Gabapentin Withdrawal Horror

Hello!  I just replied to your other post and then I saw this.  I was on 3600mg/day at one time and was on 1800 mg when I discontinued gabapentin.  My weaning schedule was for six days.  I think I dropped 600mg every two days.  It has been over a year and I am not 100% sure.  Anyway, it was per physician schedule.  For me it was too fast and too painful

My side effects cleared up fairly quickly, but it was a long and painful withdrawal.  At about 16 months I am just beginning to feel better.  I am so glad that is over.  Certainly wish I had never agreed to go on the crappy stuff, glad I stuck to my beliefs and refused to take it any longer, but could never go through it a second time.  It was 50 times harder than going off any opioid I have ever been on for chronic pain.

If I had it to do over, I would have gone off at a slower rate.  But, I don't think the doctors have a clue how difficult it is to go though withdrawal from this *non-addictive* drug.  The pain was the worst ever.

I would say the first good thing I noticed was all the fluid weight dropping off, but it did not happen until I was completely off the stuff.  Good luck.  I hope at least some of that helped.  It sounds like you have been through too much with ICU and too many side effects.

Thanks! I've tried tapering faster but like You said the pain is so much!  I'm in enough as it is and just can't do it! I think I would then go crazy with My pain reliever!  That's the worse part They don't seem to work at all!  Thanks!  I'm glad Your doing better and will remember IT IS POSSIBLE!  Despite what My mind and body are telling Me. Wonder if some people just get to the point where They feel defeated and give up!  Suicide rate is high!

I started taking gabapentin almost too small. Weighed 108. When starting no appetite went 3 weeks barely eating and weighed 114 when I went to Doctor. Then I became extremely hungry. Couldn't eat enough!  So next month it was 128. Soon. I'm now at 177 and highest was 197!  Never in My life not even pregnant have I weighed more than 154!!  So I can't wait to see if I can get rid of any type of weight. Doctor said I'm just about obese. So thanks for hope. I eat healthy too.  

Many, many days the pain was incredibly severe, but it finally got better.  There were many long sleepless nights due to the pain.  Exhaustion was with me each day.  It did get better, but it took far too long.

It is difficult.  I worried the pain I was enduring was my baseline pain and it was too severe to put up with day after day.   I have never been afraid of pain.  Over the years I always told myself the pain would be better the next day, week or month.  Except the pain from gapapentin withdrawal was downright scary.

I've read,i hope correctly that it is actually the gabapentin that now makes the pain unbearable,and not necessarily the actual problem.

I've taken myself down over a period of a few weeks from 2700 mg to now 600mg a day.

Why???because if the terrible write up about these.i watched a programme on a sky channel about what has happened to a lot of people in America who started on opoids like gabapentin. Suicide,dependency on the painkillers,which has led a fair few lead on to even heroin.The side effects from opoids are apparently really bad if you suddenly want to stop taking them.i have reduced mine down one tablet at a time to the 2 remaining 300mg each per day.

Here is my problem.do I reduce one again and go through withdrawal badly or stay with what I'm on.??

I have noticed that since I've cut down,i have lost 12lb in weight

Any advice about my last 2 x300mg tablets.do I go for it and suffer unknown pain ,or take cowards way out and stay on these last tablets.

Would it be more severe than the trapped sciatic nerve I've been suffering from

The pain was so severe last year I told Y family at xmas that I didn't know and the Doctors didn't know what was wrong but I didn't think I would last another year!  We were all crying. I'm not sure where I would be without Their constant support. We tried lowering gabapentin as a last ditch effort!  With the abdominal and pelvic pain being so severe plus the upper abdominal and respiratory all feeling like excruitiating nerve pain just getting worse...well a very highly thought of digestive Specialist informed Me and My Primary it was incurable nerve damage. Primary told to make Me as comfortable as possible!  They were writing Me off too and My Family said no way, what do you mean incurable. I wonder how many deaths there are over this dang med!! I very well could be dead as many things as I've had!  That bacterial menegitis, being septic from various infections and respiratory problems that went from beginning stage of COPD to emphysema in a year!  My Primary didn't say much as if He hardly noticed!  My medical chart reflects a copy of bad side effects from gabapentin. I was ignored as I pointed this out to him!  I started with chronic pain and some sleep issues to near death in 5 years of taking most in last 2!! The pelvic pain was first 3!

