Gabapentin Withdrawal

[Space Oddity]

I searched here because I know gabapentin is often used for treatment of RLS. I only found two brief mentions of withdrawal.

For years, I have been taking 900 mg gabapentin at bedtime for neuropathic pain. It helps me sleep without pain.

I moved and have a new doctor who wants to change some of my medications. He told me to taper off of gabapentin. I dropped it down to 600 mg per day 5 days ago. Withdrawal symptoms (anxiety and others) are hell. The doctor made light of my experience when he returned my call this morning. I don't believe I can tolerate this another day or two.

Anyone else have this kind of experience with withdrawal?

[Mikebear]

Yes, I did. I ended up backing off, and tapering over two full months.

SCREW the doctor! Listen to your OWN body, and don't taper faster than it allows you, so the anxiety and such doesn't get too much for you.

If this doctor is this way towards you now, I'd suggest you demand another one as soon as you can, as he isn't likely to change.

[Space Oddity]

Yes, I did. I ended up backing off, and tapering over two full months.

SCREW the doctor! Listen to your OWN body, and don't taper faster than it allows you, so the anxiety and such doesn't get too much for you.

If this doctor is this way towards you now, I'd suggest you demand another one as soon as you can, as he isn't likely to change.

Do you mind sharing how (dose from/to) you did the taper? 300 mg drop at once is clearly too much for me. There doesn't seem to be a smaller capsule.

[lilly747]

SCREW the doctor! Listen to your OWN body, and don't taper faster than it allows you, so the anxiety and such doesn't get too much for you.

If this doctor is this way towards you now, I'd suggest you demand another one as soon as you can, as he isn't likely to change.

+1

[Mikebear]

Yes, I did. I ended up backing off, and tapering over two full months.

SCREW the doctor! Listen to your OWN body, and don't taper faster than it allows you, so the anxiety and such doesn't get too much for you.

If this doctor is this way towards you now, I'd suggest you demand another one as soon as you can, as he isn't likely to change.

Do you mind sharing how (dose from/to) you did the taper? 300 mg drop at once is clearly too much for me. There doesn't seem to be a smaller capsule.

Everybody is different, so it's hard to advise what will work best for you. You can get 100mg capsules, and that's what I used to taper, combinations with those. If the anxiety started coming up too fast, I'd just back off a little and taper a bit slower. Your normal levels of anxiety are likely not really that bad, it's the chemically induced anxiety that seems so horrible, and makes tapering hard.

If you only have 300mg capsules 3x a night, and your doc won't write a prescription for 100mg capsules for 90 days, I'd suggest you attempt to open a capsule and pour off 1/2 of it. Then for the first week just go down each night by the two capsules, plus the 1/2 capsule (150mg's~) and see how that feels. If it seems ok, pour off a little more for the second week. Third week, change to 2 capsules a night and see how that works. As you taper off, you should be able to accelerate the process a little bit. The third and fourth weeks will be MUCH better, believe me...

[Pugsy]

Need to get the dosage in different amounts and start with a slower reduction...
Like trying 800 mg instead of 900mg.

Gabapentin is available as:

Capsules: 100, 300, and 400 mg.
Tablets: 100, 300, 400, 600, and 800 mg.
Solution: 250 mg/5 ml

[SewTired]

Space Oddity, before even tapering off, did you discuss with the doctor what sort of medications he is suggesting as alternatives? Because neither of my bro's specialists, who are very smart docs, would make such a change because there simply aren't very effective alternatives. In fact, most of the alternatives aren't even approved by the FDA for neuropathy (Lyrica is the only other one). Anyway, do a little research on this and perhaps have a discussion with your pharmacist and then talk to the doc again. I'm not saying not to make the change, but don't make it without a good lot of information. My bro is seriously ill with multiple problems and every time he gets a new doctor, they want to change up everything without spending the time to understand why he's taking what he is in the first place or what he's taken before.

[halokittie]

Space Oddity, before even tapering off, did you discuss with the doctor what sort of medications he is suggesting as alternatives? Because neither of my bro's specialists, who are very smart docs, would make such a change because there simply aren't very effective alternatives. In fact, most of the alternatives aren't even approved by the FDA for neuropathy (Lyrica is the only other one). Anyway, do a little research on this and perhaps have a discussion with your pharmacist and then talk to the doc again. I'm not saying not to make the change, but don't make it without a good lot of information. My bro is seriously ill with multiple problems and every time he gets a new doctor, they want to change up everything without spending the time to understand why he's taking what he is in the first place or what he's taken before.

This! Gabapentin's side effects were a deal-breaker for me, so I'm on Lyrica for neuropathy, but the principle is the same. As is the withdrawal issue.

At regular intervals, my specialist will decrease my dose *slightly* to see if the nerve pain has decreased over time and less Lyrica is needed, but he never treats breakthrough pain or withdrawal as a minor issue. We go back to the last dose that worked and start over.

Good luck!