2Corinthians1: Trying to get off Gabapentin and Clomipramine

[2Corinthians1]

Hello All, 

 

Glad to be here. 

Question: How do I know when my body has stabilized to a dose? 

For example, right now I struggle with dizziness almost every single day. Does that mean I should hold on my dose? Or could it just be the side effects? 

[ChessieCat]

7 minutes ago, 2Corinthians1 said:

Hello All, 

 

Glad to be here. 

Question: How do I know when my body has stabilized to a dose? 

For example, right now I struggle with dizziness almost every single day. Does that mean I should hold on my dose? Or could it just be the side effects? 

 

Please be sure to read this current topic from the beginning because there is information in various posts about how SA works.

 

SA members wanting assistance with their drugs have their own Introduction topic which is the best place to ask questions specific to their own situation and journal their progress.  This keeps your history in one place and means you do not have to repeat your story.

 

I have sent you a "friendly 0 point warning" which contains instructions on how to create your Introduction topic.

[2Corinthians1]

Very glad to be here. I am hopeful that I can get off all psychotropic drugs in the future. Right now, I am trying to get off of Gabapentin. My goal is to go down 5 mg a week if my body can handle it. 

[2Corinthians1]

@ChessieCat I'm sorry. Did I do everything correctly now? 

[ChessieCat]

2 minutes ago, 2Corinthians1 said:

@ChessieCat I'm sorry. Did I do everything correctly now? 

 

Nothing to be sorry about.  You have not done anything wrong.

 

This is an explanation of how SA works:

 

SA, which is a very busy site with a lot of members needing assistance, is staffed by a small number of unpaid, unrostered peers.  When a member posts an Introduction topic it is placed in a moderation queue to ensure that it is responded to by a staff member.

 

Different staff have different abilities and areas of knowledge and the staff assist those members who they are able to assist when they can.  Staff are also mid taper, post taper or recovering from having got off their drugs too quickly.

[Frogie]

@2Corinthians1

 

Welcome to SA.

 

I'm going to give you a link to get started. @MerryJayneFriday Will be along shortly to welcome you also.

 

 

In the meantime, if you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

[2Corinthians1]

I have a question. How do I know if I have kindled to a drug? I went down from 200 MG a day to 195 mg a day of Gabapentin on Sunday. I have felt an increase in burning and tingling throughout my body since then, and have felt a lot of muscle spasms or palpitations since then. 

[2Corinthians1]

@Frogie Could you or someone please help me? 

[Frogie]

@2Corinthians1

 

Here is a link on tapering gabapentin. 

 

Tips for tapering off gabapentin (Neurontin)

 

I do slightly remember when I tapered off gabapentin, I had burning sensations. Mine was originally prescribed to me for fibromyalgia , which is a nerve disorder. 

[2Corinthians1]

I dropped 5 MG of my Gabapentin dose on Sunday. On Tuesday I started to feel burning in my body, and having spasms throughout most of my body. Are these normal withdrawal symptoms? I am thinking I might just drop 3 MG the next time. 

[OldDodgy]

@2Corinthians1

By my reckoning that was a 2.5 percent reduction which would normally be tolerated ok. 

However you did in the past do a massive drop and then updose so you are clearly very sensitive to it. 
if it was me I would hold on the 5mg drop for as long as it takes to feel more comfortable. 
They do sound to me to be mild withdrawal symptoms but I am content to be corrected. 
Best wishes 

Dickie 
 

 

[Altostrata]

23 hours ago, 2Corinthians1 said:

I dropped 5 MG of my Gabapentin dose on Sunday. On Tuesday I started to feel burning in my body, and having spasms throughout most of my body. Are these normal withdrawal symptoms? I am thinking I might just drop 3 MG the next time. 

 

After you make a reduction, you may feel odd in a few days as your system realizes you're taking less drug. These odd feelings are probably withdrawal symptoms that most likely will gradually go away in a few days.

 

Please do not panic when you get these sensation, stay as calm as possible, and note their intensity. You should feel the intensity diminish. If it does not diminish over a few days, please alert us, it may mean you need to taper at a more gradual rate.

[MerryJayneFriday]

Welcome @2Corinthians1. I like your handle BTW!  

I am glad you are here!  Both OD and Altostrata have given you good advice. It sounds like withdrawal symptoms I would probably hold until I stabilized. Holler if I can help and hang in there XO 

 

MJF

Edited March 14, 2022 by MerryJayneFriday

[2Corinthians1]

@MerryJayneFriday @Altostrata I have just made a drop down to 182 MG. The withdrawal symptoms have been present, but not terrible. Is it ok to continue moving down? 

Here is what I have done: 

Starting taper from 200 on 3/6

3/6 - 195 MG

3/13 - 193 MG

3/20 - 188 MG 

3/27 - 182 MG

 

I haven't felt great over the past few weeks, but it hasn't been unbearable. Am I doing it right? 

[Altostrata]

You made this decrease yesterday? What are the withdrawal symptoms you're feeling? How long do these typically last?

[2Corinthians1]

@Altostrata I have mainly had internal tremors in my back and some fasciculations in my legs. The tremors have been in my back for about 1-2 weeks. I thought that could be side effects from the medication. None of it is unbearable, but it can be bothersome. 

