Also, I'd love to hear from people who've done a gabapentin taper, as I'm doing. How did it go? Did pain increase exponentially?
I began stuttering/stammering while speaking. The embarassment was keen indeed. I've never heard anyone complaining of this! I know benzo's can cause stuttering, but it's not that.
I've tapered down one entire dose (600mgs) and the stammering has gone away. I really think it's not doing anything, as I'm in Hair-On-Fire-Pain, ugh.
Smiling anyway, though.
Thank you to anyone who would care to toss in their opinion, comment, or a-a-a-a-a-advice.
Mac
Gabapentin/Neurontin taper - Have any of you, taking Gab, notice this side effect, stuttering?!?
- Asked
- 31 Oct 2012 by MacIntosh12
- Updated
- 2 February 2013
- Topics
- neurontin, pain, fibromyalgia, gabapentin, side effect
Details:
Responses (5)
tazc23
31 Oct 2012
My Neurontin was increased after I was tapered off of Lyrica. I am prescribed to take 1200 mg a day, though I normally only take 600mg in the morning. I have ADHD so I'm always stuttering and losing my thought process anyway, it hasn't had a noticeable effect or maybe I didn't attribute it to the Neurontin. I've been going on job interviews and I've been having issues talking quite a bit. I'll have to look into whether there is a connection. Please let me know what you found out.
As far as pain goes, it doesn't do anything for marked pain - I take 800 mg of ibuprophin for that. But if I don't take it, I feel very tired and the muscle soreness starts coming back - so I figure it is doing more than I think.
meyati
31 Oct 2012
Yes, it's possible for a too quick withdrawal to cause stuttering. neurontin reduces neural synapses, which slows down and deadens the feeling of pain in our bodies. When we taper off of Neurontin, the neural synapses increases-speeds up. If a person stops too much, too quickly-there can be a short circuit-a sort of convulsive-spasm-some people become epileptic and suffer gran mal seizures. That seldom happens and it can be temporary. Anytime you deal with any doctor about neurontin tell about the stuttering. They need to know.
Did you tell your doctor about the stuttering?
Inactive
31 Oct 2012
Just wondering Mac, do you mean stuttering, or difficulty getting the words out, and therefore stumbling over them so to speak. I have tapered off of gabapentin, my best pain meds, BYW, from 3600mg/day. I went off 300mg at a time. I waited about five days then went down 300 more. Kept this schedule up until I finished, no problems at all. BUT, my newest PM put me back on 300mg at night. I decided after a couple of years that I didn't think it was doing anything for me, (and at least three different docs told me so, so why take them?), so I stopped. OUCH, is all I can say. I literally couldn't get out of bed for over a week, until hubby and I decided that I really needed to be on the one 300mg capsule. Overnight, what a difference. I also went through full out withdrawal too. Shakes, diarrhea, sweats, chills runny nose, nausea, no sleep, for about two days also.
pamee
31 Oct 2012
Hello Mac! I was on 2400 neurontin and yes if you taper too fast you can have short term stuttering. Also the neurontin effects the gaba recepters in our brain just like a benzo, so take it slow dear. Take care ... pamee
meyati
1 Nov 2012
Stuttering for some people is a type of neural convulsion. You're lucky it ended, which shows it was just a hiccup, but your brain warned you to talk to your doctor and do more tapering and less off. Take your time-tell any doctor. Yor doctor might want to add an epilepsy medication to help yobut you need to be more gradual in reducing neurontin.
MacIntosh12
4 Nov 2012
Thank you all for your answers! Meyati, you go the extra mile for folks and it is appreciated.
Mac
curiousone1
2 Feb 2013
I have been on gabapentin for a few yrs. now. It only takes the edge off for me.I have not tried to taper off but I have experienced the stammering, difficulty having words come to me as I speak, forgetfulness, tired all the time, and I feel like I am in a fog. ( I also had that effect with lyrica, only a bit worse.) I stay on it only because I don't know what else to try. I don't take other pain killers since they have never worked for me. I too have continuous pain and just live with it, doing the same as you... I keep smiling... good luck to you
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Tazc ,
Have you mentioned to your Dr. that you are having issues with pain still since you have been on Gabapentin?
Also since you are Not taking the 1200 mg. a day that is probably part of the problem with not obtaining pain relief.
Taking that much Ibuprofen will cause damage to your stomach. And with the Neurontin you need to stay on the same dosage & not take the correct amount everyday. Plus once you stay on the 1200 mg. dosage & still have pain they may need to increase your dosage as 1200 mg. is a Very Low dose.
Kathy