I would first talk to Your Doctor so it can be supervised. Gabapentin isn't an opioids but to me it's harder to taper off. Far harder than any opioids or benzo. The side effects of gabapentin has destroyed My health more than anything else I've ever taken. I had to increase My opioids pain killers just to deal with the excruitiating pain. It was not thought once by any type Doctor to decrease My gabapentin always increase!  Yes I've read where this CNS med has lead others to heroine. It's a horrible and dangerous med. probable the worse I've ever been on!  All the common side effect of chronic infections have almost killed Me. Waking up in ICU about 10 times in last few years. Mostly pnuemonia last being bacterial menegitis!!! I was in process of withdrawing when this happened. My Primary now has Me tapering 100 mg per week.  The slower I go the less withdrawal effects!  My health is slowly returning!  I can think and speak for Myself. When talking especially to Doctors I would point to My Daughter so She could answer question!  When starting gabapentin I was working and disabled from failed FDA Spine surgery test but I worked as a waitress. Just didn't carry much! 2 years ago I became unable to work and My 20 year old had to take over Out finances and My health plus home. I became that ill and could barely move because of excruitiating pelvic pain!  They believe I now have pelvic congestion because of weakening muscle. I can say without a doubt the horrendous irritation of nerves in pelvic weakened the nerves!  I sat all year time because legs so weak. As You can tell I'm mentally more alert to what is going on around Me. I use to couldn't remember anything in short term. Lost words too! Lose of bowel so bad mine like water too!  Your body will tell you if it's too much to taper off. If I make it that week I won't go back. You CNS to reset. You've been on it a long time. I think Your Family understands and mine does too. They deal with Me because They want the old Me back. I don't know if I have permanent damage either. It just takes time! It's worth it to Me at 54. I feel I lost 5 years of My life to this drug. Pfizer didn't pay enough when those 2 settlements were given!  I wish I could sue the heck out of them for just my medical alone! Good luck to you!

I haven't bothered with asking my Dr. I am taking myself off these horrible pills.i have reduced them from 2700mg a day a few weeks ago to 2x300mg per day making 600mg daily.

I am starting to feel alive again,im losing the weight I put on which was total of 16lb. I've alreadyblist 12 lb of it.im not as confused, depressed,with tingling fingers like I have been.

These past couple of days,i have increased the time between taking the tablets.tonight I have opened one of the capsules and tipped out half making it 150mg for tonights dose.im going to do this for 5 days to see how I get on.then if OK I'll do the same with the morning one for several days too.finally I will cut out the night one then the last day one.

I am walking today nearly 2 miles with my husband and my dog.i haven't been able to walk properly for months.

My problem has been excruciating pain in my pelvic area,but it's nothing compared to how these tablets have made me feel.

I will let you know if I'm successful in stopping them

You sound exactly like me. I'm upset with My Primary for not noticing how bad I was then no suggestion to decrease. I was on very little medicine until my dose was increased just by 400 mg making it 3600 mg per day. The bowels went first, loosening of skin too, then I couldn't hardly move because of excruitiating pain then infections, no short term memory!  One thing after another. The pain I was in covered up in other body pain. I chipped bone in shoulder from being doubled over in pelvic pain on side of bed while sleeping. Hit My head first as I rolled off bed then chipped shoulde blade I guess and didn't feel it!  My chronic back pain is metal onmetal full disc implant and that pain vanished. OMG! As I taper off gabapentin I feel it. No choice though side effects are going to kill Me. I went from beginning stage COPD to emphysema in a year and half with upper respiratory problems. Guess what I can breath again!  No wheezing or anything. Yet the last may be hardest on taper as I've heard and experienced the lower I go the harder the withdrawal. Strongly recommend a Doctor helping You. If not then please have Your Husband watch You closely!  I don't want You to seize or go into a serotonin type syndrome where Your in permeates withdrawal. That would really be bad. Keep Me posted please! God Bless! 

Good for you and congratulations. It sounds like the tapering was easy for you. You've cut down 2100 mg in a couple weeks! I've cut down 1800 mg 2 months, and it seems at every reduction of 300 I go through a horrible bout of exhaustion and depression. I'm thinking to halve mine as well the next round in hopes that the mood change isn't so drastic. 

Please keep us posted, I wonder as you get to the last mg if it is most difficult, as it was for me with Oxy. At the end I kept halving the pills till I was at 1/8.

My best to you and all of you!!!

hi there,

these past few days I've cut down to probably 150mg on morning one and the same at night.i have got (each capsules) 300mg capsules. I started on the night one first by opening it up,and removing half,then closing it back up. I did this for 4 nights but still taking the 300mg in the daytime.i noticed that during the day I was getting the feeling of something crawling under my skin.it was horrible.i also had palpertations. However since yesyerday I've halved the morning tablet and feel so much better.ill keep taking the 1/2 capsules for another few days and then cut the night one out.then continue with the day one likewise.

