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

[zelda72]

Hi, I am on Tylenol 3 (codeine) for my Restlesslegs syndrome, 1 at bed time, but also on gabapentin 300 once a day since yesterday. Can i take them together??

[Cissy373]

I have been on Gabepentin for almost 4 years and I've had no problems with it, I have to take it as I have RSD and the pain is horrible that is why I got hooked on Hydro's.

I am supposed to take 600 mg's four times a day but I don't take that much as it makes me tired.

Cissy

[alassnsane]

It worries me how cavalier people are on this board discussing coming off gabapentin cold turkey...doing so is documented to possibly cause grand mal seizures in people who have never before had one, so if you did so and nothing happened, consider yourself fortunate, unless you are allergic to it you should Always graduate off this drug slowly if you've been on doses 900 mg/day or higher for more than a few weeks...also, someone said that it has few side effects, again Wholly incorrect, it has few common side effect but a Slew of others...no, you can't overdose fatally on this drug alone but it can cause serious issues in other ways.

I suffer from a compressed occipital nerve and am also bi-polar and after 1 & 1/2 years of intractable pain I consider this drug a godsend...it has also proven wonderfully effective as a mood stabilizer and has reduced the frequency of my restless leg syndrome and hot flashes...I can't say enough good things about it, gabapentin has given me back my life.

[pinkbutterfly76]

   Well as far as the hair loss, I would definately start monitoring that. Neurontin is known to cause hair loss as do many other neuroleptic meds especially. If it is from the Neurontin you will especially notice it happening moreso right after you take a dose. It will continue throughout but you will notice more than usual coming out right away if you fluff through or brush your hair.

Also pay attention to any scalp discomfort or sensation of warm or burning hair follicles.What causes it most of the time is that it has started to infame the hair follicles. It can also deplete certain vitamins from hair and nails too so if you think it may be the cause start taking selenium and zinc.  

And then benadryl or vistiril may help if there is any inflamation of the hair follicles.It may also help the neurontin to work better at smaller doses. The vistiril in particular may help too if you decide to taper.I dont know if this is whats happening to you but it is a pretty good possibility. And this is just info Ive also gathered from a few other docs advice to me as well after experiencing these side effects.

   Fluid retention and weight gain is also completely possible. Vitamin B6 I believe can help with fluid retention and is good for stress also as ar most B vitamins. But this stuff can still only do so much if your still taking the neurontin and it is coming from that but will help till you taper if you do decide to do so.Of course you shouldnt quit cold turkey so dont worry too much if you think it is, just go gradual and these things in time will subside. I had to taper about 10 mg a day like I wrote in my above post but you may be able to do more or less. That seems slow but I had horrible withdrawals when I tried to do any more  even with other things that helped.

   And since you most likely have insurance it should be no problem for you to get  your doctor to prescribe you clonidine which will help immensely with tapering off of the neurontin. The thing I dont understand about doctors and neurotnin is that they constantly want to up your dose. The things with neurontin is you could keep upping and upping and in one to three days your body flat out adjusts and the raised dose just seems to flatline as far as benefits gained. Everything Im saying here has also been told to me by a few doctors like I said that knew about Neurontin and how it really works. For people that want neurontin to work again its best to slightly lower the dose for a day or two then go back up. This keeps tolerance from forming which in neurontin happens super fast.

   If you  think you are having depressing feelings for some people it can also come form this and Id discuss it with your doctor definately. Overall I was fine and felt good as far as mentally on it but I will say that from time to time neurontin has made me feel a bit odd and just weird and disconnected.Most of the time it didnt but for lots of others it really does. You can check out some other peoples experiences also on askapatient.com.But only you know if something just isnt feeling right. To tell you the truth because Im an addict I still fight with taking neurontin from time to time and I can say that it is a real drug with real components that must be taken as seriously as all the others.

  Just remember that if you do decide to taper you will most likely at first feel a bit worse  due to your body having to reaclamate itself but it doesnt neccesarily mean that its because your feeling worse because it was the drug that was working. It takes a while for all those things in your body to restore themselves in most people especially for people who have anxiety and depression problems.

   But this was just my experience and like I said before I am very, very sensitive to medications and to coming off of them, their side effects and addiction. So what my body may have went through yours may sail through. Just take your time and maybe log how your feeling closer to your doses and after a while since taking the dose and see if you see any changes.If its really helping you and you arent experiencing too awful side effects that you can really pick up on then that great.

   But if you are then dont fear it too bad cause as long as you take it slow youll be fine.One last thing is instead of tapering if you feel you end up needing to do so there are two other meds that may replace neurontin well. One Im sure you may have heard which is Lyrica that may work for you( but didnt for me but everyones different). And then theres also Gabitril. But of course your doc would be the one to talk that over with. Meds are tough sometimes and I wish none of us ever really had the need to take them but for lots of people we do and I guess the trick is in finding one that works and with side effects we can live with!

[pinkbutterfly76]

   Man Im so irritated right now,I just wrote you a pretty lengthy step by  step message to try to tell you my experience with neurontin, and some more of my personal tricks to get off of neurontin,...... but somehow I deleted  the whole dang message!!!!But hey I havnt forgotten ya and as soon as I have the chance Ill resubmit it.In the meantime check out my above post in relation to tapering that I wrote to "pray2god4help" and also Paxiled's advice is good as well that is posted after mine.Ours together may seem a bit  contradictory at first but I feel is explained sufficiently after the fact.Ill be back with ya soon after school and work ASAP cause believe me I can relate!

[Kavbear]

Thank for your input....I am losing hair but did not think that much, so I will actually pay more attention. I have gained weight but was on my way to doing so before so once again we will see.
When I first started having medical issues they pulled me off my anti-depressants since I was having neurological signs, I just got the go ahead to go back on and am hoping they do something.
I am so dark and full of anger, I hope its not the gabapentin. How did you taper or were can I find that information if you know? I am tired of getting off meds to only feel worse.