i am having cervical and spasm in neck

Posted , 7 users are following.

My doctor give me gabapentin 300mg tablet once in a day. But after 20days of taking i am having trouble in sleeping. Sudden wake up, breathing problem in sleep and tired all day. I am taking medicine in night. I want to stop taking this medicine. Please tell me the procedure to stop it. And after safely striping this medicine can cause eplipsey or seziures because i donot have any of this. I just have neck pain and pain in muscle near neck and shoulders

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9 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi wean off very slowly even though it’s a low dosage and you weren’t on it long.  I would do 100 mg every 3 or 4 weeks. If you start getting bad withdrawals then go back up 100 mg for another 2 weeks.  You can take the capsule apart and throw out half of it then put capsule together for 50 mg   I have done it. Advised by dr.  Been off this horrible medication for 2 years.  Best thing I did.  Try going for Pt or see a chiropractor or get a prescription for medical message therapy.  Although a lot of insurances don’t cover it.  Good luck.  
    • Posted

      Good morning.  If you are taking 300 now start taking 200 and stay on it for 3 to 4 weeks.  Then after 4 weeks go to 100 after 4 wheels I would go to 50 mg for 3 weeks. Go to 50 mg by opening up capsule and throwing about half of it out.  Then put capsule together again and take it.   
    • Posted

      You would be taking 200 mg once a day instead of taking 300 once a day.  
  • Posted

    I came off this medication nearly 10 weeks ago. I had been taking 200 mg at night for 14 mnths. My Dr weaned me off slowly. Started off taking 100 mg every night for 3 weeks, than 100 mg every other night 2 wks last 3 wks took 100 mg every 3 days. It's not easy to get off. First 2 weeks was hell. Dizzy, nauseous, sleepy. I don't remember what else, but I do remember it was bad. I will be drug

    f ree tomorrow 13 days. Reason I came off was I was suffering from blurred vision. Thought I was going blind.

    Don't go cold turkey. Not safe. Could end up with problems. Lots of luck. I'm glad I'm off but still have side effects. Still getting terrible pains and tingling in legs and feet. Do wish it was over. I know it takes time just like everything else.

    Take care of yourself.

  • Posted

    nav14898 After reading through the many many comments posted on this forum regarding Gabapentin  you will  find a lot of patients have posted their horror stories about the horrific side effects many people suffer from this medication. I myself started on the same regimen and I began falling I’m assuming from the affects of extreme dizziness, I passed out once and literally  slept all  day every day.  I started having daily migraines I was suffering from bouts of stomach pain and periods of confusion and very blurry vision. I will admit the short time I was on Gabapentin my neuropathy pain was not as severe however, My decision to discontinue the medication was because I truly felt the side affects were too great and long term suffering and possibly irreversible was not worth it. This is based on the other reports and what I personally experienced.  What ever you decide to do discuss your concerns and the side effects you have with your Physician.
  • Posted

    Since you’re taking a 300 mg tablet, you should use a pill cutter. Maybe cut in 4ths and remove 1/4th from your dose since you haven’t been taking very long, but stay at that reduction for a month before another taper. You should tell your doctor about waking up with shortness of breath. 

    I’m not an expert at reduction since I stopped  after the 2nd consecutive 300 mg dose because of a sudden onset of a movement disorder caused by a lesion in my hypothalamus gland.

    On the other hand, I’ve heard from people on “Gabapentin Awareness,” a support group on Facebook, who have gone cold turkey off Gabapentin, and end up with bad tremors, so you should taper slowly. 

    You mentioned neck spasms in your title. Was this occurring before or after taking Gabapentin? 

    Beth

  • Posted

    Stop taking it very very slowly. I went off it too fast and have been suffering terribly for 7 weeks. I feel horrible !

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