Neurontin Taper

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I've started my very slow clonazepam taper (5% reduction every 2 weeks, curently on 3mg). My question relates to the 3300 mg of Neurontin that my doctor also prescribed for me. Does anyone have any experience doing a neurontin taper?

[[Co...]]

Hi,

 

Why do you take the Neurontin? Was it rescribed fro your benzo withdrawal, or for some other reason?

[[be...]]

Hi,

 

Why do you take the Neurontin? Was it rescribed fro your benzo withdrawal, or for some other reason?

 

My doctor prescribed the neurontin to help with benzo withdrawal.

[[Co...]]

My doctor prescribed the neurontin to help with benzo withdrawal.

 

Everything I've come across suggests that it is no help. If we are quickly withdrawn from a large dose of benzo, then an anticonvulsant would be adviseable - this is not tha case with you, is it? Neurontin caries its own set of potential problems.

[[be...]]

I am still looking for advise on getting off Neurontin. Any suggestions on how to conduct a taper off 3300 mg Neurontin?

[[Co...]]

Hi,

 

I have no experince of it, but some of the other members might. I'll see if I can dig up some information later.

[[...]]

Hey Taper,

 

lol, if you look at my sig you see that I... well, kinda pretty much do things simple and hard. lol

 

Neurontin (for people who don't know) = gabapentin = a relatively new antieleptic drug also used for mood disorders. It has gained interest over recent years as a "less addicting" tx for anxiety.

 

If your doc prescribed it to help with benzo withdrawal, then I am just wondering you're here asking us how to taper it?

 

I could tell you not to try kicking both simultaneously, but really I need to know why you're not happy with your doc's plan.

 

thanks,

Ten

[[...]]

i knew'd i had somewheres

 

Colin, here's something I saw recently while researching and filed it away. It's only a year old too - Gabapentin-Assisted Benzodiazepine Withdrawal. Look:

 

"While a slow tapering of benzodiazepines may take several months until complete detoxification, our case confirms a previous report that gabapentin treatment can be a more rapid alternative, even in patients with a history of multidrug dependence including cocaine and opiate abuse.

 

Besides transient insomnia, all typical withdrawal symptoms were prevented by gabapentin in our case.

 

Patients also described a “benzodiazepine-like” effect even after definitive wash-out of the benzodiazepines."

 

It's quite interesting--also discussed are topiramate's (Topamax) & carbamazepine's (Tegretol) role in mitigating BZD w/d. (These are two more anticonvulsants.)

 

Gabapentin has a far-preferrable side-effect profie and is universally tolerated better, so it has the most favor for these uses.

 

Ten

[[Co...]]

Hi,

 

Prof.Ashton wasn't enthusiastic about Neurontin. For Neurontin to enable a quicker withdrawal (with no lingering withdrawal effects after withdrawal), it would have to somehow aid GABA receptor repair - I'm unaware of evidence for this. It would be intersting to find out if Ashton has anything to add since the 2002 edition of her manual. I think if that if really did help, we would already know about it. I can see that it may well have use in CT or rapid withdrawals. Of course, I don't recommend rapid withdrawals, but there can be exceptional circumstances where such withdrawals need to be carried out.

[[...]]

Well, allowing a faster taper to 0 mg and healing the deficits induced by BZDs are two different things. A miracle drug might cover both aims someday. Meanwhile, it is conceivable that gabapentin may ameliorate symptoms long enough to stop BZDs in a faster, more comfortable fashion. This is what the study addresses and is likely what Benzotaper's doctor is trying for.

[[Co...]]

Hi Ten,

 

What are the side and withdrawal effects of Neurontin?

[[...]]

Taper,

 

Ive been on these boards for quite sometime and while I dont know all the techincal jargon (benzo brain) I can tell you I've read alot mixed reviews concerning Neurontin and benzodiazepine w/d. For some its been a life saver for others it only made matters worst, I imagine its just luck of the draw. Ten is correct that you shouldn't try to taper both drugs simultaneously I would suggest tapering K first than the Neurontin as Im sure thats exactly what your doing.

 

Best of luck,

 

Dave

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Colin-

 

Minimal side-effects; very well tolerated and very few drug-drug interactions. I've never taken it, so I cannot relay anything from personal experience.... you made me do a lil' add'tl research, tho --->

 

You may be interested to learn that Pfizer, the company behind Neurontin, has recently synthesized another compound, chemically similar but more potent, called pregabalin (pronounced pre/GAB/alin).

 

The brand-name is Lyrica--and guess what? This one's controlled (schedule V)!

