every year side effects are killing Me more. I actually went from taking 3or 4 meds when starting. That included the gabapentin. Last year I was taking 22!  Some 4x a day!!  As withdrawing though major improvement in speech, memory, falling and plain thinking. I'm struggling for sure but My Daughter doesn't have to talk for Me!  Good luck!

Patproto,

I see this post is from 2 months ago, but I agree I have been off approx 18 days and am still going through hell!! I also think this drug is poison! Wish I would have researched this before I took the first capsule!! How are you doing now?

As hard as it is, try to exercise.  It helps.  I know it's hard when you you have no desire, but it helps.  Another user here suggested 3 to 5 drops of sweet marjoram oil rubbed on the chest area.  This is a natural oil, and the concept is that it will help calm adrenal function to help with agitated nerves.  For many of us, odd sleeping patterns or insomnia.  Sleep when you can, regardless of what time it is.  Your body needs to repair the damage done.  Some in these forums have suggested fish oil capsules.  Create a mantra for yourself.  Mine is "it's just the drug, it's not you". - which is exactly what my wife tells me when I feel like I'm losing it.  Someone once mentioned that when you have a really bad withdrawal day, the next day is likely to be substantially better.  I have found this to be true for me.  Conversely, I've found that on a decent to good day, the next day is less pleasant.  This is difficult psychologically, as you feel knocked back, just when you were feeling improved.  Again, refer to a personal mantra.  I hope during these past months you've had marked improvement