Gabapentin (Neurontin) is an anticonvulsant medication in the GABA analog lass that was originally created to help manage epilepsy, but is also utilized to help individuals suffering from neuropathic pain. It has become a first-line treatment option for the relief of neuropathic pain from diabetic neuropathy, central neuropathic pain, as well as post-herpetic neuralgia. This medication also is popular for other, more off-label uses including: treating restless leg syndrome, insomnia, and in some cases, bipolar disorder.
Gabapentin was created with the intention of mimicking the GABA neurotransmitter (gamma-aminobutyric acid), but is not thought to act on the same brain receptors. The way the drug works isn’t well known. Some research suggests that it may interact with various voltage-dependent calcium channels in neurons. It is also thought to reduce the release of mono-amines and decrease the axon excitability in certain areas in the hippocampus.
The half life of Gabapentin is only 5 to 7 hours – meaning this medication has an extremely short time before it is cleared from the body. Half life is important to understand because medications with shorter half lives tend to yield the most severe withdrawal symptoms. This medication can be extremely difficult to withdraw from – so make sure you work with a professional when trying to stop taking it.
Factors that influence Gabapentin withdrawal include
There are various factors that influence withdrawal from any medication and/or powerful drug like Gabapentin. The factors that play the greatest role in determining how quick you recover are: time span (how long you took the drug), the dosage (how much you took), your physiology (some people recover quicker), and how you quit the drug (long taper vs. short taper vs. cold turkey).
1. Time Span
For what length of time were you taking this drug? Did you take it every day for years? Did you take it for just a few months? The shorter the duration of time that you were on this medication, the easier it should be for you to come off of it. The longer that you were taking Gabapentin, the more accustomed your brain and nervous system will become to receiving the drug to help with functioning. Therefore, it may be extremely difficult to withdraw from if you have been on this medication for an extended period of time.
2. Dosage (300 mg to 3000 mg)
Most doctors start younger people at 300 mg to take 3x per day. So the starting dose is typically around 900 mg per day. The a young adult or teenager may work their way up to 1800 mg per day if that’s what is recommended by the doctor. In some cases, the drug is prescribed in regards to bodyweight. Some doctors will prescribe 10 mg to 15 mg per kilogram (kg) of bodyweight. Anyways, if you are on a higher dosage, it is thought that withdrawal is going to be a lot more difficult compared to someone on a low dose.
3. Physiology
This drug has a noticeable effect on nearly everyone that takes it. The majority of individuals are going to have withdrawal symptoms of some kind. However, your individual physiology will determine how severe these symptoms are. If you tend to not experience many withdrawal effects on medications, you may cope with the withdrawal process just fine. If you are someone who is ultra-sensitive to medications, you may have a very difficult time adjusting to life without Gabapentin.
4. Cold turkey vs. Tapering
It is strongly advised that you always work with your doctor and do a “gradual taper.” This involves slowly reducing your dosage over a period of weeks or months with the intention of finally quitting the drug. The higher the dose you have become accustomed to taking, the more gradual you will need to stop taking this medication. If you quit this medication “cold turkey” it may trigger very dangerous symptoms including seizures. Never quit anything this powerful without slowly tapering off of it.
Gabapentin Withdrawal Symptoms: List of Possibilities
Below are some withdrawal symptoms that you may experience when withdrawing from Gabapentin. Keep in mind that you may not experience everything on the list – everyone will have a different experience. These are a list of symptoms based on what individuals have reported during their withdrawal process.
- Anxiety: Some individuals report feelings of anxiety upon withdrawal. This anxiety may be subtle or severe. It has been documented that some people actually take this medication for treating anxiety. Therefore when coming off of this medication, it is common for people to feel especially anxious.
- Appetite changes: Some people may feel like not eating and will experience a noticeable loss of appetite when quitting Gabapentin. Others may experience an increased appetite – especially if while on the drug their appetite decreased.
- Crying spells: The emotions can run wild when coming off of this medication. You may find yourself crying for no reason or you may experience crying spells as a result of the depression you are experiencing. Just know that the excessive crying will eventually stop.
- Depression: Many people experience feelings of significant depression when they stop taking this medication. Even for people with no prior emotional problems may experience severe depression when they stop taking this drug. There have been cases where individuals take this medication recreationally and experience very tough depression when they have to stop taking it.
- Dizziness: One of the most common symptoms to experience during withdrawal from this medication is dizziness. You may feel so dizzy that you are unable to properly function throughout the day. Just know that this means your brain is trying to reset itself and it will eventually go away. If it doesn’t subside, you could try to taper even more slowly.
- Fatigue: Another common withdrawal symptom that you may experience is that of fatigue, lethargy, or tiredness. You may lack energy to get things done throughout the day. It is common to feel extremely fatigued while coming off of Gabapentin – do your best to cope with it.
- Headaches: Most people don’t talk about the fact that coming off of this medication can result in headaches. There have been cases of individuals that go on this medication, and during withdrawal experience migraine headaches. As time passes, these are thought to go away.
- Insomnia: Some people experience pretty severe insomnia when they first quit this medication. This may have a profound impact on your sleep patterns, so do your best to cope with the inability to fall asleep. Try to engage in some relaxation exercises if you are too anxious or agitated to fall asleep.
- Irritability: You may notice yourself becoming especially irritable during the acute phases of withdrawal from this drug. It may be difficult to cope with, but take a step back and realize that your neurotransmitter levels and brain activity has been temporarily altered. You may not be able to control feeling this way, but you can do your best to control how you react because of it.
- Itching: You may experience itching all over your body. This isn’t a very well documented or talked about symptom, but some people may feel as if they are going crazy because their body feels so itchy during the withdrawal process. Just know that if you are experiencing extreme itchiness, you are not alone.
- Muscle pain: If you were taking this medication to help manage symptoms of pain, it is no doubt that the pain is going to return. With that said, it is common to feel pain throughout the body and in various muscles when quitting this drug.
- Nausea: Some people become very nauseated during their withdrawal. This is not an easy symptom to cope with, but do your best to fight through it.
- Restlessness: It’s common to feel restless when coming off of Gabapentin. The restlessness may interfere with your ability to stay focused throughout the day on certain tasks. Take it for what it’s worth – try to push through it and know it will subside.
- Seizures: One of the biggest dangers associated with cold turkey or sudden discontinuation of Gabapentin is that of seizures. There have even been reports of people experiencing seizures from relatively low doses. Make sure that you take the time to taper off of this drug – regardless of your dose.
- Sleep disturbances: You may experience significant difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep, and getting a restful night’s sleep. These go hand-in-hand with insomnia, anxiety, and restlessness that you may be experiencing.
- Spasms: Many people experience muscle spasms when trying to quit. If the spasms become unbearable, you may need to conduct a slower taper. In most cases people can deal with an occasional spasm or two.
- Stomach pain: Some individuals have pain in their stomach and/or abdominal area during withdrawal.
- Suicidal thinking: If you are withdrawing from Gabapentin and notice that you are becoming extremely depressed and/or experiencing suicidal thoughts, be sure to get help. These will eventually subside as time passes.
