Gabapentin, also known as Neurontin, Gralise, and Horizant, is an anticonvulsant medication used to treat partial seizures, postherpetic neuralgia, and other types of neuropathic pain. It is rare to experience withdrawal symptoms from gabapentin, but it does happen. A review of medical journals published between 1993 and 2018 found that stopping gabapentin can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms. Common withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, anxiety, nervousness, agitation, body/stomach pain, confusion, and disorientation. Some people may experience tremors, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, and insomnia when they stop taking gabapentin suddenly. Diarrhea may persist throughout the week but often improves as the days pass.
Physical symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, muscle pain, sweating, and tremors. Neurological symptoms include seizures, particularly in the brain. Suddenly stopping its use can lead to withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, insomnia, nausea, sweating, and tremors. Stomach problems like pain, nausea, diarrhea, and changes in appetite can also occur. Flu-like symptoms include body aches, fatigue, and fever. Nerve pain can occur during gabapentin withdrawal, with nausea being mild or severe and accompanied by stomach cramps and diarrhea.
| Article | Description | Site |
|---|---|---|
| Gabapentin Withdrawal Symptoms, Signs & Side Effects | The symptoms of gabapentin withdrawal may include nausea, dizziness, headaches, insomnia, and anxiety. | americanaddictioncenters.org |
| Gabapentin Withdrawal: Symptoms, Detox, & Tapering | Does cessation of gabapentin administration precipitate the onset of withdrawal symptoms? Affirmative. The use of gabapentin (brand name Neurontin) has been associated with the development of physical dependence, as well as the occurrence of gabapentin withdrawal. | greenhousetreatment.com |
| Gabapentin Withdrawal: Symptoms, Timeline, Treatment | It is possible that some individuals may experience a number of adverse effects when they cease taking gabapentin abruptly, including tremors, tachycardia, hypertension, and insomnia. | www.verywellmind.com |
📹 FDA Warns Popular Nerve Pain Drugs Gabapentin, Pregabalin Linked To Serious Breathing Problems & Dea
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a troubling new warning about popular nerve pain medications – saying the …
Can gabapentin cause diarrhea?
Side effects of gabapentin. Common side effects of gabapentin include:
- Drowsiness or dizziness
- headache or blurred vision
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation
- dry mouth
- weight gain
- swelling of the hands, feet, or ankles
- back or joint pain
- flulike symptoms such as fever or body aches.
Rare but serious side effects. Rare but serious side effects of gabapentin include:
- Rash, itching, or yellowing of the skin
- swelling of the face and throat, a condition called angioedema
- problems speaking or swallowing
- changes in memory, ability to concentrate, or personality.
Does gabapentin slow your bowels?
Gabapentin may cause constipation, but it is not a common side effect. In clinical trials of adults taking gabapentin for nerve pain, only about 4% of people reported constipation. Some people in these trials took an inactive medicine (placebo). About 2% of people taking a placebo also reported constipation, so the actual percentage of people with constipation while taking gabapentin is probably less than 4%.
In clinical trials of people aged 12 and over taking gabapentin for seizure disorder, about 2% reported constipation as a side effect. Out of people taking a placebo, 1% also reported constipation.
In the clinical trials of gabapentin to treat nerve pain in adults, the most common side effects were:
How long does it take for side effects of gabapentin to go away?
As your body gets used to gabapentin, these side effects should wear off. If they do not wear off within a week or two, your doctor may reduce your dose or increase it more slowly. If that does not work, your doctor may suggest a different medicine.
Take gabapentin with or after a meal or snack. It may also help if you do not eat rich or spicy food. Take small sips of water or other fluids to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee.
Take small sips of water or other fluids to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. Do not take any other medicines to treat vomiting without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.
What is the biggest side effect of gabapentin?
Gabapentin may cause vision changes, clumsiness, unsteadiness, dizziness, drowsiness, sleepiness, or trouble with thinking. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert, well-coordinated, or able to think or see well. If these side effects are especially bothersome, check with your doctor.
