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453029 tn?1205951419

IS GABAPENTIN ADDICTIVE?

IM TAKING    1500 MILIGRAMS A DAY 4    seisures and  pain    shouldi beconcerned andwhat precautions  should itake
32 Responses
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Avatar universal
Yes, it is addictive and it has ruined my life.  Once my husband began taking it his personality changed drastically.  He began to engage in high risk behavior and becomes angered easily.  He is unable/unwilling to stop using it even knowing that he is losing relationships with with children. If anyone knows of any public/doctor awareness programs please contact me.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It worked wonders for me, I am taking it for anxiety, its great. Notha daying ever helped me for 15 years, Gapapentin, I am taking (4), 300 mg. pills, 4x a day
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Avatar universal
I am currently in the hospital for suicidal ideation and bipolar. I take 1800mg a day and it is working great with the thoughts and the depression. No side effects yet.
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5549258 tn?1449083082
let me tell you, i used lyrica for rls my last withdrawl from opiates, well i was on it 2 pills a night for 5 days, i had major withdrawl from lyrica, not trying to scare anybody, but be sure to taper, that was as difficult to go through as coming off of opiates.. IMO
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Avatar universal
Yes gabapentin/Neurontin CAN CERTAINLY be addictive. Not just psychologically, but physically. It is not supposed to be addictive according to the "professionals" and the big Pharma lobbyists, but when taken for long enough periods, it is definitely addictive without a doubt. It causes a very discomforting withdrawal syndrome similar to alcohol and/or benzodiazepine withdrawal that can last weeks or even months. DO NOT SUDDENLY STOP TAKING GABAPENTIN. Trust me. If you have been on it for any length of time longer than a couple of weeks you will need to taper carefully and be monitored by a professional.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i have been taking gabapentin over a year, 1200 mg a day for a deteriorated  vertebra  , it helps with my pain some what, good days and so so days still can't bend my neck too much. side effect-talk alot and aggressive socially!
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Avatar universal
I've been taking Gabapentin for MS for about 10 years now.  I've had times when I went a couple of days without it and had symptoms of confusion, cold sweats, anxiety and irritability.  So I would say it is very addictive.  
Helpful - 0
1834804 tn?1472855933
Hi, it sounds like you need a new doctor. I am leaving now to go see my surgeon for the I'd have to say at least the 10th time, not counting the 3 times in the hospital! I am so sick and tired of doctors not caring and thinking they are God with those prescription pads they have. It took my doctor 3 weeks to refill my pain pills! Most just don't care that your in terrible pain, unless you have mega$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Good luck to you. What I do is call the pharmacy and ask them about my meds. They are a lot nicer and take the time to explain things to you, even though that's what we pay out doctor for. I tend to talk too much. I will shut up now LOL
Jan
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Avatar universal
I'm currently on 3600 mg/day of Gabapentin. Have been for about a year or so now. If I don't take it |I cannot move.

Yet my doctor still says it is psychological!
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1834804 tn?1472855933
Hello, I was given a few of what I think are the pills you are all talking about, They are yellow and a kind of orange/tan color.With the numbers 2666 on the apsule, is this what you are taking? If so, do you know how many mg. it is? I was taking norco and it made me really sick.
Thanks much
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1951304 tn?1324575165
i agree and dont agree .its working good for me .i broke my back in 2 places .and it takes the pain away very good . but if i dont take it in 2 day i have the worst stomach cramps u can imagime . the pain is totally the worst pain . and soon as i take the the tablet 40mins i drift of f to sleep ./i have been taken it for  1yr and 4 months i am a dosage at 1300mg a day .BUT it takes the pain away totally .i would prefer no pain ..
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Avatar universal
Hi!  Just a suggestion: start your own thread on the forum so it doesn't get overlooked. This thread started 3 years ago so it's not current.

If you need help just ask me. Go back to the forum page (1) and click on "post a question"...just follow the prompts....Good luck!
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Avatar universal
Am now concerned about further weight gain from the gabapentin. Only on 400mg/day,.so very low dose.
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Avatar universal
Has anyone experienced weight gain or weight lloss from gabapentin? I was previously on llexapro and then effexor to pristiq. Managed to gain 50+ lbs in 4 yrs. Im off all of them now except for ativan for anxiety. Cant seem to get the AD med weight off. Any suggestions? Was never overweight before then. Depressing!
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Avatar universal
And you are 100% correct. ALL drugs can be dangerous so everyone should be extremely careful with them and never take them unless they are prescribed to you, and take only as directed.