- Sweating: Many people report horrible night sweats to the point that they wake up in the middle of their sleep with beads of sweat dripping off of their body. You may experience excessive sweating throughout the day, but it may be even worse at night.
Note: It is understood that Gabapentin stays in your system for 1-2 days after discontinuation. Once the drug has been fully excreted from your body, many of the withdrawal symptoms are likely to emerge.
Suggestion: Magnesium supplements to help ease withdrawal symptoms
Many people have had success easing withdrawal symptoms by supplementing magnesium. Gabapentin attaches to the same chemical receptor in your brain as calcium and magnesium. As you begin to taper off of Gabapentin, your body will make use of magnesium supplementation that you supply it, and you’ll have a much easier time coping with withdrawal symptoms. Some people experience very minimal to no withdrawal symptoms while supplementing magnesium during withdrawal.
Gabapentin Withdrawal Duration: How long does it last?
The withdrawal process affects everyone differently, so there is no exact science to say that withdrawal will take a specific amount of time. For some people the process will take a few weeks, for others the effects will linger for months. Many individuals that have withdrawn say that it took them over a year to fully recover once they took their last dose. Give your body and mind time to heal – after all, these medications have a significant impact on your brain chemistry when taken over an extended period of time.
Recognize that the most important thing you can do during any sort of withdrawal is to take good care of yourself. Make sure you are eating healthy foods, getting exercise, and allowing your body to make a full recovery. Talk to close family members and friends about your experience for added social support. If you are feeling especially down or having a difficult time, consider working with a therapist.
If you cannot afford a therapist, various online forums should be able to provide you with some good advice and support. Realize that you are not the only person that has experienced Gabapentin withdrawal – many people have made it through this experience. It does take time, but with good habits, social support, and advice, recovery will only be a matter of time.
I used to be on very high dose of morphine to help cope with pain following various ops for spine injury. the dose kept climbing as it is so addictive, so I decided to quit with the help of my GP. As I lowered the morphine it was replaced with GABA because it is not so addictive, BUT, it is far harder to come off than morphine.
I was on 2700mg GABA at 3x300mg 3 times a day. I am now down to 1200mg after weaning over a10 week period. The hardest part is yet to come after I take the last capsule. This I am aware of as it is how it was with the morphine. The reason I am coming off the GABA is I have been fitted with a spinal cord stimulater which is helping with the pain.
My advice to you all is DO NOT go cold turkey and DO NOT try to do it alone. Involve your GP and family as you will need all the support you can get. At the moment my worst withdrawal symptoms are severe night sweats – I sleep on bath towels to help with this – and severe tremors, among other things.
But hey, there is light at the end of the tunnel, side effects DO NOT last forever!!! Good luck too you all, and may you God be with you on this journey you are on!
I was on gabapentin for 10 years. I was up to 3600 mg a day. In the summer of 2016 I started to wean myself off of this medicine because I noticed I was becoming very depressed I was so mean and the worst was the horrible itching all over my body.
If I took Benadryl it would make me itch even more. It took about 5 months for me to wean off this medicine. I would follow up with my neurologist every few weeks. He had told me he had never heard of anyone having severe itching from this medicine.
I Informed him that I went on line and did a lot of research on this medicine and that one of the side effects that everyone complained about was extreme horrible itching all over the body. Here I am two years and some months later and every few months the horrible itching reappears.
Again I have not taken this medicine for over two years now. Is there anyone who is having the same problem a few years later after being weaned off this medicine? My doctors are telling me it has to be something else because I’ve been off the medicine for a while so I should not still be having some of the symptoms from the medicine.
Hi to everyone who have been leaving msgs here, you have given me so much information about the awful symptoms of WD from gabapentin. I had a failed back surgery in 1999 that has left me with a condition called Cauda Equina Syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, and foot drop, etc.
I have been taking this med for too long and I decided to stop it. The trouble is I didn’t do it very slowly and practically went cold turkey. I have a lot of the symptoms most of you have/had. The insomnia is dreadful because one of the reasons I can’t sleep is because of all the out of control ITCHING.
I take antihistamine too but I feel as though my skin is crawling with something. You have put my mind to rest now because you could go mad with these awful feelings. Much love to you all.
Talk to your doctor about withdrawal with medical help. I use Natrol Alpha Lipoic Acid for the neuropathy and Remag Magnesium for the withdrawal symptoms. I get Reglan from my doctor for the stomach cramps. Larry
P.S. Laminectomy with fusion C4-C-6 failed.
I am starting to taper off from 600mg 3-4 times a day! Started cutting first look in half as noticed how out of it it made me feel. So been cutting each dose in half except for the bedtime one. Need to sleep. But going to start tonight and use other supplements.
I use kratom for pain; lower back, fibromyalgia and arthritis and it does kill the pain! Problem is, it’s expensive and not covered by insurance, but I lost it when I had to leave my great job at Apple due to brain issues! Thanks for sharing.
Been on 1800mg daily x 3 years for anxiety. Great results, I’ll never go back to living the way I did before GabaP. Unfortunately, my pharmacy plan and physician cannot get it together for refills. Took my last one about 12 hrs ago. Should be interesting to see how this develops.
I will chronicle events for my Wife should I decide to terminate. Great stuff, but don’t run out… if you do, then taper… and don’t trust the healthcare system – have a back up supply to taper with (unlike me). Best to all on this crazy earth.
I have replaced my Gabapentin (on a withdrawal taper) with Natrol 400mg Alpha Lipoic Acid Time Release from Amazon. I also take 7.5 ml ReMag liquid Magnesium (Amazon) for my withdrawal symptoms. Started it a week ago and it does help with the withdrawal symptoms. I also get Reglan for the nausea from the VA. The minor anxiety comes and goes.
P.S. I have had a laminectomy with fusion C4-C6 7 years ago. The Gabapentin was causing me multiple issues, weight gain. I have lost 16 lbs so far and I am trying to get off my CPAP machine/high blood pressure meds. I also got a prescription toothpaste (fluoride) as the Gabapentin seriously affects my teeth.
Was on Gabapentin 1800 mg daily for peripheral neuropathy from a cervical laminectomy. I tapered off over 6 weeks. I am on day 8 now without any GABA Have been taking Promethazine (25mg) every 8 hours. Up to 50 mg every 8 hours now. The nausea and cramping is the worst of it.
Oh course I am in the bed most of the time. Thank GOD I have a prescription for 10mg Hydrocodone which I take every 6 hours (for the pain left over from the surgery). I am under a doctors care. (VA). I do not expect to get over this soon. I replaced the Gabapentin with Natrol 400 mg time release Alpha-Lipoic Acid and it works.
Sometimes I have to double up. Take it every 6 hours and Methocarbamol (muscle relaxer) and the Hydrocodone every 6 hours around the clock. Missing a dose and the withdrawal symptoms come back. My doctor is starting me on OMEPRAZOLE 20 mg Monday for the nausea.
Alpha-Lipoic acid is prescribed in Germany with B1 and B12 as a prescription drug combination for peripheral neuropathy. It does work and I get it from Amazon. I take a bottle a week of it and it is $30 for two bottles. Anything is better then gabapentin. Fixing to by Remag from Amazon now.
