As with any medication that you consume, there are potential gabapentin withdrawal symptoms to be aware of when you are prescribed this anticonvulsant and drastically alter the amount that you are taking. The side effects from the gabapentin withdrawal can be minimized by following the direction of your physician which usually entails a gradual weaning from the medication over a period of time. Whether you are consuming a large dose or a small dose, the more regularly you consume Neurontin the greater the chances of experiencing the gabapentin withdrawal symptoms are.
Beyond the common side effects that people experience when they are on Neurontin including, dizziness, fatigue, weight gain, peripheral edema, mood swings, hyperactivity, and even hepatotoxicity, there are specific gabapentin withdrawal symptoms that occur when you suddenly stop taking it. Because of the nature of the drug, regular use of Neurontin can build the levels in the bloodstream in such a way that the body adapts to this constant supply. When you don’t give it what it is used to there are a number of specific and potentially severe gabapentin withdrawal symptoms that are similar to alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawals. Some of these symptoms to be aware of include insomnia, anxiety, disorientation, sensitivity to light, headaches, heart palpitations, hypertension, flu like symptoms, and chest pain. There have even been reports that rapid termination of high doses of Neurontin could result in a seizure, among people that have no history of epilepsy. The best way to safeguard against all of these negative gabapentin withdrawal symptoms is to gradually reduce the dosage under the supervision of a doctor, over a period of weeks or even months.
There is a link between Neurontin and suicidal thoughts as well as depression. If you experience these side effects it is important that you continue taking the prescribed dosage to avoid the gabapentin withdrawal symptoms, but that you seek medical attention right away. Depending on the severity of these side effects it may be better to stop abruptly and deal with the gabapentin withdrawal side effects, but this determination needs to be guided by your doctor.
The gabapentin withdrawal symptoms are typically scene within just a few days of not consuming the medication. If the side effects are too strong it is possible to re-introduce the medication and try again at a slower rate. Discussing these options with your physician and making sure that you can recognize the gabapentin withdrawal symptoms will allow you make the healthiest decision, with your doctor, for your individual situation.
Comments
My daughter has had her first dose of gabapentin 300 mg for pain in her back, her physician wants her to take it for 2 months, how will I know if she is havind adverse reactions. thank you
i was just prescribed neuronton for cronic pain in my feet...im a little scared because i just read that you can experiense severe withdrawl symptoms when .you stop taking it...i am a recovering addict...so i have been through withdrawl...its HELL! So just becareful make sure you ween her off of them slowly so she doesnt get sick...you do not want her to go through that...its terrible
Beware of Gabepentin!!!! I'm on workers comp and have to take for nerve issues. Kaiser er, Kaiser dr and workers comp All told me safe drug won't have withdrawals. Well workers comp insurance cut me off two weeks ago so last little bit had. I was in 2400 a day to 3200. I haven't had any for two weeks and it brutal! I'm so sick!!!! I can't eat, food turns my stomach, I drink tons or water & gatoraide, can't sleep, restless, anxious, diahreah, flu systems times 5. It's really bad!! What makes me mad is I barely took any and just started staking again in March with lots of days being inconsistent on amounts. I never expected it to be additive!!!! I am feeling very helpless right now since been two weeks exactly. The only difference is I notice a few positive things like I can eat broth, no more sweats, slept an extra hour last night. The cramping, I do take Dicyclomine used for IBS and have been taking daily three times a day. I also have allot of nausea so take Ondansettron to help. The withdrawl symptoms are very intolerable! Tremors and seizure is biggest fear. If you are given this and haven't taken I would talk to a Pain Management Dr who knows about addiction, etc.This is my experience. I did send message to my dr so I can discuss further with her. Never realized I was going thru withdrawl till few days ago. Thought I had been down with flu for 10 days, Not withdrawl from a supposed safe drug. I'm not sure if should get back on and wein off or worst part is over???
