Took myself off of gabapentin

kkmay · 11-09-2005, 09:30 AM

Yes so I decided to take myself off the drug. It has now been three full days. Still got the pain but really just a nuisance. Sometimes the pain is strong and sometimes I hardly notice. Should I be worried of anything? Any repercussions because of me doing this? Is the pain eventually going to stop? Will I gain anything from doing this?

keps · 11-09-2005, 01:23 PM

good question. I too want to come off gabapentin.
Hopefully someone can help.

carbar · 11-09-2005, 03:05 PM

I decided to come off gabapentin quite some time ago. I just told my doctor what I wanted to do and he told me to do it gradually. Can't remember the exact details now as to how much for how long, but it was not more than a couple of weeks before I was off the medication. As I suspected no real difference between being on and being off so it was the right decision. Didn't replace it with anything either.
So, best consult with the doctor who is prescribing it to you.

Niese · 11-09-2005, 03:06 PM

kkmay,
I would also like to get off of my gabapentin but so far have been unable to. How much did you take a day? And did you quit cold turkey or work your way down?

Niese

kkmay · 11-09-2005, 04:03 PM

I was on four times a day with 300mg. Then a week by week I lessen a dosage. By the time I got to two times a day, I stopped afterwards. So I gradually quit taking it. For I also don't notice the difference.

1 Fine Spine RN · 11-09-2005, 07:46 PM

Some of the abstracts I have read indicate that it is possible for people to have withdrawl symptoms and some are severe, after 10 days of being totally off the drug. Some have no symptoms. Most have given good advice here, make sure that your doctor is aware, and realize that anything from flu like symptoms to tremors and even seizures are possible as a result of withdrawing from this medication.

Mary

SCI-Nurse · 11-09-2005, 08:13 PM

Gabapentin is not like baclofen--you don't risk seizures or psychosis by stopping it suddenly. If there is not much difference with your pain after than before, then it wasn't helping much. If the pain is worse, the only other game in town is narcotics and I think that gabapentin is safer so I'd recommend going back to your gabapentin. We start it slowly because it can make you drowse but if you restart soon, I don't think you need to taper it up much.

RAB

kkmay · 11-10-2005, 06:33 AM

I did not tell my doctor for I see it is no big deal. The next drug I will be working on is diazepam. Which I take three times a day, 5mg. I want my body to be off as many as possible. So now down to three drugs, hopefully 2.

Wise Young · 11-10-2005, 03:38 PM

RAB,

Not meaning to contradict you, I would suggest that all drugs that have effects on neuropathic pain and spasticity should not be stopped "cold-turkey". Rather, people should be ramped down slowly over a period of time. This is to avoid the period of increased pain or spasms/spasticity that can occur when the drug is stopped. Stopping these drugs suddenly may also have effects on your brain and your heart. I would suggest that people consult their doctors as well for the specific way and time during which they should ramp down off their drugs.

In the case of gabapentin, whether and how you should ramp off the drug depends on the dose that you are taking. If you are taking high doses of the drug and for long times (over several months), I believe that people should ramp down over several weeks. Some people may be taking very high doses of the drug (up to 4 grams per day). Gabapentin is an anti-seizure drug. At these doses, the brain does accomodate to the dose and may become more excitable if the drug is suddenly withdrawn. Some people may get insomnia, nausea, pain, sweating (source). If you are taking relatively low doses (<1 gram per day) and only for short periods, your doctor will probably ramp you down over several days. If you have been taking very high doses (>2 grams) for long periods (>3 months), your doctor may ramp you down over several weeks.

You should consult your doctor.

Wise.

singin_intherain · 11-11-2005, 12:42 AM

I've written this in a couple place, including today under "Pain" I think, maybe more awake and with more details. But I also urge extreme caution. I am a substance lightweight and was only taking 300 mg at night, becuase it made me feel and function like a drunk during the day. I cut it out over the course of several MONTHS, but still I had substantial increases in pain and spasticity much more dramatic than any help it gave me when I started it (I nevber was convinced it helped at all in fact, but withdrawing was miserable).

BTW, it also gave me rosacea. Anyone else?

11-09-2005, 09:30 AM	#1
kkmay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In your nightmares Posts: 1,704	Took myself off of gabapentin Yes so I decided to take myself off the drug. It has now been three full days. Still got the pain but really just a nuisance. Sometimes the pain is strong and sometimes I hardly notice. Should I be worried of anything? Any repercussions because of me doing this? Is the pain eventually going to stop? Will I gain anything from doing this? __________________ "No one knows what it means, but it's provocative."

