topic Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin? in Wellness

Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

panda1234 — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 03:25:39 GMT

If so, what has your experience been?

Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

Icegoddess — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 03:45:52 GMT

I can't answer your question, but I have a friend who takes it for menopause symptoms, specifically sleep. What does it do for you? I'm coming off hormones and I'm having night sweats such that I often have to get up at night and change tops.

Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

TamaraLynn — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 03:52:11 GMT

I have taken it for over 10 years for chronic back pain. When I stopped taking it, I had about two weeks of restless legs and was unable to get to sleep. Afer the two weeks I was fine, no issues.

Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

GenXmuse — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 03:54:46 GMT

I took it for five years for pelvic pain. I don't remember having any issues coming off. I did feel more alert and less apathetic within a week which was nice though.

Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

panda1234 — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 04:01:09 GMT

@GenXmuse wrote:
I took it for five years for pelvic pain. I don't remember having any issues coming off. I did feel more alert and less apathetic within a week which was nice though.

@GenXmuse @never heard of it used for pelvic pain, what was your dosage? How fast did you come off of it?

Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

panda1234 — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 04:03:28 GMT

@TamaraLynn wrote:
I have taken it for over 10 years for chronic back pain. When I stopped taking it, I had about two weeks of restless legs and was unable to get to sleep. Afer the two weeks I was fine, no issues.

@TamaraLynn I have Kyphosis what was your back issue and do you still suffer today?

Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

panda1234 — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 04:05:56 GMT

@Icegoddess wrote:
I can't answer your question, but I have a friend who takes it for menopause symptoms, specifically sleep. What does it do for you? I'm coming off hormones and I'm having night sweats such that I often have to get up at night and change tops.

@Icegoddess I take it for sleep and it takes three hours to kick in. It does not help me.

Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

BEs4me — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 04:16:09 GMT

I take 300 mg 2xdaily for neuropathy in my legs. I'm pretty sure I'll be on it for life and definitely have withdrawal symptoms if I miss a dose. Itchiness, and the neuropathy shocks come back. It works for the reason I need it but wish it wasn't addictive.

Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

panda1234 — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 04:46:41 GMT

@BEs4me wrote:
I take 300 mg 2xdaily for neuropathy in my legs. I'm pretty sure I'll be on it for life and definitely have withdrawal symptoms if I miss a dose. Itchiness, and the neuropathy shocks come back. It works for the reason I need it but wish it wasn't addictive.

@BEs4me @thank you.

Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

CalminHeart — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 11:06:32 GMT

My dad had horrible reactions to gapapentin and ended up in the hospital and physical rehab. I'm glad to hear people are getting off of it.

Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

Skyegirl21 — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 11:10:19 GMT

With gaba, you must taper down over several days- If you stop suddenly, problems. If following instructions, it should be ok. I was on it for weeks after a bad back injury. With Tapering off, I had no problems.

Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

SilleeMee — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 11:25:42 GMT

I didn't have any problems coming off of it after taking it for about five years.

Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

CelticCrafter — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 12:15:22 GMT

My mother took it for nerve damage pain due to radiation and was never able to get off it, no matter what she tried. It didn't help with the pain and like someone else said, if she missed one days worth of doses she would go through withdrawal symptoms..

Although it may help some people, in my opinion it's a garbage drug.

It was prescribed to my husband for diabetic neuropathy. If I had been with him at the appointment I would have asked questions but they were still in that stupid no one allowed in the office or waiting room except the patient Covid mode

When he got home I had him call to find out what to do if he felt it wasn't helping after a month and was told "just stop it". He read the information that came with it and decied not to even start it.

Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

Judaline — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 12:32:14 GMT

@panda1234 wrote:
@Icegoddess wrote:
I can't answer your question, but I have a friend who takes it for menopause symptoms, specifically sleep. What does it do for you? I'm coming off hormones and I'm having night sweats such that I often have to get up at night and change tops.
@Icegoddess I take it for sleep and it takes three hours to kick in. It does not help me.

I took it for years for sleep-never let me down. When I stopped it, it took about 2 weeks to leave my system. My only side effect was I couldn't sleep anymore.

From what I've read it is an anti-convulsant. When patients were asking for it for other ailments the FDA or whomever didn't like that so they are presently prescribing only for seizures. At least where we live. Maybe low dosages are permitted, not sure. Also known as Neurontin.

Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

FlyersGirl — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 16:34:25 GMT

I took Gabapentin during and following Shingles. I took it for close to 6 months, starting with 3 per day, then 2, then 1 until I was finally finished. I know it helped at the time. It is important that you gradually stop taking this medication.

BTW, I did have the "original" shingles shot and still got shingles. It happened during the lockdown and was horrible. The newer 2 dose shingles shot is supposed to be much more effective.

Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

panda1234 — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 16:46:34 GMT

@CalminHeart wrote:

My dad had horrible reactions to gapapentin and ended up in the hospital and physical rehab. I'm glad to hear people are getting off of it.

@CalminHeart @If you feel comfortable sharing I would be very interested.

Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

Judaline — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 17:46:10 GMT

@panda1234 wrote:
@CalminHeart wrote:

My dad had horrible reactions to gapapentin and ended up in the hospital and physical rehab. I'm glad to hear people are getting off of it.
@CalminHeart @If you feel comfortable sharing I would be very interested.

Everyone's different. Some people take penicillin and almost die from it-others take it all of their lives. You can't say it's an awful drug. If it stops someone's seizures, then it's a good drug. And that's what it was intended for-an anti-convulsant.

Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

IMW — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 20:08:09 GMT

Just reducing my dosage from 3600mgs to 3000 was hell. Aches and pains ----just horrendous. Must be done very gracefully ie drop 1 pill every other or third day.
Good luck!

Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

GenXmuse — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 20:40:17 GMT

@panda1234 wrote:
@GenXmuse wrote:
I took it for five years for pelvic pain. I don't remember having any issues coming off. I did feel more alert and less apathetic within a week which was nice though.
@GenXmuse @never heard of it used for pelvic pain, what was your dosage? How fast did you come off of it?

The pelvic pain was from nerve damage which gabapentin is helpful for. I took 1800 mg and titrated down over two weeks.

Re: Has anyone come off Gabapentin?

Cookie2025 — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 20:47:22 GMT

I take Gabapentin for neuropathy. My dose is 900mg 2x daily. I would not be able to function without it.