I’m weaning and am down to 100mg. This is the devils drug. I know the real me is somewhere inside of me but she just won’t come out and I can’t stand it! Anxiety and now loose bowel movements. Today is my 3rd day on 100mg. I’ll stay on it for 2 or 3 weeks then everyone says to drop 10% for 2 to 3 weeks. I want my old self back! I have an anxiety med, but don’t really like using it. Anyone else have these feelings? If only I had known. ??
Yes that’s exactly how I feel and never have before no matter what I’ve been through… I have wondered what’s wrong with me and it’s definitely crossed my mind that it’s the Gabapentin. Now I know it is… Thank you for sharing that you may have just saved my life. :)
Not even once was I made aware of these withdrawal symptoms and I want off this drug, and only yesterday 8/29/18 was I finally informed I could replace this drug with Lyrica which has a far lower dosage than Gabapentin does. Only now I am reading the side effects of stopping this drug. I am going to stop taking this drug and change to Pregabalin now with a neurologist.
After reading about Gabapentin now, I would have never have taken it. Now when I quit taking it, the long-term I have been taking this drug indicates I’m in for a rough time since I have been on 2400 mg a day spread out over 24 hours – for over 4 years. At 2.4 grams a day, this a lot of any drug to be taking every day, add in 4 years plus, and it gets worse.
When those symptoms show up I want to file a lawsuit against the manufacturers for failing to disclose this information. I would never have taken it had they disclosed this info years ago. They had to have known this, or there wouldn’t have been so many lawsuits over the years. Failure to disclose is grounds for lawsuit.
I’d stay away from any class actions as they are designed to pay out to the lawyers first, and I don’t trust that profession. The manufacturers have deep pockets and I am the one suffering from this only partially effective drug – due to it’s poor bioavailability.
Most of this drug just passes through the body and is eliminated in the urine, only 40% is metabolized. (60% going down the drain isn’t an effective drug in my book). And now they are on the hook, and they know it. I don’t like lawsuits, but I have won every one I have filed. Both Federal and State.
Hi Eric. I can relate as was prescribed 600x 4x a day! And ben on it over 5 years! I had to leave my job as tech support for Apple since I couldn’t reason through things as I used to; or remember! How did you go about filing your lawsuit? I have no funds to pay an atty. I also have been suicidal and have anger more among the brain issues. Thank you.
Robin, There is life after gabapentin! I was on it 600mg 3x a day for at least 5 years. I consulted my doc and she told me how to get off. I followed it but symptoms persisted. Then went to my GP and he told me to take it again for a couple days and then go off in a different pattern. It has been a month FREE of that stuff! My mind is back and the pain I took it for is being regulated by extra strength Tylenol!
My lawsuits were against a Lawyer after I disbarred him for theft of my funds, and sued the BAR association for his legal malpractice insurance right about the time I sent his butt to JAIL as a convicted felon, the other well, let’s just say I exercised my first amendment right to seek redress of grievance against my Local county government.
In both cases one was a crime I sought justice through the disbarment procedure, it was by far the most arduous, the second was a serious violation of my civil rights. None of these lawsuits cost me a penny, the laws were violated, and I enforced them.
In these cases against the drug mfg, of what ever name one got this drug from, it’s generic now, that still doesn’t let Pfizer off the hook or the generic mfg’s, they have been sued before over Gabapenitin/Neurontin in the past, so those cases are the foundation for all that follow thereafter.
Case law builds a very bad future for this drug as it is, and it will get worse. Each past case makes the future ones an easy win.
I was on 100mg-200mg of Gabapentin for more than a year for postherpetic neuralgia. I started experiencing dizzy spells that never went away and after persevering for over a year, I decided to stop it seven days ago. I have gone cold turkey and it has been hell.
I have relentless nausea and night sweats. My stomach feels like I have gastro. I expected by day seven to feel better but I actually feel worse. Surprisingly though – I haven’t had any serious nerve pain flares yet. It’s a difficult time, but I am really hoping that things improve – especially the dizziness and nausea.
Hello! I am wondering how the withdrawal is going. I’ve been on 100 mg for almost 2 years now. After trying to quit for 4 days, I am not sure that I can. I’m experiencing depression, nausea, dizziness. How long will this last?
How many times a day are you taking Gabapentin? Even if you took it four times a day, that dose doesn’t sound effective for nerve pain. And I take 2400 mg a day! If I miss a dose by as little as three hours the perineal nerve in my left leg starts burning and I get a reminder to not do that again.
However at 2400 mg day, and I’m facing major orthopedic surgeries. I don’t want a flake doctor telling me you can’t have effective pain relief on Narcotics now due to your Gabapentin use anymore, that is complete BS, and quite frankly doesn’t cut it all that well.
But I’m going on to Pregabalin now, and even at say 450 mg a day, it is far more bioavailable then Gabapentin is and therefore effective as well. It has a 6 to 7 times higher binding effect on the receptors it binds to.
I was on 300 mg at night for 7 months due to nerve pain after a carotid dissection and minor stroke. When doctor prescribed it, he said it had NO side effects. I should have googled it before taking it! I had been experiencing many side effects and decided to go off.
I know I was on a relatively low dose but I consulted my acupuncturist, and she recommended magnesium, and as much sunshine as I could stand. It’s been 2 weeks now and am having bouts of anxiety and my sleep is horrible. Hoping this all ends soon.
Hate the way these things are just prescribed without a concern about withdrawal and the side effects. So glad that I found these comments though as I wasn’t sure where all the anxiety was coming from.
Hi Dana, I too am weaning off this devil medicine. I was down to 150mg last week. This week 9-3 I dropped my dose by 50mg to 100mg a day. The main problem is the anxiety and thoughts that go round and round in my head, like this will never end – but I know it’s the drug talking.
I’ve been taking magnesium, potassium, turmeric. I don’t know what my week will be like but I have to grin and bear it. At least I have an anti-anxiety to help a little. Good luck.
My Neurosurgeon put me on Gabapentin for 5 weeks prior to spinal surgery and then for 2 months after. I was at 1200mg a day, then started to wean off of it by reducing 300 every week. Got down to 200, then started to experience withdrawal syndrome.
Had every symptom in the book and did not think I was going to make it. It has taken me about 15 months to get down to 20mg, doing a slow taper by cutting down 10% every 3 weeks. It has not been easy and initially my doc didn’t believe there was such a thing as Gabapentin withdrawal, so I didn’t get much support from him.
He did give me the liquid version so that I could get down to very small doses. So hang in there and don’t rush it otherwise you will pay the price. Just take it slow and taper down no more than 10% or whatever your body will handle.
I was on Gabapentin for 6 years, with my fibromyalgia. It didn’t do anything for the pain, but it did help me sleep, so I could deal with my pain each day, well rested. I took 300 to 500 mg every evening, but none during the days.
(I couldn’t stand the feeling they gave me during my wakeful hours; like I was someone else, so I did not take them as was first prescribed, throughout the day.) I stopped taking the Gaba over 6 months ago now, and while taking Magnesium did help with some of the night restlessness, to aid in relaxing, it did not help with the headaches, the depression, the crying bouts, or the nausea spells… ohhhh the overwhelming nausea spells!!!
