1. < Neuropathy

Is it safe to stop gabapentin? How?

Posted by pepsi97 @pepsi97, Jul 26, 2020

Hey there! The neurologist put me on gabapentin 300mg once a day at bedtime for a few months because of my numb toes. I no longer have health insurance because the pandemic forced me to leave my job on April. I am a bit worried about being able to stop using gabapentin on Sep/Oct without side effects because I never used it before and I have no idea how my body will react. Is it safe for me to just stop using gabapentin?

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 23, 2022
In reply to @wmbcat "I was put on Gabapentin in treatment when I went to get off of benzos. I’ve..." + (show)
@wmbcat

I was put on Gabapentin in treatment when I went to get off of benzos. I’ve been off benzos for 43 days. I’m currently taking 300 mg 3x a day of Gabapentin, 5 mg of Nadolol and 10 mg of Prozac. I dropped my Prozac dose last week from 20 to 10. I was also on Benadryl and I stopped that last week. I don’t know if the Prozac is causing symptoms too. I have extreme prickly feelings and itching that I can’t seem to scratch. My brain feels like it’s going to break through my skull.

How do I get off of the GABAPENTIN? I’ve been on it since week 3 of January. Thank you

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Here are related discussions that may offer further insights:
- Tapering Off Gabapentin https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tapering-off-gabapentin/
- I need help about a medication. Safe to stop gabapentin? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-need-help-about-a-medication/

REPLY
1 reply
ritchie | @ritchie | Apr 24, 2022
In reply to @wmbcat "I was put on Gabapentin in treatment when I went to get off of benzos. I’ve..." + (show)
@wmbcat

I was put on Gabapentin in treatment when I went to get off of benzos. I’ve been off benzos for 43 days. I’m currently taking 300 mg 3x a day of Gabapentin, 5 mg of Nadolol and 10 mg of Prozac. I dropped my Prozac dose last week from 20 to 10. I was also on Benadryl and I stopped that last week. I don’t know if the Prozac is causing symptoms too. I have extreme prickly feelings and itching that I can’t seem to scratch. My brain feels like it’s going to break through my skull.

How do I get off of the GABAPENTIN? I’ve been on it since week 3 of January. Thank you

Jump to this post

I took 100 mg of gabapentin for 2 months. I stopped taking it a few weeks ago. I experienced no withdrawal symptoms. I think because 100mg is the lowest dose, you won't experience any side effects. Some people take more than a 1000 mg daily, so they may have to wean off it gradually.

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1 reply
laurine7 | @laurine7 | Apr 24, 2022
In reply to @wmbcat "I was put on Gabapentin in treatment when I went to get off of benzos. I’ve..." + (show)
@wmbcat

I was put on Gabapentin in treatment when I went to get off of benzos. I’ve been off benzos for 43 days. I’m currently taking 300 mg 3x a day of Gabapentin, 5 mg of Nadolol and 10 mg of Prozac. I dropped my Prozac dose last week from 20 to 10. I was also on Benadryl and I stopped that last week. I don’t know if the Prozac is causing symptoms too. I have extreme prickly feelings and itching that I can’t seem to scratch. My brain feels like it’s going to break through my skull.

How do I get off of the GABAPENTIN? I’ve been on it since week 3 of January. Thank you

Jump to this post

I tapered off slowly, every 2 to 3 weeks 1/2 a pill. Everyone is different but definitely taper. I was put on this while tapering off Clonazepam .5 and Lorazepam 6mg. Unfortunately I went thru withdrawal 9 months and still have some withdrawal because they deprescribed me incorrectly, should have been 3mg Clonazepam tapering not .5. This was the beginning of my taper last June 2021 and I suffered all the while and still am.

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laurine7 | @laurine7 | Apr 24, 2022
In reply to @williambogle "I’m tapering off of lyrica now and it’s similar. First of all it’s a long taper...." + (show)
@williambogle

I’m tapering off of lyrica now and it’s similar. First of all it’s a long taper. Months of decreasing. Just my opinion but I believe it’s individual and based on how well you can handle the symptoms and they’re pretty bad. The key is having the right meds available to stop the symptoms and NOT ANOTHER ADDICTIVE ONE. I don’t understand why doctors are using addictive drugs to get people off of addictive drugs. Anyway you need to seek out a doctor who is willing to help you and that is knowledgeable about the process. Early on I had a pain doctor suggest that I decrease it over two weeks. That would have put me in my grave. So be cautious of whoever you find. Good luck.

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I so agree with you. However, slowly tapering is an absolute must if you are or had been on Benzodiazepines. If you search all side effects on the medication you are taking it should tell you how to stop.