I just stopped taking this drug today, ran out and can't get filled again until the 10th of April. I take 3200 mgs a day, oh my I already feel crappy and I really can't get anymore till the 10th, so not looking forward to the withdrawals. Help me Jesus
Took it yrs ago and went back on in 2011. As of Aug. 1,2014 Anthem BC will no longer cover it or it's FMS version Lyrica. GABA is a main component of Lyrica. They say there is a compound in it not approved by the FDA Withdrawal has been shorter this time due to their demand and I experience hot and cold sensitivity,' lots of tremors and arms jerk. Sleeplessness. Highly sensitive to loud sounds and irritable.Anxiety feeling or hypertension- whatever makes your body feel like it's buzzing is the worst. Good luck all. If you want to go off it take it slow like I was able to the first time. Two weeks for every 300mg.
Hi Kathi. I am withdrawing from 600mg @night for fibro and I just wondered what you mean by buzzing? I feel like there's buzzing in my fingers, like electrical buzzing. I am also experiencing headaches but I am gonna continue the withdrawal because I am trying to be medication free. It's just the electrical feeling that bothers me. Thanks
I only take 100 mg daily for migraine prevention but I want to stop. My neurologist says I can just stop taking it with only 100 mg. Does anyone know if this is true. I have gone through withdrawal from Tramadol and it is hell. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks
100mg should be fine even if you cut it down to every second day then every third day if you felt better doing it that way
I've been off the tramadol. For two weeks now and I'm still having awful pins and needles pain. Do you know how long it will take for that feeling too go away? It's killing me.
I took gabapentin for restless legs while withdrawing from tramadol as I was hardly getting any sleep. It took about 5 weeks off tramadol for me to start sleeping again. It's hell not sleeping more than about 2 hrs a night but hang in there it's worth it.
Yes , I took 100mg a day didn't work so I thought, so I just stopped ans and no withdraw. Now im back on it at 2000 mg , worked for a while then it was depleting my sodium had horrible mood swings , Tried Cold Turkey nope Horrid ! Flu symptoms , Diarrhea, then just water .... Stomach pain . After reading all over i learned it's deadly to cold Turkey so im starting over weaning off . So sick... Migraines , Dizziness, hearing music feel like im going crazy. Hot then cold and so on.Sweats chill's. But on it , double Vision , anxiety panic melt downs . On BC to skip periods from chronic back pain but. Have one anyways This is NASTY STUFF
I have. Stopped before at that dose. I was fine but ya wean off will be safer
I have been on gabapentin for 8 years taking 3200mg per day. I had to stop and have come from that to 0 in just over 1 week which is what doctor wanted. I am now worried that the withdrawal will get worse after what I just read. I have had a hellish ten days. Very worried
I am on 900 mg per day and I have myasthenia Gravis. I have been on this three months and my fatigue is worsening. Anyone else oou there with MG and taking neurontin? I plan to step down 300 mg per week. Any advice?
I just weaned off gabapentin after 2 yrs 4 months. My back was injured in a car accident and over time have been placed on the back surgery waiting list. I was taking 600 mg 3 times a day. My fatigue went from bad to awful, to the point I needed to come off it and to evaluate my pain tolerance. I don't normally surf or answer people on the web but I needed answers on the gabapentin withdrawal symptoms as I haven't been able to eat, I feel sick, etc. Then I came across your correspondence. I discovered just this last week, I didn't have that extreme tiredness and for me, having MG this has been the trade off. I felt I was working in a fog all the time and have talked with others who felt the same. I'm not so sure this is a good drug for people like us, however, it did help me to walk. But surgery seems to be inevitable which I don't relish the recovery because it always takes us a little longer to feel stronger or steriods. Good luck.
I have been taking 1200 mg of gabapentin a day in the form of 300 mg capsules, with one in the morning, and at noon, with two in the evening.
I have termed it my miracle drug for nerve pain from spinal stenosis. However, I have begun to link it with some other unpleasant symptoms.
