Is gabapentin addiction worth it?

[[Am...]]

I have the option to use gabapentin for anxiety and for me it works well and makes me feel really good. But whenever I stop I get sick. I'm wondering if it eventually quits working for you and your just dependent on it like benzos.

[Guest [ba...]]

Probably depends on the person.  When you say you get sick, is it for a long time?  When I stopped using gabapentin back in April, I had a withdrawal, but it was over in about a week, and wasn't nearly as bad as my benzo withdrawal (insomnia, mostly).

 

When using any medicine, there is a trade-off between the benefits and risks.  If gabapentin can put you in a good enough place to where you can begin to find alternative ways (e.g. therapy) to learn to deal with your anxiety, then it might be worth using for a while.  Short-term use (i.e. a few weeks to maybe a couple of months) is probably fine even for benzo use for most people.  The problem arises when these pills are seen as a cure and the patient uses them for an extended time.  They are most definitely not a cure. 

[[ci...]]

americano, if you are taking gabapentin for anxiety, it is usually just 300-400mg dose, which is a low dose.If you notice that you do benefit from taking it, it may be a good idea to stay on it for WDs. When you went off of it before , did you taper off? maybe a slower taper may limit any WDs from the gaba.

[[Bi...]]

Probably depends on the person.  When you say you get sick, is it for a long time?  When I stopped using gabapentin back in April, I had a withdrawal, but it was over in about a week, and wasn't nearly as bad as my benzo withdrawal (insomnia, mostly).

 

When using any medicine, there is a trade-off between the benefits and risks.  If gabapentin can put you in a good enough place to where you can begin to find alternative ways (e.g. therapy) to learn to deal with your anxiety, then it might be worth using for a while.  Short-term use (i.e. a few weeks to maybe a couple of months) is probably fine even for benzo use for most people.  The problem arises when these pills are seen as a cure and the patient uses them for an extended time.  They are most definitely not a cure.

 

True for me too.  It has fast tolerance and on quitting I had fast recovery.  About 7 days too. 

[[Am...]]

I'm talking about higher doses like 5 300mg capsules(1500mg). That's what I took today and I felt very relaxed and motivated. I'm wondering if I the effects diminish or if I could take them several months to get me though my EMT program. I have a total lack of motivation and interest during my taper (it wasn't very good on benzos either). I just don't want to be stuck taking gabapentin with a tolerance so I no longer get the benefits.

[[gr...]]

I have the option to use gabapentin for anxiety and for me it works well and makes me feel really good. But whenever I stop I get sick. I'm wondering if it eventually quits working for you and your just dependent on it like benzos.

 

YES! Its the devil also