Most of the other withdrawal symptoms have FINALLY gotten much lighter, but the horrible nausea spells have not let up at all!!! Over 6 months now, since I quit, and still the nausea is with me; with no apparent triggers to the spells. The spells are just random, and every day at least 5 or 6 times; sometimes more, and they are completely immobilizing when they hit.
They only last a few moments, or minutes, and never any vomiting, but the nausea makes me have to stop whatever I’m doing, and find somewhere to sit, as fast as I can. My mouth salivates, and I feel like I wish I could just die and get it over with.
Luckily, they don’t last too long, but they are not lightening up, and they are even, it seems to me, beginning to get more frequent. Will they ever stop, or has the gabapentin caused some kind of permanent damage? I’m at a loss, and fed up with the nausea.
So glad everyone has been posting their withdrawal from Gabapentin symptoms. I am 10 days out from reducing to 900mg from 1200mg. I was taking two 300mg in the morning and 2 again at night for about 6 months before and now 3 months post-op spinal fusions.
I tried just taking one at night or one in the morning and still two at the other end of the day. But the migraine was/is awful. So for the last 5 days I have been taking one every 8 hours. But still no difference. Does anyone have any suggestions? Like maybe taking all 3 at the same time?
I think if headaches are this bad you better call your doc. This is too much suffering. Good luck. Prayers your way…
I have taken Tylenol with reduction doses and seems to help some.
Thanks to everyone for sharing. I am in the process of weaning off of Gabapentin and thought I was losing my mind, glad to know it’s “normal” and that it will get better. What confuses me in reading the article as well as all the comments is that I was told (and Dr. Google confirms) that you should NOT take magnesium when you are taking Gabapentin because it interferes with the absorption of the drug.
It says if you do need to take magnesium you should do it several hours before or after your Gabapentin. So if it interferes with the absorption, wouldn’t taking magnesium for the withdrawal symptoms mean you’re getting even LESS of the Gaba and therefore making the withdrawal more severe? Sue
I have been tapering off of Gabapentin for the last year. I could not have done this without taking magnesium. It has helped diminish the withdrawal symptoms for me. But having said that, I am taking a liquid form of magnesium.
The supplements you buy at the store may cause a laxative effect, which it did for me. The type of liquid magnesium I take is called ReMag. You can buy it on Amazon.
My specialist prescribed Gabapentin, 300mg once a day, for hot flushes after I came of HRT because of breast cancer. I have had insomnia for about 6 months since coming off HRT medication and take sleeping tablets on and off to combat the insomnia.
The 300mg dose of Gaba did nothing for hot flushes and was increased to 500mg a day. This still has not reduced the hot flushes. I am now trying to wean off Gaba and am back to 300mg once a day but not sure how long to take the 300mg before reducing it further.
I have blurred vision and I thought it was from lack of sleep, but after reading the above maybe it’s the Gaba. Any suggestions on how to wean of this medication?
Why are all these doctors acting like they don’t know what happens when you come off of this stuff? My doctor’s doing the same thing. Blaming everything else but the Gaba.
You are so right! I have been free of the stuff completely for a few days. Yesterday I took my husband in for a regular doctor appointment and I felt horrible! The doc is used to having me cheerful and this time the tears kept flowing.
I asked her how long I could feel this way and she didn’t think the way I felt was because of slowly weaning off the gab. She told me to go home and take one dose!!! She also said the 1800 mg/day was appropriate for someone with a kidney deficiency! We went home and I did NOT take a pill! Feeling better today.
My husband stopped taking it. Well first he was on 300mg 3x a day for nerve pain. I was unaware of what it was and I guess he was too. He started only taking it as needed for nerve pain. I was taking him to the ER regularly severe panic attacks, heart racing, blood pressure through the roof.
But once we realized it was from gabapentin – he said he’s never taking it again. And the first week of him off was horrible… The third day, the low point, he actually checked himself into the psychiatric ward overnight. Severe depression. Never had a history of any mental illnesses and nothing in his family history.
Well two months later. They still say gabapentin doesn’t cause that. He is on Citalopram 20mg and 3mg lorazepam max. He’s trying to avoid taking it. Diagnosed with anxiety and he has a therapist now. For real. We’ve been through hell to say the least.
Am a 72 year old male suffering from migraine headaches. Was put on Gabapentin about 2 years ago almost immediately at 3600 mg per day (1800 morning and 1800 evening). Was not aware how bad this stuff really was. I seemed to be experiencing more headaches and not less.
Finally decided enough was enough so started a taper program. Took about 2 months to gradually taper off and have been completely off Gabapentin for almost 3 weeks. I experience sweats especially at night and my sleep pattern is out of whack but nothing I can’t deal with.
I do find myself getting irritable at times but I just take a deep breath and push through it. The one major withdrawal side effect that is really bumming me out though is spats of moderate crying spells. The slightest sad event can cause tears to flow and it is embarrassing.
I don’t sob or downright bawl but having to try and hide the tears can sometimes be difficult. Being retired I spend a lot of time at home where these crying spells usually happen. I haven’t had to deal with it in public thankfully.
Years ago I was on a high dosage of Prednisone after major surgery so dealing with coming off a med is not new to me. I will persevere with the Gabapentin as well and to me it’s just taking it one day at a time.
Thankfully so far my particular withdrawal symptoms don’t seem to be harsh so maybe I’m just one of the luckier ones. I can only hope nothing changes. If it does, then I’ll just face it head on and I’ll win in the end. Just extremely important to keep a positive outlook and not let it beat you down.
How did you taper off?
I have been on gabapentin for more years than I can recall. I was prescribed 600 mg 3x per day. I generally only took 600 mg at night. Well… I was scheduled for cortisone shots in my knees for arthritis in 1 & 1/2 weeks so decided to increase the gabapentin to the 600 mg 3x per day.
Did that for the time leading up to the shots. I was frustrated because the “pain” pills did nothing for the knee pain. Decided to CT the gabapentin the day of the shots. I had no clue what I was in for! Light sensitivity, nausea, dizziness, sweating, nervous, paranoid thoughts and much more!
Emergency trip was worthless because I didn’t know about the gabapentin severity problems. Finally went back to my GP and he told me that whatever I had was going away and I could resume my antidepressant meds. He had not prescribed the gabapentin so he had no clue what was going on!
I resumed the reg meds along with the 600 mg per day of gabapentin!!! I started to feel somewhat better. After searching online I discovered that it was all from the addictive gabapentin! I called my pain doc and found out I needed to drop 100 mg/day from the high 1800mg I was up to.
I am down to 100mg 2x per day. I drop 100 mg every 4-5 days. Most of the horrible symptoms are gone except that I am soooo tired all the time and I am anxious. I look forward to the time I am OFF this stuff! None of my other drugs are addictive and I will check all future meds so I don’t go through this again!!!
Have been off of gabapentin for about two months and am still experiencing bloating, some discomfort when I eat in stomach, and fatigue. And on top of that, the restless leg has kicked in more so many nights of improper sleep. Is anyone else experiencing the above?
The restless legs have been killing me when I lay down to go to sleep. It starts with the legs then as I’m more anxious my whole body will get the twitches and tics. I’ve been up most of the night for the last 3 nights. I took my last dose 1 month ago.