As an experiment I stopped taking it two days ago, and so far haven't had any side effects. Should I be worried? I still have a supply so could resume taking it in smaller doses. I wanted to ask because I know my sister got weaned off of it and she was taking a much smaller amount for a shorter period of time. Should I call my doctor?
I know your message is an old one, but I am wondering if you stopped taking the gabapentin for your spinal stenosis pain, and if you did, did the pain return? I was almost crippled by sciatica due to spinal stenosis and a couple of herniated disks, until my doctor prescribed gabapentin. It has been a wonder drug, but I am experiencing some side effects and am wondering what would happen if I wean myself off of it. Would love to hear your experience.
Yes Wean off ! Im going through horrible Withdraw cokd Turkey so back to wean off instead . Its safer
I had to stop cold turkey after taking 300 for a month. I experienced severe flu like symptoms and was bedridden for just over a week. It was pretty bad, to the point I ended up in the ER 3 times. I was prescribed this for severe fibromyalgia. This medicine made my pain worse, but it helped my brain function tremendously.
I have been taking gabapentin 2700mg daily in the form of 9 times 300mg, for 15 months. Over the last week i have begun to ween myself off them (under doc instruction) and have developed strong headaches, drowsiness and anxiety in things i would normally be comfortable with.
Reading the BNF's cautions on Gabapentin i thought (like many people) i wouldnt develop withdrawal symptoms, but i most definately have. Be careful when coming off you meds!
I've been taking gabapentin for a little more than 4 years for neuropathic pain from a SCI. Originally I had increased it to 300mg twice then 600mg once daily and it resolved the feeling of being fire-roasted or dragged across a carpet, and with little to no side effects.
When I developed back pain the doctor increased it to 600mg three times daily, with no difference in pain, and causing most of the listed side effects.m
Some years later I saw a pain management specialist who doubled my dose to 1200mg three times a day! This gave 0 relief, and I got dramatic side effects. So I trty tapering back ro 3x 600mg, and I get nerve pain i didn't have before at 3x 600mg. Months go by, I discover timing morphine er and 5-10mg vicodin doses with a skipped 1200mg of gabapentin worked to cover the rebound pain. So I'm 3-4 weeks on 1200 twice a day (morning night) and I'm out of the opiate pain meds. I've dramatically lost weight and edema, but during the slump between doses I get so anxious and I furiously shift around. It is far harder to stop taking gabapentin compared to any "narcotic" opiate I've had; hydrocodone, morphine (extended release), dilaudid.
Don't rely on gabapentin longterm, don't believe it is a benign Rx, it's bad for your liver. Supposedly it doesn't affect the brain because the molecule is too big to permeate the blood-brain barrier, but it promotes GABA production WITHIN the brain.
It's terrible for learning and healthy brain function: "Some of its activity may involve interaction with voltage-gated calcium channels. Gabapentin binds to the α2δ subunit (1 and 2) and has been found to reduce calcium currents after chronic but not acute application via an effect on trafficking of voltage-dependent calcium channels in the central nervous system. Another possible mechanism of action is that gabapentin halts the formation of new synapses."
I have been on Gabapentin for almost 2 months,it helps me so much with the nerve pain ( was Fibromyalgia?? now just went through MS testing??) find out the results 05 MAY 2015. ( two days after my 60th birthday "lol") what ever the results are I plan to keep taking Gabapentin 600mg every 12 hours. I hope to unless the Dr. tells me different. I am so sorry that Gabapentin does not help other people!!!!
I have been prescribed 300mg of Gabapentin taken at night to help with insomnia for over two years. I stopped taking it 10 days ago and have felt terrible. I have had severe vertigo and other flu like symptoms. My doctor does not think it is related to stopping the Gabapentin. I tend to disagree and am curious if anyone else had a similar experience. Should I go back on and do a taper or how long does this dizziness last?
