Gabapentine withdrawal

Posted , 2 users are following.

I have been on gabapentine for 9 months due to neuropathy from a total knee replacement 

My highest dose was 300mg 4 times a day

I have gradually decreased my dose to 200 mg 3 times a day

Now I am experiencing increased nueopathy pain

But I’m also having side effects from the gabapentine like memory loss, insomnia, aggiatation!

Any suggestions as to how to help ease these side effects or help the increased nueopathy pain?

Thank you for your help and Happy Holidays!!

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi June,

     I  was on 300mgx3 a day!! After using 900mg/day I got all kinds of side effects!! Was having weak legs, blurry vision, chills/hot flashes, pins/needle feeling, itching terribly, overwhelming emotions, loss for words!  I’ve been off approx 2 weeks and still having symptoms!! I wish I could tell you how to help with withdrawals!! I’m not telling you to stop taking it without talking to your dr. I basically told my dr. My problems and she said that she didn’t know why I was feeling so bad!!! I have not found a dr. who will admit it was from gabapentin!! Tell your dr. what your symptoms are and ask her/him if there is something they can do for you!! I myself will never put gabapentin in my body again!!! Everyone is different!! I wish I could be more help! Just know you are not alone!! Good Luck!!! Happy Holidays to you!! Hopefully 2018 will be a better year for all of us suffering from this med!!!

    • Posted

      Hi Diane

      Thanks for your insight 

      My doctor has suggested dropping

      I just dropped to 600 mg a day, 200 mg 3xa day

      In a month she wants me to drop to 400 mg a day, 200 mg twice a day

      And so on 

      Did you cold turkey or do a drop down gradually!

      I don’t feel too bad on the 600 right now

      But we’ll see how the 400 goes as I still am having a hard time managing the nueopathy pain in the 

      Looking forward to a better 2018 and I hope the same for you !

  • Posted

    June,

        I weened off how my dr. told me! Even though she says she didn’t know why I felt so bad! I didn’t have problems like this until I went on gabapentin! Was put on for crushing headaches! Didn’t know why I was having them just threw me on gaba! The side effects I had were horrible!! The memory loss is scary!! Is there something else they can put you on? People say you have to go off slowly!! My dr. Told me go down 300mg every 5-7 days! Then when I was on 300mg for 5-7 days go off! Might have been to fast! I had insomnia too so they just threw me on another med to help with that!! I am trying to get prescription free!! Hope you find a dose that will work for you! 

    • Posted

      Hi Diane

      Yes my Doctor told me to go down very slowly this can help lessen side effects 

      Because you could have a seizure 

      I’m also trying to get off all these meds

      Which started from complications from my total knee replacement 

      I can’t fault my new doctor 

      The doctor that put me on the gabapentine is no longer practicing (go figure)

      I’ll keep you posted 

      I’m hoping to be off this med soon!!

      I am hoping for the best for you too!!

  • Posted

    Hi June,

       I wish at times my dr who put me on this was gone! The reason why is my pcp or psychritist won’t help me with it because they say I have to go back to dr who put me on it!! It’s a vicious cycle!! Your doctor did put you on a slow weening schedule. Hope it works for you! I am having a hard time believing any dr right now!  Dr might have taken me off to fast! Maybe everyone on here can get answers from people who have been on this! Good Luck!! Keep me posted! Thanks!

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