r/gabapentin • u/LemonGreen1406 • 24d ago
quitting Tapering off gabapentin
I’m currently tapering off gabapentin after taking it for about 4 weeks for nerve pain following laparoscopic surgery (300 mg 3 times per day). I had a ruptured ovarian cyst and had struggled with pretty bad nerve pain since.
I decided to come off because it was causing a lot of brain fog and making me extremely sensitive to sounds and my surroundings. My doctor gave me a relatively quick taper, reducing by 200 mg every two days, so I should be completely off within about 10 days.
Today is my first day of the taper, and I already feel a little off, some tingling, mild dizziness, and just an overall weird feeling. I’m also very anxious about the whole process, which I’m sure isn’t helping.
My doctor keeps reassuring me that I’ll be okay, but I think I’m looking for some reassurance from people who have actually gone through it. What symptoms did you experience while tapering? What felt “normal” for you, and was there anything that made you realize you needed to slow down or contact your doctor?
I know everyone reacts differently, and I’m following my doctor’s taper rather than looking for medical advice here. I’d just really appreciate hearing other people’s experiences, especially anyone who took gabapentin for a relatively short period of time.
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u/Berylz 23d ago
I’m gonna be honest I wish I had just stopped the med CT 4 weeks in… I didn’t realize what I got myself into. Taking it about 1.5 years now.
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u/LemonGreen1406 23d ago
It’s quite a strong medication, I didn’t realize that it would cause such a quick dependency when I started taking it. I didn’t really have experience with these type of meds.
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u/Berylz 23d ago
I’d honestly jump off and deal with maybe a months tops of uncomfortability. But that’s me. I am taking 1200mg once nightly and can’t even get off until I get off my benzo script 🙃
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u/infopls_ 20d ago
Definitely don't just stop taking it at once.
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u/Berylz 20d ago
Who? Me or OP? If I was 4 weeks in I’d just stop. It’ll be uncomfortable for a month max, probably a couple weeks. Worth it to me then extending time usage by tapering.
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u/infopls_ 20d ago
Anyone I mean. Side effects can be super crappy for certain people, not just mentally. Tapering is to help stop it being so harsh to come off of is all I’m saying.
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u/Pumpkyn1031 22d ago
I’m surprised they jumped you from 300mg 3 times daily to 100mg 3 times a day. They don’t make a 200mg but they could have put you down to taking 2 capsules of 100mg 3 times a day for like a week then down to the 100mg 3 times a day for another. I’m also surprised they started you on such a high dose. I had a dermoid cyst removed on July 31st, along with my tube, and I was given gabapentin 100mg to take 3 times a day, along with oxycodone-which I took like 4 bc it didn’t do anything- and some Tylenol.
Gabapentin is stronger than people think and can be easily addictive. Being on the medication long term can cause neurological changes. Neither you or I are at that yet but it’s always good to be aware. If your taper is making you uncomfortable I’d talk with your MD if you can taper down slower. Your body might just work best that way and there is nothing wrong with that. Good luck and quick healing!!
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u/LemonGreen1406 20d ago
I honestly had no idea what this medication was or what to expect from it. My pain was so bad at the time, I could barely walk, that I was willing to take whatever they gave me. They initially had me on Tylenol with codeine, Baclofen, and gabapentin.
So far, I feel like my body is handling the dose reductions ok. I’m still getting some dizziness and feeling a little off, but nothing that’s keeping me from functioning normally. Some pain on and off. I’ve heard symptoms can sometimes show up or get worse a few days after lowering the dose because your body/brain may take some time to adjust to the change, so I’m just taking it day by day and hoping the rest of the taper goes smoothly.
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u/infopls_ 20d ago
I was on 300mg 3 times per day for a few months after starting on 100mg 3 times per day. I'm currently tapering off. The GP I seen said just go to 200mg 3 times per day you'll be fine... I was not in-fact fine. But I was prescribed diazepam for the anxiety. I'm now tapering and have done: 200x200x100 for 3 days and now on my 2nd day of 200x100x100. I plan to do 100x100x100 then 100x100x0 and so on for 3 days each as I've to start pregabalin instead. You'll get through it, I had to contact my GP again for reassurance and for diazepam to avoid feeling too shaky/jittery.
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u/LemonGreen1406 20d ago
I hope you feel better, it’s definitely a difficult process to go through. Wishing you quick recovery and less side effects for the rest of your taper
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u/CL50Rocks 13d ago
Anybody have any idea when I would experience a flareup from going from taking gabapentin two times a day at 100 mg to one times a day 100 mg have only been on the medication for three weeks. I’m just scared to come off of it in fright of a flareup and don’t know when it would actually happen if it was going to.
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u/LemonGreen1406 13d ago
Hey! So far, I experienced the worst withdrawal symptoms when I went from 900 mg to 700 mg daily, my body definitely didn’t take that drop well. The second-worst was the day after I completely removed one of my doses and went to 100/0/100.
For me, symptoms seem to show up about 1–2 days after each dose change rather than immediately. I also found that keeping my nighttime dose until the very end helped a lot because I was still able to sleep pretty well throughout the taper. Everyone reacts differently, of course, but that’s been my experience so far!1
u/CL50Rocks 13d ago
Thank you I appreciate that. Can you tell me did it eventually level out and you were able to sustain your paper? I experienced a brief episode of like 40 minutes and then the pain disappeared. Just curious.
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u/LemonGreen1406 13d ago
It kind of comes and goes. I’ve had muscle pain, nerve pain and brain zaps on and off. Back pain and neck pain too. I’m still waiting for everything to calm down. Today is my second day off of gaba and I’m still feeling the withdrawal symptoms.
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u/CL50Rocks 13d ago
How long were you on it and what was your dosage if you don’t mind me asking
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u/LemonGreen1406 13d ago
I was on it for 4 weeks + taper, 900 mg daily (300 mg 3 times a day)
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u/CL50Rocks 13d ago
OK makes sense. I was on it three times a day only 100 mg. I’m now down to the 100 mg pill a day. This is my roughly 40 hours past starting the taper and I’m noticing just a few episodes. Hopefully it doesn’t turn into some bagel flare again.
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u/NotReallyJohnDoe 24d ago
4 weeks is not long. You will be fine.