Potential Long Term Effects Of Gabapentin
Posted , 132 users are following.
I have been on Gabapentin on and off for about 7 months (since approx January). I was taking it for chronic pelvic pain, and it worked well, but it made me very emotional and made higher cognitive functions difficult. After 4 months of semi-regular use, I got off it quickly, but kept it around in case of a severe pain flare up. As of now I have gone through 2 "100 capsule" bottles of 100mg pills, so not too much. Never took a higher dosage then 300mg and never took more than 300mg in one day.
I've used it a few times recently (in July, just a few weeks ago) when the pain really flared up, thinking it would only have minimal side effects, but it has resulted in continual severe depression and dark thoughts even though I haven't taken any in two weeks. I took it occassionally because I thought the depression was predominantely from the chronic pain, but now I realize the gabapentin was the root of it. I'm terrified because I know the drug has long since left my system but I can't shake the side effects. Doctors and psychologists won't listen to me. They say I'm just depressed and it isn't the medication, but I'm positive it is. The pain is finally improving, I'm going back to school, and things are looking up. But there is this unshakable auora that is plauging me. No matter how hard I distract myself and push through there's this cloud that impares my ability to emotionally and physical function (feelings of detachment, separation, depression, and some suicidal thoughts). Words come slower, it's harder to focus, memory is very dull. I wasn't concered within the first few days, but it's been a few weeks now and I'm alarmed that it doesn't seem to be improving.
Do the side effects ever go away... How long does it take and what can catalyze the healing process? Is it possible to incur permanent damage from a low dosage, or does it take months to heal. Can anyone explain the biomechanics behind how gabapentin can affect patients weeks after usage.
Hopefully there is an answer and the possibility for recovery, but at the moment things are very frightening.
13 likes, 287 replies
millie1960 adam3355
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Hello. New to this site today. I am so happy to have found this thread.
I am 7 days post 3 level spinal fusion L4/L5 and S1 with a laminectomy due to left sided nerve compression and scoliosis which was attended to. Was discharged from hospital yesterday and am comfortably drugged at home set up with my IPad to do some intense research on Gabapentin. On day 4 post surgery I experienced nausea and vomiting, shakes and shivers and dizziness it was worse than my back pain. I asked if it could be the Gaba and really nursing and doctor staff were all quite blasé about it and casually said I could go off if I wanted to. I did go off it. No one told me why I was on the drug, how long I would need it for, if there were any side effects or what would happen if I ceased. Yesterday after being off it for 36 hours and having my nausea and other symptoms now settled, just before discharge I experienced the most extreme, deep, all encompassing lumbar pain that I had not felt thus far. Ouch!
I got scared and thought it was due to stopping Gaba so I re-commenced it yesterday.
So now that is 24 hours that I have been back on, do feel occasional nausea and giddiness and have already experienced inability to complete sentences.
I have read every post here today in this thread and I am NEVER having another. I will find other alternatives for pain relief. I am also on 3 other medications for slow release and acute pain.
It is so comforting to know that forums like this exist. And the doctors wonder why we self diagnose.! I am so thankful to all for writing their stories.
Kind regards
Millie
Zoom millie1960
Posted
Please know that Gaba is a very powerful drug -- usually it is recommended to titrate (reduce slowly) off this medication -- if your doctor isn't advising you on this, perhaps your pharmacist can help you. There can be some other severe consequences when some drugs are stopped completely without a "step down" so please, please find out what is right for the dosage you've been on. Even with a step down withdrawal program one can experience dark thoughts, flu like symptoms and aches. I hope you'll communicate with your family as to what you are doing and pre-plan how you will get through the night (movie? re-read favorite novel? explore stupid stuff for sale on ebay?) It can help to have something semi-mindless to do to help the transition hours pass. Best of luck.
naomi64 Zoom
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You seem to know about Gaba. I just want to ask you a question. I was on it for 4 months starting in June to Oct. of this year. I went off of it wrong. I went from 600mg to 200mg for two weeks then off. I still feel lightheaded and anxious half the time. My blook pressure spikes up 10 to 15 points higher then normal. Can it sill be the Gaba?? Tell me what you think..Thank you...Naomi
Zoom naomi64
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Prz.... adam3355
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I suggest u do some research on the internet regds. side effects of gabapentin. Also, have u had ur blood checked throughly for maybe another medical problem (thyroid, another autoimmune disease, etc...)? Best of luck & HAPPY studying.
