Gabapentin (Neurontin) Withdrawl Support Group

[[Is...]]

Watchman,

 

I am so sorry you are still suffering. I am only  5 months off the benzo and 32 days of Neurontin.  I still have bad inner vibration, insomnia,  Akathisia, vertigo, tinnitus, eye pain, my feet turn red and burn only at night for a couple of hours and a bunch of little stuff.  I started on 2400 mg of Neurontin throughout the day. Once my body got spots all over it I just knew I needed to get off Neurontin and started cutting 300mg at a time because that was what my rx was and I let my body tell me. Just like Legos said to let your body tell you.  This was also before I found BB and did not know anything about tapering. Unlike most people where Neurontin helps them, it was doing the opposite for me. It was causing burning on my face and gave me extreme nausea.  I could not eat and lost to much weight. I did the taper and the last 300mg took me 2 months and that is what got me. Then I was given 100 mg rx and started using them and cutting them in half by pulling the capsule apart. You were right it was hard and thank you for giving me credit to get thru it.

 

I know it is scary but I think Legos has got something. Listen to your body and do what you feel is right.  We are hear for you when ever you need us.

 

Be safe and heal.....

[[Wa...]]

Watchman,

 

I am so sorry you are still suffering. I am only  5 months off the benzo and 32 days of Neurontin.  I still have bad inner vibration, insomnia,  Akathisia, vertigo, tinnitus, eye pain, my feet turn red and burn only at night for a couple of hours and a bunch of little stuff.  I started on 2400 mg of Neurontin throughout the day. Once my body got spots all over it I just knew I needed to get off Neurontin and started cutting 300mg at a time because that was what my rx was and I let my body tell me. Just like Legos said to let your body tell you.  This was also before I found BB and did not know anything about tapering. Unlike most people where Neurontin helps them, it was doing the opposite for me. It was causing burning on my face and gave me extreme nausea.  I could not eat and lost to much weight. I did the taper and the last 300mg took me 2 months and that is what got me. Then I was given 100 mg rx and started using them and cutting them in half by pulling the capsule apart. You were right it was hard and thank you for giving me credit to get thru it.

 

I know it is scary but I think Legos has got something. Listen to your body and do what you feel is right.  We are hear for you when ever you need us.

 

Be safe and heal.....

 

Thank you so much my Precious Sister I pray God holds you up in your struggle to be set free from all of this evil/ I truly love you all/were all in the same boat togather here!!! one for all and all for one

 

God bless

Wtchman

[[Is...]]

Hopefulgirl,

Welcome to the thread and I am so glad you found us. Looks like we found the titration expert.  Thank you so much for offering to help people use this method of tappering. You were asking for thoughts on when to start tapering Neurontin. I had to get off it fast because it was causing me more harm than good. Your situation is different. Based on what I have read on bb it sound like most people stabilize first before starting a new taper.  I like what legos said and listen to your body.  BTW, Congratulations on almost being benzo free. Really feels good... be safe and heal

[[Wa...]]

Does anyone have any really bad dijestive issues from either tolarance w/d or tapering? I have had an over active dijestive system for the last 5 months/been eating something every 2 hours around the clock 24/7 ever since and can’t gain weight not to mention the cramps/spasms and tightness toped off with aniexty after I eat anything…… it’s a real life nightmare to say the very least

[[ro...]]

hey everyone I was at some other forum on the Internet and someone had recommended reducing Neurontin by 5 mg /day.

They thought this would be a slow enough drop fro the body to adjust to it. So for someone on 300mg/day. This would take 60 days to complete. So far I have made much more major drops from 300 mg to 235mg Held at 235 for 1 week and now at 200 day 2. I am confused hearing so many different recommendations . Some say 300mg is a low dose and I can just stop taking it without tapering. Others say a 10% Taper. Now I heard reduce by 5mg/day. It seems like Doctors never tell you that you have to taper off of any medication or if they do it is a very rapid taper.

 

Have other members here heard such conflicting advice on how to taper off neurontin?

[[da...]]

10% reduction is what I have read. How often are you to cut?

[[ro...]]

The last advice i got was to cut 5mg every day until I was off the neurontin. What is the 10% recommendation . Cut 10% and hold for how long? I have gotten symptoms now  that I Did not have before like burning in the face ,mouth and eyes as well as insomnia. Also the Tinnitus has gotten loud. I think I need to go back up to 300mg and do a slower taper or maybe stay on the Neurontin and taper off the Valium and then taper the Neurontin

[[ro...]]

