Gabapentin Withdrawal Horror

Gabapentin withdrawal is equal to the worst torture one can go through. I went through 3 months of burning skin, deep deep depression, anxiety, chills, hopelessness, nerve jitters, and sleeplessness before finally coming off of this horrific medication. I was told by my doctor that this drug had no side effects. If you are struggling with withdrawals from this drug, please take it one day at at a time and you will make it. This too will pass.

I am withdrawing now from gabapentin I was taking 2x 300mg 3 times a day my specialist couldn't understand why my dr had me on these for tumours on my sacrum i was also on Cocodomol that i was popping like smarties .I decided its time to rid my body from all this crap they are giving me as they are just trying to mask the pain i managed to go cold turkey and get off the Cocodomol i was taking about 16 a day no support from the dr now its the gabapentin wow i dont know what is worse i took my last tablet nearly a week ago i have an awful metal taste in my mouth that i cant get rid off no matter what i do i have a constant cold like symptoms and constantly sweating how long until this passes i am so tempted to reach for the packet if this is going to persist much longer this is worse than any Cocodomol withdrawal believe i am on my own and have no support network and very scared please help

to start by saying that it's nice to see that it's not just me I also took gabapentin and it was safe medication and I also developing in my ankles which can reach up 3/4 away to my kneecaps the pain is unbearable and the top of it like others have mentioned I just want myself back in months off Gabapentin pain is still there effect I also don't not feel normal upsetting me to know when the people can shoot up front at all as long as they stop taking it and I actually get off all opiates the brain will heal the so-called save notification advantage of people why you offended is cuz it always takes several people to do if there should be a class action lawsuit against the medication too many people are suffering as myself my pain is something terrible is constantly everytime I am conscious I am suffering doctors give out what's best for them. I have been suffering for three and a half years at this point I think the damage has done to my brain is permit I'm living in a nightmare it doesn't seem real I stop taking a painkiller 10 years ago after 9 days of I began to feel myself even in withdrawals I still felt like myself but not Gabapentin people that are suffering from it cuz it always takes several band together and form a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer of his medication they're causing people harm and they're getting away with it

Hi everyone,

I stumbled upon this thread by chance and on the one hand I am absolutely horrified reading everyone's stories on the other hand relieved that I am not alone in my withdrawal from gabapentin, the aftermath and side effects on my mental health. Similarly to many on the thread, I was given gabapentin 7 months ago for pain and told that it is a very safe medication. Depression and suicidal ideation kicked in quite quickly. I never had depression or suicidal thoughts before. Panic attacks followed, anxiety attacks, profound fatigue, apathy, emotional detachment, no motivation, no life purpose and it didn't stop there. It took a while to realize that it was the gabapentin causing all of it. The journey story is longer, more complicated and multifauceted but I don't want to go into too much detail right now. I started tapering around 4 months ago and it has been physically and emotionally unbearable despite only tapering 100mg a week sometimes i would stay 2/3 weeks on the same dose. I finally took the last 100mg 14 days ago. I thought it cannot get worse and then it did. Crawling on the floor type of WD, shaking, shivering, sweating and crying fits.

My story has been the same as many. Medical professionals have been dismissing me, psychiatrist have been dismissing that it is the gabapentin. I am apparently making excuses for my depression (which i never ever have had before, I never ever had any of these symptoms before). A few days ago I started to have less panic attacks, less anxiety attacks. I feel that every day that passes I am tincy weency bit better. 0.5% at best. Somedays two steps forward 1 step back. I have not been able to focus, I forget things easily, I get very easily triggered by mundane every day inconveniences which never bothered me before. I am not functioning and I am not participating in life or work as before.

The FDA has a reporting website. I am attaching it here and please please everyone you have to report side effects of anything that you take, there is no other way for the FDA to know otherwise. Something doesn't seem right with this drug. It needs to come with more warnings on the bottle and needs better monitoring by healthcare professionals and it needs to be controlled better.

All i can say is to everyone, I will be back on here with tips and suggestions. Until then, one day at a time. xo

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/

For UK users: If you think you have had a side-effect to one of your medicines you can report this on the Yellow Card Scheme. You can do this online at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

Moderator comment: As this is a UK based website I have added details for the Yellow Card scheme for reporting side effects in the UK as well.

