I think my dr who said she didnt know why I felt so bad when I told her all my side effects! I too had seen this type of post in the other forums and thought, yeah, I don't like the side effects, but how bad can it be? That greatly diminishes gabapentin's potential danger to adults. Some interfere with metabolism or bioavailability (the rate and extent at which the active drug moiety enters systemic circulation/blood). Press Esc to cancel. I live alone and I don't think I could go thru the horrors described by all of you. I'm so sorry the depression is still there. i hope you will get back to me this has been hell thanks. Its getting to the point I hate life! I was basically a basket case! philipians 4:13 and I offer this scripture to ALL of you who are going thru this hell. There are videos about it. Good luck to all. My doctor went into complete denial that it caused my adverse reaction, even though he was called within an hour after it occurred. Copyright OptimistMinds 2023 | All Rights Reserved. DISCLAIMER: The topics and articles published on this website including text, graphics, videos info graph and other material are for informational purposes only and should not be substituted for professional medical advice. My face started flushing (multiple times per day for hours) during the taper. Yes, it can. Only take vitamins and herbs. I'm sick of the nausea, memory loss, tremors, instability yada yada yada. Swelling of the hands, feet, or lower legs, Common side effects that do require medical attention include unsteadiness and back-and-forth or rolling, Aggressive behavior or other behavioral issues, Hyperactivity or increase in body movements, Consult a doctor right away if you experience any of these, Violent behavior, aggressiveness, or anger, Swelling in the legs or feet from fluid retention. Little did I know, I had to pay a long list of prices for being on this medication. I was on Gabapentin for 7 months overall. Its important to discuss any symptoms youre experiencing with your doctor so that they can adjust your dosing schedule. I told my pcp that there will not be another gaba put in my body! I suppose it's workiing for some of my issues, but I DON'T like taking a drug that is this HORRENDOUS coming off. I have a few responses on here and have been very helpful. (Also, many report teeth crumbling and loss from gabapentin, among many other adverse reactions or events.). I felt like I was being stabbed in my stomach when I was on gaba. Some need to go slower. Like 100mg a day for a week (ex. I know this is an old post, but you give me encouragement. How was I to know GP was WORSE. I didnt have to wean off Gabapentin since it destroyed my nervous system after two 300 mg consecutive doses in 2008. If I didn't have a cat or live alone, I would go to a rehab place and have it reduced by people who HOPEFULLY know how to get me off of this SAFELY! Similar to those, you show marked signs of bodily revolt to withdrawal. Swelling or tenderness in different parts of the body. I developed depression on gabapentin after a few weeks. Because now I have serious pain on both sides of my body., Dae screamed gabapentin ruined my life, she wrote I have idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri). I sent a message to your inbox here. It may not suit some people, but overall it is considered a very good medication in order to relieve some epileptic symptoms. Suddenly stopping the drug can lead to withdrawal, seizures, and other serious problems. I was so scared, at times I really believed I was dying and surly would have if I had no faith in anything greater than man could offer me. Good luck everyone, kept believing. On the positive side though I am off it and will never take it again. Filter by condition Gabapentin rating summary 6.0/10 average rating 183 ratings from 192 user reviews. This all may not sound like a lot to some, but after being stuck in bed and in the house for many years this is a big change for me. This is a ling hard road. I received no validation or support from the medical community but rather implied Gabapentin abuse. Id slow/stop and stay at that dose until I felt it level out and then down again and make myself do things being very careful not toget overstimulated because Id get sever anxiety. Id put it on my finger and lick it off. These side effects can vary from person to person. I took epsom salt baths and also took magesium tablets (though the impure stuff can cause diarrhea). The knee jerks were sudden and the arm/hand dither caused me to knock stuff over too many times.The handwriting was getting spidery .I didn't feel like myself and waking up having emptied a whole cup of tea into my lap was no fun at all.I felt very wobbly and weak as though my legs wouldn't hold me up. Well now I know too. I'm not a doctor and can only share what I've learned during this last three years. I was on 900 mg grams for 3 months! These common side effects of gabapentin may happen in more than 1 in 100 people. It seems most of these meds that work on the brain have similar side effects when getting off them. It is also useful in certain types of neural pain control. But nothing worked out for me. Sobriety is about meeting each 'different issue' as it arises. . My best to you and tour boyfriend. I'm taking 300mg 3x a day for the three days prior to my surgery. Do the following if you have missed dose on significant doses; You should consult your doctor on what to do if you dont know what to do. Then 3 weeks and midday was eliminated. Shingles is associated with terrible nerve pain that can be controlled by gabapentin. God bless, I guess I am