[Altostrata]

1 hour ago, 2Corinthians1 said:

I thought that could be side effects from the medication. None of it is unbearable, but it can be bothersome. 

 

I am confused. Withdrawal symptoms would be new symptoms after a decrease. When did these symptoms start?

 

What times o'clock do you take gabapentin, at what dosages? How do you feel before and after each dose? 

[2Corinthians1]

@Altostrata The vibrations did start after I decreased on 3/13. I take 91 MG at 7 AM and 7PM for a total of 182 MG daily. 

 

I feel relatively fine before and after I dose. The only annoying thing has been the internal vibrations in my back. 

[MerryJayneFriday]

@2Corinthians1

Hey you know during my whole taper there were very few days I didn't have some sort of withdrawal symptoms. It was like being sick and being really really sick and everything in between. I think you are doin it right.   

Hope this helps 

MJF 

[Altostrata]

Are the vibrations more or less intense at any particular times of day? Are they a tingling or electrical feeling? Are they painful?

 

How has your symptom pattern changed in the last week?

[2Corinthians1]

@Altostrata They seem pretty consistent throughout the day. They are not painful or tingling or electrical. 

 

Over the past week, symptoms have stayed relatively the same. I'm going to hold at 182 MG until April 6th. That's dropping 18 mg in a month. 

[Altostrata]

You may want to hold at 182mg for longer, depending on how you feel.

[2Corinthians1]

@MerryJayneFriday @Altostrata 

 

Thank you so much for your help. I'm sorry to continue bothering y'all, but how would I know if I'm tapering too quickly? 

 

I'm very new at this, and had no idea I needed to taper off Gabapentin at all. 

 

This is my first month tapering off of Gabapentin, and I've gone down 18mg so far. As I've noted above, it has not been unbearable, but I have noticed some internal trembling, etc. Not painful, but just kind of present and annoying. 

 

How should I proceed going into month 2 of my taper? 

[Altostrata]

If you're getting withdrawal symptoms that last more than a few days after a decrease or are intolerable, you are tapering too fast. If you've been tapering too fast, withdrawal symptoms may cumulate. Often holding at one dosage for an extended period will allow your nervous system to adapt, but sometimes a small updose is needed.

[2Corinthians1]

@Frogie @tezza What was ya'll's experience in coming off Gabapentin? I am currently at 168 MG (84 in the AM and PM) 

 

[2Corinthians1]

Also, could someone try and explain to me how I would know if I have kindled to a drug? 

I went up and down on Gabapentin a few times. See my signature. 

[Frogie]

@2Corinthians1

 

I don't think you are kindled. You just need to do a 10% a month taper and hold if needed. 

 

 

Tips for tapering off gabapentin (Neurontin)

 

I was on an extremely high dose and the psychiatrist took me off very quickly.

[2Corinthians1]

@Frogie Did you have any withdrawals from it? 

[Frogie]

@2Corinthians1

 

It's been quite a few years since I was taken off, but if I remember correctly, I had some nerve symptoms while I was tapering. I was on 900 mg a day and the psychiatrist took me off 100 mg a week. It was really fast.

[Altostrata]

Attention @MerryJayneFriday

[MerryJayneFriday]

@2Corinthians1. I'm sure sorry you are suffering.   Sounds like typical withdrawal symptoms and I agree wirh Frogie to do the 10 percent a month reduction.  Hold until you are stable if you need.  Hang in there XO 

MJF

[2Corinthians1]

I am now off of Gabapentin completely and looking for guidance. I stopped Gabapentin on May 25, 2022. I was on a total of 6 1/2 months. 

 

I am now almost 7 months off and my symptoms of internal vibrations have continued and are getting worse it seems. 

 

The internal vibrations started right after I started tapering off of Gabapentin. 

 

My questions are this this: 

1. Do you think my internal vibrations are still being caused by the Gabapentin withdrawal? 

2. Could the vibrations be getting worse because I am on Clomipramine 50 MG? 

 

Looking for some guidance. Thanks. 

[Altostrata]

2 hours ago, 2Corinthians1 said:

 

1. Do you think my internal vibrations are still being caused by the Gabapentin withdrawal? 

 

Probably.

 

2 hours ago, 2Corinthians1 said:

2. Could the vibrations be getting worse because I am on Clomipramine 50 MG? 

 

 

When did you start clomipramine? What times o'clock do you take your drugs, with their dosages? Are the vibrations worse at any particular times of day?

[2Corinthians1]

@AltostrataThank you for your response. 

 

I have taken clomipramine for at least 5 years. I take Clomipramine 50 MG at 12:30 PM every single day. 

 

The vibrations are pretty consistent throughout the day. The first time I experienced the tremors was the day after I began tapering Gabapentin. 

 

The tremors have not let up and have gotten worse even after 7 months off. Is there anything that I can do to try and deal with this? 

[Altostrata]

Sorry, I have no suggestions about reversing a gabapentin withdrawal symptom other than reinstating a very small amount of gabapentin to stabilize, then taper much more slowly by tiny amounts.

[2Corinthians1]

I'm about to begin my Clomipramine withdrawal. I am on 50mg. 

Is there a liquid version of clomipramine? Or do I need to mix up my tablet in water? 

 

Thanks for your help.