Gabapentin Withdrawals (Page 6)

I'm being taken off of Neurontin/Gabapentin after seven years. I'm now crying, anxious, and itching all over! I have tried antihistamines and cortisone creams but with no relief.

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I am tapering off gabapentin. Was on it for 6 months. Most of my withdrawal symptoms are muscle spasms in my legs, restless legs, irritability, crying, I can't sleep and I get very agitated over little things. I've read where magnesium supplements help with these withdrawal symptoms but I don't know how much to take. There seems to be different kinds also citrate etc. which is the best. I also have absolutely no energy. Can you recommend one please?

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I went to Walgreens and bought Nature Made "High potency Magnesium" its 400 mg. I take 3 a day when I'm "sick" (out of gabba) and IT WORKS. and I DINT get the s****. Its not like taking gabapentin, but helps big time with withdrawals. Good luck!

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How much magnesium did you take?

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I had a horrible MVA 5-1-2015 in which I sustained herniated discs in C-5 and C-6, Cervical Radiculopathy, Peripheral Neuropathy, Concussion, and a host of other issues. I spent a week in a trauma hospital and 3 in a Physical Rehabilitation Center as an in-patient. This is when they began my on Neurontin/Gabapentin 100mg 3 Xs a day and now I am up to 600 mg 3 Xs a day along with Baclofen 5mg 3 Xs a day and Amytripltiline 50mg 1 x at night. I wish this had never happened because nothing has helped my pain and I have gone from 105 to 155 lbs in 5 months. I am clinically depressed and obese at 5'0". I begged my Neurologist to take me off the meds and now I suffering withdrawal. I can not sleep. I cry all the time, have constant headache, mood swings, and itching all over. I don't know how my family has not killed me yet.

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I don't really know how much gabapentin I actually took, or for how long. I was not prescribed it, I just used it as a recreational drug. (Could kick my own butt for that). I do know at times, and it wasn't every single day that I had them. But, I could take 6 to 8 300mg capsules a night. I recently found out that I was pregnant. So, I quit taking them, bad idea. I had no idea there were withdrawals with these things!! I have, in the past, came off hydroconde, alone. The withdrawals of hydroconde are nothing compared to the ones I had with these devil pills. I couldn't continue to not take them, because the withdrawals were too much for me to handle. After reading a whole lot of these type forums, I decided to "taper" and supplement with magnesium while I did. I started Monday. With taking only one 300 mg at night. I also started taking 2 bath soaks in Epsom salt a day. Swishing, using diluted Epsom salt in water as mouth wash twice a day. I also have been taking a magnesium supplement called remag twice a day. This has eliminated 90 percent of the withdrawals. Grant it, I still get irritated easily and I have a small head ache from time to time... My taper I am doing fast. Last night, (Thursday night) I only took half of the powder that's inside the capsuel. I plan to do that once a night until Sunday and stop all together again. I highly reccomend that you try the magnesium supplements.. Along with the Epsom salts. There was a guy at the very first of this forum who had done this regim. That's where I got the idea. It really does help. I wish you the best of luck. This crap is no cake walk. And I will NEVER take another gabapentin as long as I live!!!' Devil drugs!!

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I have been on 1200 mg of Gabapentin for years. I take 400 my 3 times a day. My primary Doctor recommended I skip one 400 my dose. I just skipped one of my doses yesterday and one today. I am starting to experience extreme anxiety and last night I didn't sleep, I am scared!! Should I instead taper one of my doses to just 300 mg and keep the other two doses to just 400 mg until my body adjusts and once it's adjusted continue down another 100mg. What would you suggest? Also with the magnesium, how soon do you take it after taking a gabapentin? I do have Epsom salts but can anyone tell me the kind of magnesium supplement I should be on. Please reply to this soon! Thank you, you are all angels!! Sally