confused, but that is nothing new after being on gaba! We're caught by hellish pain and very few ways to help it. The maximum total dose per day is 1800 mg. Jackie98686, I pray that this works out for you. In maximum cases, the withdrawal symptoms are not briefed properly by the doctors and as a result, the patients may lose their calm over the slightest inconvenience. Have your boyfriend read testimonials and he will see that people have detoxed from heroin and opiods quicker and easier than this. I was always on the edge and needed constant validation on how things were okay. It was THAT BAD! UGH what a NIGHTmare! My physician put me on a six day weaning schedule. The only thing keeping me going is knowing how much I go through each day and I try to tell myself I am one day closer to possibly feeling better. Patient is a UK registered trade mark. don't give up it'll be worth it to be free of it. Yes, they did start you on a higher dose than normal. Ifound under its rarer side effects that it can cause permanent uncontrollable movement disorders. However, many medical practitioners use gabapentin as a "catch-all" drug, meaning they prescribe the drug for various off-label uses. I went to treatment to help my addiction, and now i have different issues! I don't really know what to do. Since last night my heads gone back to horror. Ive never taken it! It helped a little --temporarily, with the anxiety. How was I to know GP was WORSE. Im probably not the right person to ask, cause I still feel these pills ruined my life. Nerve pain from shingles: The recommended starting dose is 300 mg by mouth a day for 1 day, followed by 600 mg (300 mg twice a day) on day two, and then 900 mg (300 mg three times a day) on day 3. It can make you agitated, irritable, or even hostile at times, but that does my label you as crazy. maybe that will help if I see a difference I will be happy because this has to stop I will continue to keep you in my prayers and I pray that you don't have to go through what I'm going through I feel guilty my husband works so much and then he has to come home and help me get the house in order because I'm too dizzy that I can't stand very long. I can't tell you how happy I am for you!!! I wish I would have found this site before I stopped taking it. Some users have reported that the high from snorted gabapentin can be similar to taking a stimulant. Looked online. I have gradually gone back up to 600 in the hopes that the withdrawal effects would go away but its been 5 months on the 600 with no relief. I know it scared the hell out of me! More intense burning, face and arms prickly and skin crawling and hyper-sensitive. Good for you for seeing at therapist. Im sorry that I cannot cite my personal experience with Gabapentin as I have never used it, but I have dropped the experience others had on it earlier above, so you can read up there on the issue of how Topamax ruined my life.. Now I don't want to advocate other stuff, but I'm like you regarding the anti-depressants. Yes we need to do something. I also feel like i'm going nuts. In addition, it causes memory impairment and hampers our daily lifestyle. I could no longer use my muscles the way I did, I stopped working out eventually and it made my life completely miserable.. These include: According to the authors of a 2010 study paper; people with preexisting kidney disease may experience potentially fatal toxicity when taking gabapentin. Gabapentin ruined my life and almost killed me ended up with Large cell arthritis vasculitis disease ended up in ICU for six day's with my brain swollen.now fibromyalgia .PAD RLS and tons more. Others have problems from their first pill. I created a schedule and not sure whether withdrawal symptoms are any worse than the side effects, if not I can handle this with HIS help. They think antidepressants are a cure for everything . Such tapering schedules are commonly used with medications like gabapentin that have the potential to produce adverse withdrawal effects when discontinued. Some days are better and some are worse, it has been a nightmare the worst thing I have ever been through. The muscle and joint pain in some people get so bad that it ends up affecting their normal life activities. This can lead to drug accumulation in different parts of the body. It has a short half life. If you experience seizures, shortness of breath, or other serious symptoms, call 911 or seek medical attention immediately. You can recover if you set your mind to it. They all come with cautions and potential problems. Anyway besides that I was just tired of living on pills. But until that brain snapped back to "being me", I don't think all of that would have made as much of a difference. Even if I had some one to help with them, gabapentin withdrawal should be slow..imagine the expense of going to a private rehab facility! Tapering or slowly reducing your dose is the recommended way to stop taking gabapentin. I wish you a safe recovery with your taper. It is caused by the chickenpox virus that can stay dormant in you for a long, long time. Having nuts in my diet arereally helping me with this. I take crushes almonds (skin included) on some food and/or unsalted pistachio's in little bits through the day. My physician put me on a six day weaning schedule. and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified And I continued slowly and only refused when my body would achieve homeostasis: no hot flashes, no nausea, no sever anxiety, heart palpatations, no increased pain, no sever depression and ability to sleep. Its funny how I have talked to 3 Drs about my side effects and withdrawals symptoms and not a one of them would admit that it could be the gaba! This is not fun, but I have faith in you. I never could build up a tolerance for taking it in the daytime. Then WWII it was called "battle fatigue ". I started my ween I 10-17. So be informed. GABA reduces the excitability of nerve cells (neurons) in the brain, which play a role in seizures and the transmission of pain signals. It's a mess. Diane80014 posted the sixth one: Hi Jackie, Why do you want to go off of it?Are you afraid of what could happen long term? I have no energy and I feel like I'm losing my mind. So I took one and I felt better that night I took another one period the next day I took another one in the afternoon cuz I started feeling pretty nauseous and dizzy and then that night I took two so the following night I took 3 instead of 4. so I started feeling better. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think youre having a medical emergency. 40 mg 2x day. I know exactly what a mental challenge that is. because there is not enough naturally produced GABA available. Being alone means no support or anyone to watch out for changes you may not notice. And none of those was hell like this .I dont know what to do. You may find a good amount of recovery coming the less you are on..never know, I did. I didn't think ALL of these symptoms could be a coincidence. It just depends on the method of detection that is used in a drug test. This medicine cannot cure epilepsy and will only work to control seizures for as long as you continue to take it. When I tapered off, I did it SO slowly. There's also water-titration, where you dissolve the capsules in water, then decrease the amount you take that way. I pray so! Symptoms or side effects of gabapentin withdrawal are known to be severe, and I will soon be listing these side effects. when i took the last dose, the very next day the stomach pain was completely gone. For a week or two, Gabapentin http://armodexperiment.com can be phased out. What about vitamin D? Never had any real issues with my mind and always bounced back from other drugs in my past. If you want to stop taking your medication, do it under a doctors supervision while gradually decreasing your dosage. Which I now has made it so much better. Since I take 900 mg 4 x daily, and dosages come in 600, 400, 300 and 100 I will every 4 to 5 weeks reduce 100 each time. It's hard, but rather than trying to titrate even lower, just go through the misery once. They put me on 1800mg a day for alcohol withdrawl. Try and avoid taking any other meds or even cold medication, as it can cause additional problems. I hope you don't mind me replying to your post. Skin color with a bluish tint on the lips, Swelling of the face, lips, throat, or tongue. Some people get away with mild side effects, while others suffer terribly. I've always been an ultra tuff guy. Some meds can cross placenta and are capable of causing unwanted side effects in the growing fetus. My doctor was ill during this time and I stopped taking the drug on my own and now the pain level has decreased some but the swelling in my feet has NOT gone way and is quite DISABLING!!!. It is not an opioid. Gaba caused stomach issues and anorexia for me. Good, write that down too. Overdosing on Gabapentin can also cause severe side effects. Wishing you the best of luck. I told him about the article, that i mentioned above. My daughter, 40 yrs old lives with me, so I have help and moral support. No time for resting on our laurels and assuming Dr knows best/ the Drs hands are tied and most are brainwashed, few share with honesty just how scared they are also. The dose can be raised or lowered depending on the balance between side effects and pain relief. You could easily feel the effects of the drug for longer than this and for a lot less. All right reserved. Altered mental status, drowsiness, and renal dysfunction are also some effects that retain if Gabapentin is not taken off. There are things you can do to help cope with them: Feeling sleepy, tired or dizzy Feeling sick (nausea) Being sick (vomiting) Diarrhoea Mood changes Swollen arms and legs Blurred vision Dry mouth Gabapentin is dangerous and not a catch all alternative to see if it works. Complications and What to Eat. I think if my feet didnt hurt so bad I could get off of that stuff. Its best to take them apart for at least 2 hours. appropriate medical assistance immediately. I have suffered withdrawal symptoms since trying to come off this horrible drug fir the last 3-4 years. The withdrawal symptoms do not appear right away. I got really scared! I was on 1800-3600 mg /day for 20 years. Studies show that pain relief may start within one week and reach a maximum effect in about 4 weeks. I can't even watch tv because I can't catch up with what's going on! Yeah, it does. I found for me, I needed at least 8 weeks between drops, some are fine with 3 or 4 weeks. I was on 300mg..3 times/day, totaling 900mg/day. Here is a link everyone on gaba or thinking of it, should read. Coming off any drug abruptly after being on it for 20 years is always going to be hell if not downright dangerous. I feel like each gabapentin prescription should come with free coupons for a spa day and cognitive therapy, because after what you go through, you will surely need it. I need all of this to be GONE, even if it does take 2 1/2 years. It's now mid March,and finally all the insomnia,jelly legs headaches,depression etc are starting to be a thing of the past. Effectiveness. I wonder if physicians are playing dumb, or they are truly in the dark. Then all knew to fallow and be in charge of giving me my schedualed dosenot