Hi please if someone can help me. Almost one year now in suffering from disc protrusion and some damaged nerves. I was put on Gabapentin and I was taking like 2400mg a day for like 6 weeks I have been on these meds well I decided to quit it cold turkey about 2 days ago. Since then I have been having nausia loss of appetite dizziness cold sweats fever. I hate my life I'm 26 years old I have 2 small kids who need me and my husband works so he can only do so much. I have regretted ever taking this medication I'm one of those people who rarely gets sick even this disc protrusion I don't know how it happened I just woke up one day and couldn't get out of bed. I have never experienced such like this oh and I'm also not able to sleep. Please if someone can tell me how long will this last like I said I've been on the meds for about 6 weeks I refuse to go back to it but I'd like to have some idea about how long this serious side effects last. Thank you

Hi

I just wanted to share my recent experience of gabapentin to hopefully reassure anyone experiencing depression as a withdrawal symptom.

I was prescribed 900 mg/day for neuropathy after a horrible riding injury. It took the edge off and I believed it to be a lifesaver in those early days. I did get brain fog and sometimes slurred my words so I started avoiding conversations.

I realised I was depressed after only a couple months. I put this down to being signed off work and being unable to ride or exercise. I would cry every day because I felt like a massive failure. Another couple months later, I was nearing the end of a pack and I hadn't renewed my prescription so inadvertently went cold turkey. My anxiety and depression went through the roof, I was having suicidal thoughts and I couldn't sleep at all. I had restless legs and the neuropathy returned. I felt like I'd never be happy again.

Something clicked and I searched the internet for gabapentin withdrawal symptoms. They described what I was experiencing. I thought the trauma would never end but it did, eventually! After about two looooong weeks I was comfortable spending time alone and doing the things I'd previously loved. The brain fog also began to lift. I've been off gabapentin since June and I shudder at the thought of it.

I'm not recommending anybody else stops immediately, I'm sure there must be a better way. I just want anyone feeling lost to know it does get better once you're rid of this evil drug.

Love

Debbie

This forum has validated what I have felt for years. Due to a pinched femoral nerve I was put on gabapentin after lyrica gave me suicidal thoughts.

My dr never discussed much more than "its gonna make you drowsy" and it started the worst 8 years of my life. I wound up taking anywhere from 800 - 2400 MG a day, adjusting the levels many, many times in an attempt to find a pain/medication/life ratio where I could work etc and not fall asleep/go nuts or be in too much pain to concentrate.

After 6 years of PT, being on and off disability, losing my longtime job due to instability in my health and finally being fed up with feeling like crap all the time I felt it was time to wean off... Or so I thought..

2 years, and more PT and excruciating chiropractic treatment, acupuncture and slooowly lowering my daily dose by custom mixing pill sizes I was able to totally stop the drug without my pain coming back.

But I have still not felt like my old self and its been 4 years of anxiety, muscle weakness, depression, lack of excitement for life or intimacy and general brain fog.

Dr just try and say Im depressed and want to prescribe whatever other pills to alter my mood but everyone knows how slippery that slope is and after what I feel gabapentin did to my brain I really dont want to mess with it any more.

I hope everyone here sharing their stories knows they arent alone, even if this damned brain fog makes you feel that way. And sometimes being forced to adapt to a new reality makes us the best version of us we can all be. Even if that's wrapped in an anxious ball.

Adversity breeds innovation after all..

If we all speak up then others won't have to suffer.

Good luck and chin up

how long after stopping gabapentin does sleep return? I was only on it for 4 or 5 months, I did quit cold turkey at 600mg 5 weeks ago and my sleep is getting worse not better as the weeks go by.

I came here with a specific purpose: to encourage the person who is about to come off this medication. You can do this. Knowledge is power. Everyone is afraid when they think about the withdrawal symptoms. To have strong conviction in your next steps, allow me to share my personal experience with you. You will be better equipped to confront it head on. For the sake of simplicity, let's break down the withdrawal symptoms into (2) groups: the psychological and the physical. Why? Well, some individuals are prescribed it for anxiety/depression and some individuals are prescribed it for nerve pain. Everyone will experience it differently.