I should not be having these symptoms. I have these burning sensations in my eyes, face, mouth and throat. the Tinnitus has gotten worse it is louder than ever. I guess the cut I made in neurontin took a while to show up. I reduced fro m 300mg to 235mg for 7 days and now 3 days at 2oomg. Maybe opening the capsule and pouring out the powder is not the way to do it I have a precision scale . I may have been wrong or maybe over 10% reduction is too much. I have to go back to 300 mg I see no choice. I hate doing this but I should not be having these symptoms right now. My plan has failed me and I don't know what to do anymore. I need to have a plan to succeed . Anyone have a good plan that will work. My Valium taper failed and now my Neurontin taper has failed. I must be super sensitive to cuts in any psychotropic drug or drug affecting the CNS

[[Is...]]

Hi all,

 

I found this list of sxs from Neurontin  by Mao clinc..

 

Side effects/wds

 

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:More commonClumsiness or unsteadinessContinuous, uncontrolled, back-and-forth, or rolling eye movementsMore common in childrenAggressive behavior or other behavior problemsAnxietyConcentration problems and change in school performanceCryingDepressionFalse sense of well-beingHyperactivity or increase in body movementsRapidly changing moodsReacting too quickly, too emotional, or overreactingRestlessnessSuspiciousness or distrustLess commonBlack, tarry stoolsChest painChillsCoughDepression, irritability, or other mood or mental changesFeverLoss of memoryPain or swelling in the arms or legsPainful or difficult urinationShortness of breathSore throatSores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouthSwollen glandsUnusual bleeding or bruisingUnusual tiredness or weaknessIncidence not knownAbdominal or stomach painBlistering, peeling, or loosening of the skinClay-colored stoolsComaConfusionConvulsionsDark urineDecreased urine outputDiarrheaDizzinessFast or irregular heartbeatHeadacheIncreased thirstItchingJoint painLarge, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organsLoss of appetiteMuscle ache or painNauseaRed skin lesions, often with a purple centerRed, irritated eyesSkin rashUnpleasant breath odorVomiting of bloodYellow eyes or skinSome side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:More commonBlurred visionCold or flu-like symptomsDelusionsDementiaHoarsenessLack or loss of strengthLower back or side painSwelling of the hands, feet, or lower legsTrembling or shakingLess common or rareAccidental injuryAppetite increasedBack painBloated or full feelingBody aches or painBurning, dry, or itching eyesChange in visionChange in walking and balanceClumsiness or unsteadinessCongestionConstipationCough producing mucusDecrease in sexual desire or abilityDementiaDifficulty with breathingDryness of the mouth or throatEaracheExcess air or gas in the stomach or intestinesExcessive tearingEye dischargeFeeling faint, dizzy, or lightheadednessFeeling of warmth or heatFlushed, dry skinFlushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neckFrequent urinationFruit-like breath odorImpaired visionIncoordinationIncreased hungerIncreased sensitivity to painIncreased sensitivity to touchIncreased thirstIndigestionLow blood pressureNervousnessNoise in the earsPain, redness, rash, swelling, or bleeding where the skin is rubbed offPassing gasRedness or swelling in the earRedness, pain, swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelidRunny noseSneezingSweatingTender, swollen glands in the neckTightness in the chestTingling in the hands and feetTroubled breathingTrouble with sleepingTrouble with swallowingTrouble with thinkingTwitchingUnexplained weight lossVoice changesVomitingWeakness or loss of strengthWeight gainWheezing

[[Is...]]

Watchma,

 

Does anyone have any really bad digestive issues from either tolarance w/d or tapering? I have had an over active dijestive system for the last 5 months/been eating something every 2 hours around the clock 24/7 ever since and can’t gain weight not to mention the cramps/spasms and tightness toped off with aniexty after I eat anything…… it’s a real life nightmare to say the very least

 

I had stomach problems while I was on Neurontin.  I am now having stomach problems in withdrawl. 33 days off Neurontin for me, yet my digestive system is still whacked. I constantly eat although it revs me up so bad. The inner vibration increase with the food.  Food seems to make all of my sxs worse. On top of it all I keep losing weight.  My previous post from the Mao clinic shows stoma ck problems as a sxs.  I am in your nightmare too.

[[Ji...]]

I've just been to the GP and been prescribed 25mg capsules to help come off off pregabalin.

 

If I cut my dose in half this week do you think it might be too much.

 

 

I think this drug is perhaps contributing to my tiredness and inability to concentrate. Also getting a lot of headaches, dizziness and general feeling of yuk.

