Many doctors embraced gabapentin, an anticonvulsant drug traditionally used to prevent seizures, as a way to treat neuropathic pain while avoiding triggering life-threatening addiction. My pcp told me oh the gaba has to be out of your system! Some days are better and some are worse, it has been a nightmare the worst thing I have ever been through. Some meds can cross placenta and are capable of causing unwanted side effects in the growing fetus. Personally, I'm so glad I didn't add Cymbalta, as they suggested as it can cause similar problems to gab. Yes, it can. Because of extreme swelling to legs, feet, & ankles my doctor told me to stop taking gabapentin. Yes, you can recover from Gabapentin ruining your life. In other words, I havent really been able to make myself get started good on a routine of weaning. However, many medical practitioners use gabapentin as a "catch-all" drug, meaning they prescribe the drug for various off-label uses. The only thing keeping me going is knowing how much I go through each day and I try to tell myself I am one day closer to possibly feeling better. Then 3 weeks and midday was eliminated. It could even be dangerous. Or so I thought. God bless and Godspeed. Listen to the commercials and all the mights. Gabapentin affects GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acida "calming" element) in the body. Had I known about all of this years ago, I would not have ever gone on it to begin with. Chiari Malformation: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments, It Hurts to Eat After Endoscopy? When taking the drug, ones body will adjust to the artificially induced GABA and start to produce less of its own. Read as much as you can from support groups as you can. Horrible physical and psychological symptoms for weeks and deep deep depression with no end in sight.. Good luck to you too! If its time for you to stop this med, your doctor will simply recommend a taper schedule for you, which should be followed vigilantly if you wish to keep withdrawal symptoms at bay. Not sure if you meant you are terrified to stay on it!! I spent two weeks in a psych ward until a brilliant psych nurse who believed in treating muscle pain. That greatly diminishes gabapentin's potential danger to adults. I have never had an issue coming off anything and i have been on what is considered "highly addictive". xanax, vicodin, norco, oxycoden, soma, and codine (probably misspelled a lot of those). I kept a daily record because my mind was so foggy that I simply couldnt remember if I took it or not. Sweating, confusion, not able to sleep, shaking, nausea, heart palpitations, pain, etc. This goes on for a long time. but I will say this is way too much for me to handle. I hope the comparison makes sense to more people than just myself. I wish you all the best! I am going thru some of the same symptoms but it's lasting longer. Meet your doctor so that he can recommend or prescribe the right one for you. I am now at 100 mg and having a horrible time. Previously mentioned, long-term use of inconsiderate amounts of Gabapentin may weaken muscles and induce respiratory failure. I hope you don't mind me replying to your post. I pray to God it's only a few months, and not the year plus that others have described. I can't even watch tv because I can't catch up with what's going on! Some people get severely affected and develop some of the serious, rare and disturbing side effects that can linger around for much longer even after the discontinuation of your treatment. Also, I was unable to identify what caused me so much intense emotions. Youve got this!!! My face started flushing (multiple times per day for hours) during the taper. Well I started Escitalopram (Lexapro) a month ago and I have found myself again. it took about 4 weeks to start to feel me again (somewhat). I need all of this to be GONE, even if it does take 2 1/2 years. It changes the track of the nerve to send pain stimuli. That is a lot to have gone through in only 6 months and have come out the other end! maybe that will help if I see a difference I will be happy because this has to stop I will continue to keep you in my prayers and I pray that you don't have to go through what I'm going through I feel guilty my husband works so much and then he has to come home and help me get the house in order because I'm too dizzy that I can't stand very long. It has not helped my head pain and pressure so now I am dealing with that as well as the withdrawal. They think antidepressants are a cure for everything . but I do wish you the best and just remember none of us walk this path alone. Those two herbs are for neurological support. For my money I would rather go thru the opioid 5 day sick than months and months of gabapentin sick. Some can go faster. In this blog post, we are going to talk about the disturbing side effects of gabapentin that can ruin the quality of life. GABA reduces the excitability of nerve cells (neurons) in the brain, which play a role in seizures and the transmission of pain signals. I did not have any problems or side effects from taking it except for the weight gain. I smiled just so I wouldnt forget how and made a decision that this stupid product was not gonna take me out God willing. SEE: Gabapentin street price. I believe you said your not terrified to be on it! I have been more suicidal than ever before, angry and frustrated that I was ever put on that drug and lied to about the side effects and withdrawals. It caused terrible insomnia, and I already dont sleep much due to pain as it is. The elimination of gabapentin through the kidneys can cause local impairment and increase the risk of toxicity. Good luck to those of you who are still struggling with this deceptively nasty drug.Take heart that ,if you are prepared to be patient and do it slowly,withdrawing needn't be a nightmare.X Beth H. It's interesting that technically pre-gab and gab have a different chemical make-up (long story, but I happened to meet a biochemist who worked in the drug area at Northwestern University in Chicago. The anxiety was at levels i