I’ve been on gabaprntin(neurontin) daily since my stroke in 2011.
I’m down to 100mgs once daily at this point I want to stop taking it for nerve pain but am hesitant because of possible withdrawl. Has anyone dealt eith issues concerning the meds ??? I know to discuss it with my neuro and to ween off but my query really is to see of there are any positive suggestions/ experiences for doing this
I know are less severe alternatives like but i was wondering of there’s a (best) way to go forward.
I'd strongly encourage you work w/ your neuro on discontinuing anticonvulsants. Assuming the 'nerve pain' is what's known as central pain syndrome, CPS http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/central_pain/central_pain.htm, there are other anticonvulsants that ?MAY? help offer relief to some degree.
I too have CPS & it's a 'monster' to cope with. Unfortunately, I've yet to find relief w/ anticonvulsants, yet others do find varying levels of relief, so don't give up hope & keep trying.
Best wishes, Patti
Hi, Scott - I took Neurontin for maybe 9 months or so, but stopped it bc it stopped working and I realized it was making me gain a lot of weight. (I heard that guys don't really experience this and most girls will see the weight come right off when they stop taking it.) I think I did ween myself off by decreasing the dosage and I cleared it with my PCP and I experienced no withdrawal. The fact that I was taking it for pain and it stopped working might have made me not care about withdrawal symptoms but I honestly can't remember any. I was in pain anyway (it's much better now) :)3 cheers for fewer meds!! :)atnt
I can tell you from personal experience just last week that withdrawal from gabapentin/neurontin is not fun. My insurance company messed up my script and I had to stop abruptly for 3 days. This brought on what I think are seizures, I refer to them as "skipping like a CD.". The pain from my avm site (2 years ago was operated on) went insane, and so did my nerve pain from my cervical hemangioma. I have had a week long migraine and my emotions were so bad my husband actually slept on the floor in his office for 2 days. While I am back up to dosage as of today, I still am reeling from the effects. I strongly advise not doing this on your own and with the help of your doctor. What do you want to do for your nerve pain after you stop?
oh geez thats what i feared I'm down to one a day but its been 3 yrs constant starting at 3 a day Ive read lyrica or zimbalta (?) are similar but less severe (medication wise) I've had no issues w/ neuron tin (fingers crossed) but it doesn't mask the nerve pain and i don't want too stay on something as harsh if i can find a better alternative. I was originally prescribed the neureontin because drs thought i was epileptic- but it was agreed many times over that i suffer from tremors not epilepsy. Long-story short i just feel its long overdue to change to something less severe that could possibly work better
hey sorry its taken me longer to write back. Wow I'm sorry 2 hear about the adverse effects it had on you. they originally put me on it for antiseiures but said fevers turned out to be tremors. Either way over the course of three years I've been weened down to one a day. I want to find something less severe because the neurotic is not giving me pain relief anymore it just seems like its turned to a blank numbness that never really dissipates .
i hope if i stop i have a similar experience and slim/no withdrawal!! ill be sure to keep all posted have a dr.s apt next week so ill see then what the decision shall be :)
good advice & that seems to be the general consensus for myself & folks : as far as discontinuing. I don't think id make it cold-turkey lol :/.
thankyou 4 the suggestion & the video link the only real relief I've had success w/ so far is applying peppermint oil to my temples when headaches occur the relief is very short-lived; but still better than chugging' tylonel all day. I hope you find something and if i ever find a safe (preferably natural) relief i will be sure to post
ohhhh also watermelon works as an awesome pain reliever (head) but sadly like peppermint oil, only lasts shortly :/
I wouldn't suspect any withdrawals with gabapentin. You need to discuss other options, as there are many. I'm on a cocktail of Gaba, Lamotrigine, Propranolol and vimpat. All for central pain control, and am doing reasonably well.
I just tried to taper off of some of them and the pain returns horrible, thus I'm back on it all again. Everyone is different, try to see what works for the pain.
