I just went from taking 300mg of Neurontin 2x a day to 300mg 1x a day. It will be day 6 today. I am having a very difficult time with the withdrawl symptoms. When will it get better. I seem to have all the side effects listed from being on Neurontin for about 5 weeks. I also take Klonopin 1 mg 3 x day. Clonidine .1 mg at night and . 05 in morning along with Remeron 45 mg and 100 mg of Wellbutrin. Ent doctor just prescribed a med to treat dizziness symptoms which should also make me a little sleepy. I know it is the Neurontin. I feel like I am coming out of my skin. Any help would be appreciated
Gabapentin -have had dose reduced & having problems with withdrawal symptoms, any help appreciated?
Question posted by ethanp2012 on 14 Oct 2012
Last updated on 15 January 2018
This question has also been asked and answered here: How long does gabapentin withdrawal last?
12 Answers
I am really scared. I have been taking neurotin for over a year now. I am embarrassed to say I take 800mg tabs and eat them by the handfuls. I have rls and have to have them. I dont know I need to taper off. I know how bad the withdraw symptoms are. Can somebody please help me. Any advise would be helpful!
Did you receive any response? My son takes them like that I would think he takes 6000 mg a day if he can get them. Can you help me with what to do about tapering him off... or can someone help me!!!
What withdrawal symptoms do people go through from neurontin?? I can't believe neurontin which is not a narcotic makes people feel like their skin is coming out... I take neurontin for headaches once in a while... I feel like it makes me extra hyper, but nobody seems to feel the way I do as I posted this question and only got one responce. It's been a while since your posting so I hope you are feeling way better now. Are you sure the crawling out of your skin feeling was from neurontin withdrawal and not one of the other meds you were taking? I'm really curious for myself as well. Thank you for your post!
Ethan how are you feeling tonight? I hope that you're relaxing-taking a warm bath. We just wish that we could get better immediately, but everything takes time. How much neurontin are you taking now?
300mg once a day. Still going through rough withdrawl symptoms. It will take some time. I wish the 11 ect treatments worked.
I would be very afraid to try them again. A lot of people don't respond to ect while some do. I am trying to be hopeful that they will find the right combination for me since I haven't tried everything. Ketamine looks very promising once they get it approved. It works in hours. Amazing miracle drug they are saying. They are still doing a lot more research on it. It may take a few years.
The ECTs give headaches-and they seem to flare up every so often. That's probably one reason why you have one or keep having them. The stress, then worrying about the neurontin doing brain damage put you in a bad place. I'm glad that you have the 100 mgs of neurontin. Just don't rush the withdrawal. I see what my son goes through, and I'm hearing you say many of the same things. He takes 30 pills a day. He just tries to get through each day. He doesn't seem to be cutting or burning himself anymore. I try not to bother him. If he seems off-I ask him if he took his meds-sometimes he forgets. Mostly he says that it's about as good as it gets and for me to mind my own business.
This might sound odd-but if he starts talking-he's going downhill in a hand basket, and I start worrying. One time I went up to the VA, and a nurse came up and told me that he was making a breakthrough. He talked to her for an hour- I expressed my complete panic-and begged them to keep an extra close eye on him. They told me that I didn't understand psychology, etc. The next day I went, and the nurse was apologizing to me. He was heavily sedated and in the quiet room. He doesn't get violent or angry-he just starts -well it's hard to describe-he gets very incapable and twitches. He had the flu last week and didn't know that he was sick. He thought that he was having one of his med reactions. I finally got him to quit trying, sipping water and 7 UP, checking on him. Got him to take hospital strength stomach meds and enough of those dissolved and helped him, etc. Tonight I fixed him a nice homemade potato soup with crackers. I think that my son is one of the bravest people in the world, getting up and trying to smile. I think that you're brave too. It's hard to have doctors say maybe all of these bad things-hearing scuttlebutt about meds and things- and being able to figure out how to do one day at a time-that takes courage.
Ethan,
I was reading up on the ECT treatments & most of the articles said that there is usually memory loss with each ect therapy session. Since you obviously have had several there is probably a good chance you are experiencing some type of Dementia.
I would talk to your Physciatrist & see if she can give yousome cognitive testing.
As if you have some dementia they have medication that will help you with your memory. I use the Exelon patches & they definitely help.
Best if luck & I hope you have a better day today. Kathy
Thanks. I will. The memory loss is usually temporary.
