Gabapentin Neurontin

[bmc1976]

Just wanted to let everyone know how things are going. I can't believe how well gabapentin has worked. I've been thru the withdrawals going cold turkey 3 times in the past without anything to help. I was presribed gabapentin about a month ago for pain. It didn't help for that. I did some research on it and it is used for withdrawals. It has been 90% easier than before and trust me, I know how bad it is. The only syptoms I have had this time is I'm just a little cold and a bit of anxiety but nothing like before. I guess it's not normally prescribed for withdrawals because it has not been approved for that but I would think most docs would prescribe it because it can be used for pain and is a non narcotic. There are many other uses for it. I read there can be a withdrawal effect when stopping it so I only plan on taking it for a week. I only had to take 1 today and I was taking over 25 hydros a day until Sunday. I stopped completely monday. I just want to let people know about this because of how well it seems to be working.
Brian

[prisonmeds414]

This is my first and possibly my only time posting anything on a web site. But I have been desperate to understand the changes in a once MUCH loved man who is currently in prison. Thank You all for being so open and candid about this "med" neurontin! He has some severe nerve pain and has also had some serious drug issues, the prison putting him on this medication changed him so much I did not know him anymore. He became so verbally and mentally abusive along with irrational almost paranoid behavior that I could not even come close to explaining in a few short words. Even trying to calm him by agreeing with every irrational thing he had to say did not help. He said horrible things that brought us to an end. It was almost like he wanted to argue to somehow vent? He ranted about slipping he knew this med was effecting his mind? But only he could speak and he could only be right? Not just with me but with everyone. But at least reading your words somehow it feels less confusing?        Thank You all

[bmdad]

Have you thought about just going through the withdrawals and being done with the percocet for good? I am "Brian" that posted about the gabapentin. I lost my previous account password so just registered with a new user name. The gabapentin helped me so much. But you have to remember, I wanted to get clean so I wasn't counting down til refill day. It's amazing how mental some of the withdrawals can be.
Why not stop the cycle of withdrawals every month? If you make it to the end of the month without using, you will be well on your way to getting off the percs. The worst of the physical withdrawals usually start subsiding after 5 days or so. Why not make this your last time?
I have read where some people have abused gabapentin and are highly addicted to it. I never had that problem when used for detoxing. I actually got back on them afterwards and took them for about 6 months due to nerve pain. I tapered off just to be safe and didn't have a problem stopping them. No withdrawals or anything. Have to remember though that everyone is different.
If you have any questions about the gabapentin, just let me know.
Best of luck to you.

Brian

[peekawho]

I've been on Neurontin for about 6 months now.  

It is not addictive,  but yes, usually you have to taper down from it.  Not because if withdrawals such as happens with narcotics, but because suddenly stopping can in unusual circumstances, lead to a seizure.  Typically, this is only necessary if you have been on it for long periods of time at high doses.

Neurontin is usually well tolerated, and has a large margin of safety when used under the direction of physicians familiar with it.  Depression and mood disorders are not uncommon with Neurontin, and patients should ne carefully counseled to watch for these.

For myself, and for most taking Neurontin, forgetfulness and lethargy are the biggest problems.  With continued use, the lethargy gets better.  

I've never heard of it being used for narcotic withdrawal.  Interesting!

[Going2WinN2010]

My doctor prescribed Gabapentin for my nerve damage but i read a post on here by a "Brian" a member and he said he was taking up to 25 hydrocodones a day and Gabapentin helped with the withdrawals TREMENDOUSLY?? Has ANYONE else ever been prescribed GABA for withdrawals?? I am out of my meds (10/325 Percocets) Because IM AN ADDICT and do not get my refill till the end of this month...I will continue taking these as my doctor prescribed and PRAY TO God That it will get me thru my withdrawals... Or will it after reading these posts? So far I too have one main symptom-Sleepiness...I just want to know if I will be "Ok" till refill day???
any advice on this or if someone has tried it and It DID work Please Let me know....
Kim