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As far as I've read, I've read tons and tons of material on this medication. You should never just stop taking it. If you were in fact prescribed it, I'd talk to my doctor and have them set a taper for you to slowly ween yourself off of them. Those withdrawals are nothing to play with. I got so sick I couldn't move, or eat. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. Hand a very hard time breathing. It is scary business. I am now, 12 days free from them, but I still experience the anxiety from time to time, along with the jittery feeling. I can sometimes hear my heart beat in my head. (Annoying, but a whole lot better than at the beginning). The usual taper that I've read, would be dropping 100 milligram every week, until you are at zero. Seriously, talk to your doctor. As far as the magnesium, I got some off amazon, called remag. It's an iconic magnesium supplement. It is 99 percent absorbed at a cellular level. But really, just doing the Epsom salt baths and just taking a 250 mg magnesium supplement from Walmart will help. Warning though, too much will give you the runs! So if you get the runs, ease off the mag a bit. Oh, and if you have kidney problems, it's not a good idea to take magnesium. I read that too, but, I do have to say, I am not a doctor, and it would be best to consult an actual medical doctor. I just know from my experience, and what helped me the best. It's rough. It really is, and it takes time! Don't be in a rush, I had to be, because I'm growing a whole new life in my body. But, if you can slowly ween off these satan pills, that'd be the best. Just don't lose faith. It is possible to stop taking them and actually be semi normal again. Oh, one more thing, melatonin helps a crap load with sleep! It has been my life saver. My thoughts are with you. If you need anyone to talk to, I am here. You got this. It's hard, but it does get easier.

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So how much magnesium do I need to take? I have been on this 7-8 yrs and was on 1800 daily and went down to 300 daily and decided two days ago I am done! So... Have gotten sick and can't sleep, crying, etc. I have a refill waiting but do not want to keep relying on this! Please let me know:)

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I'd Google the daily recomended dose for a female your age, and that's how much I'd take a day. Also, try the Epsom salt soaks. :) they helped me a lot. Today is 15 days gabapentin free for me! Good luck!

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Ty so Much and good luck to you too!

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Can anyone tell me what the difference in lyrica, vs gabbipentin is? I read lyrica could have long term side effects relating to people of child bearing years having children with severe abnormalities, and such. Anyone??

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Does Gabapentin cause itching? Been on 1800 mg for nine months, having sexual dysfunction, and rapid HR. This is the first website were I find other people have these symptoms. I have had bad itching on and off for past six months. now i'm going to stop over the next two weeks by taking half dose and then stopping. I'm really unhappy with anxiety meds that cause sexual dysfunction. I've told my doctor this many times. Time to change doctors. I've been taking Gabapentin for panic anxiety because the doctor does not like xanax which I have been using with good results and no panic for 30 years! First he said it's addicting, now he says it might cause dementia in the elderly. Really? I've been taking it 30 years, if it causes dementia I think I might know by now? I'm disappointed with psychiatry doctors, it's very hard to find a good one. They want to give me all kind of antidepressants and I did take desipramine for a year or so. Now I find out it is proven to cause dementia and the more you take the greater the risk even if you stop!

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Hi Chris

Thanks for your post, I am interested in asking you more if that is ok.

I'm on pregabalin 600mg, but not from my doctor.
I hear you say "Not to discourage but some people have experienced withdrawal besides their best efforts at a proper taper.", by this, do you mean, that some people's withdrawals get worse as they go cown, no matter how much they cut?
If so, that is scary. That means I will need care, but I have no one. I am unmarried and live far away from family, so I am dreading what is to come, if mine is olnly going to get worse despite a taper. I know you say that it is not everybody, but the problem is, mine is already bad, because I got symptoms after being on 300mg for a while, and updosing to stabilise, each time holding a week before tapering, but each time, as well, symptoms would appear a week after each updose and get worse. This is why I fear that I will get worse, no matter how slowly I go down in dose, and that this could mean I end up psychotic, because this drug has already made me more paranoid, anxious and depressed, and I am seriously worried that no matter how slow i taper, I will still get worsening syptoms from what i have now. I dont mean to be rude, but one morning in bed, in my sleep, I lost control of my bowels, and had to get up and change, it was traumatic, and I am scared of that happening again, among other things like my anxiety and depression getting worse.
I tried to do a super slow taper, but the symptoms got to bad and I had to updose.

What should I do, I am ok if I have to keep these symptoms while i taper, but scared stiff of getting any worse, and not even coming out of this intact.
I am scared of being permanently scared and traumatized by this.