[[ho...]]

I've just been to the GP and been prescribed 25mg capsules to help come off off pregabalin.

 

If I cut my dose in half this week do you think it might be too much.

 

 

I think this drug is perhaps contributing to my tiredness and inability to concentrate. Also getting a lot of headaches, dizziness and general feeling of yuk.

 

Hi JigglyJo,

I would be very cautious about cutting this in half. I would play it safe and go with no more than a 10% reduction. If after 3-4 days at minimum-preferably 7-10 days you are stabilized then I would cut another 10%. You should know pretty quickly how the reduction impacts you. Pregabalin has a half life of 6.5 hours so it clears the system pretty quickly and withdrawal is expected to set in at 24-48 hours. Gabapentin is similar with a half life of 5-7 hours. Please be cautious and do not go too quickly. Take this from someone who has done both benzos and gabapentin too quickly in the past. You can really traumatize yourself and your CNS by doing this. You can always cut more or sooner once you know how it is impacting you. Good luck!

Hopeful Girl

[[Ji...]]

Hey, thanks so much for this advice. I just can't tell with this drug. I'm wondering if I need to get some scales to measure the powder out from the capsules.

 

Does anyone know where I can get hold of them? Or which type I would need?

 

 

Jj x

[[ca...]]

i don't understand how someone can cut the powder from a capsule by a %age...i just listen to my body and go with that..

 

i was taking 800 mg at night for sleep, but i've started a taper by dumping a portion of the powder out..so far so good..i still have a few crappy days, and the only reason i'm going off this is because it can cause kidney failure or disease..the only symptom i have is i feel like i have a really bad hangover in the morning, but it is gone by the end of the day.

[[ro...]]

Jiggly Jo, Amazon sell a scale that goes down to .001mg. It is called the Gemini-20 AWS. You can weigh your capsule on this and when you pour enough powder out of the capsule you can tell . Should then be 1/2 of the dose

 

Rob

[[ho...]]

Yes, getting a scale will be helpful so that you can be exact in your dosage. Our CNS likes consistency and steadiness so being exact can help some people. You can reduce by a percentage by weighing. For example, if all the powder from your capsule weighs 10mg (I'm just making up a hypothetical number) and you want to cut by 10%, you can take out enough powder to leave 9mg so that you would be cutting 10%. If your dose is 25mg like I think you mentioned you would be removing 2.5mg of the dose. So you would be taking 22.5mg now instead of 25mg. Make sense? Let me know if you need help with it 

 

Amazon is a great place to get the scales like mentioned.

 

Hope this helps!

Hopeful Girl

[[ca...]]

hopefulgirl...

 

i still don't understand why you would measure the powder. do you still have lots of w/d symptoms?

[[ho...]]

hopefulgirl...

 

i still don't understand why you would measure the powder. do you still have lots of w/d symptoms?

 

Hi. You would measure the powder so that you could make small cuts (10%) at a time. You obviously cannot eyeball this. Many people cannot taper gabapentin quickly and just as with benzos it carries a risk of seizures if tapering too quickly. This would be no different than measuring the powder from a Xanax pill with a jeweler's scale in order to make tiny cuts and keep them exact which is crucial for this type of taper. If you are not wanting to make smaller cuts then the pills come, you wouldn't need to weigh it. For example, if you want to cut 100mg at a time then you could just take the 100mg pills and cut out an entire pill. However, for most people the symptoms are too intense and you risk a longer recovery time by doing it this way. Make sense? Sorry if I am not explaining well or being confusing.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Hopeful Girl

[[ca...]]

hi hopeful girl - i don't take pills i take capsules...

 

are you are still having a lot of wd symptoms? if so why would you measure unless you are completely  healed.

[[ho...]]

Hi. It makes no difference pill or capsule...you would grind a pill into powder or pour the powder out of a capsule. I am not sure what you are asking in regards to my withdrawal symptoms. I am currently tapering Xanax and have significant withdrawal symptoms. I am not tapering gabapentin currently. I stopped my taper of it back in March to hold until I finished my Xanax taper. I was responding to another post where the question was asked if a 50% cut was too much and also to the post asking how to make small cuts.

Hopeful Girl

[[ro...]]

What I found that may work. Is to use a scale from Amazon. They are pretty precise. Also you can buy very tiny spoons. You remove very small amounts of powder. Also you can buy 500 empty gelatin capsules. So say you have a 300mg capsule of Neurontin. You weigh the capsule and it weighs .482 grams. 10% of 300 mg is 30 mg. So you want to get 270mg of Neurontin.