I actually feel alive since cutting them off. No depression,no short temper,no feeling ill,and funilly enough my back pain seems less too.ive Now lost 14lb in weight which should take some if the stress off my back too.

I'll let you know how it's goes once that last capsule is stopped.

I used a small pointed knife and slowly worked it round the capsules until it came undone,then tipped half out closing the capsule again before taking it.this practice probably won't be recommended,but I just want off this horrible side effect drug that is causing worse side effects than the actual problem is

I'll keep you all posted.and good luck to all of you x

well it's November14th, and I have been off gabapentin altogether for 6 days now.

it hasn't been easy but I stuck to it.I got down to 1x300mg three times a day,by making it over a 14 HR day.i took one around 8am x1 at 3pm and night one at 10pm.i gradually (over 5 days) stretched the afternoon one later in the day until I managed to get til about 8pm then took it.Therefore cutting the night one out.that got me to only 2 tabs a day.i then started to gradually remove part of each capsule until each one had about half In it.yes you've got it.i halved The night one for a few days and then day one too.finally I stoppedthe night one,and last Friday I stopped the day one.Its been a little uncomfortable but I've persevered,only having paracetamol if needed.ive also made myself go for walks these past few weeks. Going From a 1/4 mile to Now doing 2 miles without exerting myself.The weight is coming off and for once in a long time I'm feeling positive with no depression either.

good luck if you try this,but take it at YOUR pace and get off this soul destroying gabapentin.

The pains in withdrawal are not excruciating,but uncomfortable.keep positive whilst doing this,and let me know how you get on Take care

Hello, my situation seems very similar to yours. I was on 1200mg for two months. I told my Dr. I wanted off this evil drug. So he had me taper down from 1200 to 900 then two weeks later down to 600 i was handling it well so 5 days later I reduced it to 300 (150× twice a day) I was feeling uncomfortable at 300, but decided to keep going so after 1 week I cut it to 150 once a day at mid day. I was still a bit uncomfortable but it was tolerable until the 4th day I became extremely anxious and depressed along with a head ache to the point it was umbareable. So I called the Dr and he had me up it back to 300. Even back at 300 I was still suffering all the common nightmares so I'm back at 600 and feeling defeated and depressed about it. I still feel like s**t at 600 .. it's my second day back at 600 but I guess it's tolerable. I was hoping you could give some advise on how to get through the last 300-600.. I was feeling like I was doing great having gone from 1200 down to 150 in less than 3 weeks, but the evil drug decided to pull me back into it's little hellhole. My problem now is lack of sleep as well and ringing in my ears.. let me know how you are doing and any advise would be much appreciated. Your story gives me hope. I'm glad you figured it out. Good bless

hi Matt,

I managed to get down like you to the 1x300mg daily. however I had gone from 2x300mg a day to halving the night one first for about 5 days,then halving the morning one for about the same time.i then cut out the night one for about a week. the morning one I halved again and then off the darn things.

oh yes I've had,what I describe as crawling skin,headaches, depression too which at times seemed too much.i stuck it out as I don't want to be on them ever again.Withdrawal is hard,but Now a month or so later I am coming out the other side.i get odd days now,but nothing compared to what it was when I got off that last capsule.

I made myself go for walks with my dog whether or not I wanted to,and In the end it's helped.

Persevere,and you'll get through it

let me know how you get on.

regards Vivienne

Please try a good Magnesium, CBT or Remag.  IT worked for me, I am off GB. 600mg in 20 days.   Finished on 100 Magnesium 3 times a day and finished the GB.   It is a fact little people know.  But go for a quality Mg. my first lot were cheap and useless.   Good luck 

Checking in after 6 months when I was at 1800 mg. Today I'm at 850 mg! It's a slow process, I'm currently reducing 50 mg every 2 weeks. Pain is under control but I have to be honest, I've become a different person as far as the MIND-F$%K! I am in a constant state of depression, misery, agitation, anxiety, despondency, have no desire to do anything. The other day I had a flash of happiness and my old self, it lasted a couple seconds but I felt it. I'm using CBD in two forms and I've been taking 500 mg Magnesium but not sure if it's doing anything to help. I know this will end in 7 months!?!?!? Just not liking life or myself right now but I do know I will get through it and pray I will be my happy-go-lucky self at the end!