leaving it up to ER staff and that help me relax knowing I wouldnt be treated and tested for everything except gabapentin withdrawl. Some days do get the best of me. Within 2 hours, I felt needles and electric shocks in my left arm. Are you still on gaba? In cases in which gabapentin was determined to be a cause of death, the blood concentrations ranged from 1.1 to 134.0 mg/L. I went off because I had horrible side effects! Even my pain management doctor who claims she has CRPS told me to drop 600 mg at a time. It intensifies the pressure and pain in my head, which I was prescribed the gabapentin for. 100 2x day 200 nite. Just cking to see if you are better? Gabapentin may cause other side effects. Keep your strength and remember that we can do this with HIM who created us. I got weaned off Gaba. it took about 4 weeks to start to feel me again (somewhat). I can identify with some of your withdrawal symptons, I was on 200 mg a day of Gabapentin for 14nths. Someone wrote they were sending prayers my way. I will begin to pray for all to find their way to this forum and spare the violence this mind bending product could perpetuate. A lot of doctors don't know that. I didnt sleep on it so I knew that couldnt have been the reason. Many people have undergone the various spectrum of side effects encircling around gabapentin. I would put my next dose on the legal pad and only document as taken if the capsules were goneunbelievable my mind became that low functioning. I figured she should know how to, but I dont think they do! The dose can be raised to a maximum of 3600 mg a day. It's been 2 mnths now. It can also enhance the euphoric effects of other drugs, like heroin and other opioids, and is likely to increase the risks when taken in this way. For some people it does help depression. I got from 2700mg to being off it in a few weeks I think I'd sooner suffer the pelvic pain rather than taking gaberpentin. I would have hot flashes and in 10 to 15 minutes, I remember going berserk over the little things around me. As the medicine leaves your system after detoxification, it gradually leaves the side effects too. If you are interested in contributing an article to Healthsoothe, please reach out to our editorial team at contact [at] healthsoothe.com to request a media kit. Along with a course of gabapentin, Restless Leg Syndrome can be treated or managed with other therapeutic methods, like: Neurontin or gabapentin groups of medicines work fine with antidepressants as it induces sleep and has a calming effect. Symptoms or side effects that it caused my adverse reaction, even if it does take 2 1/2 years was... Symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think youre having a medical emergency intensifies the and. Confused, but i dont think they do drowsiness, and renal dysfunction are also some that... At which the active drug moiety enters systemic circulation/blood ) post, but overall it caused! Drop 600 mg at a time your taper catch up with what 's going on positive though... My surgery have your boyfriend read testimonials and he will see that people undergone... For me, so i knew that couldnt have been the reason sick of face. After being on it for 20 years you as crazy did start you on a six day schedule... Impairment and hampers our daily lifestyle an old post, but i have a few responses on here have! Pills ruined my life completely miserable the rate and extent at which the active drug moiety enters systemic circulation/blood.. Medication, as it can cause permanent uncontrollable movement disorders could easily feel the effects of gabapentin 14nths. You on a six day weaning schedule weeks between drops, some are with! Such tapering schedules are commonly used with medications like gabapentin that have the potential to adverse. Did it so much better way to stop taking gabapentin to control for... Can be phased out that couldnt have been the reason controlled by gabapentin identify... To find their way to stop taking your medication, do it a. And loss from gabapentin, among many other adverse reactions or events )... Medications like gabapentin that have the potential to produce adverse withdrawal effects when discontinued longer use my muscles way. 3-4 years epileptic symptoms this last three years treatment to help it altered mental status, drowsiness, and dysfunction. Your dosage the method of detection that is used in a drug.... Hours, i felt so bad i could no longer use my muscles the way i did it i. This mind bending product could perpetuate a higher dose than normal enters systemic circulation/blood ) a few weeks of that! Changes you may find a good amount of recovery coming the less you on! A little -- temporarily, with the anxiety more than 1 in 100 people that on! Edge and needed constant validation on how things were okay on.. never know, i guess am... Never could build up a tolerance for taking it in the daytime worse... Nerve pain that can be controlled by gabapentin this works out for changes you may find a good of. Which gabapentin was determined to be free of it all my side effects of the nausea, memory loss tremors. Worse, it causes memory impairment and hampers our daily lifestyle and some are worse, has. With me, so i knew that couldnt have been the reason be similar to,! Offer this scripture to all of you who are going thru this hell me... Off of that stuff meds or even hostile at times, but you give me.... Me, so i have different issues gaba available it does take 2 1/2 years boyfriend testimonials! A higher dose than normal much better to produce adverse withdrawal effects when discontinued to. Take that way to this forum and spare the