You are also right that Docs don't explain the potential dangers of the drugs they prescribe, and there may be a good reason for that. Many of their patients can be described as "hypochondriacs" and telling them this could manifest reactions that otherwise do not exist. So they just tell them to call if they have any troubles.

The rest of us should always look up and be aware of the drugs we are prescribed, and watch out for any interactions from other drugs we are on. We can't rely on the doc or pharmacist to always tell us of any possible reactions.
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Avatar universal
I was put on it at one time too, 1200mg/day or something like that, I had no troubles with it at all, in fact it did absolutely nothing, so I just quit taking it after a few months without any problems.

When it's prescribed for pain, it's believed to have an effect on neurons closer to the source of pain and ganglea root rather than acting on the central nervous system like opiates. some people claim it works, many claim it doesn't. There could be a placebo effect involved in some cases as well.
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Avatar universal
That isn't the same as physical addiction, that is what is called withdrawal syndrome. You don't crave it when you stop taking it, it can just cause problems related to sudden withdrawal reminiscent to alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal.
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Avatar universal
Gabapentin cause problems you should be aware of and be on the lookout for if you are on it, especially the high dose you are on.

It is a good treatment for focal seizures though, and as far as addiction goes, it's not a problem according to studies.  It's biggest caution is mood changes, suicidal thoughts and aggressive behavior. Your Doc should have explained that to you though. There should be cautions in a blacked out area  on the drug labeling when you get your refills you should read.

As already mentioned, it should not be stopped abruptly, withdrawal syndrome may occur.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just started on 100 2x per day and 2 at bedtime, so total 400 mg per day. After the second day, I was able to finally sleep. Have perimemopausal insomnia, hot flashes, anxiety, and currently a herniated disk in my lower back. Am hoping pain relief will kick in, but my current dose may be too low.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just started on 100 2x per day and 2 at bedtime, so total 400 mg per day. After the second day, I was able to finally sleep. Have perimemopausal insomnia, hot flashes, anxiety, and currently a herniated disk in my lower back. Am hoping pain relief will kick in, but my current dose may be too low.
Helpful - 0
1283286 tn?1312911966
I can't say one way or the other on wd's from that other than what I have read, they tend to be the result of high doses that reach about 1800mg daily as my understanding of the drug it was one that is gradually increased once prescribed it over a month or so..I had a short experience with it at 300mg daily for about a week and a half before I called my surgeon and said this stuff makes me feel like the day after tangling with a tequila bottle back in my collegedays. He switched me to lyrica which I seem to tolerate ok with exception that my weight did a 25 lib jump in 7 weeks. In the pain management forum there are a number of people that had unprecedented weight gains from the lyrica..Iy seems if one can't handle the neurontin, they can handle the lyrica. If the lyrica seems to give them trouble, then they found the gabapentin tolerable..As to effectiveness with my experience with both, I can't say difinitively that either had any major impact on the condition I had..Certainly sounds like anyone that goes on the lyrica nas a rapid weight gain though..I'm in the midst of trying to indo the gain I got hit with..25 years I never fluctuated more than 7 lbs..Last November to mid January I jumped 25 lbs..There does appear to be some truth to this side affect...
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Avatar universal
re gabapentin, yes I believe it is strongly addictive, I took it for 6 months at a low dose200mg at night. When I tried to stop it due to sideeffects of ghastly stomach pain and serious problems walking, with balance and coordination issues that were severe, legs started giving way and went on to collapse.I and now it has affected my nervous system, I have intermittent weakness and ataxia. This is a seriously dangerous drug and getting off it was very difficult. I googled other peoples experiences and some were similar. I was given no information about side effects, I would like to see the medical proffesion take this so they can truly understand what poison they are giving people.
Helpful - 0
1591159 tn?1297195631
thanks for the advice. this is VERY temporary...like a week. it stops the body chills,sweats,and most of the nasty feelings and that is a GODSEND. this detox has been 6 months  (or more) in the makeing and without the gabapentin.....ewwwww bad news man. also, now that im 36 hrs in and feeling almost NO withdrawls (almost) i actually feel like i CAN DO IT one last time. afew more days and i should be on the rebound. thanks for your advice. my wife is a nurse and as such was concerned as well. i dropped to 600mg TID hopeing it works. also my sciatica is almost gone. amazing.
Helpful - 0
242912 tn?1660619837
When you're ready to stop the Gaba, wean Very slowly.  800mgs TID, is quite a dose.  I was on only on 300mgs a night for 2mos, stopped c/t due to stomach issues and man, what a mistake!  I quit taking it beginning of Dec and except for the the severe tinnitus (off and on Still!!) I am just this last week feeling normal again.  

Best of luck!
Helpful - 0
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