Gabapentin (Neurontin) Withdrawl Support Group

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Thanks for the responses!  When the time comes, I'll try to take it slow, but patience has never been my strong suit.

[[Is...]]

Great plan UtahGirl

 

Safe healing to all

[[On...]]

Great plan UtahGirl

 

Safe healing to all

 

ISLANDGIRL!!!!  Gosh, it's good to "see" you here. How are you? Do you feel like giving us a status update?  I think of you every day.

 

Much love,  ~OneLove 

[[Me...]]

hey guys just wanted to let you know I tapered off 1600mg of N.  I did it mid benzo taper.  It wasn't really all that bad.  I mean when you go through benzo taper anything else is relativly easy.  I cut 400mg every 2 weeks.  The main sx for me coming off was depression.  So its very do'able.  If you think it would be better to taper slower than do that.  Just listen to your body, like usual.  You be okay.  Good news is that the withdrawals do not linger very long after you are off completely. 

[[ho...]]

hey guys just wanted to let you know I tapered off 1600mg of N.  I did it mid benzo taper.  It wasn't really all that bad.  I mean when you go through benzo taper anything else is relativly easy.  I cut 400mg every 2 weeks.  The main sx for me coming off was depression.  So its very do'able.  If you think it would be better to taper slower than do that.  Just listen to your body, like usual.  You be okay.  Good news is that the withdrawals do not linger very long after you are off completely.

 

Hi There,

Thanks for sharing! How long were you on it?

Thanks and Congrats for being off!

Hopeful Girl

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It's almost impossible to tell what's causing what if you are on a taper AND pulling yourself off of Neurontin. It isn't advisable. N. will help with withdrawal symptoms, but it has to be tapered off of slowly and only after about a month off of any benzo's. Very slowly, as in 25-50mg a week from what I read. It isn't as horrible as a benzo taper from what my specialist tells me, the people who are going too fast or are having bad post withdrawals are confusing what is causing what. N. covers up benzo sfx, so if you lower the N. you get a reaction, and think it's the N, but actually it's the benzo it was covering--or another drug.

It is a much safer drug than any benzo, it just needs tapering very slowly after you are clear of benzo's. That's my two cents.

[[Is...]]

Hi all,

 

Metherall66...great job getting off N. I am so glad you had an easier time of it...  way to go....

[[Is...]]

Hi Onelove,

 

Thanks for asking how I am doing.  Nice to know people care and notice when you are gone.  I have been having a really hard time these last few days. I stiil cant talk because of TMJ and the chiropractor says it will be a lengthy process. Add that to inside speed meaning no calm ever and its hard. Darn Neurontin poison makes me mad I was ever on it.

 

Thanks again for asking...  Much love    IslandGirl

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I was wondering if anyone knows what the best way is to taper off gabapentin which was prescribed to me for anxiety. I am currently taking 1900mg. It has been suggested to me that I take smaller doses at more regular intervals during the day to keep my blood level more even as well as to permit smaller reductions at some of these smaller dosing intervals. The problem I am having is with the 2nd day after a reduction (of even 100mg at a time). I seem to be getting severe withdrawal symptoms which keep me paralyzed in agitation, hyperventilation, and anxiety for an extended time. My doctor will not give me any benzodiazepams to attenuate these symptoms so I am on my own. Would very much like to hear advice on tapering strategies from experienced people! 

 

[[Is...]]

Hi Adamo,

 

I see you are new.  Welcome to BB.  I am so sorry you are having a hard time. I have a few questions if you don't mind.

 

Is Neurontin the only med you are on? I can't tell from your signature.

 

How long have you been on Neurontin.?

 

Last one, Are you taking the 1900mg all at once or what is your daily dose....

