Gabapentin Withdrawal Crazy Itching?

I am trying to wean off of gabapentin, but the worst part is the itching, and the crazy restlessness at night. I’m taking one a day at 300 mg in the evening. By the time evening comes again the itching starts happening. How do I wean off this/300 mg a day, and is there anything I can take for the itching. I did start taking magnesium a couple days ago. I was on it for about 4 to 5 weeks, at 1800 mg a day. No one told me to not go cold turkey, so I did and that was a horrible week. So I went back to taking one a day and I want to get off of these now.

REPLY

REPORT

This medication comes in lower dosages, so you could speak to your doctor about using 100mg capsules, or tablets to help you taper off of it.

The FDA warns that other withdrawal effects may include nausea, dizziness, depression, and headache.

Is there anything I can help with? Are you on any other medications?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Re: Verwon (# 1)

Just my normal blood pressure tabs with diuretic. I do have a prescription of lexapro for anxiety. I quit taking it a while back but was wondering about taking it for the anxiety part of withdrawal? Also I take protonic for acid reflux. Are any of these a problem with the Gabapentin?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have found that Aloe helps a lot with itching. A little bit goes a long ways as your body will absorb a lot of it (if you don’t use too much all of it) and it replaces every vitamins that you need.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Gabapentin has a short half life of 5 to 7 hours. That’s why it is normally prescribed 3 times a day or 4 times a day. A water titration method can be used to titrate off with 10% or less safe tapering guidelines. Your Doctor can prescribe liquid gabapentin to help and some people drop 1mg a day until they can stop to help also as a option. Most people divide the daily dosage by 3 or 4 (how often they take it) and keep this medication high and tight with the dosage amount as close as possible and the hourly spread consistent for when they take the medication. Because of the short half life some people start to feel interdosage withdrawal symptoms when they take it once a day or twice. Gabapentin has a reverse bio availability (not the technical term) it means the lower the dosage the stronger the percentage it works with the body. At 300mg it starts to hit 80% bio availability from the previous 66% at about the 600mg /900mg range. At 300mg in studies it shows it moves from aprox 80% to a solid 80% at 100mg. The lowest dosages can be the harder to taper and often have the most side effects. That’s one reason you see crazy high dosages prescribed to reduce the bio availability percentage and reduce side effects. Because of this most people try to jump off between 300mg and 100mg the best they can and what works for them. Patients report that magnesium can help withdrawals symptoms. But gabapentin has to be dosed 2 hours away from Gabapentin because magnesium can reduce Gabapentins effectiveness.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Magnesium can reduce Gabapentins effects and the FDA DATA sheet states Gabapentin and magnesium be taken 2 hours apart. Gabapentin has a reverse bio availability. The lower dosages can have more symptoms for some. A water titration method of 10% or less can help to reduce at a persons own personal pace or the Doctor can prescribe liquid Gabapentin to help reduce. It has a short half life of 5 to 7 hours. Some people can develop interdosage withdrawals if they switch to once or twice a day instead of the 3 times a day or 4 times a day the medication should be prescribed.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Only side effect I'm having is crazy itching from head to toe. On gabapentin 300mg 2xs a day for 4 months due to ner...

9 REPLIES

I'm being taken off of Neurontin/Gabapentin after seven years. I'm now crying, anxious, and itching all over! I ...

279 REPLIES

Been off Gabby for 5 weeks. Feeling pretty good except still have tightness in chest off and on. Anyone else have chest ...

10 REPLIES

Hi. Please help. Was only gabapentin 200mg at nighttime for just over a week. Side effects were awful. Really bad dizzy ...

5 REPLIES

I've been on Gabapentin for two days, taking 100mg twice. Will I have withdrawals if I stop taking it? ## No, there ...

4 REPLIES

I've taken Gabapentin for 12 years increasing every time the pain worsened. In December my dose was 3600mg daily plu...

4 REPLIES

Hello. I've been taking 1200 mg Neurontin (600 twice daily) for around 4 yrs. I'd like to wean off of it and wil...

3 REPLIES

I was on 300 mg of gabapentin for 3 months. I'm weaning off it by taking the 300 mg capsule every other day as per w...

1 REPLY

I started taking Gabapentin 300mg x 3 daily on May 13,015 for severe shingles pain in my ear, mouth and face. June 16,20...

10 REPLIES

I have taken Gabapentin for over seven years for pain. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I recently read how Gabapentin can c...

6 REPLIES