Do you think there is any point in tapering if I am only going to get worse anyway?
Would this not be dragging it out.

Please could you link me to online posts of people who have tapered and not got any better, or if you cannot, can you tell me where to find them.
I have been trying to look, but it's hard work sifting through and I want to read them to give myself a heads up, an idea of what to expect.

thank you

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Hi Gabbyist

Thanks for your post, I am interested in asking you more if that is ok.

I'm on pregabalin 600mg, but not from my doctor.
I hear you say "Not to discourage but some people have experienced withdrawal besides their best efforts at a proper taper.", by this, do you mean, that some people's withdrawals get worse as they go cown, no matter how much they cut?
If so, that is scary. That means I will need care, but I have no one. I am unmarried and live far away from family, so I am dreading what is to come, if mine is olnly going to get worse despite a taper. I know you say that it is not everybody, but the problem is, mine is already bad, because I got symptoms after being on 300mg for a while, and updosing to stabilise, each time holding a week before tapering, but each time, as well, symptoms would appear a week after each updose and get worse. This is why I fear that I will get worse, no matter how slowly I go down in dose, and that this could mean I end up psychotic, because this drug has already made me more paranoid, anxious and depressed, and I am seriously worried that no matter how slow i taper, I will still get worsening syptoms from what i have now. I dont mean to be rude, but one morning in bed, in my sleep, I lost control of my bowels, and had to get up and change, it was traumatic, and I am scared of that happening again, among other things like my anxiety and depression getting worse.
I tried to do a super slow taper, but the symptoms got to bad and I had to updose.

What should I do, I am ok if I have to keep these symptoms while i taper, but scared stiff of getting any worse, and not even coming out of this intact.
I am scared of being permanently scared and traumatized by this.

Do you think there is any point in tapering if I am only going to get worse anyway?
Would this not be dragging it out.

Please could you link me to online posts of people who have tapered and not got any better, or if you cannot, can you tell me where to find them.
I have been trying to look, but it's hard work sifting through and I want to read them to give myself a heads up, an idea of what to expect.

thank you

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I don't know if my replies will help you any at all, but I will try. I was taking around 1800 mg a night of this stuff, I had to do a quick taper because I am pregnant. The withdrawals were really bad. They were. Very scary. I know how you feel. It does get better. It really does. Don't let fear stop you from being free of this drug. First off, from what I've read, (I've read a whole lot!!) about this medication. The usual taper from a medical professional is dropping 100 mgs once a week, until you are completely off. There is a way to ward off the withdrawals. You can take a magnesium supplement. This is the ONLY thing that got me through. Any will do. Also, I soaked in Epsom salt baths twice a day. This medication is known to deplete magnesium in your body. Replacing it does wonders. Just be sure not to take the magnesium until 2 hours after you have taken your taper dose of the medication. I am now 31 days free of this medication, and I'm semi back to normal. I do still supplement with magnesium, but hopefully in another couple of weeks I can stop taking those too. They are just over the counter vitamins, so nothing addicting or bad. Just be careful not to over do it or you'll get the runs. (Very lose stools). Please don't let fear stop you from being free of what I call "this devil drug." If you need anymore advice, let me know, I'm here to help you, anyway that I can. I know what you are going through. It's rough, but take it from me, there is light at the end of this rubble. :)

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I'm going to start taking magnesium citrate (a highly absorbable form) 400 mg once per day while reducing gabapentin by about 20% in 1 week increments. I've only taken 300 mg at night for about 8 months but reducing by 100mg to wean off gave me insomnia. So, I'm reducing by 50 mg at a time for one week increments, which will take 40 days to get off of this terrible drug. I know 300 mg is a low dosage to begin with but I'm extra sensitive. I'll let you know how it goes if you want.

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I'd love to hear how it goes for you. I've been completely off the drug for over 3 months now. It was very hard, but, very well worth it. I wish you the very best!

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How much of a dose of magnesium do u take per day ?

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Did this work for you? Can your share whether you had success?

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Anyone had stomach issues? It's been 2 months being off Gabby. Feeling good except for stomach and bloating??

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