Gabapentin withdrawal horrors

hi lynn,

I must be one of the more fortunate ones on this horrid drug. I was on 3600mg daily for back pain way over a year ago. I went through some horrible side effects trying to come off it,including chronic depression, sleeplessness ,crawling skin etc. thank God ive pushed through it and finally free. bab 's on here was on it at the same time as me,and would be good to ask advice from .

All I can say,is I hope you do find a way off it. its not easy at all,but I did wean myself down to halving and halving again over months ,until I was on 1/4 capsule daily. Thats when my struggle began . However having said that ,the hell was worth it,and i'm free. I have refused to go back on it from the Dr. So far,so good. Good luck x

lynn,

what other meds would you consider?

Thank you for your reply. Babs has replied and given me some sites to look at. I am hoping to cut back 100mg every 4 weeks but will see how it goes. I should have tried to stick it out when I first cut back as things didn't get better when I went back on it. If only I had known what I know now.

Again, thanks for taking the time to respond, I really appreciate it.

Not sure what you mean by other drugs to consider? To help with the withdrawal symptoms?

Please be careful adding ANY other drugs. For many who had such a severe problem during tapering, any drugs such as MJ, benzos, opioids or other meds can cause something called kindling, meaning it will re-ignite those symptoms all over again. The truth is that MAT Medication Assisted Treatment or adding other meds won't help, the body and brain need to heal. Some feel they're helped by CBD, which doesn't have the active ingredient of THC, it seems to help some, but after what I've been through, the strongest I take is Tylenol.

Lynn, sorry for all the responses, but I want to give you enough info to make good decisions. If you look at some of those websites, you'll see that you should listen to your body. As you've had such a reaction, you may want to go slower. I've learned not to cut my dosage again until I feel much better. I'm an outlier, as it takes weeks for my worst symptoms to appear, for some it's within 24 hours. But looking back, I can tell, that if I'm just a bit better, then drop again, each taper will be more problematic. Recovery is not linear, i.e. you don't start to feel better and every day gets better. It will be a gradual improvement, so I wait until I've had several days in a row, maybe even a week before I drop again, so it can be 8 to 10 weeks. It can take a week to realize how lousy I was a week ago as any improvement feels so good.

I tell people, I'd rather have several good weeks out of the 6 or 8 weeks before I got thru hell again. But that's my choice, others may way, others will chose months of hell to get off the drug faster. But once the bad times start, all the helps is time, distraction, patience and optimism.

sorry,

i ment to hurt with overall nerve pain. Im at a point i have to try something new. ive been on tca(immipramine) plus a small amount of cymbalta for years. getting massive body pains and burns. was mentioned neurontin or lyyrica, but side effects sound horrible as does coming off. however, like all of you im in a lace i need something.

Thanks again Babs. I really appreciate the support and the information. I am glad there are people like you out there to help people through this because it is hell. I have quantity of life but not quality of life right now and its difficult to see past that. Most days I wonder if I will ever get through this so it's good to have someone tell you that you can and will get better.

You're welcome, just paying it forward. The info I gave you and the groups I mentioned were a tremendous help. No matter how supportive family and friends are, they can't imagine or understand what we're dealing with. Tomorrow will be the 9th week since I last tapered and I FINALLY feel like myself again. Just 3 days ago I wondered if I ever would. I tell myself the same thing I tell others, which I won't repeat here, I've told you already, but it's still hard to hope it will get better. But when it does, it's such a relief. Even today, I told my husband I noticed tiny things that showed my brain is starting to process better. The only way I know that is to try and pay attention and write those notes. My memory, personality and cognition are such that I can't remember on my own. But to talk to me, you'd think I'm the same person, but I know. I don't dwell on it, but I am quite analytical so I'm trying to notice the positive changes, so I can remind myself they are there.

Don't obsess or fret, but on the days you notice even something minor, like noticing something (like a bird or pretty flower) that previously wouldn't have drawn your attention, or something doesn't hurt quite as much as it used to before savor those moments. They are NOT minor, they're good signs and will continue to multiple. But NEVER as fast as we want.

Is there something you can really lose yourself in? A movie, a book, coloring, cleaning a drawer, anything that takes your mind off of "it"? When I could start my dancing again (I compete, yeah, like Dancing with the Stars, but I'm not THAT good) I could feel more competent and lose myself in that.

KMJ, please don't assume everyone is like you. You were lucky, others aren't.

JUST BECAUSE IT WAS SUPER EASY FOR YOU TO COME OFF THE DRUG, DOESN'T MEAN IT IS SUPER EASY FOR EVERYONE. IF EVERYONE WAS THE SAME, ALL DRUGS WOULD WORK THE SAME FOR EVERYONE. The internet has nothing to do with withdrawal symptoms. Do not presume that all people are the same and will respond the same to all drugs or withdrawing from drugs.

Kmj523 has made similar comments in the past and none of the comments appear supportive.

Anyone with any nursing or medical knowledge, is aware all humans have different physiological reactions to any medical intervention or prescription medication. Medical information is a huge gray area and has never been black or white.

Maybe if enough people report those comments, that trollish behavior can be curtailed. I find it extremely rare to get comments like that here. "Consider the source".