This medicine may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors, such as feeling sad or hopeless, getting upset easily, or feeling nervous, restless, or hostile. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed. If you, your child, or your caregiver notice any of these side effects, tell your doctor right away.
This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, allergies, or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicines, prescription pain medicine or narcotics, other medicines for seizures (eg, barbiturates), muscle relaxants, or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your medical doctor or dentist before taking any of the above while you or your child are using gabapentin.
Why is gabapentin so hard to get off of?
What Causes Gabapentin Withdrawal?. Gabapentin affects the gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) acid levels in the brain, which means that users will experience withdrawal symptoms from the drug when they discontinue use of it. In as few as 3 weeks of use, users will develop a physical dependence on it and stopping the drug will result in withdrawal symptoms. This doesn’t mean people will continue craving or seeking the drug necessarily, but it does mean that the body will react to the absence of the drug. Symptoms of stopping gabapentin can range from harmless to deadly depending on the dosage, duration of medication use, and any pre-existing medical conditions.
While gabapentin is not a controlled substance, taking gabapentin without doctor supervision is just as dangerous, as is stopping the medication without consulting a physician. Gabapentin misuse, particularly if mixed with opioids, can increase the likelihood of a fatal overdose.
Why Greenhouse Treatment Center?. Although not all of our patients require a medically-supervised gabapentin detox, Greenhouse offers this helpful program that has benefited many. With a licensed medical team experienced in a range of neurontin withdrawal symptoms, we manage symptoms in a safe and supervised environment 24/7.
Does gabapentin affect your digestive system?
Gabapentin may cause stomach side effects like nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, gas, or stomach pain, especially when you are first starting treatment. Taking it with food may help to lessen these side effects.
Take your medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking any form of gabapentin without talking to your doctor first. If you stop taking it suddenly, you may develop serious side effects like seizures, anxiety, insomnia (trouble sleeping), nausea, pain and sweating.
Why is gabapentin prescribed?. Gabapentin (the generic) and the brand name Neurontin both comes as immediate-release forms of gabapentin. Immediate-release gabapentin is classified as an anti-epileptic medicine approved by the FDA for the treatment of pain you may have from shingles (postherpetic nerve pain) and seizure disorders (convulsions). Immediate-release gabapentin is available as an oral capsule, oral tablet and oral solution.
Gralise and Horizant are extended-release (long-acting) forms of gabapentin.
Does gabapentin affect the gut?
The change in postprandial fullness implies that gabapentin may affect gastric accommodation and motility, just as it improves rectal compliance in patients with inflammatory bowel syndrome.
Patients on an antidepressant were less likely to respond to gabapentin than other patients (37% vs. 66%; P=. 04).
Tolerability. Seven patients (11%) discontinued gabapentin while enrolled in the study. Five of them (71%) discontinued due to side effects, most commonly dizziness and fatigue.
Does gabapentin affect gut motility?
The change in postprandial fullness implies that gabapentin may affect gastric accommodation and motility, just as it improves rectal compliance in patients with inflammatory bowel syndrome.
Patients on an antidepressant were less likely to respond to gabapentin than other patients (37% vs. 66%; P=. 04).
Tolerability. Seven patients (11%) discontinued gabapentin while enrolled in the study. Five of them (71%) discontinued due to side effects, most commonly dizziness and fatigue.
How does gabapentin affect the gut?
The change in postprandial fullness implies that gabapentin may affect gastric accommodation and motility, just as it improves rectal compliance in patients with inflammatory bowel syndrome.
Patients on an antidepressant were less likely to respond to gabapentin than other patients (37% vs. 66%; P=. 04).
Tolerability. Seven patients (11%) discontinued gabapentin while enrolled in the study. Five of them (71%) discontinued due to side effects, most commonly dizziness and fatigue.
Does gabapentin affect IBS?
Gabapentin and pregabalin have been recommended for treating abdominal pain (IBS) due to their potential pain-relieving effect through binding with α2δ-1, an auxiliary subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels. These drugs were initially designed as analogs of GABA but have no binding affinity with GABA receptors. Two small-scale clinical studies have shown significant improvement in symptoms of abdominal pain, urgency, and bloating. However, adverse effects include dizziness and drowsiness.