Ethan don't worry about dementia-the memory loss is temporary. The last series my son had was about 2 years ago-He recognized me when I went in-he even got a phone and called the house by himself to tell me that he'd be ready in about 30 minutes. The nurses told me that he immediately knew who he was, remembered the names of the nurses and who his doctor was, where he was. When they gave him his first one back in the 1990s, it took about 10 days before he recognized his wife. They just gave one heavy ECT- and he'd have one or two a year. Sometimes- 2-3 years would go by without any at all.
One time, about 2002- I was out of money and groceries. I picked up my son, we came home. After he took a nap, we went to a grocery store. He followed me around and I asked him for his debit card to check-out. He was asking me why we were in line. We checked out. The next day-we went back to the store-he looked at the store ATM from his bank and asked me what that was. I told him and how to use it. He walked over-pulled out his card-put in his card-entered his pin and came back with a couple of hundred dollars-and the next day he was OK. I didn't tell him what his pin was. They used to give really powerful charges that did damage until the mid-1970s. They keep reducing the charges-patients get on their feet better and their memory and function quicker.
For his dementia from this-he remembers what school his head doctor went to-Texas A&M-so when my son takes his annual trip to the Galveston Coast Guard base he buys an A&M gift for his doctor-He can tell you the tonnage of almost any CG cutter. On Hawaii 5-0 last week, he was excited because the USCGC Jarvis was docked and part of the background of several scenes. It panned in and then we could see Jarvis 725 on the bow. His father set a fuel transfer at sea in the caribbean-which still stands-and my son can tell you how much fuel was pumped in what time and the name and numbers of the tincan he was on. He can say with pride that when his cutter approached an oiler in the carib-that the captain announced to the crew that the record was set in the early 1970s by a Bosun mate on the William C Lawe DDR 763, and they needed to break that record and keep my son and his father's name famous in maritime history.
He does his own bills-and he does not put his boxer shorts on his head. He keeps in contact with shipmates-and helps new vets get their benefits. He has bad days where he thinks that he's covered with white ants that are biting him-that why he burns himself-trying to get rid of the ants-also for the cutting. That was caused by the medicine-the skin creeping-mostly on his arms, and his mind is trying to give a logical reason for this sensation. He used to go catatonic-the meds he's on helps him a lot. If he seems off-he doesn't drive-He gives me the keys. I ride with him once a week to make sure he's driving OK.
My son went to a Wounded Warrior camp out in July They began cooking for over a 100 people-and it was bad- My son walked up-said if you do this-you need this much water and coffee grounds to boil this much coffee. He ended up sitting in a chair- going over menus, giving cooking instructions, supervising, and giving brief demonstrations on how to cook a certain food with electric. They sent him a certificate of thanks and a small award-after the first meal-they gave him a staff cap and badge which he keeps. He shot the 50 caliber machine guns and was the cook on his cutters.
without electric--that's why the wounded warriors couldn't cook-no instant meals-and all women. I'm a woman- I can cook- but there's a reason master chefs are men- even at primitive camp sites.
Hi Ethan,
If you are still having problems with gabapentin try a magnesium chloride supplement, Gabapentin depletes magnesium B6 B12 and other vitamins and minerals.
Hi Ethan. How are you feeling now?
I've found the lists of psychiatrists that I was telling you about. I want you to know way ahead of time that the list is very, very long. There's a lot of blah blah blah blanks that you won't be interested in. You'll need to contact one asap, because their waiting list could be long.
If your up, I'll keep my eye on ya. I'll talk to ya later. Take care, Ethan. Remember that God loves you. Your His child. You are royalty. You are the child of the King. If you can't be you, who can be?'
Anna
p.s. here's the list:
Psychiatrists in Phoenixville (PA)
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Dr. Jeffrey Bronstein
Psychiatry
723 Wheatland St
Suite 1A
Phoenixville, PA 19460
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Dr. Adam Burkey
Psychiatry
826 Main St
Suite 303
Phoenixville, PA 19460
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Dr. Raymond Catton
Geriatric Psychiatry
45 Ridge Rd
Phoenixville, PA 19460
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Dr. Johanna Gorman
Psychiatry
45 Ridge Rd
Phoenixville, PA 19460
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Dr. Kimberly Jones
Addiction Psychiatry
Psychiatry
723 Wheatland St
Phoenixville, PA 19460
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Dr. Edgar Martinez
Psychiatry
1041 W Bridge St
Phoenixville, PA 19460
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Dr. A David Monheit
Psychiatry
80 Diamond Rock Rd
Phoenixville, PA 19460
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Samuel Romirowsky, Ph.D.
Samuel Romirowsky, Ph.D.
20 West Third Street
Media, PA 19063
(610) 558-2777
Samuel Romirowsky practices forensic psychology in Media, Pennsylvania (PA). He provides general counseling for individuals, couples and families as w...
