Anyone have skin itchiness as a result of gabapentin withdrawal

Posted by wallywuv @wallywuv, Mar 13 9:03pm

After surgery and 10 days of 600 mg (3x @ 200 mg) of gabepentin, I had a withdrawal reaction of severe skin itchiness no rash, no hives, horribly painful. Anyone else? I was told to stay on it for a month after with terrible itching, built myself up to old dose slowly- thought i could come off from a lower dose, but had to go back up to 600 mg. How did you wean yourself off it again. Thank you.

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bajjerfan | @bajjerfan | Mar 14 10:43am

I had similar itching while on it. When I was switched to PreGabalin the itching mostly went away.

wallywuv | @wallywuv | Mar 14 11:57am

Mine was a withdrawal effect but thank you...I will see about PreGabalin next time i have surgery.

brennankb55 | @brennankb55 | Mar 14 2:35pm

In reply to @bajjerfan "I had similar itching while on it. When I was switched to PreGabalin the itching mostly..." + (show)

@bajjerfan - I've been on PreGab/Lyrica @ 75mg 3 times a day for about 4 years now. And within the last month, my calves and feet have started itching like crazy at night! No rash, bug bites, hives - nothing obvious. Just constant itching that scratching doesn't make go away. I grabbed the bottle of Cetaphil lotion and smeared it everywhere, and it helped, but I've ordered an OTC hydrocortisone cream as well. No idea if this was related to the PN or not, but I don't know what else it would be. Was wondering if anyone else here has itchy skin?

wallywuv | @wallywuv | Mar 14 4:27pm

If it is internal, smooshing cream won't make a difference. Is it a withdrawal symptoms due to long time use? Try calamine to calm when you have been scratching, but don't scratch.

bajjerfan | @bajjerfan | Mar 14 8:17pm

In reply to @wallywuv "Mine was a withdrawal effect but thank you...I will see about PreGabalin next time i have..." + (show)

@wallywuv

What was the reason that they gave you GabaPentin post op? IIRC my itching started around the same time as the neuropathy and nerve damage in my lower legs began. Previous to that GabaPentin wasn't doing much of anything. I just sort of itched all over. Seemed to get worse in the evening.

wallywuv | @wallywuv | Mar 15 3:14am

In reply to @brennankb55 "@bajjerfan - I've been on PreGab/Lyrica @ 75mg 3 times a day for about 4 years..." + (show)

@brennankb55
It is a standard post op procedure at Kaiser. Actually with joint replacements, i was on stronger dosages and for a longer time....just bad luck this time I guess.

vblaze | @vblaze | Mar 15 12:36pm

I have itching and neuropathy. I had the itching before I went on gabapentin. Gabapentin works about 80% of the time for me at 800 per day. Occasionally I have to take Aleve to bump up the relief, I have bad joints from injury and so that compounds the problem. What I have found is that no one method works for all. Trial and error.

wallywuv | @wallywuv | Mar 15 1:09pm

No kidding. Who do you use advising you about gabepentin use? My detmatologist is worthless. Should i contact a neurologist? Or ???

chrissiebee | @chrissiebee | Mar 15 8:40pm

I was put on Gabapentin 2x a day by my PCP when I was diagnosed with lower limb lymphedema . I wish I had never gotten on it because I felt like a space cadet most of the day. Finally when I almost caused an accident, I stopped cold turkey and had no side effects. I know this is not advisable, but I was scared what it was doing to me. I mentioned this to my cardiologist and he shook his head and said he only prescribed Gabapentin for people with trouble sleeping. After this PCP prescribed other unnecessary medication for me and the pharmacist called me aside when I went to pick it up and he advised me it was "black boxed" which meant it interfered with other meds I was taking, I quit that PCP. I recently read, and you can Google this for more info, that tests are now showing that people who take Gabapentin have a higher risk of dementia for whatever that's worth.

wallywuv | @wallywuv | Mar 15 9:21pm

Thank you so much. Amazing. I am already pretty old and cognitively 100% or close to it. Gotta say they are finding out soooo many things contribute to dementia risk. Hydroxyzine ( very string Benadryl) long term is a risk. I memorize grocery and other store prices...it really helps. And i get great weekly deals on the stuff I buy! Thanks again.