I took Gabapentin over the span of 5 years for anxiety. I began with 600 mg a day, and when I was ready to come off of it, I was taking over 3,000 mg a day. My tolerance had built up. The psychological withdrawal was manageable. I recognized the symptoms of my anxiety, and I used healthy alternatives, such as exercise and proper diet to combat this. The physical withdrawal surprised me because it began 10 days after completely discontinuing the medication. This blindsided me.

I gradually decreased my dose by 400 mg a day, over the span of a month. Keep a daily log. It is encouraging to see your progress! If you do experience a rough patch where you take more on one day than previous days, do not give up. As an example, on my good days I could feel fine with 800 mg. On my bad days, I would take 1,600 mg. The point is to understand you're in a marathon, not a sprint. Forgive yourself and go easy on the days when you feel your progress is slow.

When the physical withdrawal symptoms began, I felt I had the flu. These lasted about 3-4 days, peaking on the 3rd day. My body was full of aches. For me, the most pain occurred in my legs, above the knee. The over-the-counter pain medications do help, but they did not mask the pain entirely. I typically had taken Ibuprofen over the years, but in this instance Tylenol was more effective.

You will have some trouble sleeping, but when the insomnia hits, go into the kitchen. Drink some hot tea, and accept this is all part of the process. I would sweat profusely through the night. I kept several t-shirts beside the bed, and when I woke up, I would change into a dry one. Often times, I would do this after a hot bath. The bath helped to soothe my skin and the body aches. Through the peak of the physical withdrawal, I would hop into the bath multiples times through the night and day.

If you are fortunate enough to take off work or school, I would recommend doing so. It helps in the recovery process if you do not have to handle those responsibilities. A lack of sleep along with the physical pain can make the life juggle a challenge, but not impossible. Just know you are not alone! See... you're reading this post! Someone knows what you are confronting, and once on the other side of the journey, you will be so grateful.

It is entirely worth every bit of the struggle. Be patient with yourself. It gets better. You will be so happy you had the courage to battle this one. You will win! Never give up!

Hi i finished gabapentin 17 months ago and i still have problems. I have no sense if smell, i cannot co ordinate to prepare a proper meal and my bladder doesnt tell me it wants to work. It took me two years to get off the medication as i had severe withdrawel problems. My neurologist said its like coming off cocaine! I am on sleeping tablets as i no longer sleep and when i was told to come off it i was given no advice and ended u p going or 360 hours without sleep causing manic episides and resulting in being sectioned for 28 days. I feel five years of my life has been wiped out and now h ave difficulty with even using a computer. No doctors believe me and the original psychistrist diagnosed mental health issues. This drug is given out like smarties and no well says how hard it is to come off. I am convinced that gabapentin has caused permanant damage to my brain. my medical re cords show i have an allergy to both gabapentin and Pregabalin. I wish i could give you more hope but i cant. Personally i feel that it should be banned. I wish you all the best. Sally

I had been on gabapentin for about a year stopping 6/2020, 100 mg 3xs daily for back nerve pain due to degenerative disc disease. I also have an auto-immune disorder called Sjogrens Syndrome that is systemic a d can affect all parts of the body. Its mainly associated with dry mucus membranes -eyes, nose, skin, etc.

I started back on gabapentin this year, same dose. About a month ago, I asked my PCP to increase the dose as I was having severe neck pain. so I went to 300 mg 3xs daily, still seemingly a small dose.

About a month in, this week I started having strange eye movements, pain behind my eyes, and I felt awful. I've been having headaches daily I had attributed to sinus issues I am also having. I started by dropping the midday dose 3 days ago.

Yesterday I called to get a lower dose to gradually wean back to 100 mg, as I know you should not stop thus medication abruptly. She prescribed 100 mg 3xs daily.

I woke up about 4 am with terrible dizziness and felt very unbalanced.

I am wondering if anyone else had this happen? After reading so e of these posts I think I'd be better to get off if it completely.

I'm so sorry you had such a long drawn out withdrawal and I thank you for sharing your experience. writing this is hurting my eyes!!