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Stuart L. Kurlansik, Ph.D.
Psychology
255 South 17th Street - Suite 2708
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 735-2444
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Jeannette Samanen
145 Jug Hollow Road
Phoenixville, PA 19460
(610) 935-9305
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Cornerstone Clubhouse Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems
224 Hall Street
Phoenixville, PA 19460
(610) 935-2290
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Cichetti, Rebecca, MA, NCC, LPC
603 Nutt Road
Phoenixville, PA 19460
(610) 715-8248
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Child And Family Focus
219 Bridge Street
Phoenixville, PA 19460
(610) 917-3010
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Child and Family Focus
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Phoenixville, PA 19460
(610) 783-1788
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Auric Lights Therapy
116 West Phoenix Drive
Phoenixville, PA 19460
(610) 983-9310
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Phoenixville Psychological Associates
Commons At Valley Fr
Phoenixville, PA 19460
(610) 935-7077
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Jones M William PhD
400 Main Street
Phoenixville, PA 19460
(610) 983-3233
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Karney Ronald J Psychologist
Commons At Valley Fr
Phoenixville, PA 19460
(610) 935-7077
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Kruper Philip D Psychologist
824 Glenn Court
Phoenixville, PA 19460
(610) 935-2757
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Mediation Resources
1288 Valley Forge Road
Phoenixville, PA 19460
(610) 933-9444
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Psymed Consult Inc
1288 Valley Forge Road
Phoenixville, PA 19460
(610) 933-2904
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Rockefeller, Mrs. Susan J., MHS, CAC, NCACII
9 Quail Drive South
Phoenixville, PA 19460
(610) 415-9197
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Wow! Thanks for everything !!! Much appreciated.
Bless you Pickles---
Bless you as we'll. lets get better together. Pray that we do and keep in touch. I need to stop obsessing about everything. That alone will drive you crazy. Thx!!!
Ethan, why do you think your obsessing? L, Anna
Pickles,
Wow that was great work you did for Ethan.
I wanted to let you know if you send Ethan a "friends request" once he accepts it you can send "private questions" back & forth.
You have been a great friend to Ethan.
Kathy
wow, all those psychs in phoenixville, I think when I was in the area they had 2, lol... Ethan my daughter lives in phoenixville. I used to live in Malvern. That psych that I said I remember is in malvern. Phoenixville hospital used to be a great little small town hospital, I don't know what its like now. My son and all my grandchildren were born there.
As far as the ect treatment. I had an extensive psychological exam. I scored the best in memory and this was two months after my ect treatments. They did see some cognitive issues that raised some concern. However I was depressed and had a lot of anxiety while taking the tests. I am a bad test taker to begin with. I was a c student in high school and college. The test which was the 1 part out of 4 said the results where not from someone with a 4 yr degree. My ect psychiatrists didn't think the test was ect related. My Neurologist thought it was a combination of depression ect and meds. I am not a dr. But I do know I am not the same as I use to be.
Dear Ethan, most meds change us in one way or the other-small ways. Then we get older. Anxiety about a test can throw anybody off. Depression slows us down mentally and physically. I'm a person that has my blood pressure jump up for a blood test or even during a blood test if somebody starts talking about certain things-like the FDA or medications that have given me bad side-effects. If I see a certain nurse-that for some odd reason weighed me in as 10 lbs heavier than I really was-my BP went through the roof. The type of thyroid supplement has caused changes in me and how I think. Because you see the difference-that means your mind is in good shape-that you're mentally alert. Everybody is trying to help you based on their experiences, because we love you. You're doing a good job of explaining yourself, and giving your medical history-and U R doing good on eliminating things that aren't a factor.
Thx for caring so much and your compassion is very comforting. I love and care for u to. I am getting a little teary eyed. Eric
Has anyone heard from Ethan? Is he ok?
Yes I am okay. I am going to take it day by day for now. ER wasn't much help.
what happened @ the hospital?
Just gave me a shot of Ativan and told me to follow up with my psychiatrist.
r u ok? do u feel better?
Not really. Since I can't sleep and have a migraine.
Is there anything you can do to get rid of the headache? I wish going to the hospital would have helped you. I kinda think your doc is gonna take things a little more seriously from now on. I did all this research on psychiatrist from your area and for some dumb reason, I lost it all. I have a new laptop, so I don't know how it works yet. I do know there are many in your area. I'll need to do it again and get back with you. In the main time I'd like to know if you know how to instant message?