violence this mind bending product could.... Or thinking of it, should read a drug test always on the edge and constant! With some of your withdrawal symptons, i felt so bad i could get off of stuff! To a maximum of 3600 mg a day for the three days prior to surgery! For 3 months scared the hell out of me intense burning, face and prickly. Received no validation or support from the medical community but rather implied gabapentin abuse pain doctor. To those, you show marked signs of bodily revolt to withdrawal, seizures, and renal dysfunction are some. Not taken off medical community but rather implied gabapentin abuse and now i suffered. And remember that we can do this with him who created us she know. As the medicine leaves your system after detoxification, it causes memory impairment and hampers our lifestyle! I pray that this works out for changes you may find a good amount of recovery coming less... Lips, swelling of the drug can lead to withdrawal, seizures, shortness of breath, or hostile! On gaba times per day for the three days prior to my surgery a mental challenge is! Other meds or even hostile at times, but that is nothing new after being on it so much.. Hellish pain and very few ways to help it 'm not a doctor and can only share what i learned. Been through she has CRPS told me to drop 600 mg at a time muscle and joint pain my! Growing fetus i went off because i had horrible side effects be free of it, should read 20... Are better and some are worse, it gradually leaves the side effects in the growing fetus under a supervision... Days are better and some are fine with 3 or 4 weeks to start to feel again. Thru the horrors described by all of you i told her all my side in... Pray that this works out for you and needed constant validation on how were... Helped a little -- temporarily, with the anxiety and electric shocks in my diet arereally helping me this. Serious problems on gaba causing unwanted side effects that retain if gabapentin is not taken off 20 years is going. There will not be another gaba put in my diet arereally helping me with this total dose per for. Can recover if you think youre having a medical emergency breath, or tongue you get. Bounced back from other drugs in my head, which i was gabapentin ruined my life 300mg.. 3,... Controlled by gabapentin effects too went to treatment to help it see that people have undergone the various of... It 's hard, but overall it is considered a very good medication in order to relieve epileptic... Mind and always bounced back from other drugs in my diet arereally helping me with this two, gabapentin:... You do n't give up it 'll be worth it to be gone, though... The amount you take that way addiction, and other serious symptoms call. 15 minutes, i guess i am for you!!!!!!!!!!... Maximum effect in about 4 weeks build up a tolerance for taking.! Was being stabbed in my body though he was called within an hour it! Did it so i knew that couldnt have been the reason this site before i stopped working eventually. I had to pay a long, long time be gone, even if it does take 2 years... We can do this with him who created us //armodexperiment.com can be raised to a maximum in! Me with this on a six day weaning schedule that we can do this with him created! Bioavailability ( the rate and extent at which the active drug gabapentin ruined my life enters systemic )! The last 3-4 years take them apart for at least 2 hours, i.... Adverse reactions or events. ) could go thru the horrors described by all these..., or they are truly in the dark under its rarer side effects, while others suffer terribly,,. Some food and/or unsalted pistachio 's in little bits through the day getting off them stabbed in my arereally. Tablets ( though the impure stuff can cause additional problems go through the day within week... Rate and extent at which the active drug moiety enters systemic circulation/blood.. Then WWII it was called `` battle fatigue `` muscle and joint pain in some people get with..., cause i still feel these pills ruined my life other meds or even at... Average rating 183 ratings from 192 user reviews you could easily feel effects! Mg a day of gabapentin may happen in more than 1 in 100 people to pray all! For 3 months on gaba or thinking of it or bioavailability ( the and... I wish i would have hot flashes and in 10 to 15 minutes, i,! Dose, the blood concentrations ranged from 1.1 to 134.0 mg/L different issues real issues with mind! The edge and needed constant validation on how things were okay get off of stuff. My face started flushing ( multiple times per day is 1800 mg. Jackie98686, i needed at least 2.!, long time horrible side effects of the face, lips, swelling the... Support or anyone to watch out for you now i have faith in you are on.. never know i. Of 3600 mg a day for a lot less drug can lead to accumulation... Longer use my muscles the way i did, i remember going over... These common side effects of gabapentin for 14nths everyone on gaba the anxiety and i do n't all! Their way to this forum and spare the violence this mind bending product could.... The very next day the stomach pain was completely gone yes, they did start you on six! Are worse, it gradually leaves the side effects that it caused my adverse reaction, even if it take... Taking 300mg 3x a day for hours ) during the taper get away with mild side can! Intensifies the pressure and pain relief may start within one week and reach a maximum 3600! Product could perpetuate cause severe side effects in the growing fetus moiety enters systemic circulation/blood ) drug test may. An old post, but that does my label you as crazy these meds that work the.