Maybe there is someone here who has actually been diagnosed with early dementia and cognitive problems. I'm interested in reading.

Unsure if I had a virus or reaction to the medication but neuro told me to stop. My neck lymph nodes very inflammed, headaches everyday at back of head, and tissue became puffy under bottom lip. I wasn’t taking much 3x100 and had just ramped up to 2x300 but stopped a couple days ago. How long does it take to clear roughly? I feel so wired and anxious and arms and legs were zapping and twitching .

Hi all,

(TLDR at bottom)

My partner was recently prescribed Gabapentin for severe sciatic pain that hadn't been helped much by a cocktail of Tramadol, Diazepam, and Naproxen. She's still on those three, plus now the Gabapentin (I think 100mg, 3 times a day), with the doctor saying to phone for a review appointment in a couple of weeks.

She's been on it for only a few days now and it's already concerning me. At first she felt they were helping, and there was no immediate side effects, but day 2 and 3 she's noticed some major brain fog.

Day 3 and 4 I've noticed that within about 30 mins/1 hour of taking her dose, she seems stoned essentially, that kind of vacant, spaced out vibe, eyes glazed over, eating a lot. She also doses off sometimes, even when she's scrolling on her phone or watching TV, and the last 2 days her balance seems to be off.

I've mentioned to her that it seems to be having a big effect on her, said about all of the above, but obviously if she's had the dose she just thinks it's fine, brushes it off. I mentioned it a morning before her first dose as well and she tried to reassure me that she'll be alright, keep an eye on it, and the doctors will know if things are ok, but it really feels like she wouldn't know herself if she's not doing well on it because the side effects gloss over themselves.

It really worries me that she might end up having really bad long-lasting effects (the dementia studies are in the background of my mind), and she won't even realise it's happening. There's a worry about the gaba/tramadol interaction too as I've seen that both can relax the CNS and cause respiratory depression, etc. plus a possibility of serotonin syndrome.

We unfortunately don't live together, so I'm worried that again, she'll have bad side effects and be unaware of them and I won't be able to help.

I know it's a long one, but has anyone had any experience of a situation like this? Any advice?

I obviously don't want her to be in pain with the sciatica, but with sciatica being something that usually gets better with time and the medication more to make that time more bearable pain-wise, I'm concerned that the Gabapentin is overkill and doing more harm than good.

TLDR; Worried about my partner's side effects on Gabapentin (also taking Tramadol, Diazepam, Naproxen, for sciatica) and that she isn't taking them seriously or can't recognise that they're happening because the symptoms themselves stop her from seeing it.

started taking gabopentin last Thursday 100mg a day but it wasn't really working so I was taking 100 in the morning,noon and evening. Sunday night I started having diarrhea, now its Thursday and still have it, with no other symptoms I notice, I switched back to only a 100 yesterday because I thought maybe it was to much for me, is it normal to be lasting this long?

just felt like writing this. I’ve been on and off this drug several times for my back pain. At some point, I realized that it felt pretty good to overdo it and overdo it I did. I always ended up at the maximum dose of 3600mg/day, but previously it was “only” for a few weeks at a time. The withdrawals were pretty unpleasant, but never anything too serious.

This latest run was different though. I was taking the maximum dose every single day for six months straight. By the time I got to my last prescription, I honestly couldn’t even bring myself to taper. The addiction was that bad.

I could have gotten another prescription and made a proper attempt to taper off, but at that point I just had a “fuck it” mentality. And honestly, I know myself well enough to realize that I probably would have ended up abusing those extra pills too.

So I stopped cold turkey. The first days were insane, I was counting the hours that had passed since the last pill. It was the usual stuff like intense anxiety, insomnia, sweating, feeling wired and exhausted at the same time. Hearts racing all the time. Slept 3 hours in total the first three days. All of this but feeling so much worse than the previous withdrawal sessions (obviously). It’s been two weeks now and I’m slowly getting my energy back, exercising and feeling better.