Hi Patpro. I can identify all of those feelings that you are going through.   I went from 600 to 300 overnight before my taper.   I am convinced that the magnesium saw me through this.   Have you tried a quicker taper?  I was so impatient that I lessened mine.   The relief of being off GB is like being given a new life.   I will post my magnesium brand again, I had it wrong.    If you are getting glimpses of your old self that is great.  It shows that your brain is intact and just waiting to be cleared of poison.  Please believe that there is hope.   Never ever regress even when you feel horrible.    I will post again shortly.   Make sure that it is a good quality Mg that does not upset your tummy.    You can do this.  Bags of water and optimism 

Guys, please help. I'm feeling so low today. I was taking 600mg for 3.5yrs and had to stop cold turkey 5 months ago as it was destroying my liver, I had no choice but to stop immediately. I believe I've been through the worst physical symptoms but after 5 months, the anxiety is through the roof. I do get periods of mind rest through the day but it doesn't last long. I had such a great week last week and for two days I felt like I had no withdrawal at all, I was buzzing and felt flashes of my old self again. Little did I know it would hit me with a vengeance this week. I've hardly felt rested this week. 

I'm eating a good diet, lots of water, regular walks and light exercises/stretches but I'm feeling so low this week. I initially was put on this vile drug to help me walk as I'd been bed bound for 3 yrs and it did get me walking but right now I feel like I have no life and my greatest fear is that I'll regress...... my body is feeling so jammed today and my legs feel locked. Even though I'm walking around, they just don't want to go anywhere.

I'm sorry for being such a bag of misery but that's how it is today...... do any of you get a lot of phlegm? I seem to be chucking up a gut full every day. Does this ever get better??? 

Apologies for going off on one!! Patproto, I don't know if this will help but I find that balancing my diet with salt and especially sugar gives me much needed relief from the anxiety. Buttery sweet food helps me a lot and soothes my nerves but in this heat I'm sticking to ice cream, it does give some relief. 

I also take cardamom tea which really helps my brain to relax and get great sleep. You can make this at home just ad don't two cardamom pods to half a cup of boiled water (slit the pods at the side so the seeds can infuse in the water), cover the cup and leave to infuse for 5 minutes. Then add 1 teaspoon of honey before you drink. Hope this helps 

No no no don't tell me after 5 months you are still suffering! No apologies for being a bag of misery, I feel your pain!

Somewhere I read that the longer you are on it the worse the withdrawal effects could be. I'm thinking that could be my case, I was on 3600 mg for 6 years! Though I hate this drug I have to admit I would do it all over again as the pain of a degloved arm was too much to bear at the time of rebuilding it and the healing process, but knowing what I know now I would have started a taper a long time ago.

My hope comes from all of you on this forum and the FB groups that send us messages that they are their old selves again, that the cloud has lifted, that you've been given a new life.

Now to get through another day!!!!

I can't wait till I'm at a point when I will be the one writing those messages 

Waiting to hear what brand of Magnesium you so highly recommend as well as the dosage that worked for you. I have no issue with Sundown Naturals 500 mg that I use but don't feel it's doing anything to help... unless life could possibly be more negative if I wasn't using it! LOL!

I take a plethora of vitamins and supplements... B12, C, Calcium+D3, Folic Acid, Fish Oil, Flax Seed Oil, Turmeric and Magnesium. I've also been on Wellbutrin for a very long time and if I thought it would help I'd increase my dosage but somewhere I read that anti-depressants have no effect on the Gaba-effect on the mind.

I am forcing myself to make a commitment to getting on the floor and doing my Pilates, get out and take walks, and get out in my backyard to sit in the sun as much as I am MENTALLY able to do so. None of this is a physicial disability, it's all mental in my case.

To be fair, 95% of my physical symptoms have gone. It's the anxiety I'm struggling with the most. It doesn't help that I'm currently not working so I feel like I don't have any purpose. I go out for regular exercise at my local physio place, I take piano lessons and currently practising yoga in between all my walks. But apart from that, I'm just feeling so lost and I've never felt devoid of purpose before.

I can't imagine how hard its been for you to decrease from a dose that high, you're doing unbelievably well!! All the posts I've read from you have been so positive and likewise, the people in this forum are so well informed and helpful, it really does give me hope. I still dread getting up in a morning though lol. 

I did a course of chromotherapy water which helped detox my body of so much crap in just 5 weeks. It's not all doom and gloom, it really did help relieve me of so much of the physical pain. Initially it really helped with the anxiety too.

I think now it's more diet than withdrawal for me. Do you struggle with your appetite? I eat plenty but mostly greens and it's too healthy!! lol I'm struggling to eat fatty foods but desperately in need so my brain can function and my body can sustain energy. What to do people.... what to do!

Wishing you a peaceful evening and a wonderful sleep!! 