 

In the brain, these drugs work by "decreasing calcium firing of excitatory neurotransmitter receptors." -Florida Detox

 

The risk for some real dependency issues on this stuff is higher that I'd supposed, Colin. Check this out -

 

"From a few reports I've had, patients have been prescribed the anticonvulsant dose of Neurontin for benzodiazepine withdrawal. This is cause for concern because such a dose is equivolant to high levels of Klonopin and could lead to difficulty in tapering from Neurontin." -Dr. Reg Peart

 

Dr. Peart goes so far as to claim that Neurontin and BZDs are cross-tolerant & cross-dependent and that this is why the agent is well-suited to ease withdrawal symptoms. However, I don't put much stock in that simply because I have not read--anywhere else--that gabapentin & BZDs act through such methodologically identical routes (i.e., direct influence upon GABA/BZD receptor sites).

 

Saying that two drugs are cross-tolerant is a big step. I don't think they are 100%.

 

You asked about withdrawal symptoms. Peart says, "All references [concerning Neurontin] warn of avoiding abrupt withdrawal and the use of a tapered withdrawal" and that "symptoms reported include anxiety, insomnia, nausea, pain, sweating, vomiting, severe and repeated seizures, ataxia, nystgmus, fatigue and dizziness."

 

Also, here's an anecdotal report which I found very interesting:

 

"I went to a drug a drug rehab center. 1600mg of Neurontin 4x a day. 2 days before I was released they put me on 800mg 3x a day. I was released with no aftercare. I went through a week of nasty withdrawl. Severe Anxiety, Sleeplessness, constant sweating, loss of appetite, Two weeks have gone by now and I am finally starting to feel ok. Still stuggling with Benzo withdrawl but that will pass. Bottom line I wanted to get across here is that Neurontin withdrawl is very real and nasty. Not as nasty as A benzo withdrawl by far but still exsists. Dont quit cold turkey. I had no choice." -Source

 

So you made me read up on it more.

 

And now I know I would not want to toy with it!

 

Ten

[[Co...]]

It's been ages since I've read about Neurontin, but I recalled that it didn't sound positive. And as I said, members here have not been positive about it either. Actually, I've yet to come across any anticonvulsant or psychoactive drug that present few problems with use or withdrawal - not that I have anything like an exhaustive knowledge. I have taken quite a number of anticonvulsants in the past though, but all pretty much short-term, except Clonazepam.

 

Neurontin doesn't sound as though it's worth the risk. Having withdrawn from a benzo, and then to having to withdraw from Neurontin doesn't strike me as a fun thing to do.

[[...]]

It's been ages since I've read about Neurontin, but I recalled that it didn't sound positive. And as I said, members here have not been positive about it either.

 

Yeah yeah yeah already!  Ok, ok you were RIGHT all along. :muscle:

 

 

(It's true, you were. I had to go through all that reading! lol)

 

Neurontin doesn't sound as though it's worth the risk. Having withdrawn from a benzo, and then to having to withdraw from Neurontin doesn't strike me as a fun thing to do.

 

Yeah, you know I first encountered people who by their own admission, "abused" Neurontin while I was on Soberrecovery.com. It struck me as odd/amusing when I first saw it. Now, it doesn't at all.

 

I know how a pillhead thinks!

[[Ze...]]

.

 

Hi Ten!

 

 

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa276/sego2lily/GREATJOB.jpg

 

 

Great job on becoming Benzo-free!

 

 

.

[[Ze...]]

How are you doing?

[[Co...]]

Hi again, Zephyr.

 

I'm going through the posts and the first two have posts from you wishing a happy 4th July. That is fine, but threads should be on-topic. As per my post a couple of minutes ago to you, start such a thread on the off-topics board. I notice that you have just posted to a lot of other threads - if they too are 'happy 1st July' posts, I will be removing them. No big deal, just letting you know, that's all.

 

Take care.

 

 

Edit: I'll let go the posts to member's' blogs.

 

2nd edit: typo

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Thanks kindly, Zeph... I'm holding my own; nothing spectatcular, nothing disastrous.

 

lol

[[...]]

Hi

 

You are on a high dose of neurontin.  You can taper a bit quicker from the higher doses but you must slow down once you get under 2000mg.  I would taper neurontin after you are off of your klonopin for at least 6 months.  Neurontin is a rough drug to taper from and I don't know how long you have been on it.  Since you are already on the neurontin it will make it a bit easier to taper your klonopin without the awful withdrawal that comes with this drug.

 

When it is time to taper your neurontin I would go very slow because the withdrawals, although not lasting as long as benzo withdrawals, can be just as hard.   It all depends on the individual.

 

 

[[Co...]]

<off topic>

Hi DMP, just wanted to hello - it's bee ages since I've seen you here. I hope you are keeping well.

</off topic>

[[...]]

Hello Colin,

 

It HAS been awhile.  Still struggling with my reinstatement.  Will keep you all posted when feeling better.

 

Donna