Peripherally restricted drugs for managing visceral pain are being explored, as generic pain-managing drugs are often ineffective or moderate in managing IBS-related pain. To enhance the therapeutic profile, drugs targeting peripheral organs and nerves can potentially minimize off-target side effects. Primary afferent neurons, particularly nociceptors, have become the target for pharmacological modulation in treating visceral pain and other chronic pain types.
Serotonin, an important neurotransmitter in the CNS, is mostly present in enterochromaffin cells (ECs) in the GI tract. Recent works have revealed that 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors are located in the mucosa of the small and large intestines and on epithelial and ECs of the distal colon. Stimulation of 5-HT4 receptors results in smooth muscle relaxation, while stimulation of 5-HT3 causes smooth muscle contraction. Neural activities of visceral afferent neurons have been suppressed by blockage of 5-HT3 receptors in animal studies.
Currently, three drugs are available for IBS patients, all 5-HT3 receptor antagonists. Further confirmation of their therapeutic benefits requires larger-scale clinical studies.
Can gabapentin withdrawal cause stomach problems?
Overall, the clinical presentation of gabapentin withdrawal appears to be similar to that of benzodiazepines: agitation and anxiety, diaphoresis, somatic pain, confusion, tremulousness, gastrointestinal distress, and tachycardia or palpitations.
📹 Gabapentin Side Effects (& Why They Occur)
Gabapentin Side Effects (& Why They Occur) Gabapentin is a medication used for a variety of conditions including post-herpetic …
You want to talk about an atrocity let’s talk about Dr’s cutting 85 year old bed ridden elderly patients of of their pain medications and get this,using the excuse that they are a fall risk while I watch a opioid addicted news ankor addicted to plastic surgery talk about gaberpentone my mother-in-law Dr should be didbared for elderl abuse
I was on it for 10 years no problem. But i have weened of drugs. Tired of making big pharma rich. Tired of the government not letting my doctors treat me. Medicade doctors are restricted from prescribing pain meds. We are all not drug addicts. I tell the truth in ER they still run drug panel. I am 64. I never did drugs in school. Why? I didn’t want to be a drug addict. Same for not drinking. I didn’t want to be an alcoholic. I saw other peoples lives rot away. I never saw a joint until i was a senior. No i had no desire to even go there. You can’t get pain pills for a bad spinal cord. But your dog can. They get better treatment then people. There chattel property or are we to the government.
I was prescribe gabapentin for sciatica. It decreased the pain but I started having depressed moods, panic attacks, dizziness and headaches. The one thing I did was looked up for any drug interaction because I also take Requip for restless syndrome. Those two drugs can’t be taken together or with alcohol or cannabis
Had to take Gabapentin for about a year for peripheral neuropathy in my feet caused by IV chemo. It didn’t work at all for that but it sure helped me sleep. I took 300 mg at bedtime. My doc wanted me to increase it to 300 mg 3X a day and I could not do it. I was almost comatose from it. Gabapentin made me so drowsy I couldn’t drive or do much of anything. I had to cut down and then decided to wean myself off after taking it for a full year without any improvement in the neuropathy. I applaud anyone taking more of it for pain….it sure does work but how do you function and put up with the severe fatigue? I am glad you have something that helps you all. God bless.
If taking Suboxone and pregabalin, then you could get central sleep apnea where your oxygen saturation deeps down at night. A bipap might be needed. If combining opioids and gabapentin or pregabalin get an SpO2 monitor with an alarm function to vibrate if oxygen gets too low. My cousin’s spO2 deeps to 80% at night.
I took it for about only a year and when dosage increases to 400 mg, I’d get these dementia (I’m only in my 20’s!) like episodes and feel like I’m in another world/void and anxiety fills me. It’s terrifying and I don’t want to touch the drug again. It may be harmless to some but just like cannabis (taken long before this one), once I had a bad episode (I though I was on fire and in purgatory lol) I stayed off of it. Doctor wants me to continue but heck no, I’m taking my nerve pain before I get another terrifying fifth episode of whatever happened.
