Gaba Reuptake Inhibitors GRIs Gabitril (Tiagabine)

[chicken]

Anyone had any experience tapering Gaba reuptake inhibitors like Gabatril?

 

I looked online and didn't find a lot on them about withdrawal.

 

My mom was just prescribed one for pain yesterday. I had never heard of them until yesterday.

I don't think she should take it, but she is desperate for something to ease her chronic pain and nothing has really helped so far.

 

Doc told her to taper slowly off it when the time comes. That tells me it's a trouble drug.

[Rhiannon]

That's a new one to me.

 

I think pretty much any drug that alters neurotransmitter function is going to produce a similar effect, where the brain changes itself to adapt to the drug, then you can't just yank the drug out without causing problems.

[Brandy]

I recognized the name of this med because it's an anticonvulsant. I have a seizure disorder but have refused to take this, so no personal experience with it. But I read that it is sometimes prescribed off-label for neuropathic pain, especially to augment the effects of other meds (including SSRIs etc. used for pain).

 

I sympathize with your mother's need for pain relief, but I would suggest reading up on it (it's spelled gabitril) and that she get at least a second opinion about the cause and treatment options of her pain, if she hasn't already.

[chicken]

Thanks Brandy for your input.

 

She has been to so many pain clinics and doctors. I let her know what you said but she says that she going to try it anyway.

 

She has already had a bad reaction to a newer pain drug, Opana but got over it. I guess at her age she just wants some kind of quality of life. She is on Zoloft. She did taper down but says that she does not want to quit that.

 

If she is happy with the drugs I guess it is best to not push her to stop them.

[WiggleIt]

What about gentle physical therapy?  I was diagnosed with chronic pain, which is why I was put on meds, but it turned out to be a misdiagnosis.  Too bad I'd already been given four years of psych meds by the time I found a specialized physical therapist who figured out the location of my pain… It was all muscular.

Sometimes you have to cruise a BUNCH of physical therapists.

[chicken]

What about gentle physical therapy?  I was diagnosed with chronic pain, which is why I was put on meds, but it turned out to be a misdiagnosis.  Too bad I'd already been given four years of psych meds by the time I found a specialized physical therapist who figured out the location of my pain… It was all muscular.

 

Sometimes you have to cruise a BUNCH of physical therapists.

Wiggle,

She has been through everything including surgeries. She had a fall some years back that damaged her nerves. She also had a log roll from the top of a barn on to her as well as having lower disks that are severely damaged. Meds are about the only thing that his helping her now.

[chicken]

Well, she took the first GRI last night. Said that it helped with the pain but she thinks it may cause her to start "drawing" again.

 

She had a reaction to a new pain med, Opana about 6 months ago that caused her to suddenly draw from one side to the other and fall. She stopped the Opana and the "drawing" and falling stopped after a few months.

 

She thinks that the Gaba re-uptake inhibitor may cause this as she felt it slightly last night.  She wants to try it a little longer.  I told her to not stay on it more than a week if she has any symptoms.

 

She is still taking the older pain meds with no problems.

[Petunia]

Hi Chicken, we don't yet have a topic on Gabitril/Tiagabine, but like all anticonvulsants, if your mom takes it for more than a few days, it will need to be tapered when she wants to stop taking it. 

 

The most common side effects are dose related and include impaired concentration, nervousness, nausea, weakness and tremor,  abnormal skin sensations; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; increased appetite; irritability; lack of energy; lightheadedness;   shakiness; sore throat; stomach pain; trouble sleeping; and vomiting.

 

More information can be found here:

 

http://livertox.nih.gov/Tiagabine.htm and here:   http://www.drugs.com/cdi/tiagabine.html

 

You might want to put all of her medications into the interactions checker here:

 

http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html

 

       

[chicken]

She took it for about 4 days and has stopped it 2 days ago. She has been sleeping better now that she if off of it. She said it caused insomnia and itching.

[Oceanseeker]

I just wanted to comment on Tiagabine Hydrochloride‎ used for pain. I have MS, Myasthenia Gravis, PTSD, and Fibromyalgia. I had to quit working due to the extreme pain I was in, and it seemed no one could help. After years on Fentanyl patches, a miracle happened. I changed my primary care doctor and he suggested I try Tiagabine and combine it with a good multi-vitamin, and magnesium. My first thought was YEAH RIGHT a drug that is suppise to control seizures is going to help. I had been taking strong muscle relaxers and major heavy duty narcotics and it didnt even touch the pain. He ask me to give it two weeks.

I am over joyed to say, The Fibromyalgia is gone, hardly any MS symptoms at all, the only Myasthenia Gravis symptoms I have is blurred vision and my eyesite, i don't think it was just the Tiagabine but a combination of the 3 taken together. I did this for 3 months. Now if the pai starts to come back I take the combo for 3 days. It has been 6 months since I really hurt bad enough to stay in bed. But be warned, i had hurt so long. I actually thought something was wrong because my body did not know how to deal with no pain. It literly took me about 2 weeks to realize the feeling I was having WAS NO PAIN AT ALL.

Currently i take 1 small muscle relaxer at night so my muscles dont get stiff. The dr was completely shocked that all the pain had disappeared. It is so sad that I suffered 9 years in so much pain when a small tablet. 1/2 the size of a baby asprin 2mg and 2 vitamins could make that much difference.

I have shared this info with several friends who also suffered sever fibromyalgia and after taking it 3 moths almost all are compketely pain free.

So please at least give it a try, it has truly given me my life back.