Over a 2 month period, I was prescribed Gabapentin first for herniated disc pain then for post surgery pain. Highest level was 1800 mg per day then tapered to 1200 then 600 and, as of last week, 300 mg per day.
My surgery was a great success but since going down to 300, I cannot sleep. I have never had sleep issues before in my life and I am 55 years old. Any advice on how to ease this insomnia (other than going back up on dosage—not an option I want to consider)?
Hi folks, I’m 26 and going through a very rough taper indeed. Been just over a month and now I just stay in bed mostly. I am very healthy and fit so I think I’m making progress fast. Some useful advice could be: in the time between your tapers (mine is 100mg every seven days) wait until you feel ready and better again until you drop it.
This will be different for every person so be wise and don’t rush it. I have 3 more weeks of tapering then I’m off – hopefully by end of July if all goes well. Eat healthy! Drink loads of water! For me staying in bed and not doing much was the best.
The more sensory stimuli I was subjected to, the worse it was. Sunlight was a bastard too! Maybe try shutting curtains. TV made me feel sick so I listened to podcasts instead. Good lucky everybody! Use your taper and set a goal – you’ll feel relieved every time you’re another pill down!
Oh I’m so glad to have found this. I thought I was going crazy, and kept trying to ‘pull myself’ together! If only? I was on 300mg 3 times a day of gabapentin for sciatica pain. I was also on naproxen, co-codamol, amitriptyline and at the end diazepam too.
I felt like a zombie and even collapsed 1 day at my work. Believing it to be too much medication, I made the huge mistake of just stopping! I stopped the lot and OMG have I suffered for it! I have had every symptom mentioned on here, the nausea and fatigue being the worst!
I’m wondering now what to do? Hope that I’m over the worst of it and never touch gabapentin again? Or, take a smaller dose and gradually come off it? I’m torn as the thought of taking it again gives me the fear but I’m also thinking how long will these symptoms last?
I think it should be banned or at least explained to you before taking about how hard it will be to come off!!
I have been off of gabapentin for seven weeks and am experiencing bloating, gas and pain in the stomach and intestines. I want to ask if anyone reading this has had the same problems that I am having. I am somewhat depressed.
I am having the same problem. My stomach and my bowels don’t feel right at all. I’m 6 weeks off gabapentin. I am suffering from horrendous anxiety too.
Thanks Laura for your reply to me. I also on edge, tired, and my restless legs have kicked in so I am losing a lot of sleep plus trying to take care of my husband, son, dog and appointments. It has been a hellish time. I so wish I had known what a terrible drug gabapentin was because I would never have taken it. I will pray for both of us.
The restless legs and insomnia has been the worst part of it for me. I was on 300mg daily and started taking it every other day then I started experiencing leg tics and twitches. It’s been a month since I stopped taking it. I hope it gets better. I was told that this was a low dose and wouldn’t have to taper.
I am coming off of it right now. I was dropping 600 mg a week for the last three weeks. I was down to one pill as of yesterday but I had to increase back to two as the withdrawals were terrible.
I was experiencing bloating and stuff while on it, that’s one of the reasons I’m getting off of it. Good luck to you!!
So wish I had found this site before I ever took this God awful medicine. Took 900 to 1200 daily for 6 mo. Side effects became so bad had to quit. I had virtually all of the listed side effects.
Made the bad decision to quit cold turkey as I had never had problems quitting any of the many pain meds I have been on for years including Oxy. Have been off for almost 3 months. It has been absolutely horrible for me but worst of all I think it was almost as bad for my wife of 32 years.
I have gone off on her more times than I want to admit. Anyway I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel as I am finally seeing some relief. Anyone who is going through this my prayers are with you. Just hang in there it will get better.
My wife has been on Gabapentin for 12 years. She was experiencing anxiety, fatigue, double vision, vomiting, depression, water retention in her legs, leg weakness, falling and other symptoms. She has had every test known to mankind all of which came back normal.
Finally, I decided to look at the medications she was taking and stumbled across Gabapentin. We mentioned it to our family doctor and he suggested weaning her off this terrible drug. She has now been off of it for three weeks. Her water retention is now gone but anxiety, memory problems remain.
Is there anyone who has been on this drug this long that can help inform us as to how long these symptoms will last? All of her doctors tell us the drug is a good one. Don’t doctors read up on those of us that have experienced these side effects?
Has anyone else experienced horrible loose stools with coming off of gabapentin? This is awful. Have tried stopping cold turkey after only 2 months taking gabapentin (300 mg, 3 times daily for nerve pain after spinal surgery), but I am thinking this was a bad idea. I am miserable.
I too had spinal surgery, 3 weeks ago. Was put on Gabapentin 300mg 3/per day a week prior to my surgery. Was increased to 600mg 3/per day after surgery due to increased nerve pain. It has helped, but now I’m experiencing swelling in my feet.
Nurse said to decrease pills back to 300 3/day, but I’m worried about the swelling and considering stopping cold turkey due to only being on the meds for a month. Sounds similar to yours. Are your symptoms any better now?
I’m experiencing it now. Complete misery. Has yours resolved yet?
Yes, I already have colitis but it was pretty well under control until a few days ago when I started weaning off the Gabapentin. Wasn’t sure if my colitis was flaring or if it’s a withdrawal symptom.
Have been on gabapentin for 8 months for surgery pain in my arm for removing cancerous lymphs and also breast removal. Started on fentanyl patch for pain and now after 6 months of patch decided I was going to get off this gabapentin. Started going from 900 to 300 mg.
Well, that was the beginning of everything from hot and cold sweating and add on anxiety, stomach problems and nausea, lack of appetite, crying, depression and thoughts of killing myself just about sums it up. I will never go back to this nightmare again.
I still have to stay on a low dose fentanyl patch but at least maybe I will keep my sanity. I started taking CALM magnesium powder because it has helped with problems of withdrawal.
Even the nausea med that they gave me when I first tried liquid morphine, which I stopped taking after changing to fentanyl – as its horrible side effects that kept me feeling comatose. Believe me, it is not worth it. Take as few drugs as possible. They are so bad for you.
I though that my evening bath was because of withdrawal from alcohol. Evening bath meaning: ridiculous night sweating. I know coming off psych meds, especially SSRIs will do that. So I Googled and wound up here.
I was prescribed GABA to lessen the chance of seizures from alcohol withdrawal; 300mg 3X daily. I took it for about a month and quit CT. I survived. About 4 months ago I got on it again because the doc thought it would help with anxiety; 300mg 3X daily. It does and it’s so much better than doing BENZOS.
BUT – I agree with just about everything I’ve read here regarding GABA’s side effects. I have most of them. I’m done with it. I’ll see how it goes. The Psychiatrist I’ve been seeing is fired; all she want’s to do is put me on more meds and up doses. Yeah, you got it, I’m not too happy.
I’ll continue with my therapist however. He and I have been working together for about 18 months. There are no side effects besides getting to know myself better. That, I can live with. All the best.
Good luck. I hope you make it through both.