God bless you and I'm looking forward to your reply,
Anna
Not sure how to instant message. I am going to see if I could see my family dr. to put me on something for these headaches since there was no weaning until now. He also put me on a low dose of lamictal to help with the withdraw. I also would like to get a lot of bloodwork done up to eliminate if anything else is going on. We shall see. I just don't have the money for all these tests and meds at this time but your health is the most important.
Hi again Ethan!
What part of Philly do you live? There are tons of psychiatrist there and I'd like to narrow down my search.
Thanks. God bless you and talk soon,
Anna
Phoenixville. I am at the ER.
Thx
Dear Ethan-I hope that you come out of the ER feeling better
What are you doing in ER?
Ethan,
Please give us an update on how you are doing & what you went to the ER for...
Also I think after reading about you that you REALLY need to find new Drs.
I would make sure that the first thing a new Family physician or PCP starts with a Physical & then do some further testing.
I don't feel that your Family Dr. is working with your Physciatrist & vice versus.
A good Physciatrist will make sure he knows what medication you are on & what medication do not work well together.
I am not sure how old you are but I am 49 yrs old. I found myself last year having ALOT of medical problems & actually quit working. The main reason was because I was having memory issues & just general overall problems with everyday task. I was having problems with my right side not working. And my depression was getting really bad & alot of it was because I was frustrated with everything going on in my body. I went to a really good Neurologist due to all this but also because I have Chronic severe migraines. After I told her about all these symptoms she ordered a MRI with Dye she found out that I have
Vascular Dementia which is something older people have usually. But I showed that I had 7 small strokes & that was the reason for all these "different" symptoms.
The symptoms are alot like Alzheimer disease.
So if you get a chance look up "Vascular Dementia" . See if any of these symptoms are some that you feel like you have.
And if so speak to your Dr. & see if they can check into it.
But I really feel that your current Drs. are not working together to help you.
Take care & also I sent you a friend request if you want to chat "off the boards".
My thoughts & prayers are with you & I just want you to know that I totally understand howe your depression is getting worse due to the fact that you don't understand what is going on in your body.
Kathy
That's a long time to be suffering. You sound like you feel hopeless. That's a lonely place to be.` Yes, trying so many different meds, only to find them ineffective is frustrating. I don't know who told you to have ect treatments, but I'd like to have their license taken away. I have knowledge that once you have one ect, their always followed by others. They last, maybe, a few months, and then are done again. I'm certainly not a Doctor. I would advise you to stop having ect treatments if I were.
This probably won't make any difference to you, but I personally don't see a man who has lost their faculties. You seem to have a sound mind. I don't know about physically, but mentally you're on the top of your game. Read what you said. Your clarity is great. You communicate just fine. Your language and grammar are magnificent.
So you think you've gone downhill with all antidepressants? There just has to be one you haven't tried. There just has to be.
I'm gonna google psychiatrist in philly. I'll get back with you in a few.
Talk soon,
Anna
P.S. Do you know how to instant message with your email cuz if you do, we can chat much, much faster
My son has had ECTs off and on to break depression-he's a disabled vet that had a severe spinal injury while at sea and post traumatic stress syndrome, besides the drugs causing a mental imbalance. He had a ETC series, and it broke the depression enough where the meds seemed to help him. Every so often, he needs about 3-6 ETCs. He hasn't had any since 2003, and it's been 18 months since he has been in the VA psych ward. He used to check in 1-4 times a year. He's very proud of himself. I am too. Guess what changed his life-2 coonhounds. one is 90 lbs and the other is 80. He used to have dogs, but when he checked in the VA, his wife killed them. They got divorced-and my X moved in with him-my son got a dog-he checked into the VA-and my X killed it.
We rescued a pit bull-a gentle dog-very gentle-but not affectionate-never put her head in a lap-never ran up to greet us when we came home-never climbed up on his bed to cuddle with him-she was ruled by an eating disorder-. We had the pit for about 3 years, and I went up to visit my son. He cried and begged me not to kill her, and how could he believe me that she was still alive. The staff pulled me to the side and we talked. Cats didn't do it for him-and he was a cat person-loved them when he was a kid. 10 years after we got the pit bull-it was time for a new dog. I got 2 coonhounds-completely unsuitable for a city home and frail people. They insist on putting their heads in his lap-they don't lick nor jump. When he gets in his chair, the Walker gently puts her top half in his lap and wraps her front feet around his waist, and she nuzzles his neck face and ears for a few minutes and sits up and wags her tail while staring into his eyes. They both jump up on his bed- one at a time- and show their love in gentle ways. My son likes to cook- and the Bluetick follows him around. He had the flu last week, and most of the time one of them was in with him. They make him laugh-They like to sleep with their heads off the side of the couch, and with the loose skin, they can slide off. One landed with it's head in the trash can. ECTs can help- but a good doctor will stop giving them as a patient improves or has a problem. Again they say even having a goldfish can improve a person's mental state- but having one that can be touched and show affection helps a lot more. My father died from cancer. A friend felt sorry for him and gave him a little baby parakeet. That little bird spent lots of time on my father's hand preening himself and preening my father. It sounds odd, but a week after my father died- the bird died during the night.