 

Hang for the ride ...you can do it...  heal safe IslandGirl

 

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Thanks Island Girl. I have been on Remron (a very small amount) for years. That has never caused me any side effects at all (only helped sleep and appetite). The 1900mg is across a single day. I have reduced this from 2400mg with extreme difficulty. My psych tells me: "...In 34 years of treating patients I have never had a single instance of any withdrawal symptoms reported by my patients taking Gabapentin!" He tells me that tapering is 400mg every 3 days and then off... I recently ended up in ER because I tried to reduce 300mg at once thinking I was having a heart attack. The ER doctor said he routinely has people come in who have significantly reduced or cold-turkeyed it that he has to sedate. The nurse attending me said she had thought that using Neurontin for anxiety is unheard of that it is for pain and that giving me such a high dose was ridiculous. I am trying to do 200mg cut every 4-5 days now. When I asked my psyche for some small quantity of Ativan to attenuate my withdrawal symptoms — usually hitting hard on the 2nd day after a dose reduction — he said "Whatever for? There is no such thing as Gabapentin withdrawal." I am searching for an addictionologist to help me otherwise. Of course, I have no intention of getting addicted to any kind of benzodiazepams — I hate that stuff but using it as a way to stabilize I think would help? My understanding is that after a dose reduction of Gabapentin when the level in the blood drops the over stimulation of the dulled Gaba receptors causes withdrawal symptoms but that unlike other drugs this levels off relatively quickly... My problem with getting off this stuff so far is that I get nasty uncomfortable that 2nd day after the cut and the experience scares and discourages me from moving forward onto the next reduction. In the end, the most important point is to continually forge ahead towards being free of this s***! Additionally, I have been advised to divided up my dose into smaller quantities taken across the entire day so that I can make lesser reductions on these multiple daily doses — what do you think of this strategy? I have all the other bells and whistles: ReMag, JNK, NeurEndure, Epsom salts — for what they are worth. Look forward to hearing from you. 

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Hi Adamo,

So sorry to hear of your troubles. I have tapered from 2700mg gabapentin to 900mg. I stopped dropping in order to finish my Xanax taper. I too was prescribed this at this dose for anxiety. The only way I could get from 2700 to 900mg was dropping 100mg every 1-2 weeks. From 900mg down I plan to only drop 10% of my dose every 10-14 days until I am off. I would strongly recommend against taking Ativan or any other Benzo. These drugs further "dull" or down regulate your gaba receptors and therefor will only postpone your recovery. My recommendation would be to slow down your taper significantly rather than adding other meds. I look forward to hearing how things progress for you! This will end!

Hang in there,

Hopeful Girl

[[Ut...]]

I tried to taper off 300 mgs N about 2 months ago.  I dropped from 300 to 200 for 1 week and then down to 100.  I was only at 100 for 1 day when the shit hit the fan.  Lol.  I had severe anxiety, the kind where you want to die, nausea, no appetite, restlessness.  I immediately went back up to 300.

 

I am now trying to stabilize.  I still feel pretty bad.  Especially the anxiety.  Does anyone have any tips for how I can restabilize?

 

 

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Utahgirl-

I'm sorry you had a bad experience.

My dr is having me step down 100 mg a month....I am on 500 mg

Seems like everything is hard to come off.

Good luck

 

Island- you doing ok?

[[Is...]]

Hi all,

 

I feel Hopefulgirl has the best plan. 10% cut every few weeks. When I got down to the end (i was at 2400mg for anxiety at the start)I was opening up my 100mg capsul and deviding it up. I should have used a scale, but it worked.

 

Admo- slow and steady....hang in there

 

UtahGirl- I was so sorry to hear about how bad things were for you.  One idea for you might be to go to a coupunding pharmacy for smaller cuts.  Just a thought.

 

Tracycee- Thank you so much for asking about me. It really helps to know people care.  I don't want to scare anyone but you really don't want into my nightmare..I am not well and this living hell is getting to me.  I am so ramped up I have not slept for days and my skin burns along with a bunch if other sxs. Almost went to hospital and gave in, but my BB family got my thru (thanks Onelove  and Lexi65)  Hang in there all you can do it. I am seeing small healing. I can eat now.. That is good..

 

Love you all.  IslandGirl

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Island Girl,

You are in my thoughts and prayers daily! So sorry for your suffering. So thankful you can eat some! Praying for relief from these symptoms soon!

Warmly,

Hopeful Girl 

[[Ut...]]

