Short term low dosage Gabapentin still experiencing significant withdrawal symptoms
Posted , 54 users are following.
Hi all
Took Gabapentin for 17 consecutive days at 1 x 300mg capsule at night. Prescribed for lower back neuropathic pain. No impact on pain and didn't like how this med made me feel - constant "spaced out" feeling, unable to focus or concentrate at work or driving and completely flat mood. So, decided to stop taking it cold turkey 7 days ago. Having taken a relatively low dose for just under 3 weeks I thought there'd be no issues at all. How wrong can you be?!!! I'll mention that I've no previous experience of anxiety or depression and not taken any other meds recently. Last course of tablets were antibiotics a couple of years ago. So, In no particular order I've experienced the following symptoms since stopping GP - Anxiety to the point of jumping out of my skin, periods of significant low mood, whole body tremor, chills, disrupted and non refreshing sleep, severe muscle twitching in legs and an array of stomach issues. I find it incredible that this has happened and that this med can have such a profound effect in such a short space of time. Would love to hear if anyone else has suffered similarly after taking low dose for short periods?
8 likes, 153 replies
beth47873 keith_40678
Posted
I failed on this drug after only taking two consecutive 300 mg doses.
Neurontin was originally only approved as an anti-epilepsy drug,
It gave me unrelenting twitching and jerking all over my body. It’s been a living Hell! We were looking forward to retirement, but it struck me down at age 59, or 10 years ago.
Your brain might recover since I found in a medical book that twitching can be caused by “transient circulation between the two sections, (posterior and anterior) of the pituitary gland”. They can see a 5 mm x 6 mm mass at the entrance of my pituitary stalk that looks like a white cloud.
Recently I tried to take a picture of a moving object and it was blurry. I finally realized that since my brain mass is located in a very excitatory area, I think it’s buzzing and it won’t enhance, but I’m not telling them.
I tried to share a list from Drug. com of post-marketing side effects meant for Healthcare Professionals with a neurologist, and she refused to look at it. At least she ordered a combination EEG, and EMG, and they can measure the vibrations under my skin at 12 - 14 Hz. My “Orthostatic tremor “ diagnosis is better than the previous, “Psychogenic,” one but the question is, Can they help me?
Have you developed a buzzing feeling under your skin yet? Mine didn’t develop immediately.
I hope you will keep us posted Keith.
Rener beth47873
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beth47873 Rener
Posted
I’m sorry you are going through “hard pressure tingling.” That’s definitely one way to describe it. Mine started in my back muscles but my shoulders, arms, right hand, neck, gluts and feet bother me the worst. I think it is coming from my brain stem, but I wasn’t given results from what the EEG showed through that skull cap.
The technician asked if I would sign a release for my EEG / EMG video and results to be used in Mayo Clinic Medical Schools, or maybe more since she said, “to teach doctors.”
I didn’t know at the time that one of their Neurology professors was conducting my testing. (I looked at his YouTube video) I don’t think they have seen too many people like me. (Yeah, please learn something from this neurological nightmare!)
Yes I know it hurts, some places worse than others, and makes muscles stiff, but my muscles jerk too. Sometimes I have a nerve zap, so I’m glad that doesn’t happen very often.
My new primary doctor is pleased that I have a diagnosis based on tests. He was upset that another doctor said, “It’s Psychological.” I told him, “She walked in the exam room with a diagnostic leaflet attached to her clipboard.” I didn’t think that was fair.
I understand what it’s like to be passed around from one doctor to another. It’s like they drum up business for one another.
I hope you get better.
susan73212 keith_40678
Posted
So, two weeks ago tomorrow, I was prescribed 300 mg of Gabapentin at night for a week, then increase to 600mg/night. I had taken the 600 mg dose for 4 days. I had experienced a severe and insatiable hunger in the short time I was on it. Not to mention the constipation. I decided to stop taking it on the 5th day of the 600 mg. Two days later, I woke up, went to work and felt severely dizzy. Felt nausea, and my body felt heavy and sweaty. It got so bad that I came home and took ome of the 300mg to see if the feeling would subside, as I had school and had to do my midterm today. I started feeling jittery and angry. I came home just to lie down for a few moments and meant to make dinner. I just woke up and the entire area of my chest through to my back feels numb and heavy. My hands are shaking and my lips are numb. I have been asleep for 4 hours and woke up just now disoriented. What the hell is happening? I have come off of so many medications in the last 4 months. Fentanyl,morphine, tramadol, xanax, and ambien. I have had three failed back surgeries. I had been the fentanyl for 20 years. Gabapentin isn't even a narcotic. I don't understand why this is so different after such a short time.
babs99203 susan73212
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keith_40678
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Firstly, my apologies for not being able to reply to people who’ve taken the trouble to respond to my post.
I’ve had some real problems accessing the forum. Anyway, I appear to be sorted and able to log in again.
It’s now 16 months since I stopped Gabapentin cold turkey and overall have been quite well. However, the first 4 months were truly awful. What concerns me about this drug is the lasting effect it’s had on my mental health. Having been fortunate enough not to have had any previous mental health issues, I still find it difficult to get to grips with the anxiety ambush. Thankfully this happens infrequently now but is still overwhelming when it does. Best wishes and strength to all in getting off this drug.
beth47873 keith_40678
Posted
I found an online article about Myoclonus, and two doctors wrote a report about toxic causes of myoclonus, and “the anticonvulsants, particularly Gabapentin, pregabalin, lamotrigine, phenytoin, and phenobarbital” are listed . Thank God they also mentioned contrast media, such as gadolinium.
