rd61017: gabapentin withdrawal

[rd61017]

I was taking 900 mg of gabapentin a day in treatment when i got off xanax for about 4 months. i dropped down to 300 mg a day for the past two months and didn't notice any change. a week ago i stopped cold turkey because i didn't fill my prescription and thought i wouldn't need it. i've been feeling like I'm detoxing again, it feels worse than when i detoxed off xanax. i have pain all over my body, headaches, nausea, anxiety is there anything i can do to make this pain stop?

Edited January 5, 2018 by scallywag
update title with member's username

[Gridley]

Hello, rd61017 and welcome to SA.  I'm sorry you're having these problems following your CT of Gabapentin.  Unfortunately, these symptoms are typical of a too-rapid taper/cold turkey.

 

To start with, we ask all of our members to fill out a signature so that all of your information can be read at a glance.  This helps moderators determine you current situation and we would ask that you follow the instructions at the link below. Please include drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements in the last 12-24 months. Also include supplements. This will help us give you the most accurate advice we can. 

• Any drugs and supplements prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years. 
• Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago) 
• Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016. 
• Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses. 
• A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 
• This is a direct link to your signature:  Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

At this time, reinstatement of a very small dose of the original drug is the only known way to help alleviate withdrawal syndrome.  The only other alternative is to try and wait out the symptoms and manage as best you can until your central nervous system returns to homeostasis.  Unfortunately no one can give you an exact timeline as to when you will start feeling better and while some do recover relatively easily, for others it can take longer.  If you are open to a reinstatement, please let me know and I will consult with the other moderators as to what dosage you should reinstate.  

 

At Surviving Antidepressants, it is recommended that a person taper by no more than 10% of their current dose with at least a four week hold in-between decreases.  The 10% taper recommendation is a harm reduction approach to going off psychiatric drugs.  Some people may have to taper at a more conservative rate as they are sensitive to even the smallest drops.
 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage? 

 

To get you started, and familiarized with the protocols followed by SA, I am linking a few topics so that you have a better understanding of what is recommended here. 

 

Before you begin tapering what you need to know

Tips for tapering off Neurontin (gabapentin)

What is Withdrawal Syndrome?

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain aka Brain Remodelling

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

You might also want to consider incorporating a technique or two that you can practice on a day-to-day basis to help you manage some of the more difficult withdrawal symptoms.  You can find a few ideas at the links below:

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms

Acceptance and Mindfulness

 

You may also want to try supplementing Magnesium and/or Omega 3 which seem to be helpful in relaxing and healing the central nervous system and you can read more about these supplements below:

 

Magnesium

Omega-3 Fish Oil

 

Please let us know how you are doing and what you end up deciding to do.  Please be sure to complete your signature; this is very important

Edited January 5, 2018 by Gridley

[Staz]

14 hours ago, rd61017 said:

was taking 900 mg of gabapentin a day in treatment when i got off xanax for about 4 months. i dropped down to 300 mg a day for the past two months and didn't notice any change. a week ago i stopped cold turkey because i didn't fill my prescription and thought i wouldn't need it. i've been feeling like I'm detoxing again, it feels worse than when i detoxed off xanax. i have pain all over my body, headaches, nausea, anxiety is there anything i can do to make this pain stop?

Reinstate as Gridley suggests. I came off of Lyrica which is gabapentin's big brother and was a member of a FB Group on these drugs. A number of members were rx'd these drugs to help come off of benzos only to find them more difficult to get off than the benzo. It could be that they made the benzo w/d easier but these are two serious drugs to w/d from. I did 300mg to 0mg of Lyrica in just over 7 months and it was difficult to say the least and I probably went way to quickly especially toward the end and believe after nearly 6 months off I'm still symptomatic with w/d's.

Staz