My cat was taking a special cream dose of Gabapentin for his arthritis. It was supposed to be formulated so that I could rub it in his ear because otherwise giving my cat a pill or a poke every time he was feeling nerve pain was almost impossible if not expensive. He developed breathing problems one weekend but the emergency vet told me he had fluid in his lungs. The process of having the fluid drained from his lungs was not only expensive but he claimed that there was no guarantee that it wouldn’t happen again. If I had known about this warning before I let my vet prescribe the stuff I would have said “NO”. I thought my cat had at least 4 more years in him. He was what I sometimes refered to as my ‘Lil’ fuzzy Buddy”. And I was the only one in the house he trusted. I feel like I let him down! It makes me wonder what other medication my regular vet gave my cats that shortened their lifespans?
To everyone getting scared from this article please follow your doctor’s advise. He or she is the specialist. Maybe you do need this drug and maybe you don’t have any side effects. Every body is different. Maybe it will not harm you in small dosage. Don’t just sit in pain and follow what your doctor advise you. Internet is full of these scare tactics regarding every drug even vitamins.
Even though its a CNS depressant, Of all the things to prescribe and give people access too, it’s one of the most effective and safe. If a Dr is worried about someone lying about use, trying to get clean, homeless, need a down for an up, this is the easiest on the body, it helps people come down, sleep, relax. You can also just drink too much alcohol with too much Benadryl. Always a risk with anything 🤷♀️
My mother has taken this drug for about 7 years after for her rare autoimmune condition which causes severe neuropathy in her back and legs. Initially she was fine but over the years she has developed severe sleepiness at random times in the day a lot of confusion and forgetfullnes. On the rare occasion she doesnt take it for a few days she seems much sharper and much more like herself also it has now started causing her depression and slurred speech. She is 70 years old and i am very worried not 1 Dr explained about these side effects or offered any alternative medication in fact all the Neurologists we spoke said this was the newest best and first line drug for her condition. It seems this thing has become a necessary evil in her life.
my breathing does get labored during the day, but i think it is because my stroke caused my left side to feel like it is in deepfreeze 24/7. i don’t have labored breathing while i sleep with heavy clothing on plus heavy blankets for the fake cold feeling my brain makes me feel. imagine the star trek enterprise accidentally beaming you halfway inside a walk-in deep freezer at a pizza place or movie theatre so halfway your left side is caught inside the freezer and your right side is on the room temp side outide of the walk-in. Dang-it Scotty!
I’m one of the lucky ones, no doubt, as I’ve been taking gaba for 3 years now for foot drop after a botched hip replacement. The drug, no doubt helps to ease the nerve pain. I have 600 mg strength, prescribed at 4 per day, but I take one in the AM & one at bedtime. Haven’t had any issues with mood swings or the like. In addition, my pain management docs have kept my 15mg oxy AND 18mg xtempza – a time release form of oxy, intact. Most other states, and most docs in my state, would’ve destroyed this very effective combo, which I’m fortunate to have, although it took some doing to get…
I eat 7gabapentin me 300/500 doctor in 11 days as per doses prescribed me for my arm and should pain during medication i suffer anxiety upper head swelling and hand snd feet swelling and insomia it is the 20day of withdraw but i have still,headache swelling felling in upper head hand and leg and insmia i want to know when this bad symptoms gone when I sleep properly and back my previous life
There is no medication good to take, they all come with some possible risk, some really very serious. I think each individual needs to know the risk and then base their decision on how bad the pain is for them. Sort of like the worse of two evils. Neither is wonderful to deal with. But, until the medical field starts to be proactive instead of reactive. This is what we have. God speed to all, be informed and then make the best decision for you.
When one has pain, his body is telling him something is wrong and attention is needed. To mask the pain is beyond idiotic. It’s like having “check engine light” brightly lit on the dash of your car and you go ahead and disconnect the wire to it. I have bad case of neuropathy and chose to live in pain until the root cause is found. Interestingly enough, I am building up tolerance to pain. No Gabapantin or Lyrica for me. Side effects scare the daylights out of me.
