Gabapentin withdrawal hell

[Loodlesss]

I reduced my dosage down from 1800mg to now 600mg per day (I've done this over the course of 2 and a half months) but this week the what I assume side effects have been actual hell, I've been in so much pain, I'm on 2 different painkillers, nefopam and cocodimol but they don't seem to even be making a dint in the overall pain, it feels like torture I just want to scream or cry, I'm feeling erratic and angry and frustrated. I'd like advice or to know if anyone else has felt similar reactions.

Thanks in advance.

[Bananas5]

Are you stopping Gabapentin yourself or under guidance from your GP?

Horrible drug...it either works well or not at all. No happy middle.

Sounds like you are coming off them slowly....that is very important. The recommendation IS 1 X 100 TABLET WEEKLY...OR LONGER. iF AT ANY TIME YOU HIT A WALL THEN GO BACK TO PREVIOUS DOSE.( sorry about capitals...computer being silly)

Pain clinics used to give out a leaflet explaining daily dose for starting and coming off.. It was extremely useful

Hope I have explained!!

x

[Loodlesss in reply to Bananas5]

Thanks for the reply, I'm stopping them myself, no doctor has told me to do it under their supervision, I'm sticking at a range of 600-900mg at the moment, I'm hoping to maybe perhaps try pregabalin, does anyone know if the side effects from them are even slightly better or if the withdrawal on them is just as bad, as I have quite bad nerve pain and other pain from fibromialga it will be a drug I will need to stay on, I'm just trying to do the least dosage I can manage without been in too much pain.

Thanks for the information it does make sense, so at 100mg a week taper I should have averaged 1000mg over the course of 2.5 months (10 weeks) so I guess been on 600-900mg per day is around the right area of where I should be because a was initially on 1800mg.

[Hidden in reply to Loodlesss]

My experience with Lyrica (pregabalin) was horrendous. I needed to be hospitalised but the doctors at the hospital pressured me to take gabapentin as well as opiates. Now I have had to withdraw from them ! I have no confidence with doctors. They only know how to hand out pills. My nerve pain has not been relieved at all. !!!

[burgerlady]

I have been taking Gabapentin for around 2 years now. I take it for diabetic nerve pain. It was reducing my pain but not working to completely eliminate it. My gp prescribed something to go along with it and it works completely to reduce my pain to nothing. What she gave me to go along with the gabapentin is a drug that is actually for depression called duloxetine. I am taking the lowest dose of it and it has worked to completely eliminate the nerve pain. You might talk with your doctor to see if a mild antidepressant along with the gabapentin will work if the gabapentin does not eliminate your pain entirely. Good luck!

[greekqueen]

Why stop? Take the full dose, no reason to be suffering and in so much pain😢

Lila

[Jaydi]

Pregabalin is said to be a ‘cleaner’ more modern version of gabapentin. The affects are similar. I found it worked well but I could not drive on a dose of over 300mg so stopped it. I now have duloxetine (90mg od) which is as good as anything else for my nerve pain/fibromyalgia and has the added advantage of acting against anxiety. Why not revert to the lowest dose that was still helping your pain? You could always try lowering again after a few months rest period.

[Sarek]

Sorry to hear this - I am on 1800 mg of gabapentin for neuropathic pain and nerve hypersensitivity. I would like to reduce it, but I forgot a few tabs and was in a lot of pain. It made me worry about being stuck on it, but I never know if it's just not taking the pills, my state of mind or if I do too much that causes a flare up. Im wary of mentioning pain management here, but I have found it very useful. It like gabapentin is not a cure, but it does help me live better with the pain. I find the two together work well and help me leave a more normal life, albeit I feel I still have a ways to go. Pain management isn't saying it's all in your head, but rather helping our bodies respond more positively to the pain. It takes longer to work that the meds, but it does work.. research the flippin pain organisation, e.g. see my.livewellwithpain.co.uk/ or try paintrainer.org