Sudden Withdrawal From Neurontin (Page 5)
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I have been taking 600 mg of Neurontin 4x a day for about 2 years and recentlty ran out of this medication due to excrutiating slow service from mandatory mail order RX company.... I was extremely agitated during this time (approx. 5 days), nervous, stressed out, etc. Has anyone else had these symptons as a result of sudden withdrawal from Neurontin? I can't understand why this happened, I felt so scared and lousy for that time. Is this a known reaction for this med? I haven't been able to find an answer. I take it for relief from carpel tunnel syndrom. Thanks

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I ended up just stopping it. I can definitely tell the difference- I'm more hyper (agitated) but my eyes are back to normal and I'm not yawning constantly! I go back to the Dr in 10 days and will see what he recommends. I'm still on Cymbalta, but not sure what that is doing at all. I am having a little more pain, but it's not too bad. I think I'm going to start exercising this coming week and hopefully that will help the agitation. :)

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Hi TT while I am not a DR I am a person who has been on Gabapentin for years and have gradually tried to get rid of this med for a long time! Doctors are not aware and I agree they should have to try this med over an extended period and have to get off it! YES, YES, YES, it has helped with the pain of my damaged spinal nerves, but really the side effects are maddening! Probably spelt wrong but that's another side effect I think I am stupid have the time and I know I am not in my heart! I feel at times like I am going crazy and it has significantly hurt my memory! I spoke with a woman in person and she said her sister was on it for a year and they all thought she was going crazy! After several attempts at getting her on the right track and therapy they discovered that the gabapentin had taken much from her and they all decided to support her in getting off the gabapentin and giving her the much needed support! It took almost another year to go thru the withdrawals, losing her job and her marriage, but in the long run it has helped her get back to a normal life. Good luck and don't be too hard on yourself while trying to slow down, you can not do this overnight!

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Hi So glad to hear you have been on such a little dosage! Yes I would go to one every other day! I am no expert but even the expert's don't know how to handle this stuff! It should only be used in rare situations as in a person who suffers from seizures and not for nerve pain! I think because you are such a low dosage you can get off these a little easier than others who have been on high dose's for years! Good luck hon and keep us informed as to your progress and best wishes!

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I have been on 3200 mg of gabapentin for 2 years, I just recently switched to Gralise (gabapentin Extended Release) I was ok the first month but now the 2nd month has been a nightmare...The "withdrawal" from gabapentin is there while taking the med it's awful , hot / cold sweats , itching, no sleep, depression, outburst of crying, panic attacks. I have NEVER been through anything like it, nobody in my household understands , they all think I'm "losing it" ....Drs say there is no known withdrawl...they should have to sample a medication and symptoms before they can prescribe it....yes it helps with my neuropathy, and pinched nerves symptoms but at this point I'm not sure what's worse the gabapentin or the pain :(

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hi I have come off gabapentin after using it in varying doses since Beginning of March for peripheral neuropathy only got up to 600 mg a day halved that then within a week came of it lost a weekend went back on 200 mgs and brought that down within a week horrific withdrawal bloating vertigo generally feel rubbish made sinus worse just worse than when taking it ,doc said he can't say how long withdrawal could last ,have never felt so bad in my life have lost 3 weeks in total anyone else felt this way ,have ordered some quick absorbed magnesium should be here tomorrow .not had any since last friday so 9 days ago.

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I've been on 100mg of Neurontin- lowest dose once a day for 5 weeks and hate it. I'm so tired- my eyes hurt and I have a hard time keeping them open! Obviously sensitive. For this low dose which is a capsule, do you all think I can just stop it? I had pain, but had surgery 3 weeks ago and it's much better. Should I go to every other day? I just want to stop. No history of seizures- generally healthy otherwise.

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Sinda I am so sorry that this happened to you because I too have had this issue and it is no laughing matter! This is an issue that the RX CO's have not addressed with the healthcare provider! Everything that you have gone thru is almost the exact same as others whom I have spoken with! It is a nerve blocker, therefore, when you stop taking them for whatever reason, those nerves as well as your normal brain functions go haywire and consequently so do you and you have trouble maintaining your normal day to day activities! I try to meditate and take some personal time readjusting! At the same time you need to have support around you who understand and comfort you! Chin up and know this is a setback and your drugs should be delivered in a timely matter! I was taking 1800mg a day when this happened to me and am now taking 600mg and slowly weaning myself off those cause I feel like I am crazy and stupid on them and I have a hard time understanding me let alone others trying to comprehend what I am saying or doing! It also plays games with memory so take it easy giel and good luck!

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I have put on a lot of weight while taking neurontin and decided 2 days ago to stop taking it. Yes, I have felt a lot like what you all are describing. My biggest complaint is the insomnia. I wake up with panic attacks and can't breathe. I have that feeling that something terrible is going to happen even though I should know it's not. I have fibro and normally sleep about 10 to 11 hours out of a 24 hour day with naps of course. Since I have stopped the neurontin I have slept a total of 7 hours in 2 days. Needless to say I broke down and started taking it again. Weight gain is better than no sleep. Thanks for the posts. They really helped me.