EmP1226 adam3355
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Wow! You have the same side effects as me! I was put on Gabapentin almost 2 years ago and I feel like a different person and not in a good way. I take 300 mgs a day and I've gained 40lbs, I get so hot without any physical activity, I sweat but i assumed it was hormones, depressed, anxious, my memory is so bad, and I just feel weird all of the time. It almost feels like my brain is wrapped in cotton and I feel out of it. It's pretty much a derealization feeling, like I'm in a dream world. The anger and irritability are horrible! Everything irritates. I have absolutely no energy or motivation and this med has made me so lazy. I
I've got to get off of this crap! I don't know who I am anymore and it scares the heck outta me. Its like my body has been hijacked. This med has ruined my health. I pray for you all and I hope you get to feeling better. For those of you that have benefitted from Gabapentin, you're lucky! God bless!
Zoom EmP1226
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Please be gentle with yourself. You did not know that you would have these responses. There is a LOT you can do to get out of this hole. They include the obvious (talk to Dr -- make sure you say you are having SERIOUS side effects) -- but also tell your famiy and friends what you are up against. You can also 1) start using smaller plates. This is a physical way to decrease your eating because your inner signals are . . . gone 2) Incorporate doing for others (I'll get off the sofa to walk the dog because I love him. I'll get out of the house for a group I believe in, etc). 3) Keep a daily log of all medications -- I keep mine in the bathroom and I always take ANY med there. That way I don't double dose and I have a record to take to the Dr. 4) Take an ally with you to the doctor. Double Do This if you are a middle aged female (Sorry, but we aren't taken seriously). 5) Think like a general. That means looking at the calendar and planning your campaign. There are lots of components to your life and you can interweave responsibilities and rest and a path to a better place. 6) Plan some beauty and fun. These don't have to be big things -- but it's nice to have something to anticipate (I like to take an hour and visit the junk clothing shops). Above all, please, please don't go "cold turkey" - -this is a powerful medication and you need to work with a medical professional to step down off it. It took me six months and I felt rather like death for the first two months -- and that is a BIG concern, particularly if you have health concerns that need to be managed (which is why we get put on this stuff to begin with). You might also ask your Dr. to test your B12 levels and thyroid to make sure it's not something else other than the med that is in play. Good luck. I hope you find a path that serves you well.
elcruz adam3355
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I started on this medication a week ago and I ended up in the ER on Sunday night. I had dizzyness, weakness, nausea, blurred vision, dry mouth, loss of balance, no coordination, my breast were swollen, and I couldn't speak properly. My daughter thought I was having a stroke and rushed me to the hospital. I am definitely not taking another dose of this medication.
L-cat elcruz
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Zoom L-cat
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Each case is different -- particularly with major trauma I have heard of cases where a person is given a large dose to start. I'd love to hear from a pharmacist on why this is so . . .
rachel82821 Zoom
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L-cat Zoom
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Yes of course each case (and each person) is different, I posted to that user that I was curious about their dosage, because it's definitely largely recommended to start slowly. I should have said instead that you need to start slowly, to greatly reduce risk of adverse reactions. I hate to see such frightening reviews about a drug which scare so many readers... when no dosage/specifics are given. I think it's been shown as very common to have side effects mostly when starting out quite huge. (I'd be curious and I'm just starting to learn, about adverse reactions when starting slowly versus jumping into high initial doses.) Such mixed reviews on this one, it's interesting.
kimberly45582 elcruz
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I started out on 900mg per day (300mg x 3 pills per day) for 1 week and then over the course of 3 weeks I increased one pill each week until I reached 1800mg and I definitely had some of those side effects like dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, sensitive breasts that lasted a couple of weeks...and now I am increasing again over the course of 3 weeks until I reach 2700mg and with this increase I am literally walking against the wall and having issues with focusing my vision. I am going to stick with it though because I trust the pain doctor I am working with to manage my neuropathy pain. I have a hereditary nerve disorder that has been causing me so much grief since April 2015 so I definitely hope this pain management will work. I am thinking maybe you are very sesitive to gabapentin and should be at a very low dose to start and at a slow increase. I know that the dosage for gabapentin is based on weight but that is not always ideal for everyone. I had another med that I was so sensitive to and it made me sleep all the time but after telling my doctor she lowered the dose and I am at my max which is 100mg but that took a year and a half to reach. I hope all our comments help you in some way and I hope you are doing much better since your post
mak4525 Zoom
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mak4525 kimberly45582
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i have had great results taking gabapentin, but i started off at 100 mg and increased slowly from there. i definitely had side effects when starting 100mg, so i can't imagine what they would be if you start at a really high dose. The highest dose i have taken is 800mg, and that was over the course of over 2 years. you should lower your dose until you don't have any severe side effects. if you stay on that dose and they eventually go away, then that is probably what you should be taking. i can only imagine the side effects from taking such a high dose to start with. as i said, i started at a low dose and had tolerable side effects, which quickly disappeared. my dosage was gradually increased. that is the key to using this drug succesfully.