I have been taking 300mg 3x daily for 4 1/2 months now for "unknown" pain on one side of my head and neck. I hate treating a symptom, it means that no one is still looking for the cause of the pain. Before starting the gabapentin, I was given 3 rounds of prednisone and gained 20 pounds. I have been trying to loose the weight, but instead have gained 5 more pounds so I decided to cut back the dose of gabapentin and see if it helps. I cut back to 2 doses and have been crying at the least little thing. Does anyone know if I should wait until this passes until I try to cut back to one dose? I am past menopause so the crying is not normal hormonal fluctuations.
I have nerve pain in my lower lip due to an implant put in to deep and smashed the nerve into jaw bone. It has been 6 yrs I have been dealing with this. There is no help except for Gabapentin. Started with 300mg twice a day now I am at 900mg 4 times a day. Two weeks ago I dropped to 600mg 4x a day. The past week has been hell for me. Lots of tremors, more dizziness, more depressed, flu like symptoms. Just like everybody experienced now I had to climb back to 900mg. This medication does help with my nerve pain along with other issues. But I want off it so bad because of side affects. Trying to contact my doctor with my experience.
I have been taking 600 mg, 3 times a day for neuropathy , possibly MS. I am experiencing left side numbness, possibly MS symptoms, however my concerns are my depression, suisidail thoughts & brain fog. I recently had to take leave of absents from my job. I feel lost & hopeless! Do I need to get off this drug????
I was put on gabapentin for Tension headaches of all things. I am in the process of withdrawal and it is ugly. My doctor did not tell me about side effects of taking it or withdrawal symptoms.
I was hit by a car as a pedestrian last June, and was put on Gabapentin to mediate nerve pain I was having in my legs due to my injuries. I am now trying to get off the stuff, and I had a sleepless night last night, like a caffeine buzz. Also a few heart palpitations and headache. I probably came down off of it too fast, but I don't want to go back unless it gets worse. I was on the 300 mg dose.
I have been on gabapentin about 6weeks for my severe spine damage/pain while on Orthopedics waiting list.
I was first on one tablet 3x 300mg a day, after a month my doctor doubled my dosage to 600mg 3x a day. Due to my current prescription repeats being on the "just one 3x a day", my last repeat lasted two weeks not four..so According to my pharmacy, I am not due for more for another two weeks. It had been two full days with none. 1800mg to 0. I have cried, suicidal, hateful, then suicidal again, nothing seems worth being alive for etc. HELP!!
i was given this stuff at 300mg three times a day for what turned out to be a hernia in my job i drive all day when i,m not driving i,m up a ladder i started getting light headed and blurley eyed and was having to stop i had a dizzy spell up a ladder so i went back to the doc and he said stop them (bad move ) i had a seizure i was sent to the occupation health doc at work she could,nt understand how i had such a problem coming off a pain killer but when i spoke to the local phymasist he went spare telling me i should never have been put on them at that strenght and never told to stop them dead
Flu symptoms. Stomach flu. Exactly like a 24 hour stomach flu with the runs. Naturally you don't eat anything when you're this sick. I was down to one pill a day...not even that. Stayed off, and the next dy, heart palpitations and chest pain. Thought it was caffeine, but I never had it this uncomfortable. Back on one a day for maybe a week, then tapering off for a whole month. I'm having chest pain while I'm typing this. Very spooky when you're in your sixties. Very. I took 2-3 a day for about six months. Sciatica. Now that's gone, (not masked) and now I'm messed up.
I started tapering from 900 MG/day about 2 months ago. Was doing it slowly, and with no apparent problems until... I'm down to 100 MG/day, and starting to experience the flu like symptoms, loss of appetite, tremors, irritability. Have been on the 100 MG for 8 days, and had wanted to step down to 100 MG every other day at the end of this week. Not looking forward to worsening of withdrawal symptoms. Wondering if I should stay on 100 MG longer, or just do as I had planned, and tough it out. I've tapered down to 0 from Gabapentin in the past, and didn't have any symptoms like this then. Any thoughts??
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