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I would never stop taking this all at once! Just try a little at a time! I fdo not know how much you are taking but I would do one pill at a time for two weeks and if that's goes well then gradually stop taking each pill at two weeks intervals! If that doesn't work then try stopping at 3 week intervals per pill! You may experience some tremors and they won't last but they are scary to experience! Just make sure that the people around you know what you are doing and what they need to be aware of for both your sakes! Good luck and great job for quitting these as they are so bad for you!

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Titrated down as slowly as possible to avoid any if the horrible withdrawal symptoms. I don't know the normal amount you are taking but if possible take 100 mg less a day for about 3 to 5 days, then after that take 200 mg less a day for 3 to 5 days, then after that go down 300 mg a day for 3 to 5 days. Continue decreasing every 3 to 5 days til your completely off of the medicine. It may seem like it's taking forever to be done but in the long run its better than suffering with any withdrawal symptoms. Best of luck to you!! I'm not a pharmacist or dr but my advice is from personal experience. I had to stop cold turkey and went through withdrawals that were horrible and I was miserable for over a month. I wish I could have titrated down slowly. Even my drs said I shouldn't have stopped so suddenly. I had no choice due to financial and insurance reasons. I personally will NEVER go back on gabapentin / neurontin. Yes I have major nerve damage and suffer with neuropathy but the thought of ever having to go through the withdrawal symptoms again is more than enough reason for me not to even think of going back on it.
I wish you the best and hope this helps!

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I need to stop taken Gabapentin/Neuroten and am wondering how the best way would be. any suggestions ?

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You had exactly what happened to me! The first time was a couple years ago and I was away from home on vacation and had not planned correctly and ran out and I was a big mess! Nervous agitated paranoid and shaky! I too didn't know what was happening and no one tells you or acknowledges this even happens. Even my pain management doctor said there is no problems or withdrawals from it and that is 100% incorrect! A person who takes the drug for seizures can not go off this drug cold turkey so what makes them think someone else can't go cold turkey! DUH! Good luck with this and always make sure you have extra if needed!

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1800mg a day for 9 months. Have gone cold turkey for 2 weeks. Biggest side effect of quitting has been insomnia.

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I have been on as much as 1800mg a day of the stuff and let me tell you that the side effects of it are pretty bad..confusion, lots of memory loss and stress! I am now on 600mg and have been since December 2013. Now I am weining off morphine sulfate er 15mg and still on the gabapentin. When I went to my pain doctor she said I go off the gabapentin anytime without any problems. That's BS cause I have already done that and wow can this stuff make you crazy! It is a nerve blocker and that is exactly what it odes it blocks so many triggers in the brain and it is an anti seizure med as well so I had several tremors ie: shaking, drooling, and peeing my pants. I knew when I was having them but couldn't stop them and boy was I worn out from them! Now I am doing the morphine and I am scared of it! I have downed one dose already and that was pretty easy but am afraid of doing anymore! I am not going of the rest of the gabapentin until totally off the morphine! Good luck peeps! This is a tough one! Nancy

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Thank you KJB, I am very familiar with this class of drugs and its uses, including non-FDA indicated uses, and you are absolutely correct. Melissa is lucky she didn't suffer the side effects most experience but ANYONE can have a seizure for any number of reasons despite not having a seizure disorder, withdrawing from gabapentin is one of them (as stated in the drug information itself and all drug resource manuals). Please everyone talk to you PHARMACIST when planning your withdrawal in addition to your doctor and only use forums for formulating questions.

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Can you please update your post, because what you have is very similar to what I have now and like to know if you are off the med and how long did it take to get better.

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I take 800 4x a day for the last three years, this past month the pharmacy messed up and gave me 600mg, i just caught it today after 3 weeks, and its been hell, they put 2 different pills in the same bottle. G13 and G31, totally has been screwing up my head, why i have acted the way i have been. Anyone have any advice?

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ih am currently weaning from gabapentin from high dose went from 3100 mg to 2400 mg only thing i noticed extremely tired cant keep my eyes open doing this for 3 days then going down to 1800 mg for 3 days then down to 1200 mg where i want to stay for anxiety have weaned from klonipi before a nightmare this drug so much easier to get off of i find withdrawal from gabapentin only lasts about 3 days and its mostly anxiety so i dont know what everyone is talking about try coming off benzos horrific withdrawal

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I take 300mg once a day to help control pain w/ fibromyalgia and migraines. I have had similar withdrawal effects when there has been overlap of running out and refills. It only takes 2 days before the symptoms kick in. For me sudden movements results in the feeling that the rest of the world is slightly slower in catching up. It is unbearable and I try to avoid those situations at all cost. It has happened 2 to 3 times over the last 10 years. Good Luck

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Well, Melissa you are sadly mistaken when self annalizing Gabapentin weaning.I was on 1800mg per day for 18 months and just upon lowering my dose by half I started having tremor like symtoms not knowing it is an anti seisure medication. I have gone from 1800mg per day to 600 and hope to be off this crazy drug totally by May 1st. I can somehow deal with the nerve pain but can not deal with this insane drug.

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