Do you really think your diet is causing your anxiety? Eating too many greens and struggling to eat fatty foods is a problem many people wish they had. Luckily I've had no issue with my appetite or weight issues with the Gab. I eat a well-rounded healthy diet, try to avoid processed foods, and take vitamins/supplements. 

I find not working plays a slight role as it gives me more time to think/worry about things I have no control of! But this anxiety is bigger than that. The depression caused by this withdrawal is the most difficult issue I've encountered in 6 years of being bed-ridden, wheelchairs, scooters, crutches, 9 surgeries, quitting opioids, PTSD and CRPS. The depression going through this withdrawal is bigger than any of that!

Hi Leenz, kept hearing about fish oil...tried it and it helped my whole body and my emotions . I take a  burpless odorless fish oil, purified to remove mercury. It is a big soft gel.  I have also started a B complex  as the B’s are involved in “brain function”....keeps the neurons communicate and rebuild.

BIGGEST MISTAKE I MADE DURRING MY WEEN. I read magneessium if it was “a good one” would help tremendously....Not! Magneessium and gabapentin share the same receptor and taking it will block the gabapentin and cause sever withdrawl. This happened to me before I studied the pharmacology of the drug; which, is a difficult task at best. It’s no different that carbon minoxide and oxygen. So with my  metabolism  Taking it 2-4 hours from gabapentin was not long enough and I became very, very physically and emotionallly depleted. I had no idea I was going in and out of withdrawl. When I was down to 100mg at night and Zero durring the day, I was able to add Mag Glyinate around 10am. This was of Great help to me durring the end of the ween.  I did 100mg gabapentin till I smoothed out, then poured capsule out divided in half and licked it off my finger, stabilize and down to 25mg stabilize and done with it. Gabapentin pushes K+, depletes sodium and magnesium. It ain’t no joke, serious stuff here. So be very very careful with magnesium, calcium, antacids...Tums, bicarb, Milanta can all through a person into rapid onset withdrawl. Yep, the B en the fish oil caused no problems. I seriously thought I might die as I had trouble breathing.  I’d just stop breathing and not notice until I was so weak en dizzy. This began “intentional breathing” excersises. There is no one size fits all with this mind and body bending drug. Everyone take a look at how strong we are...we’re still here....gotta fight hard for this one...stay in touch with this blog. Sometimes I still get real squirrelly....feel anxious, for me it’s an abrupt change in temperature...so I layer.  This will trigger nausea, anxiety, dizziness, generalized weakness and even panic. These episodes have almost diapered unless someone turns the Heat way up in a car...now that I know my trigger, I do my very best to prepare to remove a layer, pull my shoes off and oh well it works for me to nip it in the bud. I never mentioned but I had supper loud ringing in my ears at the 100 down to 50mg/night, lasted about 2 weeks then gone. Probably ring all night! 

Here’s to a tolerable night for all. Everyone taking Mag. be careful and know, nobody here is alone, weak, doomed, etc. it’s just an unbelievable, unexpected medication failure and a new awareness of the current medical model ...Marcus Welby days are over.  This will help us be critical thinkers and make better educated pharmasutical decisions moving forward. Good night and God Bless.

Heres the REAL DEAL about Gabapentin and other drugs that are alike. Its too broadly prescribed for too many medical issues. It needs to be a controlled substance. Coming off gaba is 1000x harder and 10,000 x longer than coming off opiods. Opiods is a walk in the park compared to gaba. You can try all these diff things to subside the after effects but NOTHING will work. Its hard. Period. It does get better, however its a long process. Stick with it, what other choices do we have? Im at 3 months today and im feeling better finally. I still have effects but not as severe. Sometimes out of nowhere i cry for no reason, i will high anxiety and then it totally stops. Never know from one day to the next what to expect but the first 2 months were frightening. I lost motor skills, 1/2 my body would go paralyzed for 10 minutes, slurred speach, double vision, ears ringing, fear, for one week i had a overwelming feeling of calmness and zero pain. Freaky freaky freaky

The depression will subside. The anxiety will also subside. It dosent matter how long you took the drug you will go thru the withdrawal. 3 weeks and the gaba receptors are compromized. It effects the entire nervous system which includes your brain. The brain receptors are scrambled. Hang in there it will get better, no doubt this is the hardest thing ive been through too

Reducing 100 mg every 21 days is how i did it. NEVER NEVER go backwards to stop the wd feelings, it dosent work likE that, you WONT feel better. Once you start keep going forward, raising the dose again will only prolong the wd and you still wont feel normal, keep at it.