Island girl

 

Isn't there any kind of medication you can take?  Or are you against all meds?  The first time I tried and failed the gabapentin taper, I was put on geodon, an antipsychotic.  It helped a ton.  This time my doc switched me over to zyprexa to try to get me to eat.  I still haven't stabilized and only feel about 30-40% better than the initial episode.  I'm going to ask to be switched back over to geodon and hope it works again. 

 

Then, once I'm stable, I plan to re taper the gabapentin in LIQUID form at only 5 or 10 mg cuts every few weeks.  It will take awhile, but I will try it.  Then, I will try to cut geodon, in liquid form as well.  This is my plan, but I first need to stabilize.  It's been 2 months!  When will I feel better?

 

I'm actually considering adding a morning dose of gabapentin of 100 mgs.  I currently take 300 mgs at night.  Maybe a morning dose will help some.

 

I really hate to see you suffer!  You just really don't want to take any more meds??

Have you tried magnesium and Epsom salt baths and gargles?  What about an anti nausea med?

I am very worried about you! :'(

 

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Island girl-

I'm sorry you are struggling.  Hang in there....we all know the ups and downs to this saga.

Stay strong.  You have come so so so far!

Hugs girl!

[[Is...]]

Hi all,

 

Thanks for the encouraging words. I need them now more than ever. I am so reved up it is like I am on speed. I could not take it so I tried vitamin C and magnesium and Seriphos to help calm anything. That backfired terrible. Next thing I was vomiting for the last 2 day and walking during all the sxs running rampid. Now my stomach hurts again and just drinking broth ramps me up more. 

 

Will this ever end I need so CALM.....without prescription drugs.  They got me into this  OMG...

 

Love Island

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Oh Island Girl! I'm so very sorry! I know you have tried everything without success but have you tried any homeopathic remedies? These really help me or do nothing which is fine by me as long as they don't cause me to be worse. Maybe check into seeing someone who is licensed in homeopathy. Praying for you to have a full recovery quickly! I believe it will end. There is no evidence that this is permanent!

Hang in there!

Love,

Hopeful Girl

[[On...]]

Just heard from IslandGirl's husband; she is not doing well at ALL. Please hold her in your healing thoughts and her husband too.

 

Hopefulgirl, I always thought the way you did about homeopathics in my earlier pre-benzo days and much preferred homeopathics. I still would probably if I were relatively healthy. But they DO have interactions and contraindications and CAN cause harm. I found this out the hard way by taking a homeopathic a few weeks ago for a virus flare up. I thought this would be totally non harmful. As the ensuing glutamate storm ensued and became totally screamingly out of control with me begging to be thrown off a cliff, I finally considered that the homeopathic may have played a role. The next day when I could stand being in my own body again, I researched it. One of the four ingredients, thuja, blocks gaba. Darn.

 

EVERYTHING we ingest, put on our skin,or breath, affects us. Everything. It's just that most of the time, we would normally have a  heartiness of constitution to weather these specific effects and keep our equilibrium.

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Hi OneLove,

Oh-I totally agree! That is why I'd only take something by working closely with a someone with advanced homeopathy training. I have been fortunate that I haven't had any negative reactions but have only taken a couple of different ones. The way I look at it is that if you believe the herb, remedy, supplement, etc. has the power to heal you, it certainly has the power to harm! Thanks for that word of caution!

Keep up posted about Island Girl if you hear anything.

Love,

Hopeful Girl

[[On...]]

Hi OneLove,

Oh-I totally agree! That is why I'd only take something by working closely with a someone with advanced homeopathy training. I have been fortunate that I haven't had any negative reactions but have only taken a couple of different ones. The way I look at it is that if you believe the herb, remedy, supplement, etc. has the power to heal you, it certainly has the power to harm! Thanks for that word of caution!

Keep up posted about Island Girl if you hear anything.

Love,

Hopeful Girl

 

IG has a new thread in the withdrawal section. It's on aggravating factors if have anything to add there. 

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Thanks one love!

[[Ut...]]

How is Island Girl?  I hope she found some relief!  She needs help.  I hate to hear she is suffering.  :'(