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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kimegraves | @kimegraves | Jun 13, 2022
In reply to @dbeshears1 "I can’t tell you how many times I have thought the same thing re: Gabapentin. It..." + (show)
@dbeshears1

I can’t tell you how many times I have thought the same thing re: Gabapentin. It is rare that I’m not checking my watch and waiting every day for my 4 pm dose because pain is setting in. Then I wonder if that means I’m addicted. But I do believe it’s because the pain is real, and that the Gabapentin is just the best and safest thing for us right now.
Throughout life, I have doctors throwing HARD pain meds at me for each nagging pain, and I’m like “Woah!!! I’m not trying to MASK the pain, I’m looking to FIX the pain”. Sometimes, like for surgeries, injuries etc it made sense to mask it while we knew our bodies were healing, so I would indulge in very temporary pain relief; I always feared dependency that we’ve all read about.
But I’m like you, I would be ok taking Gabapentin for the rest of my life because I’ve accepted that we have something that doctors admit they can’t heal, and I think it must work since we know when the medicine is wearing off. Gabapentin does not make me “high”, drugged feeling, or unsafe. I can safely walk, drive, and function. Would I have even more energy without Gabapentin? Probably, but I’m sure my neuropathic pain and discomfort would counteract that benefit.
So I too wonder if I’ve become “addicted” and if I’d have withdrawal issues if I needed to stop; but until they find a safer alternative, or better yet, a cure for the pain and other life interfering effects of idiopathic neuropathy, I’m ok with Gabapentin for life and hope I stay stable. With that said, I have not tried any of the pain clinics and not certain if they take you off 100% of medications, but I’ve recently dabbled in acupuncture and if there are success stories of getting off Gabapentin for a sure tried holistic remedy, I would consider trying to get off Gabapentin with proper supervision.

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As a provider myself I would not recommend stopping your Gabapentin without a discussion with your physician and following their recommendations.

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kratz5 | @kratz5 | Jun 13, 2022
In reply to @lioness "@pepsi97 Did she tell you how to get of gabapentin safely? If not delete one pill..." + (show)
@lioness

@pepsi97 Did she tell you how to get of gabapentin safely? If not delete one pill at a time stay on that for a week then all like this till gone In meantime this is what I do and is only a suggestion I use homeopathics They have nerve pain I've used it and works instantly for me this is what helps me

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I have been taking Gabapentin for as long as I can remember. I take it for leg pain I have during the night. I stopped once to taper off but my legs hurt so bad I just continued taking it at night. My question is how does it affect you when you go off if it ??? Thanks !

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kimegraves | @kimegraves | Jun 13, 2022
In reply to @lioness "@fesfactsmon I order from Botanic Choice it's in Indiana I have studied herbs and homeopathics for..." + (show)
@lioness

@fesfactsmon I order from Botanic Choice it's in Indiana I have studied herbs and homeopathics for a long time I'm sensitive to prescribed medication can't take high dosages the Dr wants .At Botanic Choice they are all in the pure form .I have bad allergies and use there allergy med. A good reference book is by Phyllis Bach it's her 5th edition it's called Nutritional healing a lot of information in it

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Homeopathic medicine is great and I am sure they have great ideas to offer. Please be cautious and read the ingredients carefully. So have been know to have fillers that can cause problems to liver and kidneys.
Kim

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1 reply
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jun 13, 2022

Last year I was put on Gabapentin for neuropathy complications of multiple myeloma in my left leg/foot. Because of existing kidney issues, the maximum dosage was 300mg/day. This was not even close to a therapeutic dose for me. I tried for about 2 months, to work with it. When it became clear that this low dose would have no effect on the discomfort, I slowly tapered off, using a calendar to mark my decreasing intake, and taking over a month to go off completely, I never had any side effects of the tapering.

Do I have the neuropathy still? Yes. I deal with it, as it seems to be less a "big deal" in the grander scheme of things right now. When there is a great deal of discomfort, I use oral CBD capsules, or a CBD cream.
Ginger

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1 reply
annatino | @annatino | Jun 13, 2022
In reply to @artscaping "@annatino and @rivermaya34 Good evening. I am going to try to give you some background about..." + (show)
@artscaping

@annatino and @rivermaya34
Good evening. I am going to try to give you some background about my personal journey with gabapentin, This was the first medication that my Neurologist prescribed after the results from the skin biopsy came back with a diagnosis of severe SFN, (small fiber neuropathy). He began to increase the daily dosage by 300 mg per month. The side effects of fuzzy brain and dizziness were more than I could handle so he had me take the gabapentin only at bedtime. And yes, it worked to reduce the numbness, pain, and coldness in my hands to enhance my sleep.

Shortly after that, I was introduced to medical cannabis to include a topical 3:1 CBD/THC for my hands. I found it to be helpful. So…….in a shared decision, my PCP and I decided to taper off one half gabapentin capsule at a time. It took several months for me to get to 600 mg at night.

And I have been doing reasonably well. In fact, I would like to eliminate gabapentin altogether. My hope is that a medication will be developed just for Neuropathy patients. Or it may be that there is some way to implement nerve regeneration in a more reasonable timeframe. Until then I will be very careful about terminating the last two capsules of Gabapentin.

Go slowly, be careful, and don’t forget to introduce a replacement to handle the symptom progression that affects us all. We all know how much we regretted missing a dosage of Gabapentin.