Great positive post Michele.   I am day 4 without.  Fatigue and fuzzy thinking but the odd glimpse of the real me.   Patience is the key.    Glad to hat I am off them and will never ever go to this medicine again.

My Mag if ZMB6.  Three pills at mealtimes three times a day.   They work for me.   I am day 4 off the GB and still take them with fish oils.    Still very tired but glimpses of the old me coming through.  I try to walk a lot.  But my head is clearing and the nausea has gone.

Hi patproto,

How is your journey going? I pray all is going positively! Apologies for such a late reply, I've been in and out of hospital for a few weeks.

You are right, the depression with this withdrawal is not only huge, it's overwhelming. I had it bad for a month but now seems to come and go in little bouts. How about yours? Do you feel any lighter since your last msg?

My main issue right now is lack of energy. Just praying it gets better....

Thank you so so much for this msg, it really helped me get through a tough few weeks ending up in a& e every week! I'm so glad I read it the day you posted. Luckily I already had vitamin B at home and started taking it the same day. It's really helped the soreness in my shoulders and legs and yes, I do feel a little calmer than before. Will have to try the fish oil!

You are so right about sodium, i ended up with a water infection (sorry, too much info perhaps but maybe it'll help someone!) for which I was prescribed sodium citrate and honestly, that's the best I've felt since the onset of this ordeal! Unfortunately can't keep taking it but it defo helped!! 

Sorry it took long time to respond, my message was deleted for some reason, said my content was not acceptable. I dont remember what i said. Anyway, hope your doing better. It will get better. It takes its toll no doubt. Im at 4 months now. Much better, its not 24/7 anymore but still have days that are hard. More good than hard.

Hi Leenz,

I hope your hospital stint wasn't too serious. Since last month I felt myself getting in a deeper hole every day so decided to stabilize at 800 mg. Once I realized I had tapered 2800 mg I patted myself on the back and decided to give my brain a rest and see if I can find myself again. In the past 9 months I don't feel like I've ever stabilized. I'm not feeling any different at this point but I'm willing to give it the entire summer if necessary as I will be out of the country and don't want to be miserable like I was last summer. 

Sometimes I can't tell the different between depression, lack of desire, and lack of energy. I've got all of them.

On a positive note I've been successful in forcing myself to do my Pilates almost daily, I've gotten out to my pool, swimming some laps, and as an added bonus getting a tan (which always makes me feel better).

Wishing you a Ray of Sunshine!!!

Hi leenz, Glad it helped!...Yep, I still keep salt close at hand. The minute I feel that weird, disoriented, with extreme exhaustion....I dip the tip of my finger in it and put it strait under my toungue....don’t have time to wait for it to go via the gut. Just had to do it 3 days ago. I get relief in seconds. I literally won’t leave home without it. You’ve got this!!....I was so sick and weak at times I didn’t know if I’d make it. I am even getting my sense of humor back. I do get really weak and shaky and the Na solves that along with the Mag, B’s, and fish oil....We are blessed to be able to get off this stuff. It’s the single most difficult thing I’ve ever been through.  I am 59 so I’ve been threw some stuff. Everyone reading this...Don’t Give Up! This can be done! There is life after gabapentin...oh, I read that they are using it in the rehabs for alcoholics. Now there’s a dandy idea😳! Jeeeeezzzz unbelievable🙏

Patproto, it wasn't serious but made worse by the lack of assistance by NHS. Considering going private this week. 

So happy to hear how much you've achieved, that's by no means an easy feat! You defo deserve a rest!! I feel you, it's been 7 months since I've been totally off gabapentin and throughout this entire time I feel I've only had two days where I felt half normal. The unstable feelings are so weird, even I don't know what I'm feeling most days but your pool sounds like a great way to combat sluggish feelings! Is the Pilates helping at all? I may try some myself, was considering to give hatha yoga a go. I pray things are much better for you as soon as, and also in time for your holiday. Have a better week ahead!! 

Hi Pat! I've been wondering how you were doing, we've been comparing notes previously, but I was gone on vacation (yes it was wonderful) for a while. I was at 2700 and am now at 1000, but I stopped the taper in April to enjoy the trip and am postponing it this month for my dance competition. Yes, it's so hard to tell why we feel so drained and numb, the drugs, the withdrawal, the pain, who knows? But right now, I'm doing well. I feel the dancing, activity and meeting new people helped me tremendously.  I hope you get the same effect. I knew packing could overwhelm me, so I took my time, and wrote LOTS of checklists and notes.   I found the comments about salt fascinating. My daughter has something called NCS, Neurocardiogenic Syncope, long story short, one thing she needs is to keep her sodium level up. Even as a kid, if I felt "off", I'd instinctively grab potato chips or crackers and I'd feel better.