I set up a ratio and I solve for weight. Here is how it works  300mg/.482grams = 270mg/ x grams. X grams will be what 270mg capsule of Neurontin should weigh. So 300mg*x grams = .482*270  So 300mg*xgrams= 130.14 So Xgrams =130.14/300= .4338gms  so remove enough powder by pouring powder into empty gelatin capsule or by using tiny chemist spoon to remove powder. Round off .4338 to .434gms. If we look at the ratio both sides of the equal side should be the same. So 300mg/.482= 270mg/.4338  300/.482=622.41 and 270/.4338=622.41 So after you remove your powder put the capsule back together and weigh it if it is almost .434mg Then You have removed 10% or 30 mg of Neurontin powder. It is just using math algebra to figure out how many grams a certain mg of neurontin should weigh.

 

An easy example If I have a 300mg capsule and I weigh it and it is .482grams. I want lets say a 150mg capsule of Neurontin so half of .482 is .241.  So doing with ratios it is 300/.482 = 150/x grams so 300*xgrams =.482*150 so  300*xgrams =72.3 so xgrams =72.3/300=.241grams. Using ratios a you can solve for any weight you wish to remove from your capsule to get the % reduction you need. If you used the formula for 150 mg and you removed  .241 grams of powder and put this in your empty gelatin capsule you will now have the original Neurontin capsule now at 150mg and the empty gelatin capsule you put the powder in you removed would also be a 150mg Neurontin capsule. I hope this is right It seems like it should be.

If any one finds any error in my method or calculations. Please let me know.  I tried reducing from 300mg to 235mg in one cut. Almos 22%. I had bad symptoms and I have gone back to 300mg

 

 

Hopefully the binders and fillers mixed with The active Neurontin are evenly distributed in the capsule. I think the tiny spoons that chemists use may be helpful

Amazon sell tiny measuring spoons. I thought by transfering powder directly from the original capsule to an empty capsule would elominate having to empty the capsule in the tray of some other container

 

 

 

[[ca...]]

i understand that but why?? i just dump a little powder out, put the capsules back together and go with that...i don't understand why you would measure, that just doesn't make any sense to me..so much more work..

[[ro...]]

If You just take a little powder out. You don't know how much you took out and next time you take powder out again you don't know how much. The scale and small spoon lets you remove exact amounts. If you don't like the measuring and weighing get a small spoon or spatula and take out  a scoop with it. Then on the next day take out 2 scoops on the 3rd day 3 scoops and so on for a week. So each day you took out one scoop so at the end of 7 days. you took out a known amount. And if this scoop was 4mg. You would have removed 28mg. Almost 10%. I would then make more capsules of 300mgNeurontin - 28mg and hold at this dose for some time so you adjust to the reduction. The scale just allows you to be accurate and consistent and you know exactly what dose you are at. Otherwise You are guessing. All Benzo tapering either by cutting or by Titration lets you know how much exactly you are reducing by. So You get a smooth reduction. Pouring out a little may not be consistent or may fluctuate from day to day. Amazon and other companies sell tiny spoons or spatulas. This make it easier and you will be more accurate rather than just dumping some arbitrary amount of powder from the capsule

[[ca...]]

right now i'm on 600 mg..and i stay at this amount for a week and then pour out more, i don't the mg amount at this point and i really don't care...and next week ill pour out a little more. i don't think for me there is a smooth taper...

 

this is not a benzo..i've already gone off all benzo's - i've been off for 7 months..

[[ro...]]

cagr1, I guess for you it may be different for you because you are off benzos and are now trying to reduce the Neurontin you are on. I am on 3 drugs right now 25mg Valiun, 300mg Neurontin and about 50mg Trazodone. The Benzo wise Doctor wanted me to stop both the Neurontin and Trazodone immediately without tapering. So I came up with my own taper plan. I reduced the Neurontin from 300 to 235mg for 7 days then down to 200mg. I guess I must be sensitive to Neurontin or it may be because I am also on Valium but I had bad sxs. Burning sensations on my face mouth, throat and eyes and the Tinnitus got louder and more annoying. So I have gone back up to 300mg. The Neuronten helps stop or slow down the symptoms of benzo withdrawal so I have been told by an online addiction specialist. I think it also varies from person to person how sensitive they are to Neurontin reductions. You may be fortunate and not have any problems doing it the way you are doing it. Others have problems weaning of Neurontin or AD drugs like Remeron and Trazodone