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laurine7 | @laurine7 | Apr 24, 2022
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @williambogle I appreciate you sharing about the tapering process you have been following. You are..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @williambogle
I appreciate you sharing about the tapering process you have been following. You are right when say each person is different, but nonetheless it is usually a long process. Often when people are coming out of addiction that are looking for "quick relief." Tapering off of these drugs is not done quickly.

Your suggestion of finding the right doctor to help you in this process is a good suggestion.

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My Primary care Doctor and my UCSF Psychiatrist all messed up when they converted me from Lorazepam 6mg to .5 of Clonazepam (a longer half life) to start my taper. The consequences, in and out of withdrawal. When I would complain and say I think I am having withdrawal systems or protracted withdrawal systems I was told no you are not. Only after 9 months of tapering did I find out they messed up and when confronted, Silence.........

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Lawrence E. Traynor (Laurie) | @rugbytrayn | Apr 24, 2022
In reply to @ritchie "I took 100 mg of gabapentin for 2 months. I stopped taking it a few weeks..." + (show)
@ritchie

I took 100 mg of gabapentin for 2 months. I stopped taking it a few weeks ago. I experienced no withdrawal symptoms. I think because 100mg is the lowest dose, you won't experience any side effects. Some people take more than a 1000 mg daily, so they may have to wean off it gradually.

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Yikes! A 1000 mg of Gabapentin!?!

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1 reply
ritchie | @ritchie | Apr 24, 2022
In reply to @rugbytrayn "Yikes! A 1000 mg of Gabapentin!?!" + (show)
@rugbytrayn

Yikes! A 1000 mg of Gabapentin!?!

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Yes. If you read some of the previous comments on this thread, you'll know what I'm talking about.

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marye2 | @marye2 | Apr 24, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "Here are related discussions that may offer further insights: - Tapering Off Gabapentin https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tapering-off-gabapentin/ - I..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Here are related discussions that may offer further insights:
- Tapering Off Gabapentin https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tapering-off-gabapentin/
- I need help about a medication. Safe to stop gabapentin? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-need-help-about-a-medication/

Jump to this post

Just note that you can also take longer between lower doses to help alleviate reactions or effects.

REPLY
laurine7 | @laurine7 | May 6, 2022
In reply to @wmbcat "I was put on Gabapentin in treatment when I went to get off of benzos. I’ve..." + (show)
@wmbcat

I was put on Gabapentin in treatment when I went to get off of benzos. I’ve been off benzos for 43 days. I’m currently taking 300 mg 3x a day of Gabapentin, 5 mg of Nadolol and 10 mg of Prozac. I dropped my Prozac dose last week from 20 to 10. I was also on Benadryl and I stopped that last week. I don’t know if the Prozac is causing symptoms too. I have extreme prickly feelings and itching that I can’t seem to scratch. My brain feels like it’s going to break through my skull.

How do I get off of the GABAPENTIN? I’ve been on it since week 3 of January. Thank you

Jump to this post

I HOPE YOU HAVE BEEN SLOWLY TAPERING OFF THE BENZOS! They seem to have an arsenal of 4 to 5 medications they prescribe to get off the BENZOS. I HAD 4 MEDICATIONS ADDED WHEN STARTING TAPER, ONE WAS GABAPENTIN. Taper the gabapentin, every two weeks a little and if you feel fine go to next two weeks. NOBODY knows how your tapering is going better than YOU. Your Doctor nor Psychiatrist know what your body is telling you only you do. You have to be in control and just advise them and take notes how tapering is going. They will let you know if you are in danger, HOPEFULLY. REMEMBER, they do not know what you are going through unless they have been there.

REPLY
laurine7 | @laurine7 | May 6, 2022
In reply to @wmbcat "I was put on Gabapentin in treatment when I went to get off of benzos. I’ve..." + (show)
@wmbcat

I was put on Gabapentin in treatment when I went to get off of benzos. I’ve been off benzos for 43 days. I’m currently taking 300 mg 3x a day of Gabapentin, 5 mg of Nadolol and 10 mg of Prozac. I dropped my Prozac dose last week from 20 to 10. I was also on Benadryl and I stopped that last week. I don’t know if the Prozac is causing symptoms too. I have extreme prickly feelings and itching that I can’t seem to scratch. My brain feels like it’s going to break through my skull.

How do I get off of the GABAPENTIN? I’ve been on it since week 3 of January. Thank you

Jump to this post

Did you just stop all bentos at once 43 days ago? You would have been in a dangerous situation. What Benzodiazepine were you taking and how long were you on it? This is most interesting because I have not come across anyone to just stopped the Benzos. Laurine

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