Gabapentin. The new benzo?

[[er...]]

I didn't know if it would be appropriate to start a thread about gabapentin on this forum but quite a few of us are prescribed it to help with withdrawal so here I go. And I think anyone that starts on it should know some of the things I am finding out about it. 

I am prescribed a starting dose of 400MGs daily. My doctor wants to work me up to 3,000MGs daily. Yea, on what planet? I get f**ked up on the 400MGs. I was on it for just five days and when I stopped I felt like I was going to die. Now I take it every four days. To help with the withdrawal? Not really. I like the way it makes me feel. I feel like I just took some Xanax. I took my 400MGs this morning and I've had a glow all day. No rage. No irritability. Ears are ringing. Don't care. 

And just like benzos the medical researchers are finding out that many people go into severe withdrawal just like benzos when they try to get off of it. Some so bad that they have to go back on it and stay on it. And their finding out that a whole lot of people are abusing it. So, I'm wondering. After I finish my Klonopin taper are my ears going to start ringing horribly as I try to taper off of that? Am I going to be back here later saying how awful (once again) my ears are ringing? Knowing me.I wouldn't be a bit surprised. I'll be honest with you. I can hardly wait for the next four days to go by so I can feel like this again.

There's forums out there already for people going through hell trying to get off the stuff.

Just some food for thought.

 

Oh. I bought some colored pencils and adult coloring books. Real intricate stuff. I find that after a few hours of doing that I'm more relaxed even when I haven't taken any gabbies. They say it's like meditating. Maybe a combination of both?

[[sn...]]

I think all of these meds effect everyone differently.

 

I have been on this lorazepam for years and it never made me all tired out.  I was given gabapentin for back and muscle pain by a pain doctor...was supposed to get 300mg a day by taking 3 x 100 mg tablets a day.  One 100 mg tablet made me very relaxed and very tired for two days.  I talked to some other people and they were on huge doses and it no longer worked for the back pain.  Anyway, had read up on it some after that and did find a lot of stories about withdrawal problems.  I have seen some of the same reports about taking antidepressants.

 

My suggestion is don't take any more meds than you really need. If you need one from time to time that is probably ok but I wouldn't start taking a large dose everyday unless you absolutely have to.

[[be...]]

Gabapentin worked wonders for me when I really needed it. Now I take it more on an as needed basis. Sometimes people do have trouble with it though. Like any drug I'd take it only if you really really need it. Otherwise yes I'd avoid it. It's like any drug that effects our CNS. Some find little or no problem getting off it whereas others have a difficult time. The thing is you don't know in advance. But I have no regrets. And 100 X 3 is a small dose. If you're nervous about it though don't take it. Personally though I has muscle cramps in the beginning that were debilitating. The gabapentin let me function normally. It was worth it and so far no problems with it. B

[[er...]]

You are right. I'm going to stick to 400MGs every four days. Hopefully..... after 14 months of hell it's nice to feel good every few days.

 

That adult coloring book thing is really something. I used to meditate years ago. It feels like the same thing. After a few hours of coloring I can feel the difference from when I start. I noticed this afternoon the gabbies had worn off but after two hours of coloring I was really mellowed out. I don't notice the ringing in my ears as much when I'm coloring. Actually, after two hours I didn't notice them at all. It feels nice not wanting to throw myself in front of a truck.

 

[[be...]]

Wow another colouring buddie. I can't meditate no matter how hard I try. Colouring takes my mind off stuff for hours. I'm blessed and don't have tinnitus but do have severe body burning. Everywhere. Even my eyes, mouth, everywhere. When I colour it's magic. I'm aware of the fact that I'm burning but just barely. And don't care. I've lost my pencil crayons somewhere. Lol put them somewhere safe so I'd know where to find them but surprise forget my safe place. It's not the benzos. I've had safe place problems since childhood. So the hunt is on. I just love colouring. B

[[er...]]

My reading glasses are 3.25x.

I have a pair of 5x coming in the mail tomorrow. It's addicting. I can't believe that I can stay within those little thin lines and tight spaces that you have to color. I draw for a few hours and then think, "I did that?"

And when you store the finished drawings they don't take up any space like the wood fretwork and cutouts I was doing.

I came out of the hospital with a hobby. The coloring books are less than $6.00. I don't think I even paid $10.00 for the pencils.

They came with a sharpener. It's a lot cheaper than taking up skiing.

 

Losing things. I would ask my ex-wife if she happen to see my car keys. She would reply, "Where did you leave them?"

 

I think were drifting into "chewing the fat" territory.

[[lo...]]

gabapentin augments the effects of benzos in a sense. it nearly gave me a 'high' when I was tapering.

maybe thats why I did not have much w/d symptoms during taper who knows.

now that i'm off it feels like another damn drug to take, and i just take 300mg for sleep. plan to be done very soon. but it is a good thing to have as needed. not addictive in my personal exp.