My daughter has been prescribed 600mg gabapentin per day since her knee surgery 2 weeks ago. She is 15 and has Down Syndrome and for the last week she has been very aggressive and non compliant and very difficult to be around (usually she is demanding but not defiant).
I’ve read that this drug can cause these problems especially in kids with mental disabilities. I am thinking that this med is causing the negative change in her behavior. I plan to wean her off her gabapentin (opening the capsules and dumping half of it out) to half for the next couple of days.
My question is: If she has only been on it for 2 weeks at the 600 mg dose, is weaning necessary? Has anyone else been on it for a couple of weeks at this low dose and weaned themselves off of it?
I’ve only been taking Gabapentin for under 2 months and the hives started after I requested an increase in dose. Thought I was being attacked by bugs. Checked for every insect possible and found none.
Benadryl didn’t work but chlor-maleate antihistamine provides some relief. Had no idea how dangerous tapering off Gabapentin could be! I’m getting in contact with my pain management doc to plan tapering off. Thankfully I still have the lower dose pills he started me with.
Omg I am so happy to see your post! I thought I was going crazy! I’ve been on 900mg 3 x’s a day for 3 years or more. Doctor agreed to have me wean off. Well I think I weaned too fast. Anyways, I’m itching and getting the bug crawling sensation too. I’ve checked, no bugs here!
I have been on Gaba for nearly 3 years. I had nerve pain after a hernia repair. At the highest dosage I was on 1200MG a day. I dropped down to 800MG a day and started having pains in my stomach. On both flanks, and then in the center.
Mood swings, dry mouth, palpitations to the point that I thought I was having a heart attack. Stayed at 800 for months. Dropped to 600 and was doing okay but having stomach pains still. Dropped to 300 and all hell broke loose. Headaches, stomach pain, and anxiety. Horrible, horrible anxiety.
I keep thinking that the stomach pain is colon cancer, or stomach cancer. CT Scan last November was normal form Lungs to Bladder, but still can’t shake the sense of dread. Stopped this past Saturday from 300 to zero.
I am so overwhelmed with sorrow, crying at anything, I wake up and I am so nauseous that I am taking Zofran. BE CAREFUL with Gaba. My doc said, it was perfectly safe, nearly no side effects. You can imagine the words that I have for him.
Colonoscopy next week just to put my mind at ease and make sure that the stomach pain isn’t something else. Praying for the best. I just want Gaba out of my life forever.
I been taking GABA for 6 months to help cope neuropathy in my leg caused by herniated disc’s in my lower back. Therapy and injections did not help, so surgery was performed.
My sciatic never was pinched off causing the neuropathy and pain. I was taking oxycodone 3x a day 10 mg, on top of 600 mg of GABA 3x a day after my surgery.
After four weeks of the opioids I stopped taking it and continued with GABA. I experienced withdrawal from the opioid for about a week, mostly flu like symptoms. Now I have a GABA to deal with. Tried stopping it and noticed many of symptoms list above.
Tingling in the face, sense of dread, fatigue, and dizziness the worst of them. I thought I was having symptoms of a stroke. These symptoms were experienced after 24 hours of last dose.
Went back on and am trying to wean off more gradually. Your comments help me tremendously, now I just have to come up with a good plan.
Is anyone experiencing migraines? my doctor prescribed Gabapentin almost 2 years ago to treat neuropathy in my fingertips and feet, a side effect of conventional chemotherapy. I’ve been trying to wean myself off but started getting these horrible migraines.
I’m in my 60s & haven’t had a migraine since I was in my 40’s. My eyes are really sensitive to light. My vision is blurry and I’m having difficulty focusing in on objects especially while on computer or watching TV. Haven’t lost my appetite but noticed difference in my taste buds. Some foods just have no flavor.
Wow, do I feel like a big baby! Three days was all I could manage on Gabapentin. First day – immediate relief for my Neuropathy pain in my feet. Hurray, but wait a minute. I can’t see very well, think well or get out of bed. This will pass, I hope. Second day same routine.
Couldn’t do much of anything around the house, walking the dog 1/2 block sent me back to be for several hours. Between the guilt of being so non productive & the side effects, I decided the maybe Gabapentin & I were not meant to be. I won’t take any more & will see how it goes.
How do you feel? I’m in the same place. I was prescribed Neurontin last Tuesday for Anxiety. I’m also gastric bypass post up, so I’m quite sensitive to medication. I received a Prescription is for 100 mg. I was to take 3 a day.
I took two on Tuesday, three on Wednesday-Friday (Thursday, I began to experience worsened anxiety, numbness on my left side of face, and twitching in the left eyelid). I won’t lie, I became frantic, as I read its true prescription nature and I can be a bit of a hypochondriac.
I began to freak out over the fact that it states not to take if one has kidney problems. I have Renal Cell Carcinoma (which I will have surgery for on the 15th of May). I called my Psychiatrist, on Friday night he didn’t return my call, I called him again on Saturday, but I also contacted my long-time pharmacist; my pharmacist advised that I could wean off of it, so I took two on Saturday, one yesterday, and I don’t think I can do another today.
I will check with the pharmacist today. The psychiatrist providing me with a different weaning off plan, because it appears he wants me to remain on it which I don’t want to. The twitching in the eyelid is not as severe, the numbness as gone away, and the anxiety is a bit less. I thought I was going to die!
My doctor started me on GABA to relieve my osteoarthritis. I started having side effects 3 months at 1100 mgs of using this medication (numbness/tingling that started on one side of my hand all the way up to my right eye. Pain on the lower left side of my back; heart palpitations, dry mouth).
The doctor that prescribed it said these weren’t GABA side effects… but I did find a list on the Mayo clinic website (uncommon/rare side effects). That’s when I said it was time to wean off this medication. It’s been absolute hell.
Side effects night sweats, leg spams/shaking, hands and feet throbbing hot sensations, palpitations. I keep reminding myself that I have another 3 weeks until I’m GABA free, but not sure how long these effects will go on.
What still angers me is that this doctor still doesn’t think all the issues that I was experiencing were due to GABA!!
I too have been experiencing night sweats. I was on for five months for treatment of sciatic pain. Developed pain in parts of my body. Upon slow withdrawal I started to develop an itch and then a rash on my legs that turned to purple spots. Doctor treated me for atopic eczema with cream.
Rash goes away and returns. Now dry cough. Next stop is a dermatologist. 78 years old and have never had skin problems until Gabapentin.
Many of the comments/complaints here seem to be taken from symptoms that are directly tied to HEAVY narcotic withdrawal, yet GABApentin has no ties to the MU opioids receptors, I personally believe many of the complaints herein are psychosomatic. People believe and therefore exhibit their symptoms.
In other words, if you have read that Gabapentin gets one “high” and then you take one relatively low dose say 100 to 300 mg, your preconceived “suggestion” is the actual cause of your “high”. Sorry to tell many here that your preconceived notions have set you up for much, but not all, of your symptoms you describe here.
Placebo effect isn’t just for sugar pills, it is the power of suggestion that many need to be deprogrammed from. I had to call my state healthcare plan to correct my Dr’s orders for the third time to get my Pregabalin approved. It had better get cleared up fast or she’ll find herself on the wrong end of a complaint with the State Medical Board of Examiners as to why I have had to correct her pre-approved prescription application.
