Gabapentin W/D

[tooter212]

This is Tooter again. I started taking gabapentin again for about a month and this is my first day without it. I was taking 2 a day then upped it a little more each day. Yesterday I took 2 and was having hot and cold chills. I stopped because they made me depressed again. I can't tell that I hurt worse without them. This is the first day without them. How long will I go through W/D's? I need help NOW!!! I'm 71 and I don't think I can take much more of this without knowing how long it will be.

[VICourageous]

Hi Tooter. I do not think you are being ignored. It has been really slow out here and the ones that have been on for awhile come & go. I guess the Sun is getting warmer and I am one that is trying to get things done too.
I have been on here long enough to read a lot about this Med. I do have to agree with Vicki & some. I should not be a w/d like the opiates but it is a Med, and some meds have slight side affects. My Hub was on them for awhile and he just stopped at between 100-300. He said he was fine but he works his ash off in our drywall business. For me I did not like the way they made me feel way back when I first came clean. It seemed like anything that was not natural at the time would make me feel sick or different. The Brain is affected by this and it is trying to heal from the opiates still. So from what I have read and experienced from Hub, it is not a bad w/d, it is just a bit uncomfortable for some. You will be fine..Then go to the next one and taper a bit down and be done with these crazy meds that make us feel like crap. It is a lot harder to bounce back when we are older. I know for sure, and I do not care if any body does not agree. Been down this road for over 40 years..lol
Glad to see you & that you are still clean from the opiates..Good Job!!
Bless

[meegWpaw]

tooter I care too I just know nothing about gaba and yes it is SO slow here today!  more people will be back ... hope your doing ok.  :)

[jugglin]

Hi Tooter - I took gabapentin for a bit for nerve pain but it made me too tired to take for very long..and that was the lowest dose.  I think that a taper would be good for you. I care...very much.  Hugs to you!

[dcargill]

you sound exactly like me.    once I decided to get off them, I wanted to be DONE.
but hurrying isn't always the best plan.    

I was off benzo for nearly 3 days and I didn't want to go through it again, so I understand exactly what you are feeling.      but maybe if you tapered off (instead of stopping so abruptly)  you wouldn't feel so bad.        I decided that is what I am going to do - which means I have already started taking it again.    

I will get off it but it will take a little longer than I wanted/expected.     Maybe you could try that.    No offense but shocking your system (at your age  LOL  I'm getting there!) with CT might not be the best plan.      

Just a thought.   and back at you -- heal quickly and safely.

[tooter212]

No your not whining !!! They could at least tell us what to expect when we wanted to quit!!! I have plenty of pills left just want to stop right NOW. I already have almost 24 hrs without them, not going to mess that up and have to go through that 24 again!! And no, they still don't think it's additive. So sad. I pray you heal quickly. God Bless

[dcargill]

it sounds like tapering is a good plan... sorry to hear your taper plan is restricted by how many pills you have.        maybe you can dance with the devil (go back to see your doc) to get enough to get you through the tapering process.     Sleep is important, especially if it is the only time you don't have pain.

thanks for the tip on amitrip.    I was on that long ago, before the lorazapam.        I am whining, I know, when I say that nobody told me these were addictive...  or maybe they did and I just wasn't listening.    

good luck to you and God bless.    

[tooter212]

Vicki I can't tapper any more than I have. I pray your right about it going by quickly. Thanks old friend!!! and God Bless you

[tooter212]

Thank you Yesidid, I pray it will only be for a few days. Pray that you will recover soon also. God Bless You

[vicki595]

Hi Tooter!  This should go by quickly after only a month but I wish you would consider tapering. I think it's a more gentle way to stop most meds and better for You.  Try to relax through the process here; it shouldn't be long.

Thinking of you~

[Yesidid]

Tooter. I definitely care too! The lack of responses you are getting is probably more of a reflection of the fact that most people don't know a lot about gabapentin withdrawal. I was heavily addicted to the stuff for years, then to Lyrica.  It is a rough road but I did heavy amounts (800 mg a day of gabapentin for 5+ years). I still don't think I'm fully over it but for you, only one month - don't worry.  I am sure that it won't last more than a few days to a week.  Please keepe posted and feel free to write directly to me if you think there is anything I might be able to do to help.  The bad thing about gabapentin is that for some people it is as physically addictive as benzos but the medical community is all drinking the Koop aid of the pharmaceutical companies and the lies spill over even to the public as you can see above: "Oh that stuff isn't addictive" - yeah right!

[essdipity]

Hi there. I take a very heavy dose of gabapentin for relief of MS symptoms. When coming off it, I taper slowly, and that's important. People's reactions to withdrawal vary considerably, and if you experience problems you really need to talk to a doctor.

I haven't heard of this med causing addiction since it doesn't have mind-altering properties. I've learned that just about anything is possible, though. Please just be careful.

[tooter212]

I'm afraid to quit both the same time

[tooter212]

I haven't stopped the ambien yet, trying to CT the gabapentin 100 first.
The last time I quit ambien the Dr gave me amitriptyline and it did work. I was off it in a week and off the amitriptyline in another week. Maybe it can help you. God Bless

[dcargill]

I care!    I'm getting off Ambien now and I feel lousy too.        since I quit (Thursday night was my last pill)  I haven't been able to sleep.  

so I don't know how long WD symptoms will last for you.    I hope you can hang in there.  

[tooter212]

Did you feel W/D's when you quit? I've quit taking them before after being on them for a month but I was on Ambien also. I'm on them again also. I going to get off it when I get through this. It's just that the pain has got sooo bad that the only relief I get is when I'm asleep..

[tooter212]

I've been through W/D's off of hydrocodone and have been clean for 6 months  since. So I know better than to feel sorry for myself and that no one cares because they don't answer me but I do. So please help

[lulu747]

Hey Tooter-
Sorry I think it's quiet on here today.  I don't know anything about gabapentin and was not aware that it caused withdrawal symptoms.  However, I just googled it and it said that withdrawal symptoms mimic those of benzo withdrawal and older patients are more susceptible to this.  Perhaps a tapering schedule would be better for you?  Talk to your doc.  Are you out?  Maybe try taking one and see if your symptoms lessen.  This is not really an addictive drug and I understand not wanting to take it if it makes you feel depressed.  I took it briefly for pain about 6 years ago and experienced similar effects.  Hang in there.  Hope you find some relief.
Lu

[tooter212]

Like two or three?

[tooter212]

Since I've only been taking it for a month or less, it shouldn't take but a few days should it?

[tooter212]

where is everybody?

[tooter212]

Oh yeah, they were 100mg each