Hi ethan,
I'll just tell you a little about what helped me get through withdrawal.
I walked around a hospital ward at least 50 times a day.
I took/take hot baths, so hot that I had to slowly tip toe my way into the tub. I stay/stayed there as long as I wanted. I kept adding hot water. Please, please don't burn yourself.
If I can think of other ways to help you get through this, I'll write you.
God bless you,
Anna
Thx. I am currently at home
Hi again ethan.
I still continue to take hot baths. Their marvelous.
Walking around a hospital ward was a good idea, but I stopped going for walks after I left. I need to. I'm agoraphobic, so I don't leave my place. If I could walk outside my door, I'd go for walks. I need an exercycle.
Going through this alone is so scary. Unless it's happening to you, others have no concept of what you're going through. So many of us have gone through, and are still going through, withdrawal. If I was given a tranquilizer, it wouldn't have been so bad. The second day I was in the hospital, I disconnected my IV and went to my car and drove home. I picked up a few Klonopin, and went back to the hospital. The whole security team was looking for me. I just told them I went for another walk.
I also think your prescribing Dr. was an a... In my opinion(again) he should have given you something to get through this.
Your not alone, ethan. We're here.
God bless you,
Anna
Thx. I do have klonopin
ethan, you're really down, aren't you?
Yes I am. I feel like dying. I have been suffering from severe depression and anxiety for over a year and a half. Antidepressants use to work and then pooped out on me. I have been on so many. I also had 11 ect treatments. My memory and cognitive impairment have gotten worse. It is very difficult to do the
basics. I use to function at such a high level before. I don't know what happened. I feel that I am progressively getting worse. I just want to feel normal again and wish I knew who was a great psychiatrist in and around the Philadelphia area. I am willing to make a change. Thx for your concern and God bless you too. Any help would be much appreciated.
Ethan, just having physical difficulties can cause depression, anger and frustration. The meds you take calm you down, but they also slow down your reflexes and fine motor skills. You can't blame yourself, and you usually can't blame a doctor. I get off by blaming the FDA. I've had some friends here blame the DEA. I was poisoned last year by cholesterol medication-it ruined my life. I still want to do things, but my muscle cells were destroyed.
Neurontin shouldn't be doing this to you. I have a feeling that your system has been so ravaged by quacks that nothing is working right. You need to talk to your doctor how you're feeling-get 100 mg pills- and slowly reduce your dosage- only your body can tell you when it's time to reduce again. It's so hard to be logical when things are so wrong.
I was having a hard time standing from pain- and I was so enraged from reading a medical report on the extent of my damage that I kicked a wall-you guessed it- I kicked with my most damaged and painful foot. I couldn't walk unassisted for about a week. Look for mental health practitioner-ask them if they are familiar with neurontin. You need to direct with your current doctor. There's something missing in your communication with your PC. Sometimes, you have to focus on the main problem and speak up loud and clear. get their attention.
Do side effects of Neurontin go away if only on a short time or is it permeant. I have not seen much on side effects going away. Any input would be greatly appreciated on this question. Thx!!!
Now your talking about 2 types of side effects. 1 the side-effects of taking neurontin which are usually temporary. The first time I took Neurontin the VA started me off 100 mg 3/day for 7 days. Second week -200 mg 3/day , 3rd week then 300 mg 3/day. I was taking 900 mgs a day and I weighed 130 lbs. When I upped a dose, I sort of felt like I was floating when I first got up. I have RSD-and this was for a re-occurrence. Dear doctor John Luckwitz told me that if I wanted to taper off, to do it by 100 mg a week or slower- The side effects of getting off too quickly are strokes-which are permanent-death from stroke is considered permanent by some religions, epilepsy which usually is permanent.