An advice to anyone seeking this drug for getting high Don’t play with it I only took 25mg ( almost on w empty stomach ) and smoked aabout 3 blunts after it It literally gave me a heart attack (Couldn’t breath, was fainting, dizzy, left arm pain connected to my chest, and full body numbness…) They rushed me to the hospital yet all they gave me was some magnesium and now whenever i panic or think of it The symptoms comes back And smoking just a cigarette worsen it I don’t think i can breath the same anymore
Meanwhile, the FDA just approved Pregabalin for use in cats for anxiety and transport under a new name. No worries, right, I’m sure that cat caretakers will be capable of determining if this “new” drug is having negative impacts. I guess we’ll find out in several years, when the next PHARMA product comes out to replace. Crazy society, this one!
I know this was 3 years ago but i was just prescribed Gabapentin for sciatica pain and i think its a herniated disc and ive been in excruciating pain suddenly. Ive been reading about it and kinda scared to continue. They say its not addictive but i don’t believe that. Anything can be addictive. Ive only been on it a few days though 🙁
It’s too late for me. I can no longer hold my body upright and have no balance. Also,it has caused me to have an enlarged heart as well as other problems. I can never get off of it because my muscles will contort and twitch so badly if I dont take 800mgs 4 times a day. I hate it that I’ll have to take it for the rest of my life.
I’ve been on pregabalin for about 10 years, and now I’m fat and have brain fog. I blame the pregabalin for a part of it. I’m on my way to taper it out.. not because it doesn’t work, but because I’m sick of all the damn side effects you get from it. So I’ve chosen to get rid of it. I have given myself time to taper down and get used to the lower strengths.. I have 2 more strengths to go down to before I can finally quit.
For me it’s suboxone, gabapentin and alcohol daily. Sometimes I’ll smoke a little bud but I’m not the massive stoner I was from 14-20. I hate being on these fuckin pills and booze, Suboxone withdrawal is worse than heroin withdrawal for me and gabapentin withdrawal makes me go insane like I was tweaking.
Before anyone gets too paranoid about going off of gabapentin Ill tell you Id been on it for many years, not continuously but for years. A few month’s ago decided to stop. So I did. I wouldn’t even have known I stopped taking it if it was a matter of physical symptoms. Didnt feel a thing. No nothing. Really nothing I noticed. I was taking for anxiety and to help with sleep.
I am on Gabapentin and am in the process of weaning myself off the drug. One thing I’ve noticed is the tremor in my writing hand is getting better. I was started on the drug in 2012 when I got neuropathy after a surgery to fix my vertical fracture to my tibia and not knowing I had two breaks in the ankle that was not xrayed. My eye sight was affected along with having poor coordination and balance. My decrease started with eliminating one pill a week for four weeks. Next four weeks I did two pills. I am now only taking three pills per weeks and doing that for eight weeks. Will be so glad when this is finished.
Was on Gaba for a year for my peripheral neuropathy from IV Taxol (chemo for stage 4 cancer). My oncologist wanted me to take it only at bedtime. I was wiped out all day long from the one dose at bedtime. Then my internist wanted me to up the dose to 3X a day and I only went up to twice a day. I was almost comatose. Didn’t like the feeling and after a full year on it, my neuropathy remained the same. I decided to wean myself off of it and stop the whole thing as it did not help me. I know Gaba helps some but it’s not for me. l don’t want to sleep 24 hours a day. I may be terminally ill but I’m not going to die anytime soon and I like to be active and alert. Good luck everyone.
When i went from the capsules to the tabiets/pils my seizures miraculously stopped. Altough now i feel more of the side effects. After my brain tumor removal i had seizures for 15 yrs and these last 3 i haven’t had any. Well there were like 3 or 4 times where i thought one was about to happen, so i took my emeregency pills and that either stopped them or it wasn’t going to happen. I’ve been on Gabapentin for 7 yrs now and it’s a blessing for me. Not having SEIZURES is a blessing in my book. Peace!!