[refug33]

i am very greatful right now, not so much that i finally found i am not alone on the whole gabapentin/neurontin thing and that i found siteS about it, but because i have a chance to warn others about neurontin/gabapentin. starting off, when perscribed it, i found that this is a very universal medication. im reading things from all your posts but there are alot of things im seeing after months of visiting different sites without posting that are not mentioned, that you probably arent being told,, that i was told in 1999. before the suicide rates and attempts and depressions occured and disorders that worsened. first off, anything u take with neurontin, the neurontin intensifies, it is a medication intensifier, so if u drink with it, u wont need to drink your usual amount. smoke dope? well if your on neurontin, well, you know whats up, lol. but i suggest not do this because it is dangerous. ok, covered the intensifying part, it is an anticonvulsant, which is what it started off as, which is what the purpose of this med was first for. for eppilepsy. it is a very light pain medication, more less for nerve pain but seen it perscribed for back pain injuries do to fractured discs or slipped disks. it was and now rarely is used as a mood staboliser for depression and often anxiety.AND what alot of people dont know, to treat herpes, how that one is, i could not tell ya, lol still want to look up the results of that cause i cant see how it would do the trick for that lil sweetheart, lol. but anyway, this is the important stuff that i can relate to that is HIGHLY DANGEROUS THAT IM NOT SO SURE people in the medical field are even aware of. QUETION OF THE DAY.. IS NEURONTIN/GABAPENTIN ADDICTIVE? i cant answer that but i can do the second best think and tell u it can MOST DEFINATELY be abused and more than relied on. i started off on 1800 mg's twice daily. upon taking this i realised, u can get very high off of it. i would push my limit only once in a while at first. (HOW IT ALWAYS STARTS) then after doin this after a month and a half or so, i felt that i cant get the same effect the next day unless i took more than the day pryor, well, i would take a days break, but then took almost five of those capsules (800 mg's are now of course tablets) out of fear that only two wouldnt do. higher than a dam kite i would be, tho eventially i found that now matter how much u take, if u take only a couple verses the however many u take the day before, well, u still end up flyin like a kite, its all just a mind game with this stuff.  anyhow, months down the road, i realised somethin very,very scary, other than the fact that like vicodine n such, but worse, this medicine works through the liver, that i cannot live a day without it. Not because i'm pheening for it like a cigarette or coffee or a narcotic, because i was not. It was because i simply could not take my depression and anxiety, in fact this drug made it worse. Do you withdrawl?? hell yea, you feel almost like your on a permanant hangover until you take it. But ;like i said, it's funny because you dont't crave it, you just feel hopeless without it, and until you actually experiance this with neurontin (i hope you don't),  you will not understand it. People abuse it, and the way you end up abusing it to the point of hooked, is by abusing it to where your anxiety and depression gets worse to where u now have to always take it causing long term or perminant damage, or taking it for something els and end up with those bipolar, anxiety, or depression effects. i know i caused myself these harms and worse bipolar problems. i dont know what i would do without neurontin. tried other things, but its far too late and i truly believe if i stop now, that i will wish i had not. and thats all i can say, because when i run out, i am aggressive with my attitude toward people, and god knows i have to deal with them everyday. my anxiety is horrible, constant panic attacks that even klonopin dont help, and depression is just horrible. i recommend no one to take this med unless they have no addictive personalities or anything of that nature. oh.. and WAKE UP NEUROLOGISTS AND PHYSICIANS.... ITS SO MUCH OF A BUZZ..... PRISONERS IN JAILS AND PRISON SELL IT AND GET HIGH OUT OF THIER MINDS OFF IT!!! including the people in rehabs that  (supposedly) "trying to get straight". ive seen it. What?? hey i didn't say i was perfect... lol miner stuff, non violant not to worry, young n dum, anyways... im not so sure anyone was so specific about this but hey, i want the word out, this stuff can really mess your life up. Started it at fourteen, im 28 now. and now have no coice, i have to take it atleast as perscribed. thats all i have now. im not scurred, i made an extra emailspecifically for you that may have my same problem with this stuff. got questions?? i may not always have answers n im not a doctor, but i think i may be able to help. x.lucian.***@****. yall take care.

[bmdad]

That is something that you should ask your doctor or you could call a pharmacist. When I was prescribed gabapentin for nerve pain my doctor also had me on vicodin with no ill effects. He told me it was fine to take together. But since everyone reacts to things differently I would still double check with your doctor.
Also, gabapentin helps with restless legs. I took gabapentin during opiate withdrawals and it put an end to rls. You could probably get by without the codeine from now on if you choose to do so.
Best of luck!
Brian