Leenz, by water infection, do you my hyponatremia? Low sodium levels due to too much fluid/water?

Hi Babs, so happy to hear you are stablized, happy and had a great vacation!!! Sounds like I'm following your lead, stopping my taper for now, and have had my suitcase out for a couple weeks now, filling it up, doing some shopping, and checking and re-checking my lists! LO!  When I think of the journey that lies ahead of me I wonder how I will manage as it seems difficult to just get up in the morning, but my biggest love is travel so I know once I start moving it will all come back to me!

I so believe activity helps and I'm sure your love of dance is the best medicine. I find taking the first step that's the most difficult, as I just finished my Pilates for today! 

Somehow I missed the salt conversation, will have to back-track and find that. Take care of yourself and please keep me posted on your taper.

On my feed, it's 3 posts back between TalktoHim and Leenz. I thought somehow that you were involved in it. You know how these all get jumbled together. You and Leenz were writing back and forth. I can't find the original comment about sodium, but I gathered that it helped.

As I was on the trip, I DID have some bad periods, particularly at the very beginning, the day we left I felt I'd never enjoy the trip as I was still both too emotional and too numb. I think you know what I mean. But as it went on, I started thinking of all the good it was doing me and others who expressed interest, but concern about travel. I wanted to tell everyone to take the leap, it's worth it.

I noticed your post is from 20mos. ago. How long did it take you to level out? I was on 1500mg for 17yrs. Dosed down slowly to 300mg daily and stopped there due to extreme withdrawl symptoms, however I dosed down to 200 mg over the past 30 days. Tried 200 last night and have the internal jitters, hands are shakey, dizzy and feel like I didn't sleep. That has always been the feeling if I missed my medication at night, which I only did that two times in 17 years due to the side effects I had the day after missing... Might have to take 1/2 of a capsule along with a full 100mg capsule for a while. I'm curious what my doctor will dose me down to tomorrow.

*dosed down to 100mg last night not 200 as stated above.

I hope you do better than I. I have tried to get off it and failed three times. Mini seizures where I lose concisness and sometimes fall and the shortness of breath when the side effects are present. Does any one know a Dr./medical expert who could provided some direction as to how to get free of this curse!

im so sorry youre having such a aweful time. you must must go slower. i leaned on my faith in God. i also needed to go slowly. im praying for the Lord to give you strength and patience. not easy by any means. i wish i was with you to help you through. god bless. you are going to be fine again. never doubt that bc there are lots of us who didnt believe we could do it either. do you have help at home??

Osuna, The rule of thumb is no more than a 10% drop every 2 weeks or more. Some advise holding 1 month or more. When one gets to the lower doses, the drug has more efficacy, so many only taper 5% or less. Some can go faster. Some need to go slower. But if one keeps/his/her taper slow and doesn't try to take big jumps, one can avoid some of the worst suffering. It is important to take 3 (or 4, but most take 3) even doses since the half-life of gabapentin is 5-7 hours and many who try to drop a pill or go to taking it 2x/day or 1x/day start to develop inter-dose withdrawal. There is liquid gabapentin available for smaller amounts or amounts that are less than what a pill would be. If you can't get a doctor to prescribe the liquid, you can do a water titration with the pills you have. (see youtube "How to SAFELY Taper from medication (Water Titration)". Go as slow as you need to and take as small a dose as you need to so that your body can adapt. Doctors are notoriously ill-trained regarding the tapering of psych meds, so you will find your best support in a gabapentin withdrawal group like those on Facebook. Some people even taper as little as 1 mg per dose (or 3 mg/day). If you are very careful, you can get off. You just have to ease your body off and avoid shocking your brain. Best wishes!

Osuna1, first, WHY are you on gab? If it's for seizures/epilepsy you need to talk to your doctor. If you're getting withdrawal symptoms like this and you don't have seizures it's likely because you're going way too quickly. Most doctors have no idea what this drug can do or how to deal with getting off it. Sadly, we need to turn to each other and support groups.

What dosage are you on? How did you cut back previously? You need to go EXTREMELY slowly, as mentioned. I had to do 10% or less over 8 weeks or more. Sometimes it was 15 weeks between drops if I had events I wanted to feel good for. The truth is WD is hard, painful and emotionally distressing. But if you know more about what to expect and how to do it safely, it helps.

I was at 2700 mg 3+ years ago, and have been off of gab for 8 weeks now. I had tough times, but nothing as bad as some people have had. If you're on other medication, this has an impact too.

you made it through!! im so happy for you. so good to hear. another success story here for many to see and gain strength through. God is good.