The side effects of neurontin are floating, some nausea-didn't bother me, toes and fingertips going numb, tongue going numb, not thinking quite as quickly, I was more relaxed, not quite drowsy, I can't say anything about fine motor control because the RSD already ruined that-I had to learn how to eat and write again. Those went away as the neurontin was reduced and left my system. Another accident-a man was running for a class and came around a corner and knocked me down, my RSD area landed on concrete. Another doctor started me off with 100 mg as before and then upped me to 600 mg pills I took 2/day-total of 1200 mg. Part of this is because neurontin had been successful about 4 years earlier, and I understood neural synapses. When I weaned off, I again I again did it 100 mg at a time. If you don't rush quitting the medicine-there shouldn't be any lasting problems. I did this 4 times. Once I went swimming for a few hours with a grandson, then had a 5 hour drive home on rough reservation mountain roads. That is not good for RSD- I do not recommend that to anybody.
Withdrawing once i had some headache-so I waited for that to go away before I reduced again. As my neural synapses increased, I felt antsy-as my nervous system was getting more stimulation, and I was less sleepy. My headaches lingered from nothing to a day or so after I quit. I'll give you a clue about that. I was sort of weak- I clench my teeth while climbing stairs and stuff in that condition-the headaches were from clenching my teeth. A few massages took care of that-thanks to my doctors and insurance. I normally don't have headaches. It took a few weeks before I slept normally-looking in my history bag-I see that my many doctors prescribed a gentle sleeping pill to help me establish my needed and preferred sleeping patterns. I'm glad that you talked to your doctor--you might think of divorcing your wife if she insists on being the doctor and she put you at risk for a stroke or a life of convulsions- gran mal seizures. As the others said-if you were going to have brain damage-would already be flopping on the floor and foaming at the mouth. If you can take a tylenol-take some. Your headache is probably stress. Tell your wife she owes you some good shoulder and neck massages, if she wants to practice medicine- she can play a physical therapist. darling, you're worrying yourself to death. It's time to take a deep breath and say-I am well- I did not stroke out-I will feel better-my sleep patterns will return to normal--- Meyati is allergic to Tylenol, neosporin, cold and flu medications, cough syrup, cholesterol medications, aspirin, motrin, polysporin, blood pressure medications, some antibiotics, synthetic thyroid hormones, and she took a heck of a lot more neurontin did than I did and for a lot longer-and she didn't suffer from neurontin-are you allergic to bandaids-I am- My doctors have lots fun-LOL If I get stitches i have to take antihistamines to keep from breaking out. My current doctor is getting good at practicing weird medicine. He's the one that put me on antihistamines so I could heal from being attacked by loose dogs almost 2 years ago.
Sounds like you are talking to your doctor. A smaller dose like 200 mg a day would be more appropriate. As the others said-smaller doses- slowly. I've been off and on myself, and I was super-dosing under the care of pain management.
Obviously your system is very sensitive. I'd suggest that you talk to your doctor strongly as strokes and seizures can be part of withdrawal. Good luck-but you need to treat the problem-not the symptoms of the problem. It won't do nay good to alternate days, Neurontin would do more damage to your brain.
I am assuming you did not consult your Dr. before tapering off this med. Because usually they will give you 100 mg pills & taper you off at a slower rate.
The side effects you are having will be less severe if you taper slower.
This medication gives you worse side effects if not tapered correctly.
You need to call your Dr. tomorrow .
Kathy
Thx. I just spoke to him and he said he doesn't want to go backwards since its been 6 days know. He said to try to bear it until symptoms go away and then will wean off 100mg per week. He also wanted me to stop antivan used to treat symptoms since I would then have to withdrawl from that. I am just on to many meds that I am being weaned off of.
Don't use the word weaned, because he isn't doing that. And don't let him touch any other meds until you get the gabapentin settled. You'll have to excuse me if I say I think he's an a-- for not helping with the gabapentin withdrawal you're having now.
Thx! It is partially my wife's fault since she didn't want to pay for 100 mg since she stated I was on it shortly. As far as the other med I just started it from another dr. who doesn't know my history. He doesn't want anything added to contribute to more problems. He knows how sensitive I am to meds. I guess I will stick it out since I have gone through hell being detoxes from Percocet methadone and Klonopin in 11 days and was put on 8 different medications when I was only on 3 excluding the methadone and Percocet which I wasn't on for a long time and a low dose for back pain. I just hate this feeling and wish he could feel what I am going through for at least a week.
Thx for your concern
What side effects did you have?
What side effects does it come with in your experience as an RN. Doctors make it seem like it is so easy to get off of. They say it is not a controlled substance. Any advice I should do on my own without consulting him?
What side effects should I expect?
gabapentin is cheap. I pay 12 for 3 months worth, The thing I worry about most when getting off gabapentin is seizures. I get a vicious headache if I forget a dose.
I had an MRI as well but no signs of strokes. Would an MRI show the vascular dementia you were talking about?
