Gabapentin withdrawal nightmare

I am trying to get off of gabapentin (Neurontin). My original dose was 2400 mg. I decreased it by 800 mg. My prescriber knows.

I am in an awful withdrawal. I came off of it once before and I had forgotten how bad it is to get off of.

I feel anxious, dizzy, irritable, agitated and tired. I really don't want to increase my dosage to get relief as it will just take longer.

Gabapentin hits the same receptors as ethanol and benzos.....

So the withdrawal is similar to alcohol and benzos.

It is hell...

Sideblinded I am so sorry that you are having trouble getting off gabapentin.

You are not alone. Other people have trouble too
In Neurontin/Gabapentin Hell [Archive] - NeuroTalk Support Groups

Are you sleeping? When I run out of gabapentin I immediately have insomnia that lasts until I get my refill.

Rather than dropping in large increments I have found that it's easier to taper gradually. Right now I'm tapering Lamotrigine 25mg per week by reducing 12.5mg Saturday and then 12.5mg Wednesday.

Hi sideblinded,

I am sorry you are suffering. I too had a helluva time getting off of it. I was just on 600mg a night, we went to 300mg, which was not too bad, but when I went 300 to zero, I basically spent a few hours each day in a bath w epsom salts, rocking back and forth for relief from the panic and irritability.

I cannot imagine dropping from 2400 to 800 and then eventually down to zero. Be sure to keep close contact w ur pdoc and track your symptoms. For me, an SSRI - paxil, was helpful.

Best wishes and PM me if you need to vent. Thanks,

moogs

I'm sorry you're so miserable. Keep your prescriber in the loop. I'm sure you're aware, but it's dangerous to drop too quickly, I know it would take longer, but is a couple more days of meds a payoff for feeling like a human for those couple days?
Hope you feel better soon.

Hello , how do you graduate the tappering off ?
What are the dangers of a sudden stop?
I stopped gabbapentin suddenly , I'm sure my doctor said this ( but when I went back he siad he hadnt)

You're down to 1600? What dosage tablets? I'm guessing 800s? There's a theoretical risk with a few reported case studies of seizures, confusion, rapid heart rate since it's believed to increase GABA synthesis, much like ethanol or benzos as you mentioned above. If it was me, I'd decrease by 200 every 3 days until you get to 200. I'd then drop to 100 for 3 days. Obviously with your physician's oversight and all that. That's what I'd do. You'd probably be a lot less miserable too.
Hope you feel better soon.

Yes, sleeping is OK due to other meds to help me sleep. Thank goodness.

Thanks.

Yep, I am not decreasing it any more any time soon and it will be by smaller dosages when I do. Too much anxiety to deal with.

I believe that. Doctors are mostly unaware of the withdrawal symptoms of gabapentin, I have found. Sorry that you had such a hard time, too. Thanks.

Since I got off of it before, I should have known that I needed to decrease it slower. I am not going to decrease it any more any time soon. I need to stabilize where I am now. Thanks for your concern and well wishes.

It is more dangerous for those who have seizure disorders who withdraw suddenly although seizures have occurred with those who have had no history of seizures. There is a high risk for unwanted side effects when withdrawing from any medication so going slow is very important.

You are so correct. I did get a rapid heart rate the first time I decreased it too fast. I also got dizzy and very lethargic. My worst one is the anxiety, though.

Your advice is good and I think that I am just going to stop and stabilize for a while. I just wish the anxiety would get better. Thanks so much.

I think that's a good idea. Are you taking it for anxiety? Is there something else you can take for anxiety? There's a lot of meds out there for it. I hope you feel better soon.

I am taking gabapentin for anxiety. We just thought that the dosage was a bit high at 2400 mg. I am also on 2 mg of clonazepam but I have been on it so long that my body has built up a tolerance to it and I don't think it is doing much at all now. I may need something else but I am still on a good amount of gabapentin (1600 mg) so my prescriber probably won't give me something else right now. I seem to have a terrible time coming down on this med. It is so miserable. Thanks.

I wasn't proscribed it for seizures , have electric jolts and hyponogogic dreams,

but I think I've had some since, as if my body goes stiff , and there is a visual hallucination , though I think they have stopped , think gabbapentin and pregabalin gave me dementia as a side effect, while on them was like a nightmare, and now its as if I can't think or speak in the moment ,as if I've lost half my brain and personality .

Hello side blinded , there is a website called the road back.org
If I'm aloud to mention this site on here. It says something about a pre taper so you can get to grips with the anxiety and insomnia and then it mention supplements and vitamins.

In was on gabbapentin and I'm sure my doctor told me to just suddenly stop ,
I did and I feel totally messed up mentally ,

I know the hell you speak of all too well. I was on 3600 mg and went off a few times cold turkey. Worst decision ever...not to mention it was my doctor who told me to do so. When I did finally taper down myself I could never fully get off it. Everything got bad. My bipolar depression came in like hell and the anxiety was awful. I am currently back on it and scared to get off it even though I desperately want to. I don't find it effective at all. Maybe the first month or so it was great. After that i kept increasing dosage to get the effect....my doctor had no problem telling me it was safe with little side effects...maybe true until you try to get off it... Doctors need to wise up to gabapentin. It causes withdraws. Hang in there though. Don't mean to discourage you. I couldn't do it at the time it just wasn't right. As you get lower the taper will be easier. I can only say taper slow. Too fast Is to much of a shock for your brain. I know this all too well.