Now 67yr old male. Then, 52 to 56. I took Gabapentin for 3-4+ years and it gave me a horrible taste in my mouth so I always had to be eating something. I also got swollen legs, feet and hands and not being able to walk a straight line. After years of getting off of it I STILL have those same conditions !!! And I blame the Gaba… horrible stuff for me !!!
After 2 years taking Gabapentin I woke up every morning with a kind of woozy head, light headed. it lasted often until the late afternoon. Finely I reported it to my Dr. and right away she told me it’s the Gabapentin. Of course I had to get off this medication slowly. After about 2 weeks I got my energy back, no more woozy head. Now I feel normal again. And found out my leg pain wasn’t any better before and after. Please think twice before taking Gabapentin.
My doctor prescribed it for fibromyalgia and sciatic nerve pain. I was on it for years. Then I began having blackouts, fell many many times. I began having jerking motions in my neck and shoulders. I started having what I can only imagine was something akin to epileptic seizures, especially if riding in a car or walking past something like a slatted fence, where the sun flashed through. One day while I was walking my dog, I had a blackout and fell. I ended up with a shattered wrist that required three surgeries to repair. They removed the 3 pins, but I still have a plate in my hand for life. I fell on my arm the night of the first surgery when I got home from the emergencyroom. I fell a couple of times in the following two days. I finally sat down and researched some of the meds I was on, and common sense told me it was the Gabapentin. I stopped taking them at once and within a couple of days all the symptoms disappeared. At that point, I stopped taking every prescription my doctor had me on. The side effects were worse than the ailments. I lost 70 pounds to boot! I still have sciatic nerve pain and pain from fibromyalgia but I’ve learned to just live with it.
This is my 3rd day on taking gabapentin for my horrible sciatica pain. Not sure if I will go into a fourth day, as the brain fog and loss of coordination is too strong. I feel like I am in a dream, trapped in the middle of the road on a foggy day. I prefer opiates for my pain, but everyone makes such a big stink about them these days. They’re far more manageable and effective in my opinion.
Taking for severe nerve pain in my knee. Have balance and dizziness issues and can’t walk without a cane since taking it. Also something not mentioned, since taking it, I have pretty bad acne and im 66. So do I suffer the consequences of the side effects or do I suffer the nerve pain. The nerve pain is unbearable.
I had RLS and other “side effects” BEFORE going on Gabapentin. If I don’t take it regularly, pain from my three nerve conditions puts me in the stratosphere. However, I do not take as many doses as written. I take the least amount possible to maintain pain management. My doc understands this and is ok with how I take it. This way, if I need an extra dose, it’s available to me. Also to manage my pain, I take my pain meds prn. I discovered I was having rebound pain and switched to prn. The result was a big drop in my pain level. Rebound pain is no joke. Sometimes less is more.
I was given gabapentin a week ago for sciatica pain. I have developed severe insomnia. When I called my doctor, she said that she didn’t think the gabapentin was causing the insomnia, but it was up to me whether to keep taking it. I keep trying, but as I type this, it is 6a.m. and I’ve been up all night. I will not take it anymore. The pain relief isn’t worth it.
I been reading your comments,well I am 84 went down with neuralgia,the pain was terrible had to have Gabapentin,it stopped the pain I just get numbness and prickling 3 yrs ago got same in my leg,I dropped that to 400, now alto get her I take 1800,I reduced300 last month,I must admit days I don’t feel so great I cannot walk straight I do easily go off balance and memory for losing things .other wise I manage walk my dogs twice a day,still do my art,
SHORT-TERM MEMORY LOSS & COGNATIVE ISSUES…I don’t know why these two side effects aren’t listed in his article when talking about the side effects of Gabapentin. I was prescribed 300mg 3 time per day that would be 900mg. I don’t know if this is considered to be a high dose, my doctor didn’t think it was so I took this for a time. Than I started noticing I couldn’t remember the simplest things I finally did a little research and read about Gabapentin and memory loss. I took myself of the gabapentin and it did help. I do have neuropathy but no pain associated with it just numbness in my feet, not severe. The only thing worse than Gabapentin is Lyrica. Double the side effects with Lyrica. Twice the memory loss, twice the drowsiness etc.. I stay away from both drugs. For now I use Voltarin Gel at night or before putting on shoes in the morning. It helps.