11-09-2005, 04:03 PM	#5
kkmay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In your nightmares Posts: 1,704	neise I was on four times a day with 300mg. Then a week by week I lessen a dosage. By the time I got to two times a day, I stopped afterwards. So I gradually quit taking it. For I also don't notice the difference. __________________ "No one knows what it means, but it's provocative."

11-09-2005, 07:46 PM	#6
1 Fine Spine RN Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ashburn, VA Posts: 4,447	Some of the abstracts I have read indicate that it is possible for people to have withdrawl symptoms and some are severe, after 10 days of being totally off the drug. Some have no symptoms. Most have given good advice here, make sure that your doctor is aware, and realize that anything from flu like symptoms to tremors and even seizures are possible as a result of withdrawing from this medication. Mary __________________ 1FineSpineRN

11-10-2005, 06:33 AM	#8
kkmay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In your nightmares Posts: 1,704	I did not tell my doctor for I see it is no big deal. The next drug I will be working on is diazepam. Which I take three times a day, 5mg. I want my body to be off as many as possible. So now down to three drugs, hopefully 2. __________________ "No one knows what it means, but it's provocative."

11-11-2005, 12:42 AM	#10
singin_intherain Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pic is backpacking Alaska '93. How about 2012? Posts: 349	My experience I've written this in a couple place, including today under "Pain" I think, maybe more awake and with more details. But I also urge extreme caution. I am a substance lightweight and was only taking 300 mg at night, becuase it made me feel and function like a drunk during the day. I cut it out over the course of several MONTHS, but still I had substantial increases in pain and spasticity much more dramatic than any help it gave me when I started it (I nevber was convinced it helped at all in fact, but withdrawing was miserable). BTW, it also gave me rosacea. Anyone else?

11-09-2005, 01:23 PM	#2
keps Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 5,347	good question. I too want to come off gabapentin. Hopefully someone can help.

11-09-2005, 03:05 PM	#3
carbar Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: France Posts: 2,438	I decided to come off gabapentin quite some time ago. I just told my doctor what I wanted to do and he told me to do it gradually. Can't remember the exact details now as to how much for how long, but it was not more than a couple of weeks before I was off the medication. As I suspected no real difference between being on and being off so it was the right decision. Didn't replace it with anything either. So, best consult with the doctor who is prescribing it to you.

11-09-2005, 03:06 PM	#4
Niese Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Price, UT, USA Posts: 254	kkmay, I would also like to get off of my gabapentin but so far have been unable to. How much did you take a day? And did you quit cold turkey or work your way down? Niese

11-09-2005, 08:13 PM	#7
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,331	Gabapentin is not like baclofen--you don't risk seizures or psychosis by stopping it suddenly. If there is not much difference with your pain after than before, then it wasn't helping much. If the pain is worse, the only other game in town is narcotics and I think that gabapentin is safer so I'd recommend going back to your gabapentin. We start it slowly because it can make you drowse but if you restart soon, I don't think you need to taper it up much. RAB

11-10-2005, 03:38 PM	#9
Wise Young Administrator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: New Brunswick, NJ, USA Posts: 37,975	RAB, Not meaning to contradict you, I would suggest that all drugs that have effects on neuropathic pain and spasticity should not be stopped "cold-turkey". Rather, people should be ramped down slowly over a period of time. This is to avoid the period of increased pain or spasms/spasticity that can occur when the drug is stopped. Stopping these drugs suddenly may also have effects on your brain and your heart. I would suggest that people consult their doctors as well for the specific way and time during which they should ramp down off their drugs. In the case of gabapentin, whether and how you should ramp off the drug depends on the dose that you are taking. If you are taking high doses of the drug and for long times (over several months), I believe that people should ramp down over several weeks. Some people may be taking very high doses of the drug (up to 4 grams per day). Gabapentin is an anti-seizure drug. At these doses, the brain does accomodate to the dose and may become more excitable if the drug is suddenly withdrawn. Some people may get insomnia, nausea, pain, sweating (source). If you are taking relatively low doses (<1 gram per day) and only for short periods, your doctor will probably ramp you down over several days. If you have been taking very high doses (>2 grams) for long periods (>3 months), your doctor may ramp you down over several weeks. You should consult your doctor. Wise.

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