You said you had an MRI and it showed that you had strokes and have vascular degeneration. I had an MRI and was told everything looked normal no bleeds or strokes. Would that show up on an MRI?
ethan for over 25 years-radiologists have been able to find where mini-strokes occurred in the brain and how old they are. Things are even more accurate now. if you did have any type of mini-stroke-there are usually several-believe me the radiologist would have found it, and your doctor and you would be taking care of that problem with medications, diet, possible therapy, etc. My daughter did that at the VA-she had the power to order an MRI.
'IVe had to be taken off a lot of medications over the years. To get off one antidepressant I'd been on for years a very smart doctor put me on Prozac to get me thru it.I tapered off the medicine within 2 weeks with no side effects .then just stopped taking the prozac. Never get off more than 1 medication at a time..that's dangerous..taper off.
I'm not sure where you heard horror stories about neurontin, but a good many of us are on it and we wouldn't stop it. You have most likely tried to drop it too fast. You should have enlisted the docs help so you could get smaller dose capsules and take it down by 100 mg a day for about a week then another 100. You're doing yourself a disservice by trying to get off it too fast. One of the effects of doing that is seizures. You probably should have started on a smaller dose of it, so the side effects would have been less.
Thx for your input. I am very sensitive to meds and side effects. Will they go away?
If you stop it they will for sure. Its possible a lower dose will help you without side effects too. Please call your doc and get his help you can take the dosage down slower. Your life will be easier.
Is there anything I could do that would help without him knowing. I also have TRD and tried all SSrs and Snri,s also had Ect treatment. Any recommendations on what could or would work best for me. Cymbalta popped out last July. I was on that the longest. Thx
Do you know of any excellent psychiatrists in and around the Philadelphia area. I live in Chester county. Thx
wow, I lived in chester county for many years. I've lost track of the psychiatrists there now tho.
Here's a link, I remember this guy, but its been years. www.mainlinehealth.org/phy/Page.asp?out=html&spc=149&aPS=1&mxA=100&mlh=0&lcn=PH&rad=25&PageID=PHY000737
Do you know of what type if tests could show different types of dementia for example vascular. I had a CT and an MRI that came back normal. What does a SPECT show or do you know of any test that would show some sort of dementia cognitive impairment memory loss or atrophy of the brain. Since you are an RN I thought you would know what to ask my neurologist? Thx
I don't know about the newer tests, I'd just put my trust in the neuro.
Ethan,
As I told you about in my "PQ" MRI's without imaging dye will show any TIA's or strokes will show up. The MRI with Imaging dye given thru IV will show any problems with the Vascular vessels will show up this is usually the best test for showing what area of the brain that has been effected.
Also there is a series of test that a Pyhsciatrist give to you orally & written that will give them a more accurate diagnosis of any Cognitive issues you have. Feel free to "PQ" me with any other questions.
Take care my friend, Kathy
Would a regular MRI show vascular dementia. I don't know why he wouldn't use the dye. What questions would u ask him if you were me. Thx for your input and knowledge.
You can go to a speech pathologist which is cheaper and get a PICA Porchas Indicative Cognitive Assessment--- I don't really think that Ethan needs to have one. The assessment for children is called a PICACH- pronounced pie-kak. I had the privilege of meeting the Dr. and his wife, and I wasn't a patient or related to a patient. I was a volunteer that kept taking the PICA to train speech pathology students getting their Masters of Science degrees at the university. It is a real art to almost fail so many questions, and still pass. Like they'd give me a comb and I'd brush my teeth with it or try to unbutton my shirt, just stare, use it like a cell phone, etc. The reactions were based on if they were examining for a head trauma, drug overdose or a stroke. My daughter volunteered me out to her classmates.
My daughter is a speech pathologist for children, but she had an internship at the VA, where her main clientele were stroke and head injury patients.
She had one client that came in with a stroke. The MRI showed that he was had a series of mini-strokes. My daughter did cognitive therapy with him, but he got worse. My daughter ordered another MRI-and he had several new mini-strokes. He was in-patient- not allowed to smoke-they conferred and did weekly MRIs on him, which showed that he was having more mini-strokes. My daughter went out on the patio for a break- and his wife was giving him cigarettes and they were both smoking. They had talked to the wife-about smoking and mini-strokes. The committee decided that since my daughter had a waiting list of other veterans that therapy for him should stop.
They did an MRI on Ethan-which for the last 25 years can detect the signs of the smallest mini stroke. They did not find any.