Recently started taking this for rls nice to a have a visual lesson. Helped me understand a little bit more of certain side effects particularly the increased appetite thing, crazy hungry as of late. It is kind of interesting a drug like this would have side effects that are similar to the effects it’s trying to mitigate.
When I was taking gabapentin, I would wake up feeling like I’ve had a stroke. Confused, severe ‘brain fog’, forgetting words or names Ive known all of my life, stuttering, drooling and more, including being almost impossible to wake up after also being a light sleeper for the majority of my life. How do I know it was the gabapentin? Well, one reason is that once I was finally allowed to go off of it, every single symptom listed above slowly resolved and my memory finally started to return. That and I recognized the sharp increase in symptoms whenever I took the medication, from day 1. I saw zero benefit from taking gabapentin, including a conspicuous lack of pain relief, which I did report more than once to the prescribing doctor. When I was finally allowed to go off of it, I saw no negative changes. So I took gabapentin for several years, for seemingly no good reason except that I was told that I had to either take it or pregablin. Pregablin was worse for me, by far. Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure it works for some people. But this was my personal experience with it. Yes, I am a little bitter about having to take a medication that was doing such terrible things to me without any noticeable benefit under threat of being labeled as noncompliant and losing other medication which is, in fact, beneficial to me. Since then, I have come to find out this is a common theme in the chronic pain community. By that, I mean being told that we “must” take either gabapentin or pregablin, or forfeit other medications.
For the people just starting gab saying its changing or changed there life plz take some advice from me i been on gab for 6 years i have been trying to get off them these past few months and i literally feel like im dying puking shaking night sweats amd iv even had 2 sizer The withdraw has been horrible no sleep body akes i took it for anxiety and it was my biggest mistake. Plz dont stay on gab
I have seen first hand how Gabapentin can cause problems. Interesting that anxiety is on the list of side effects. I was prescribed Gabapentin 100 mg when I need it for anxiety for when my SSRI doesn’t take care of it. Extreme anxiety I guess you’d call it. It works great for that although I rarely need it. Just want it handy for when I do.
I took it for years for hot flashes at a low dose with no apparent problems. Later after suffering a spinal cord injury I took it at a higher dose for nerve pain and I found I couldn’t think of words. Luckily this went away after my doctor weaned me off it. Nothing else is effective for my pain though so I just suffer. It’s depressing so now I’m on an antidepressant instead.
I’ve taken Gabapentin for 11 years straight. Its a Godsend. 1800mg per day in three 600mg doses. I’ve stopped taking it abruptly, like cold turkey, MANY times. The withdrawal is mild. Pain comes back of course but other than that a little depression for 5-6 days and restless leg syndrome. Its a great drug.
Interesting that one side effect can be myalgia, yet it is prescribed for fibromyalgia. I’ve been taking it for years for FMS and the pain associated with damaged sciatic nerve. I have gotten myself down to a relatively low dosage, 400 mg. a day. I have tried to go off of it completely, but when I got down to about 100 mg., the severe nerve pain in my right thigh returned big time. I do have some of the other symptoms mentioned, in particular the gut issues, including IBS and GERD. Unfortunately, the medication prescribed for my GERD (PPIs. I just watched your article re: PPI side effects), can cause some of the other symptoms you mentioned. If I could get off of only one of these medications, I would chose to get off the PPI. But, it was easier to cut down to 200 mg. a day of Gabapentin than it was for me to get off of a PPI. PPIs are Literally addicting, and I have had several doctors agree with me on that.