I am also a christian and I keep praying every day that God gets me through this. I was on Gab for over 20 years and have been off it for almost 6 months and I am still suffering. I have had some better days here and there but has not stopped yet with the withdrawals. It is the worst thing I have ever gone through, it has tested my faith big time. I hope the Lord heals me eventually. I was told by someone else on here that it will end it just takes time. I didn't taper down properly either, and none of my doctors believe what I am going through, it's very frustrating and depressing. I have no one to turn to other than God.

Hi again timbrad, I may be one (but many others have said it too) it DOES get better, but each of us have our own situation and time frame for that healing. Try and keep track of even tiny improvements, it will remind you that it's happening. I have others I keep in contact with also dealing with this and I can tell in their writing or comments that they're getting better, but they can't tell. I was just reminding myself a few minutes ago (I've been off gab for 8 weeks today) that it's been worse, I'm not as bad as I could be. It doesn't help a lot, but it does a bit. Hang in there.

Thank you for your response, sometimes I don't hear back from anyone. I keep moving forward the best I can. I have to learn to stop being so angry at the medical community and blaming them constantly with my self talk. I need to be more positive and keep saying this will stop eventually and thank God for the good days. It's just so hard when you are suffering to be positive. I never had these extra problems before those medications, what was supposed to help me has made my life more miserable. Thank you for talking with me and you hang in there as well.

If you find a way to forgive and trust the medical community again, let me know how! I worked in it for 30 years and have lost almost all faith in it. I don't know if I'll ever take ANY meds again because of the problems I've had. I've since figured out that while I've only had two minor surgeries and only been on less than a half a dozen meds in my whole life, I've had problems with all meds. I seem to be super sensitive. It also seems once you've been on these drugs (benzos, gab, etc) that the brain/body becomes even more sensitive. That's a greater reason to be very cautious with them. So to avoid more problems, avoid drugs and alcohol. On gab, even a couple small sips of wine (I don't drink so even a glass could get me tipsy) caused problems.

I do understand how hard it is. I've been off for 9 weeks now, after 3+ years tapering from 2700 to 300 and I had hoped that I'd be doing better than this. No matter how hard we try to be realistic, it's tougher than we think. I KNEW that I'd have WD, even knew the type of problems, but somehow we still believe that it wouldn't be this tough. I'm a bit better today. For me there's the physical with the increased pain (which is taper/WD NOT my original pain) and the emotional such as extremely low mood. You know what I mean but there are certain words the "bots" don't like and if we include them, they get targeted. It's bad enough to feel lousy physically, but then to add the emotional load, it's really hard.

I still don't trust the medical community, but going around saying to myself how much they messed me up and made my life miserable isn't doing me any good but making myself more depressed and angry. Doesn't mean I have stopped doing it, on the contrary I do it everyday more than I should. I am right there with you I hate those medications, I have cut down to one buspirone a day, and will stop that one as well eventually. I take 5 htp which is natural thinking about trying CBD. There medications have messed me up more than help me and I am done. My withdrawal symptoms mess with the nerves in my head which has been miserable, I don't know how one day will be to the next. It seems everybody's symptoms are different, this is a very unpredictable drug as far as symptoms go. I just can't believe or wonderful medical community wont research it more and they keep giving it out for things it was not meant for, unbelievable!! Anyway hang in there and take care.

CBD really helped me but it's a stimulant, so you have to be careful about anxiety.

I had to stop it because it was making my anxiety attacks too much worse -_-

For people who are having severe problems with gab I always worry about using other meds, even CBD. Adding any type of substance, as you found out, can cause an over-loaded neuro system to have increased problems. The best thing is to avoid anything else that impacts our brain/nervous systems. The brain is a delicate thing which can heal, but as gab disrupts neurons and synapses we need to give it all the help we can in healing.

babs, you're right! i'm still a little scatterbrained when i try to think back to those awful first months.

honestly it was about two weeks after quitting caffeine that i had my first really "lucid" day.

Ushimimi, it's not you, it's the drug. Memory loss and confusion are very common side effects of gab, either while on it or for many months off it. Even though I knew it, for two years I'd often say during the day "I don't know what I was thinking". I'd forget that I'd forget, so I'd apologize for forgetting that I forget! (whew, does that make sense?) But seriously, I knew it was affecting me very badly, but it wasn't until I improved that I realized HOW much it did.

I just remembered (ironic, right) that another problem was time-sense. It would be hard to know if something occurred two days ago or three weeks ago.