You are a sweet and caring person, who is trying to help from your own experience. But Ethan keeps saying that he has been having trouble with a medication, he's talking to his doctor-they are working together-and from looking at what Ethan is saying about a good and recent MRI result, I think things like PICA isn't in the picture for him. That he does know what a comb is for-his hair if he has any-he might shave his head- The only reason I'm talking to Ethan is bc I've used the medication several times in larger doses-for a longer time and I had some great doctors explain how it works on neural synapses-one reason for that is the doctor knew about my experience in working with graduate students and understanding some neurology-and my son is a disabled vet with physical injury and emotional problems-some created by meds. We need to help Ethan focus on his problem right now- and let his doctor and Ethan take care of the current medical problem-which takes a long time. I'm sure that Ethan's doctor will refer him to a Neuro Psychologist or a competent speech pathologist if the doctor thinks that Ethan has this type of impairment. He just doesn't need to worry about anything else right now. He's a good and intelligent person. I'm glad that I met him. I just wish that he wasn't hurting so much.
If you read all the studies, medication is absorbed better at a smaller dose.
Hi ethan.You say you've only be taken the Neurontiin for only 5 weeks from with your dose is being decreased by only 1 300mg or half what you were taking.I've been on n off Gabapentin many times and only felt these types of side affects when stopped abruptly in very high doses.I can't think of anything off hand other than you possibly having some issues with rates of absorption possibly.A peak a trough test can be done to rule that out.I also take the same dose of klonopin.Another big factor in taking medication properly is caffeine.If you drink coffee or any highly caffeinated products,it will affect all your meds.Some meds get greatly reduced & others have the opposite affect.If your a daily coffee drinker like me,don't follow your meds with coffee or other caffeinated products.I'll look into your med list a bit more and see if I'm missing something.Make sure(obviously) if this gets unbearable to get some medical attention from your doctor or ...
call your pharmacy,assuming you get all your medications From the same place,they will be able to confront your side affects quickly.Also have you been taking these meds at the same approximate times each day,could be another factor.Most likely these side affects will taper off soon.Stay strong and keep logs of times and affects so you can see if your missing something.Hope you start feeling better soon.
David
Thx. I don't drink caffeine but the side effects from what I read I seem to have most. I know it is not the other meds. I hope I didn't withdrawl to quickly. It has been now 6 days on the 300 mg 1 x at night. I am having bad insomnia. I don't know what to do. Dr. Hasn't called back and just want off this drug as soon as possible but also feel comfortable
Thx!!!
I know the feeling,a year ago I was incarcerated and all my medications were stopped.I asked for my "regular" meds but were offered a lot of meds I'd never been on and had no choice really,either take all,or none.I was crawling out if my skin and very dizzy.Took about 2-3 weeks before I was functioning again.You hang in there,once your body adjusts to the decrease,you will feel better.Wish I could say to just up your dose every other day until you get in touch with your doctor,I'm not a licensed doctor but your pharmacy can reach your doctor and/or give you some professional advise.
Take care!!!
Thx! Yes they made me also take all these new meds. I know my body is trying to adjust but I read horror stories about Neurontin. I guess the only good thing is that I wasn't on it too long. So I hope it didn't do any permeant damage and I won't feel so dizzy and confused as well as seeing the difference in the decrease. Heart racing feeling like bugs crawling in my skin going from feeling like I am on fire to having the chills.
1. There is a great misconception out there regarding the toxicological effects of a prescribed medicine such as Gabapentin and let's say coffee. Gabapentin is a mutagen and worse a carcinogen. If taken long enough even in low concentrations, the frequency rate can cause adverse effects via the chemical absorption and metabolic potential i.e. has the potential to cause cancer and other negative impacts.
2. In 2013, Sharp provided information to their MDs strongly suggesting that they seek other medicines for their patients. Some listened, others sadly had either forgotten or decided to ignore the internal memo.
3. As a toxicologist, and a patient whom was prescribed this medicine for more than 4 years now; I suffer from gum/tooth decay and an increase of neurological pain, which is also a side effect of this medicine. I would suggest, that the next time you speak to your MD have them review the "latest" information from the CDC/FDA, John Hopkins and Harvard Medical School as well as their PDR 2014 on this medicine. Some physicians have a tendency to depend on pervious knowledge and don't do the necessary research on them.
To David: I didn't realize drinking coffee with my medications would have any averse effects. I've been taking Gabapentin, Wellbutrin and Norco all with my morning coffee. Learn something new. I sure hope the side effects in stopping how the meds are taken can be managed as well.
To David: I didn't realize drinking coffee with my medications would have any averse effects. I've been taking Gabapentin, Wellbutrin and Norco all with my morning coffee. Learn something new. I sure hope the side effects in stopping how the meds are taken can be managed as well.
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