hadn't experienced since my boyfriend of 6 years killed himself. I havent been doing it long enough to give you a report but I will let you know my progress. Maybe but my brain and body has not healed yet! I forgot she ever existed and worry that she will never return. Suddenly stopping the drug can lead to withdrawal, seizures, and other serious problems. Happy Anniversary to you and your husband. My doctor went into complete denial that it caused my adverse reaction, even though he was called within an hour after it occurred. THC was a godsend. i heard it takes 3 years for your brain to start reproducing the same amount of GABA it did before one started artificially started pumping their brain with it while taking Gabapentin. Gabapentin is a popular pain medication alternative for chronic pain management, and it is not a controlled substance. Providing credible health information and fast-growing dental news and health company that specializes in viral content in emerging specialize mostly in Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina), Russia, USA, Canada, Nigeria, and others. It can also be used in children above 3 years of age and in elderly patients as well. Even my pain management doctor who claims she has CRPS told me to drop 600 mg at a time. So I took one and I felt better that night I took another one period the next day I took another one in the afternoon cuz I started feeling pretty nauseous and dizzy and then that night I took two so the following night I took 3 instead of 4. so I started feeling better. This is indeed an upsetting condition. so I kept thinking neuropathy and I'm not a diabetic. This is just a terrible process.. Ive never taken it! Unfortunately, it is a very slow process. I'd reduced down to two 50 mg (12 hours apart) and all the weird physical side effects have gone.Because I've done it so slowly,I've had no withdrawal problems.Today,the doc prescribed me 2 x 25 mg capsules,so I can reduce further and space them out. Nerve pain from shingles: The recommended starting dose is 300 mg by mouth a day for 1 day, followed by 600 mg (300 mg twice a day) on day two, and then 900 mg (300 mg three times a day) on day 3. I was stuck in bed so much and was in so much pain, it didn't make sense to change into clothing and change back. Let me know what your dr says if you dont mind! The starting dose range is generally 10 mg/kg to 15 mg/kg by mouth daily, split into three doses throughout the day. Anyway I was on 1800 a day when I started to taper, I was on it for over 20 years. I do get some problems, but not as bad (usually) as it could have been. A lot of doctors don't know that. Wishing you the best of luck. I had horrible dizziness and nausea and owed just so many things and I was like eight symptoms I could barely walk I could get up to walk along the furniture to get into the bathroom and back I wasn't eating. The more common side effects of gabapentin may include the following: abnormal eye movements that are continuous, uncontrolled, back-and-forth, or rolling. However, these Waves (of bad symptoms) and Windows (better days) have their own time-frame. Heard it was good for withdrawal. While these are uncommon, people should be aware of them and seek medical attention if needed. Do the following if you have missed dose on significant doses; You should consult your doctor on what to do if you dont know what to do. I'm also aware of Babs recommendation of 10% (or less). Penny, sadly part of the success in withdrawing has to do with the way it's done. "Gabapentin would seem to be the ideal analgesic for managing acute and chronic pain following breast cancer surgery," effused the researcher who was a paid member of Pfizer's speakers bureau and recipient of five Pfizer grants in five years. Anyone have any thoughts on that? I feel like each gabapentin prescription should come with free coupons for a spa day and cognitive therapy, because after what you go through, you will surely need it. It's hard to think rationally when you're mind is focused on all the ways you think you have ruined your life. Thank you. When I tapered off, I did it SO slowly. I will be praying for help from my Savior for it to be done safely and effectively. The following experiences of people who went through this issue of Gabapentin ruined their lives are from two popular and legit sites: www.patient.info and www.drugs.com; Alright, that is all for now. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the kindness of strangers to respond to my moaning. However the side effecs are ruining my life, I'm intensely angry, like rage at times. And if so are you doing ok now, I am scared theres no end in sight. Symptoms can include: Changes in behavior and thinking, especially in children ages 3 to 12 years. Little did I know, I had to pay a long list of prices for being on this medication. Some might be serious or bothersome enough to stop taking the medication. Gabapentin is in a class of medications called . Was at 300mg/3x per day total of 1800mg/day. But I think that's why groups like this, and members here keep trying to spread the word and support each other. All right, guys, that is it for now on the issue of Gabapentin ruined my life. I hope Healthsoothe answered any questions you had concerning this. I've managed to be free of this site prescription for about 2 weeks now. You might have a serious reaction like seizures if you quit suddenly. Then and only then would I take another 100 off. the burning was pretty intense so I would use Tinactin spray to cool my feet off at night or put them in cold water. There are videos about it. It may not suit some people, but overall it is considered a very good medication in order to relieve some epileptic symptoms. Before I was either stuck inside at home or bedridden. I tried coming off of gabapentin. Fortunately, my family doctor agrees with me coming off it. it's hard,but I stuck it out.i am slowly getting better and not feeling so depressed now.i also felt ask.if my skin was crawling,but that's gone now. 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