At about 55 and before I had surgery sciatic (R) laminectomy/discectomy’ pain management prescribed this and another’ I could not take ether’ felt flushed all the time and upper chest red in color’ could not take any from PM’ epidural shots’ all did not work’ except for the very last one’ had surgery relief for 2 weeks’ currently on SSDI’ with pain’ now 12 years later’ possible prostate/bone cancer? doing PET-CT Friday
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:27 Gabapentin is Gaba analog. 01:36 Gabapentin treats various conditions. 02:03 Common side effects: drowsiness, fatigue. 03:12 Other side effects include dizziness, ataxia. 04:34 Additional side effects: tremoring, constipation, weight gain. 06:26 Rare side effects: dysarthria, dry mouth, hyperkinesia. 07:54 Uncommon side effects: pharyngitis, rhinitis, pruritis.
Im 3 days on it & i feel like im a drugged out nut. Given this by dermatologists for itching. Im having eyes weird, thinking worse, stooped can’t think already had memory. Im sick to my stomach. I was on depression medication but can’t take it & my headache is awfulcant drink enough fluid & im eating more. I absolutely hate itcotton mouth & can’t drivei have had sore throat & my back hurts worse & itching like crazy
I have been taking gabbapenten for a long time,I was on 600mg 3x’s a day,I am not a addictive person I am still taking it,but only 1 at bedtime,It was prescribed to me for neuropathy, in my calves & feet .I was, like I said taking it 3 times a day,I weaned myself down to 1 at bedtime because I could not see where 3 were doing me any better than just one at bedtime .BUT In order for it to ease the pain in my legs & feet,I would have to take the one, 2 and a half hours before bedtime,thats how long it took to take effect .Now the pain has gotten worse & dr .put me back on it 3x’s a day ! I took it like that for a wk & couldnt see any difference,in taking 3 or just taking one.They are not helping my pain at all anymore,I would rather be put on a pain pill,but because of all the problems,and deaths from overdose,the drs dont even want to Prescribe them to anyone ! Even if they know they would help with the pain better than gabbapenten. 😢 I go next wk to my dr .Iam going to tell her that they arent helping me at all at 3 a day .I don’t know what dr.will do or say but Im not going to continue with that many,The only side effects I have,are some wt.gain,and I wake up with a headache sometimes .I don’t like taking them .,They don’t help .😢 What’s a person to do ?
My sister was on this for years for diabetic neuropathy. She ended up hospitalized and could barely speak. Told us she was dying. A dr asked her how well gabapentin was helping her and she said it didn’t really help. He stooped the medication and within 12 hours all symptoms that had hospitalized her were gone!
The natural form of Gabapentin is GABA Gamma-Aminobutyric-Acid. I have been taking this daily for years and so has my wife (actually the person writing this, ha ha). It is very helpful for both of us for a variety of needs. Available without prescription because it is natural, it’s inexpensive, and we have experienced zero side effects. It is most effective when taken on an empty stomach. If your doctor says not to take it, perhaps due to other medications you are taking and prescribes gabapentin instead, you may want to provide them with information about GABA. Doctors can barely keep up with all the pharmaceutical medications that already exist as well as the new ones. Most would not have the time to study the natural alternatives. All the best to you and yours!
I’ve been prescribed Gabapentin… worse drug I have ever taken. Get very anxious at times, anxiety far worse than before I started taking it. Working with doctor, weening off of it… no pleasure cruise! Getting off this can’t come soon enough! Was prescribed for anxiety and muscle/nerve pain. They need to take a closer look at this “medication.”
I suffer from bad scoliosis. I’m 60 I have other issues as well. Why is it such a Big deal if it gives me a better quality of Life. It doesn’t in any way make me tired or loopy. When I take it I can manage My life like everyone else. I’m tired of All this bad rap. Leave people alone. My Dr Acts like she’s prescribing morphine or oxycodone. DR butt out.
This radial nerve injury is ruining my life my left arm is in extreme pain I can’t plan my days this medicine helps a lil but not much it makes me tired almost instantly within 30 mins and before you know it I’m sleeping sometimes other times I take it it has no effect on the pain and im up at night finding it very hard to get to sleep due to the pain it’s a nightmare at the least living with this condition