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Gabapentin Withdrawal IMPORTANT

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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:!:

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  • BS8
    BS8 Guest

    Posted

    It is under the radar of battle against tranquillisers in Bristol or bats I am unable to write their website here but will message it privately to as many as I can. I too called the company so it is not rare. Thank you for a good post. 
    • sandy97889
      sandy97889 BS8

      Posted

      What is under the radar? Gabapentin??
  • brooke56741
    brooke56741 Guest

    Posted

    I was out on gabapentin when I was 16 for bad insomnia. Only 600 msg at night. At the time it seemed like a better alternative than taking ambien or the stronger drugs. I ended up taking it for 16 years. I'm 32 now and I have been weening off of it for 6 months because of wanting to start a family. I know that seems so long but I only went down a hundred milligrams about a month at a time. Each time it had been terrible. For a few weeks I would be have withdrawal symptoms then go a few weeks with out them and lower it again. I was down to 200 msgs this past month but I just found out a week ago we are pregnant! Exciting but the plan was for me to be off of this medication before this happened. I went down that night from 200 to 100 mg (the smallest dose lol) for four nights. Thursday night i didn't take it and felt rough in the morning and then last night I didn't take it as well. However I got to my work and felt light headed and dizzy and very anxious. I work in a Medspa and the nurse there told me i should taper more slowly even though I'm pregnant now. She said for another week to switch taking it on and off every other night until I can see my doctor. So basically my thoughts are this medicine at even very very small doses long term can be a pretty excruciating to get off of.
    • sandy97889
      sandy97889 brooke56741

      Posted

      Been off Gabby for a little over two months. Was on high dose for quite a while. Dr took me off to fast. Withdrawal horrid feeling much better except still having some stomach issues. Bloating, low appetite some days. All other withdrawals are gone finally. Such a nasty drug to get off of.

      Good Luck!! Take it slowly

  • heidi36406
    heidi36406 Guest

    Posted

    Wow, I am so sorry to hear of your horrible experience, I spk with a nurse about these of which I have been off for about 1 month give or take, she says her sister was on them for a short period and ended up in intensive care, out of this world, she has no recall of 2 weeks of her time at the hospital. This is a Fire Chief, and wouldn't recommend this to anyone. The medical association or whomever governs this drug needs to alert ppl of the consequences of coming off this drug. My own sister lives by this drug, takes much more than I did 900 ml or more and she will not listen. Says it works for her and she swears by it. She is not healthy as it is. I worry she wouldnt' make it if she tried to come off them. Anyhow good to know you are okay. We need to let ppl know how this can adversly affect some if not most ppl Not so rare btw
    • sandy97889
      sandy97889 heidi36406

      Posted

      Have not had any Gabby since Feb 1st

      Finally feeling a little better. Still dealing with the stomach issues but it seems a little better

      Never dreamt a drug could be this awful coming off of it!!!

      Lesson learned. I will be researching any drug from now on.

  • MikeSinclair
    MikeSinclair Guest

    Posted

    I've been on Gabapentin for chronic daily migraines less than a week starting at 100mg. I upped it to 200mg the last two days but want to come off it now. I'm hyper-sensitive to most medications especially if they even hint at drowsiness. The side-effects since day one are just too much for me. Can anyone advise me how to come off? I will see a doctor asap but should I stay on 200mg or since it's been only two days go back to 100mg for another week.
  • MikeSinclair
    MikeSinclair Guest

    Posted

    I've been on Gabapentin for chronic daily migraines less than a week starting at 100mg. I upped it to 200mg the last two days but want to come off it now. I'm hyper-sensitive to most medications especially if they even hint at drowsiness. The side-effects since day one are just too much for me. Can anyone advise me how to come off? I will see a doctor asap but should I stay on 200mg or since it's been only two days go back to 100mg for another week.
    • USofAnxiety
      USofAnxiety MikeSinclair

      Posted

      Please TAPER SLOWLY ... VERY SLOWLY!! You can read my post & see why it's crucial. I am finally able to function but STILL TAPERING SLOWLY so I don't have to go through the nightmare side effects so much. I can't say an exact amount for you to taper from being that MY OWN DOC COULDN'T EVEN GIVE ME AN AMOUNT TO GO BY but listen to your body... YOU WILL KNOW IF IT'S TOO MUCH TOO SOON. I hear alot of suggestions to taper by 10% every wk or 2 depending on how long you been taking them & the dose. I was finally able to get prescribed liquid Gaba & i take it with an infant medicine syringe dropper. I was just as you are, taking it only one wk eith too many side effects for me to stick it out,then deciding I want to quit & being told I could do so COLD TURKEY... MISTAKE, MISTAKE,MISTAKE!! I was told such a small dose for a small amount of time would not cause side effects...FALSE!!!!
  • kelley06527
    kelley06527 Guest

    Posted

    I totally agree with you. I remember back in the 80's and 90's that many times as a nurse, that we were so concerned with saving a person's life or dealing with complicated cases that looking at their medications at home were ignored. We didn't know much about anti depressants and other medications and dependancy of prescription meds. I often think back about when patients woke up and were confused or combative , that maybe this was from withdrawal. I make sure that someone in my family knows to advocate for me and make sure that if I can't speak for myself to make sure I get my meds.This applies to Gabapentin and other meds that have dependancy issues. Be your own advocate, don't just rely on Doctors and Nurses. They are doing their best in very tough times.
  • pam5133
    pam5133 Guest

    Posted

    I am currently withdrawing from my last 50 mg of Neurontin - took it for 6 years for Lyme related spine pain, most of the time for 3600 mg daily, with a bunch of other things (Elavil, Paxil, Ativan) to potentiate it, handle anxiety, and sleep (the 3600 Neurontin wasn't enough). Over the last 18 months I got down to 50 mg, and stopped it entirely four days ago. I am now exhausted, have pain in my back that is muscular and joint-pain rather than nerve, have extreme nausea with an overactive stomach, and cannot sleep.

    Has anybody else had such extreme symptoms when going down from such a small amount to nothing? This is hell and I am not sure if it is the withdrawal or I am just dying of some unrelated hideous disease.

    • sandy97889
      sandy97889 pam5133

      Posted

      Probably Gabby!! I was brought down from 3600 in a very short time in February and am just now starting to feel almost normal again!!

      I had anxiety, no sleep, nervousness, chest pain, stomach problems which the stomach issues are still with me!!

      My family Dr wanted me off over a period of months but Rheumatoligist said there was No withdrawal wrong!!

      Don't give up it takes time

      Good Luck

    • pam5133
      pam5133 sandy97889

      Posted

      Hi Sandy -

      TOday is another really rough one - yesterday I felt pretty good (had slathered myself in magnesium cream the night before and got a bit of sleep) - but today the nausea is overwhelming. Why does it hit so badly after getting down so low? I did my last 50 almost a week ago!! And how is your stomach these days?

    • sandy97889
      sandy97889 pam5133

      Posted

      I think it's better haven't had the nausea hasn't been as bad lately.. Take Zantac, gas x and Beano. Still having some bloating issues!!

      Have you tried Epsom salt baths??

      Hang in there it can be a rocky road at least I am finally sleeping much better now!!

    • naomi64
      naomi64 pam5133

      Posted

      Pam How are you feeling now.  Your Post is 3 months old?

      I been of for two weeks and still feel weak and light headed. Naomi

    • naomi64
      naomi64

      Posted

      I mean I have been off GP for two weeks.  
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