Recently a neurologist recommended I should have an annual brain MRI with contrast. The most recent one did something weird to my vision for 3 weeks. I could see stationary objects, mainly lines on the vinyl floor appeared to be moving, causing dizziness until it gradually subsided. I’ve heard that gadolinium can accumulate in your brain.
I’m going to report it because it’s my body and I have a right to say what can or can’t go into it.
Besides I think they are covering up for Gabapentin that caused my movement disorder 10 years ago. I’m just glad that most people who develop twitching and jerking with Gabapentin, it will usually subside after slow reduction.
These forums are like a lifeline to many of us, so no trouble at all.
I hope it doesn’t cause you more anxiety to answer people who are following your question.
keith_40678 beth47873
Posted
Good to hear from you. I still do have the muscle twitches but mainly confined to my calf muscles. Sometimes I’m aware of them, but in the main they don’t bother me. It’s the jump out of your skin fear that just comes from nowhere that gets me. There’s no rhyme nor reason to it. Sometimes lasts for minutes, then others it’s for hours, then just goes away.
But it’s much better than the relentless symptoms when i first stopped taking it. Best wishes.
Keith
bruce13247 keith_40678
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So you're saying you were on gabapentin for only 17 days, and had withdrawal symptoms for over 4 months?? I'm sorry. I'm not buying this. There's something else going on with you.
beth47873 bruce13247
Posted
Doctors keep doubting that Gabapentin caused me to develop a sudden onset of a twitching and jerking disorder after only taking two 300 mg consecutive doses. I’ve found one online doctor on YouTube who can explain:
“Motor Circuit of the Basal Ganglia: Function and Dysfunction” which includes the subthalamic nucleus. Doctors keep putting in my records that a 5mm x 6mm non-enhancing hypothalamic mass isn’t symptomatic and recently called, “incidental.” I had a very bad reaction within an hour of taking the second dose.
After being on the market for 23 years, the Parke-Davis division of Pfizer has finally posted more health problems that it causes.
“NEURONTIN (gabapentin) | Pfizer Medical Information - US”
It allowed me to print the information.
The information was approved by the FDA. It includes many adverse reactions, including movement disorders.
Many doctors still believe the ghost written information that was published in many medical journals. Neurontin wasn’t making enough money as an anti-epileptic drug, so they went off label for 11 unapproved conditions.
People come here to tell their experience with Gabapentin.
Are you are taking Gabapentin?
bruce13247 beth47873
Posted
I stopped my gabapentin yesterday. I was on it for 9 days at about 900 milligrams a day. (a couple of those days I took 1200mg.) I've been on and off of it for the last year. My longest time on was 3 weeks..
I also quit methadone and clonazepam cold turkey 38 days ago. Talk about a rough time !. I used the gabapentin to help with the withdrawal symptoms, but I think the worst is over and that's why I stopped the gabapentin... I was on clonazepam for 19 years and the methadone for 9 years.
beth47873 bruce13247
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Be sure to keep us informed about how going off is affecting you this time.
mesclao42093 bruce13247
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NO one is asking you to "buy" it ! Either you're one of those a**holes who prescribe this sh*t, or one of those a**holes who own stock, or better yet you're just a plain old A**HOLE !
babs99203 keith_40678
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bucksy75 keith_40678
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Hi everyone, i have read a lot of your reviews on Gaba, i myself have just started on this for a nerve issue in my lower back which is causing pain to my leg, it's only been a week on 300mg a day, i have already experienced a kind of spaced out affect behind my eyes and the worst headache i've ever had and not sleeping very well (although that could still be due to pain) as its just a short time should i still come off it slowly or could i just stop as i am not liking this drug at all...
thanks
keith_40678 bucksy75
Posted
My circumstances were identical to yours, lumbar back problems with associated nerve pain. I took Gaba for 17 days at the lowest dose. If you’re determined to come off it, please don’t do what I did and stop cold turkey.
Even though I’d only taken for such a short time, it had a profound effect on my nervous system. I couldn’t believe that I suffered such extreme withdrawal on a low dosage.
Take the advice of some great folk on here and make sure you taper off and do it slowly . Good luck and stay strong.
bucksy75 keith_40678
Posted
Thanks Keith really wish I hadn't started, I will take your advise and go slow, wish I'd seen this thread before I had started, thanks again
babs99203 bucksy75
Posted
I took/take Gab due to PHN, a complication of shingles that causes nerve pain. Talk to you doctor/pharmacist about the drug. It sometimes takes a while to help with the pain. It's not like taking Advil or Oxy. That's why people with shingles end up on a higher dose. Only you can decide if you want to stay on it. If it's definitely nerve pain, it can be difficult to treat so doctors will go through the list of possible meds. However, I now know I wish I had never gone over 1800 mgs (I was at 2700 after 2 months) as there's no additional pain relief, just more side effects. But I definitely needed it for the extreme pain.
Only between 10-25% of people have real problems tapering off gab, but for everyone, a 25% reduction over several weeks is recommended. Thank heavens I read that a better amount, if you're sensitive like I am, is 10%/month. Even then, I struggle. I've also since learned something frustrating with this drug. (Bear with me, it's complicated and hard to convey) It's called bio-availability, meaning how much of the drug is used by the body. At higher doses, it's uses 60%, at lower doses it uses 80%! So even tho you're taking less, the body uses more of it. This is quite unusual.
Slow and steady is best.