This is the THIRD TIME NOW, and if I the patient know more about the process of getting this cleared up, then once I file that formal complaint, it sticks with her license to practice for life.
I’d find another physician FAST if I were you, this isn’t a cure all, it is WAY over prescribed and it’s safe, or so they claim. Handing out Gabapentin for osteoarthritis is ridiculous. Gabapentin IS NOT A MIRACLE DRUG like penicillin was.
It DOES NOT CURE A DISEASE, it is a bandaid being sold as a miracle drug. It is harmful to the kidneys, and if it wasn’t, then why do Dr’s limit people with kidney disorders to 1800 mg a day? I’m weaning off of 2400 mg a day, and I have noticed bloating in my legs as well, so no more for me please.
Pregabalin is a far better drug then Gabapentin is, lower dosage, longer acting = less habit forming.
I have a question, not a comment. I believe my mother experienced severe withdrawal from Gabapentin (debilitating anxiety, stomach and chest pain that landed her in the ER 3 times this month – and where any physical causes were ruled out). My mother’s Internist agreed with our hypothesis that this was withdrawal from the medication and put her BACK ON 900 mg/day.
In our journey to get expert care for developing the next phase treatment plan, we just landed back at the Neurologist who prescribed the Gabapentin. He has convinced her that this can not be Gaba withdraw because: (1) he has never seen a reaction like this to the medication before and (2) IF IT HAD BEEN GABAPENTIN WITHDRAWAL, SHE SHOULD HAVE EXPERIENCED IMMEDIATE RELIEF FROM SYMPTOMS ONCE SHE WENT BACK ON THE MEDS.
She was off for approximately two weeks. She has been back on for 5 days. Has anyone had the experience of going back on the medication AFTER experiencing withdrawal and if so – were symptoms relieved right away?
Thank you for any light you can shed on this nightmare situation.
It might take a couple of days to let the levels build up again to feel “normal” but after 2 hours of taking it, I began to feel the symptoms slowly but surely go away. Hope this was of some help.
I seem to have side effects after withdrawing from Lyrica after only 26 days of taking it. Dizzy, blurry vision up close, anxiety. Is this possible after taking for such a short time?
You haven’t been on it that long, you should be just fine. Magnesium helped me with sore muscles, palpitations, etc. but it’s no magic bullet. Good luck.
I began in 1997 to help heal my crushed but not broken hand. Went off high doses, but tapered off with doctors help. So on and off since then not wanting narcotics to avoid addiction and withdrawal. I have been on gabapentin for the past 7 years, 2400mg daily. I switched doctors – he prescribed it for the past 6 mos.
When I called in for my refill, they refused to fill it, stating that I should contact my rheumatologist to fill. Cold turkey? How can they and what do they not understand? Horrible 2 weeks. Feel better for a short period and then total exhaustion hits, and the withdrawal waves over me all over again.
Lisa – I’ve had problems with insurances and pharmacies regarding Gabapentin. Have you tried leaving a message with the nurse of your doctor to expedite a prescription. My doctor authorized enough pills to last me until I got to see him for a check up.
If he’s extremely backed up, which has happened to me too, I was able to squeeze into my primary and he gave me a refill to last until I saw my surgeon again. Just a thought, hope it gets better!
My mother (78) was on Gabapentin for years for neuropathy. She was hospitalized for Flu and CHF and was taken off GAB by her heart doctor. She stopped eating because of stomach pain and was too dizzy to stand on her own. They ran every test, CAT scan, etc. and found nothing, went to rehab to gain strength and do PT, but declined all food and meds.
After 10 days they determined that she just gave up and sent her home on hospice care at my sister’s house in the hope of a different setting, that she would start eating again (as she had lost 40 pounds in 3 weeks). She still complained daily about her stomach pain and we pushed the “Because you don’t eat” on her. I happened to be reading news on MSN and there was an article on Gabapentin and new addiction use and bad withdrawals.
I decided to research the withdrawals and it was exactly the symptoms described. I called my sister and sent the findings to her and said give her a 1/4 dose of her GAB tonight and another tomorrow (which she did, because at this point, the nurses were saying she only had a few weeks at best).
Well she slept until noon and said she wanted a fudgsicle and ate the whole thing. At dinner she wanted a burger on the grill and ate the whole thing and was talking normal without stomach pain. This was 4 weeks after she was taken off of GAB and not one doctor could diagnose her!
OMG! How scary is that? Your poor mama. I, too, lost 35 lbs in a matter of about 6 weeks. I have absolutely no appetite and no interest in food at all. I am so fatigued, I can’t even stand at the sink long enough to do a few dishes and put them away.
I have only been on Gabapentin since last November or December as my psych prescribed it while weaning off of Effexor. She told me there were NO side effects, non addicting, yada, yada, yada. My gynecologist told me the same thing!
WTH is wrong with these doctors? After reading all of your comments this evening, I’m going to call my doctor Monday morning to try to get off of ANOTHER poisonous drug. Best of luck to all who are struggling to get healthy without pharmaceuticals…
The company that makes name brand Gaba has paid 700 million for illegally telling doctor’s this is a safe and effective medication for just about everything. Internally, the company called it ‘snake oil’.
I became suicidal on this ‘safe, non-addictive’ drug. Now I’m just trying to educate myself while I wean off. Kinda mad at my doctor though, if I can learn in one afternoon that in some clinical trials, the placebo was more effective then Gaba, and that there are dangerous side effects, maybe she should know that too?
This med is for epilepsy. Just about everything else is unproven and off label.
YOU GOT THAT RIGHT! I have been saying this for years now to my doctors, and in fact I have neuropathy in my left leg after a severe fracture at knee. BTW, that was the SECOND time I have broken that knee, and this second time was the worst possible fracture one can have.
I want off of Gabapentin for two reasons, water bloating now is indicative of an as yet undiagnosed yet developing condition, and second it isn’t going do diddly squat for my next knee surgeries. It’s being replaced in two stages, and then it’s my shoulder, and my hip, and hand.
Now with the FDA and the DEA and the AMA all in a thither over opioids, I can’t get squat when I REALLY NEED IT with Gabapentin in my system, everyone is so f’ing into screaming about narcotics killing 70,000 Americans this last year.
Wake up time people: tobacco kills 430,000 Americans each year! Any questions? Contact your elected servants and tell them about your concerns about tobacco. It won’t stop until we vote them out.
My worst symptom is tingling in face, especially the right side and in right eye, arms hands and right ear. Sometimes it burns or falls like I’ve rolled in ice. It’s better than it was. It eases while I move. It is worse some days or times of the day than others. I am so frustrated! I hate this -will it ever stop?!
I stopped taking gabapentin gradually. I have been off it about one month. Took at least 600mg a day. Sometimes 900mg. I was on it about 18 months. I still feel very fatigued, anxious and very warm at times. The fatigue is the worst. How long can I expect this to go on?
I am interested to hear how you are feeling now. Of all the comments I have read, your symptoms seem to be closest to what I am experiencing. I stopped taking it 2 weeks ago and the fatigue is horrible.