[[Di...]]

I think there is a Gabapentin thread over in the Support Groups section, if anyone is interested.

[[Sh...]]

I'm taking it's big brother Lyrica every few days and it's helping a lot too. I guess the only issue is whether or not it affects healing. I guess we'll never know.

[[Kl...]]

I went c/t from 900-1200mg of gabapentin a day (took it for four years). It definitely felt like a benzo withdrawal (although less intense). I think research will reveal that it is very insidious and harmful as time progresses. I was told it was one of the "safest" medicines ever and now I refuse to believe doctors about any pills they try to give me.

[[Sh...]]

I went c/t from 900-1200mg of gabapentin a day (took it for four years). It definitely felt like a benzo withdrawal (although less intense). I think research will reveal that it is very insidious and harmful as time progresses. I was told it was one of the "safest" medicines ever and now I refuse to believe doctors about any pills they try to give me.

 

Maybe if you tapered rather than CT things may have been a lot easier. Who knows. But yes I agree. Taking meds is russian roulette. An SSRI called Luvox destroyed me last year. But lyrica occassionally is helping.

[[Kl...]]

I went c/t from 900-1200mg of gabapentin a day (took it for four years). It definitely felt like a benzo withdrawal (although less intense). I think research will reveal that it is very insidious and harmful as time progresses. I was told it was one of the "safest" medicines ever and now I refuse to believe doctors about any pills they try to give me.

 

Maybe if you tapered rather than CT things may have been a lot easier. Who knows. But yes I agree. Taking meds is russian roulette. An SSRI called Luvox destroyed me last year. But lyrica occassionally is helping.

 

Yes I agree I would have been in a better place if I had tapered. I will say the bounce back from stopping gabapentin was much better than benzos. I didn't struggle with lingering symptoms.

 

I do feel I needed to stop gabapentin to complete my healing. I entered a SEVERE depression until I stopped it and now I feel great in life. I would even say I'm healed.

 

I'm really glad Lyrica is helping you! I would have taken nearly anything non-benzo to get relief during my acute withdrawal from klonopin .

[[Sh...]]

That's great KGirl. I'm really frustrated now because Lyrica has been helping but I've figured out it screws up my sleep pretty bad on the days I dont take it. For example I took it sat night and slept really well, but the last 3 nights without it I've barely slept a wink. And I haven't had a problem with sleeping at all really in benzo WD. Plus it makes you gain weight. Can't win can you!?

[Guest [su...]]

I had Lyrica and I got so odd...Couldn't walk, felt drunk, become very quite and very introvert . Got really bad memory problems, began to stutter. Dizzy as hell. Blurry vision. And this was on only 25 mg/day. Normal dose for GAD is 150 mg/day. Some people get addicted to this. In Sweden it used by many junkies. I am surprised that it is not classified as narcotic. Like benzo or tramadol. Many have to up dose this medicine after some time to get the effect they wont. Gabapentin is weaker than Lyrica but still a very strong drug.

I had them for 5 weeks and I w/d the pills in one week. My friend have 600 mg of Lyrica every day for her back problem and nerve problem. She is fighting with severe w/d from them. And she said it is more aggressive than benzo. It is like w/d benzo and opiates together...

 

Lyrica hide w/d from benzo very well. Says a lot of how powerful this drug is! No other meds hide benzo w/d.

 

I am happy my doc told me not to take them anymore. It is crazy to change one addiction to another one. Gapapentin and Lyrica is a CNS depressant. Docs are as we know not always right about medicines.

I think it is important to know what these drugs can do. They are not as addictive like benzo. But SSRI are not addictive at all and leave many people with big problems when it is time to quit. IMO SSRI are as addictive like benzo no matter what the docs says  They don't have a clue about this medicine. My w/d from escitalopram was pure hell and very similar to benzo w/d.

 

Wasn't Pfizer sued for something about Lyrica and put this crap on the market without tests??

[[lo...]]

I did not had problems getting off gabapentin. some people do, some don't. I've heard that lyrica, altough much stronger, is harder to get off. i guess that is the price to pay.

but it is a good tool to have for those edge cases. don't take it all the time

[[sn...]]

I agree with sundance...I answered above that while I am on lorazepam for anxiety/panic attacks I also have severe back and muscle aches. Had gone to a pain doctor for and they prescribed a whole sack of pills including BOTH gabapentin and lyrica...had some codeine and advil and all that mixed in as well.  I took a minimal amount of gabapentin and it made me very tired.  I did not want to take all that other stuff because I want to be mentally functional.  I will take some of those for back pain  only if I desperately need them.  Currently, still trying to reduce/withdraw form lorazepam dose.

[[Ho...]]

I get bad irritable, jaw clenching and feel like I'm craving something as each dose wears off. Anyone else?

[[Ho...]]

Anyone know if I can take magnesium while tapering this crap? Or do I have to wait til I'm off of it?