Gabapentin Withdrawal IMPORTANT
Posted , 149 users are following.
I spent 4 days in intensive care following a spinal operation. This was found to be the result of the sudden complete withdraawal of Gabapentin.
For 3 whole days I was, to quote my surgeon, 'on another planet.' The only drug, of the many I was taking for pain, the only one that could not been given in an alternative form was Gabapentin. Fortunately, on the 3rd day there happened to be a charge nurse on duty who had seen a [b]previous case similar to mine, also resulting from withdrawal of Gabapentin.
My husband insisted that some way was found of administrating the drug. (I myself was una\\ware of any of this until later). There were objections from the staff since I would need sedating and was unable to consent! My husband over-rode them - thank goodness - and said he would take full responsibility and 'just do it.'
Some time after he left they did sedate me and administer the Gabapoentin. Then, as now, I had been taking 900mg 3 times daily for nerve pain, so I had obviously fallen off a cliff in terms of amount taken.
The following morning I woke up back to normal and asked for a cup of tea. When my husband arrived I saw him wipe tears from his eyes. If not back from the dead I WAS back from a living nightmare.
WHAT CONCERNS ME MOST IS THAT THIS WAS DISMISSED BY THE MANUFACTURERS WHEN ONE OF MY CONSULTANTS MENTIONED IT. YET IT IS A TERRIBLE REACTION, ALBEIT NO DOUBT EXTREMELY RARE. IT SHOULD BE MAD E KNOWN:!:
16 likes, 474 replies
josie81266 Guest
Posted
I am 19 years old and have been taking Gabapentin ever since I was 17 after undergoing spinal surgery for a herniated disc. This medication has actually ruined my life. My memory has significantly decreased and I lack concentration very easily. This was never something I had previously experienced before taking the medication. I am now taking 800mg x3 and also trying to study a degree. I have started to try and cut my dosage myself and have had so many negative side effects. I am constantly sweating and itching. Always thirsty and can never sleep. Along with this I have excruciating pains in my legs and bum. I have only managed to drop to 600mg 3x a day and am finding it extremely difficult.
I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced any of these side effects. Have been to lots of therapy groups but haven't met anyone on the same medication as me.
Thank you!
Actiquser josie81266
Posted
If you start your own thread as a totally new one you will get more replies and more help and it certainly sounds like you need that.
You need a slow taper and lots of support from individuals here.
Sorry to hear you are suffering badly. Please repost to get more support.
naomi64 josie81266
Posted
I was only on it for 4 months and now my body gets dizzy, weak at times, and more anxiety. Its been two months, and I have not taken it. I went off of it wrong. I am thirsty alot as well. People on here say go of slow. I will pray that you will get off with no side effects. Naomi.. God bless you...
mary41637 naomi64
Posted
My side effects made me unable to walk without falling from this medicine. I am scared since I have 12 sytoms of side affects of this poison. My doctor was treating me for arthritis.I went to him unable to walk and he increased my dosage. I stopped taking this. Now I have bad withdrawals. I am scared and don't know how or what to do!
fsrvival mary41637
Posted
rita52071 mary41637
Posted
Mary get yourself medical attention fast. PLEASE Dont know how long you were on this medicine but you can't just stop taking it......Please get medical attention now........PLEASE Very powerful dangerous medicine
josie81266 Actiquser
Posted
Thank you so much for your reply. I am not really sure how to start my own thread.
Josie
josie81266 naomi64
Posted
Thank you
God bless!
Josie
mary03477 josie81266
Posted
Hi Josie--Yesterday I went to the ER with the worst headache of my life--one week after stopping Gaba--I thought I was finished with withdrawal, but I was wrong! After being treated for high blood pressure (which I do not normally have and having a head CT) the doc said she thought my headache was due to high BP and disputed my belief that Gaba withdrawal could cause severe HA. The rest of the day I suffered with the headache unrelieved by 1000mg Tylenol, 800 mg Ibuprofen and Tramadol 50 mg. Around 6pm I took Gaba 300mg and after an hour withno change in pain, I took another 300 mg Gaba with good relief and had a good night's sleep. Today I have a slight HA relievedby Ibuprofen 600 mg 2x today--no Gaba. I guess I'll takeGaba as needed andsee how it works out--anyway I see the neurosurgery doc who prescribed Gaba this week. Good luck to you--let meknow how things progress.
sandy97889 mary03477
Posted
Haven't posted in a while have been reading post though.
My Rheumatoligist took me from 3200 Gabby a day to 1600 in 5 days to 800 for 5 days then nothing!!
Went thru months of withdrawal, was awful.. It's now been 11 months and can say feeling pretty good except digestive issues! Finally stomach aches have pretty much stopped but seem to get acid reflux more so than I ever had before. Hoping this to will ease up. Was on Gabby for about 13 months last 4 were the 3200. My Rheumatoligist said there would be No withdrawal because it's not habit forming!!
Please do slow withdrawal from this drug it's not fun at all.
Good Luck!
rita52071 mary03477
Posted
hi Mary don't know how slow you tried to come off of gabapentin....headache is a withdrawal sign....when I went from 100 mg to 100mg every other day by day 6 it was so bad called dr went back on to 100 mg once a day for like 3 to 4 months then taapered off to 50 mg a day for two or tree weeks then stopped...yes I had some withdrawals but nothing you couldnt deal with off it now since Oct 13
martin45332 sandy97889
Posted
sandy97889 martin45332
Posted
My family doctor said I should of been taken down 100 mgs at a time. Taking the 100 for 3 to 4 weeks at a time. She said to be taken off the right way with the high dose I was on should of taken months not 2 weeks.
Lesson learned. I was on it for Osteoarthritis pain & it was doing nothing but making me sleep. That's why I got off of it.
rita52071 martin45332
Posted
josie81266 martin45332
Posted
Dear Martin,
Good luck with this. I think for me it has been hard but I think that's as a result of the fact that I have been taking it for a long time now. I hope you are sucessful. I am going to see a pain management team on the 10th to start cutting my medication. I will let you know if they have any helpful advice that I may pass on to you.
All the best
Josie
sally80466 josie81266
Posted
Yes I have I am now and it's dreadfull. In terrible pain in my legs & sweating/shivering most of the time. I was prescribed them for nerve pain (I'm diabetic) about a year ago, I'm taking 6-8 300mg daily & finding it so tough to reduce the dose...don't know how to do this the best way