1. < Depression & Anxiety

Tapering Off Gabapentin

Posted by Guener @guener, Nov 19, 2018

I started tapering off of Gabapentin because it was making me tired at work in the afternoons. I have been taking 600mg x 3 for a couple years now. I started as pain relief for my hip and noticed it reduced my anxiety, so my psychiatrist kept me on it. I have been doing much better with anxiety control over the last six months and want to get rid of the side-effects and now, I realize, dependence. When I stopped the 600mg in the afternoon I felt better, less tired and more clear headed, too, with no side-effects. When went to just 600mg per day this week I have noticed that I have had symptoms of mild depression that was relieved after taking my morning dosage of Gabapentin. So, clearly I need to taper more slowly now. I'm going to go back to 1200mg for a couple days before dropping to 900mg for a week and see how that goes. Anybody else have insight to share on stopping Gabapentin and how long it took, I would welcome your input. Feeling well this morning.

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Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Feb 23 5:46am

@gsgnfl
When talking about seizure medication PLEASE, PLEASE ERASE THE WORDS COLD TURKEY FROM YOUR VOLCABULARY. The consequences can be serious to deadly. When I was a stupid kid of 15 I stopped my seizure medication and was in an induced coma for 8 months. When they woke me up every memory I had was gone. My parents who I no longer knew had to raise and teach me the most basic of skills.
Some people may be able to stop cold turkey, but that should be up to a doctor to decide. I know from experience it's not worth the risk!!
Take care,
Jake

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zrose0001 | @zrose0001 | Feb 23 11:26am
In reply to @kitty322 "Due to severe sciatica, my neurologist put me on Lyrica, 75 mg. She advised to take..." + (show)
@kitty322

Due to severe sciatica, my neurologist put me on Lyrica, 75 mg. She advised to take 2 in the morning because I've been on 600 mg of Gabapentin each night for many years and it's too much to take both at one time.
I want to stop the gabapentin until the sciatica is gone so I can take 75 mg. of Lyrica in the morning and at night, rather than 150 in the morning and 600 mg of gabapentin at night. I feel like a zombie on all this medication.
I've read that you have to taper gabapentin carefully, but my doctor, who prescribed it told me this today:
"Yes. I would absolutely come off the gabapentin while taking the lyrica.
I reviewed the literature to see if there is any evidence re: best way to transition between the 2. It looks like you can either just stop the gabapentin completely, or you can use 1/2 of what you have been normally taking for 4-7 days and then come off of it. Both appeared to have equal results in the studies."
This is contrary to other things I've read. I don't know what I should do now.

Jump to this post

I was told to taper very slowly. I would lessen at most only 300mg for several weeks at a time. I have taken my time reducing from 1800 to 1200. And reducing other drugs very slowly over time.

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1 reply
kitty322 | @kitty322 | Feb 23 5:59pm
In reply to @zrose0001 "I was told to taper very slowly. I would lessen at most only 300mg for several..." + (show)
@zrose0001

I was told to taper very slowly. I would lessen at most only 300mg for several weeks at a time. I have taken my time reducing from 1800 to 1200. And reducing other drugs very slowly over time.

Jump to this post

Thank you.

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kathy513 | @kathy513 | Feb 24 10:45am

I was on 1200 mg Gabapentin 3 times a day. I started to taper off by reducing it 300mg for 3 days at a single dose. I started to get withdrawal symptoms so my Neurologist at Mayo had me taper 100mg for 3 days at a single dose so it looks like this 1100, 1200, 1200 for 3 days then the next dose 1100,1100, 1200. It took almost 2 months to get to 300mg 3 times a day but now I am tapering completely off. The Neurologist said because it is such a low dose I could do eliminate a dose for 3 to 5 days then the the next dose 3 to 5 days but since I have a lot of 100mg capsules left I am still doing it by 100 mg each dose for 3 days until I run out of 100s.

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kitty322 | @kitty322 | Feb 25 4:07pm

That sounds like a huge dose. I didn't realize it was safe to take that much.
I cut my 600 mg gabapentin tablet in half and have been taking that the last few days. I will probably go to 100mg in the next couple of days. So far, it seems to be OK. I have issues sleeping, but that's not uncommon for me, so I can't attribute it specifically to the gabapentin.
Thanks for your response.

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Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Feb 25 10:27pm

@kitty322
The maximum daily dose of Gabapentin is 3,600 mg a day but I know of a man who took 7,200 mg a day with no side effects.
Jake

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kitty322 | @kitty322 | Feb 26 10:22am

Wow. I have side effects even at 600 mg.

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1 reply
mmorley | @mmorley | Feb 27 10:05am

Hi, I've been on Gabapentin for chronic pain for several years, now at 600mg three times a day. As a retired nurse, I recommend you taper with your Dr.'s help. This is one of those drugs that should be tapered slowly. I'm glad your pain has subsided which really makes a difference in our mood.

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Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Feb 27 10:51am
In reply to @kitty322 "Wow. I have side effects even at 600 mg." + (show)
@kitty322

Wow. I have side effects even at 600 mg.

Jump to this post

@kitty322
It should help if slow down your taper.
Jake

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jeanadair123 | @jeanadair123 | Feb 28 9:42am

Just FYI. The doctor gave me Gabapentin for my husband when he fractured his back 200 three times a day. After the third pill I took him off it. I couldn’t wake him and when I did he was in another zone. It was terrible scared me to death. We were told later that it basically numbs your nerves so no pain. As time went on the pain decreased thank goodness.

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