Will you please let me know what you decide? Your shared experience will help so many others.

May you both be safe, free, and protected from inner and outer harm.

Chris

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Thanks Chris.

I was only for 5 days on it and reduced it until two days ago.
I asked my doctor to give me this for anxiety but I decided that I would not want to depend on such of pill.
I am doing ok so far.
I was taking 300mg a day and one day doctor put me on 600mg a day but I went back to 300mg a day then 200mg a day and stoped.

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1 reply
macrdo | @macrdo | Jun 13, 2022

You should be safe at slowly decreasing dosage to get off. I hate this medicine myself. I was on it and pain would be good for awhile then come back stronger so doc would up the dosage. I got up to 3200 mg a day. My stomach shut down ( gastroparisis) and for three years I suffered with malnutrition as I could not eat solid foods without being nauseated, bloating like I was 9 months pregnant and feeling like crap. I got to a very low weight for me (100 libs) and just decided cold turkey to stop it. Not a safe way nor do I recommend that to do it - but it was killing me slowly ! Best thing I decided to do was get off it. I am not able to eat again after 2 years slowly eating my way back to health again. I was in braces all over my body that could have one. I am now back to a healthy 150 lbs and use absolutely no braces of any kind any longer. Back to walking and doing my physical therapy, eating good and healthy, my mind is back and not "way out there" or drunk feeling either. This medicine I think may be good for short time use till can have a surgery done but long term myself I believe it is deadly. I started using cbd products and it does better than gabepentin and I have no fuzziness or drunk feeling. My opinion only but my family members would all agree with me. I will never go back on this medication AGAIN !!!
Best wishes to you and what you choose. God bless you !

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1 reply
Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Jun 13, 2022
In reply to @annatino "Thanks Chris. I was only for 5 days on it and reduced it until two days..." + (show)
@annatino

Thanks Chris.

I was only for 5 days on it and reduced it until two days ago.
I asked my doctor to give me this for anxiety but I decided that I would not want to depend on such of pill.
I am doing ok so far.
I was taking 300mg a day and one day doctor put me on 600mg a day but I went back to 300mg a day then 200mg a day and stoped.

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Good afternoon @annatino,
Thank you for the update. Sounds like you are doing well. Just an experience to share......I also have high anxiety......so my Duloxetine (Cymbalta) was increased twice once I had reduced the gabaapentin. I now take 120 mg every morning. For me that insures some mellow days.

Chris

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1 reply
annatino | @annatino | Jun 13, 2022
In reply to @artscaping "Good afternoon @annatino, Thank you for the update. Sounds like you are doing well. Just an..." + (show)
@artscaping

Good afternoon @annatino,
Thank you for the update. Sounds like you are doing well. Just an experience to share......I also have high anxiety......so my Duloxetine (Cymbalta) was increased twice once I had reduced the gabaapentin. I now take 120 mg every morning. For me that insures some mellow days.

Chris

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Hi Chris.

I also stated on Zoloft 5 weeks ago with 25mg increases each month and now I am at 100mg.
I believe I am o perimenopause and need HRT.
I have spoke with a specialist and waiting to see her.
I’m Canada the free health care system sucks.
I have to wait 3 months.

REPLY
annatino | @annatino | Jun 13, 2022
In reply to @macrdo "You should be safe at slowly decreasing dosage to get off. I hate this medicine myself...." + (show)
@macrdo

You should be safe at slowly decreasing dosage to get off. I hate this medicine myself. I was on it and pain would be good for awhile then come back stronger so doc would up the dosage. I got up to 3200 mg a day. My stomach shut down ( gastroparisis) and for three years I suffered with malnutrition as I could not eat solid foods without being nauseated, bloating like I was 9 months pregnant and feeling like crap. I got to a very low weight for me (100 libs) and just decided cold turkey to stop it. Not a safe way nor do I recommend that to do it - but it was killing me slowly ! Best thing I decided to do was get off it. I am not able to eat again after 2 years slowly eating my way back to health again. I was in braces all over my body that could have one. I am now back to a healthy 150 lbs and use absolutely no braces of any kind any longer. Back to walking and doing my physical therapy, eating good and healthy, my mind is back and not "way out there" or drunk feeling either. This medicine I think may be good for short time use till can have a surgery done but long term myself I believe it is deadly. I started using cbd products and it does better than gabepentin and I have no fuzziness or drunk feeling. My opinion only but my family members would all agree with me. I will never go back on this medication AGAIN !!!
Best wishes to you and what you choose. God bless you !

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Hi macrdo.

Thank you for the reply.
I think that Gabapentin and Lyrica are two meds that are extremely hard to come off based on my research.
I wanted to take it for nerve pain in my lip after a surgery I had 18 months ago and also helping with anxiety off-label.
I am glad I stopped it on time.

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2 replies
macrdo | @macrdo | Jun 13, 2022
In reply to @annatino "Hi macrdo. Thank you for the reply. I think that Gabapentin and Lyrica are two meds..." + (show)
@annatino

Hi macrdo.

Thank you for the reply.
I think that Gabapentin and Lyrica are two meds that are extremely hard to come off based on my research.
I wanted to take it for nerve pain in my lip after a surgery I had 18 months ago and also helping with anxiety off-label.
I am glad I stopped it on time.

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Yeah I had had enough so took matters in my own hands against doctors orders. Thank the good Lord - He helped get thru with no bad side effects. I'm blessed !

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