I went off of gabapentin a few months ago and have flare ups now and then such as bloating and some stomach pain but the worse is the insomnia. I also have terrible restless leg syndrome, but what I suggest concerning the fatigue is to have blood work done and see if the count is low. Mine was and I just started B-12 shots. Hope it works for this chronic fatigue. You might want to have your blood checked. Garnella
Slowly tapering off Gabapentin – taking it for over 12 years for migraines, neuropathy and pain. I was told it was easier to take this than an opioid. Don’t believe that. I have taken an opioid off and on for over 12 years and I can stop that and not have the issues I am having with gabapentin.
My stomach feels like it has been thru a shredder – my abdominal area is sore to the touch. Am down to 900 -1000 mg a day from 1800 – this has taken a long time. Cannot take Aleve, Advil or aspirin due to stomach issue – so Tylenol & gabapentin.
I strenuously believe there should be several studies on Gabapentin withdrawal-induced psychosis. Everyone is talking about it, no one is doing anything about it. My son had never experienced any psychotic episodes until he tried to stop the use of massive doses of Gabapentin prescribed by his pain management doctor in lieu of narcotic medication.
I had not realized this was off-label prescribing. It makes sense, gabapentin effects the whole nervous system, including the brain. It particularly scrambles neurotransmitters and receptors. “This is your brain. This is your brain after Gabapentin.”
I have a question to everyone who has detoxed successfully off gaba. I was taking 3600 mg a day sometimes even more depending on my pain (as the “dr said I could do”) ? .. I am having every withdrawal symptoms and have been for the past 3 months of trying to gradually decrease dosage. It is hell and I pray you all find relief!
I find natural remedies helping me… magnesium and other herbal supplements. They help but I would like to know when this will get better it’s been so long of just feeling like hell… night sweats and nausea all day is the worst not to mention the toll it took on my central nervous system.
I highly recommend using this med as a LAST resort it sounds safe but you’ll be sorry. Can anyone help? It would be greatly appreciated. I am suffering. Thank you! God bless.
I’ve been on 800mg 3x a day so 2400mg, for 4 years now. I spoke with my neurologist about tapering off the medication because I can no longer handle the brain fog, cognitive, and eye problems I’m having. He told me to break my 800mg tabs in half and take 400mg 3x a day for 2 weeks.
Today is the first night and I’m already having a really hard time breathing and very weird sensations in my arms and legs. Is cutting back from 2400mg to 1200mg safe? I don’t think he would try to harm me honestly, but it seems like other people are tapering by way lower doses than he suggested for me.
Hi Andrea, I would strongly suggest that you taper off much more slowly. Usually 1/4 reduction at a time… and I would see how you feel after a couple of WEEKS at that dosage. If you’re not having horrible side effects, go down another 1/4 for a few more WEEKS until you can wean yourself off.
These doctors have NO idea how horrible the side effects of these are. It may take a little longer but I think the withdrawal will be much more manageable…. wishing you luck for better health.
I was on Gabs 1,800 mg for 2 years. Gained 45 pounds and have severe acid reflux. I am now down to 100 mg daily and had to get there by decreasing 100 mg at a time. Originally the Dr. suggested tapering down 300 mg every week. So, that means I would be off it in 6 weeks.
Well, the side effects from that aggressive approach was too much. Then I tried tapering every two weeks. Nope! Same thing happened. I called the Dr. and requested 100 mg capsules the supplement tapering off 1 week at a time!
Guess what… it has worked… 17 weeks now and when I finally have it out of my system in 5 more days the taper will have taken 18 weeks. I feel like the pharmaceuticals companies have lied about this product and Doctors are too quick to prescribe this dangerous drug.
It was prescribed for me for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, a type of neuropathy in my foot after an accident. Good luck with your taper.
My pain doc prescribed for herniated cervical disc pain. Sometimes I will take one when all else has failed because it relaxes me, but I inevitably get a migraine as it leaves my system which can last the entire day. When I take more than one, my breasts will swell and get painful. The migraine is much like pms headache or when I tried estrogen/progesterone replacement therapy. Omg causes so much pain!
Mimi, I don’t know how severe your migraines are but have you tried OTC Excedrin Migraine? I used to have severe migraines and took all kinds of prescription medication but nothing worked.
When Excedrin came out with their migraine formula I thought what the heck… and gave it a try. Most of the time, it relieves my headache within 15 or 20 minutes but it DOES make you drowsy so don’t plan to drive after taking it until you see how it affects you.
Brenda, I think it’s the Gabapentin. I was on 900mg for 7 years. Started tapering down Sept 2017, quit Nov 17, 17. Was hell, it is bad just not every day, all the symptoms everyone else has mentioned, fear, crying horrible headaches, depression, loneliness, can’t think, hard to talk.
Hard to sleep, skin burns, sweating until I soak the bed. Last week was good almost human again, now this week has been hard. My daughter reminds me that I am doing better, I forget and don’t remember, so it’s good if you have someone who can watch and see your improvement.
I believe as others have stated this is the ” drug from hell”. I have never been depressed ,or an unhappy person before in my life. I have no idea how long this can go on. I thank everyone who has told their story here, you all have kept hope alive in me. If I hadn’t have found this site I don’t know if I could have fought this long, and I will keep fighting. Thanks everyone.
Thank you all for posting all of these comments, it helps those that do not know or understand. I have cluster headache and was prescribed gabapentin on top of the mixed bag of pharma that I am on. 1200mg a day total. The mix made me feel horrible with already tough side effects from the main drug of Topamax (dopamax), however it keeps me alive, we were in fear that the Topamax was failing.
I could not handle what the mix was doing. The depression, the anxiety, everything coupled with the already memory loss, searching for names, words, huge fatigue, quality of life completely diminished. When I finally broke through for a minute and said this is enough I was crying, the apparent depression/anxiety was way set in. I was going crazy.
I started to taper talking with the neuro. I had had it really, I was against the wall losing control. I switched neuros went to the PCP and started to try to recover from all of this. This is still in the process. I have started recovery. I have been off of gabapentin for a few weeks and am still having what I feel are side effects.
I dry heave or vomit every morning. If someone can help me with that? I’m getting small tremors in my right hand. Scary. I am starting to feel much better, the fatigue is there but I know that is the topamax. Any input you might have would be wonderful. Thank you, thank you for all the above input.
I was taking 3600 mg. of Gabapentin for over 5 years. It was prescribed by my psychiatrist for bipolar disorder. Another doctor decided I didn’t need it, and took me off of it over a 3 week period.
I have been absolutely miserable. I have “rage” responses, I shake, I am so depressed, suiciadal thoughts, fatigue, and confusion. I am unable to function. My doctor thinks it is worsening depression. I think it is gabapentin withdrawal. What do you think?
Sounds like the GABA to me. You may have gone off it too fast!
Gaba withdrawal 100 percent. Taper 100 mg once a week. Took me 18 weeks to get off it.
I was on 3600 mg per day for 3 years. I tapered off over a two month period of time. It’s been 6 months and during this time I’ve lost 15 pounds and have a big problem with insomnia. I’ve tried most of the methods posted here but still have the weight loss and sleep problem. I just had a total physical and everything was normal. Could this really last for one year?