I am just starting my journey on reducing the amount of prescribed Gabs I take. Tonight I reduced by 300 mg. It has helped so much with my neuropathy but my memory is shot, I could sleep all day and I have gained so much weight since I started this med. Reading the comments here has scared me so much. Please send me prayers or positive thoughts that this goes easy on me, thanks.

Hi, I know this is an old thread but I wanted to share the story of my friend who has been recently through Gabapentin withdrawal (last tablet was taken in November - she was on 300mg three times a day for nerve damage). The GP told her to taper 300mg a week - this was too fast! please go slower than this at least to 100mg instead. It is now nearly April and she is nearly back to her normal self. She had all the symptoms (apart from insomnia), and it was horrendous, visiting a&e at least 3 times for severe palpitations. Anxiety, agitation, migraine, coldness etc.

Without reading these forums I wouldnt have known how to support her through it so thank you everyone. The GP didn't admit to it being Gabapentin that caused this.

Whoever is going through this at this moment please know that you will get through it - the best thing you can do is talk with family and friends and try to keep in a routine - e.g. going to sleep at the same time each night etc. A miracle cure for my friend has been omega 3 supplement only omega 3 check the label to make sure there isn't anything else in it (1 gram a day for two weeks and now shes down to 2 tablets a week only) her anxiety and agitation has nearly disappeared since being on this - please try if you are suffering.

I hope everyone suffering at this moment soon gets better - it is the worst prescription drug i have ever known and should never be prescribed.

it both saddens and scares me that I've found this thread. my dr had me on Cymbalta for several years, and I ended up tapering off of it after realizing it was driving me to drink. I slowly removed one extra ball from the pill each day, which took about 9 months to get down to the last ball. I had no withdrawal, and i haven't been drunk since then (2 years). Life got hard later, my anxiety went up, and my dr told me that I needed to deal with the anxiety and could go on gabapentin which was non addictive and much safer. I was on 1 pill a day, at night, 100 mg, for a few months. no noticeable downsides. then I got covid, anxiety through the roof, lots of chest pain, and she insistent I increase it to 300 mg per day because the pain was from fibromyalgia (finding now that this pain is reported in 15% of cases, so no it wasn't). 3 days after this, I went to the ER two days apart for crazy high heart rates. a week later, I woke up with a purple sparkly spot in my right eye. I should have quit right there, but the eye doctors insisted it was just a floater. i even asked about gabapentin, and they said i was in a low dose and very unlikely. they couldn't actually spot the floater though. also I've had floaters, and this was not.

I've been on 300 mg daily for about 8 weeks, then missed a couple doses when on vacation, one dose per day, and noticed the room felt much darker than it should for a couple of days. The next dose I missed caused a brain shake, or felt like vertigo in my forehead. Twice in two days, and I had a headache the rest of the day. I thought I needed an mri of my brain or something, surely something was wrong. I stabilized the dosages for a few days, but still feeling off, weird vision, but can't place my finger on it, like everything feels darker than it should. Less intense brain issues though.

Finally, I'm done. too many coincidences. I didn't take my nightly pill last night, was up with anxiety about half way through the night. dealt with the vertigo feelings all day, and now an extremely sharp stabbing pain in the corner of my eye, just one, but freaked me out. I've also had burning skin on my chest, soreness in my neck, and more headaches.

I'm hoping I haven't been in this long enough or a high enough dosage to do much damage, but this is absolutely insane given these two facts. I should have known better than to take this after every article I've come across states "we don't really know how gabapentin works". bad sign. stop trusting your doctors folks. they are experimenting on us, prescribing what the drug manufacturers tell them. I love my doctor, she's very caring, and has been trying for years to get me well, but she's oblivious to this drug. and I suspect many others are as well.

i was on gabapetin for 2 weeks first i was at 100mg and then was moved up 200mg while i was in the hospital for 2 weeks then when i was discharged they changed the med on me to lyrica i had my last dose on Friday the 30th and then got my prescription for lyrica 50mg i couldn't handle it took 3 doses and quit it. now i know its only been 2 weeks that i was gabapentin but could i be suffering withdraws. I'm agitated have bad anxiety and dizzy and feel weird. i wish i knew how bad I'd feel before hand and it didn't help me