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GabaPentin - will cause or cure an addiction?

I've been suffering for months from an unusual withdrawal effect of opiate addiction. I get a syndrome somewhat like restless leg in the evenings that is painful and prevents sleep. Withdrawal from hydrocodone produced virtually no withdrawal symptoms (I was not taking much), but the sleep preventing syndrome persists for weeks, probably months to come. I have been desperately seeking something safe to help me sleep, while I wait for my brain disruption to normalize. About 1000mg of Gabapentin each evening shows promise after a few days. But I 've read wildly different things about this drug - from it being non-addicting, to it being harder to get off than the benzos!

I do not know who or what to believe about this drug. I would hate to pill myself into a doctor approved more horrible hell, or take something that will give me a rebound of my problem, if/when I taper off it. Any good information about this drug or how to safely use it (I've been taking a 100mg twice daily and 300mg at night for about 3 weeks, and now take
1000mg only at night, with 10mg of baclofen -- the combination that seems to work).
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Avatar universal
I am currently taking gabapentin. I am also still taking 60 mg of oxcontin for pain of a hernia and three herniated discs in my back. I recieved cortizon epideral injections in my back and am due to have  hernia surgery on tues so I will be taking pain meds for the next week or so. I've been taking the pain meds for about three years straight and have had times when I had no med ins or money to pay for them and have had to white knuckle the  withdrawal from the pain which lasted for weeks to days depending on how I weened myself after that I was free from them for months but the pain in my back caused me to return. There also was a craving for that relaxed frrling at night. I will say the opiate withdrawl was bad but as a yougster I experimented with heroin and the painkillers aren't as bad as cold turkey from smack Having been tough enough to kick smack after two years of use I am confident I will kick these pain killers. I have to in order to get back to work. I have run out of my medication a few times and have noticed I dont go through the withdrawal symprtoms with the gabapentin I am also able to sleep. I will probably get my last presription of painkillers when I go through my surgery tues which is an extremely painful surgery. It's an abdominal incsionary hernia recurruence. This is my third repair.  I will get back to you about the withdrawls I go through with the painkillers and gabapentin. It all sound like loads of fun fun fun. Semper Fi OHH ****** Rah. Fun Fun Fun. That's life. That;s what people say. Your ridin high in April shot down in May.  
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Avatar universal
INB
I started with the tramadol (doctor said it was non addictive), then Gabapentin..up to 3600mg a day. I hve been trying to kick the gabapentin addiction but becoe very nervous, an can't sleep. Just like with tramadol, the doctors don't know jack **** about how addicting it is. Never go over 300 mg a day, or stay away totally.
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Avatar universal
This is an old thread.  You should post a new question in order to get answers to your question.  Gabapentin isn't addicting in the same way narcotics are.  It needs to be tapered off to prevent seizures.  It was originally an anti-seizure drug that is now used for nerve pain as well.  Your friend is in serious trouble playing with this medication.  It is a very serious med.  Has her family tried to intervene?  Has anyone called her doctors and let them know what's going on?  It's not a drug that people usually abuse so I doubt the pharmacies would be red-flagging her.  Try posting your own post and see if you can get some responses.
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Avatar universal
I have a friend that had been addicted to gabapentin for several years now. She has stolen from friends and family to get money for her multiple prescriptions from multiple doctors. She regularly OD's and has severe symptoms. Two days ago, she picked up a 90 ct bottle of gabapentin between noon and 1pm. By 9pm, she had slurred speech, rapid eye movements, nauseau and jerky body movements. This was followed by 2 seizures before I checked her medicine. She had 42 remaining, meaning she took 48. I am trying to find someone who has done an intervention  on someone with this addiction, but due to the "safety" of the drug, I can't find anyone. First she was addicted to tramadol and now this, not to mention stealing money and prescriptions from friends and family. When is enough, going tobe enough?
Helpful - 0
1337425 tn?1278173987
It's probably the one thing that doesn't upset my stomach, and I'm taking pretty high prescribed doses of it, 300mg, 3x/day.  Make sure you eat something when you take it if it upsets your stomach.  Talk to your dr. and see if he/she might be able to help.
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Avatar universal
can any one tell me if it upsets there stomach it does me help
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