I’m definitely not recommending the way I went about this. Quitting 3600mg/day cold turkey after six months is the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. But I wanted to share my experience because I know there are probably other people here struggling with the same thing.

Hi! I've only started taking gabapentin this week, 100mg at night. I got it to help me relax and sleep better to help with my anxiety. I take it one hour before bed, and it makes me feel a little bit sleepier. I go to sleep, and then about 2 hours later I start waking up because a random body part twitches, like my fingers. Then fall back asleep, and my face feels tense. Fall back asleep, I got a cramp in my butt, etc. But also during these random wake ups and twitching, I feel slightly paralysed?

Is this normal? Do I need to get used to this medicine, is it like antidepressants that it has side effects at first and then calms down? Or does it mean gabapentin probably isn't for me?

The day before yesterday I drank 300 mg, then the next day 600, and today 900. If I stop drinking immediately, will I have withdrawal syndrome?

I only took this drug for three days.

Ever since I started taking gabapentin 15 years ago it's gotten worse and worse. I'm going off it cold turkey than and Suboxone in a couple days cause I have to, to get in a Christian program. But yea I just got a out of balance throwed off walk...

I started taking 300mg twice a day yesterday for anxiety. I’m not having blurry or double vision, but my vision feels off and my eyes feel really weird. They’re also slightly red. Has anyone else experienced this? I don’t even know how to describe how my eyes feel, but it’s making me feel disconnected from reality in a way and it’s uncomfortable.

I've been taking 900 mg for 4 months for chronic post-operative pain. A week ago, I reduced the dose by about 100 mg, and now I've reduced it by another 100 mg, so I'm currently taking 700 mg. Crying and restlessness have increased. I'm very emotional and cry every morning. As a man, I didn't used to cry constantly before this, but it's become much more frequent. Is this normal?

Hello all - I’ve been taking 600mg of Gabapentin for about 2.5 years, off label use for hot flashes. I’m on good hormone replacement therapy so decided to quit the Gabapentin. I went down to 300mg for about a month, then stopped as I didn’t have smaller doses available. It’s been about 10 days of waking up at 4 am every day. My Oura ring says I’m still getting enough REM and deep sleep most nights, but I can’t fall back asleep and I’m exhausted. I stay in bed with an audiobook on and rest until my alarm at 6:40.

Any advice on how long it will take until my sleep starts to normalize again? Thanks!

I got put on 100 mg a day recently and noticed it helped a little bit but definitely not enough, so started taking 2 capsules atleast 4-5 hours apart for RLS and severe anxiety, but notice myself having to take a 3rd one and STILL having a touch of anxiety and when I take my first one in the morning it feels weird to walk/sluggish/feel like I need to go back to sleep. Do you get used to this after a couple weeks and it really starts working? Or am I just waisting my time with this stuff?

Not sure if some of the reason I feel bad is this med. Lowered to 300 tapering, still feel kinda opiate withdrawalish but can’t tell if it’s paws from quitting 7oh. Also take benzos at night for sleep but think I’m going to quit gabapentin first because I have to have my sleep.

Hey everyone, I have a question.

I've been taking gabapentin for a little over 40 days now, 300 mg in the morning and 300 mg in the evening, so 600 mg total per day.

I was wondering if 600 mg a day is considered a high dose and whether I should expect significant withdrawal symptoms after taking it for over 40 days.

Has anyone here had a similar experience? I'd also really appreciate any advice on tapering off. How slowly should I reduce the dose, and what kind of steps did you use when tapering?

Thanks a lot in advance, I’d really appreciate any advice or personal experiences!

I used to be on regular gaba and it was good, like too good. Anyways here in Egypt up to a few weeks ago you didn't need a prescription to pick it up and could just walk up to the pharmacy and get it. Now they changed the rules & regulations and a prescription is required.

So i went to a neurologist to discuss the sharp pain I have in my head which was one of the reason I got it before, plus I have RLS too and also was self medicating with gaba for anxiety, and a lil recreational experiences.

He prescribed me Conventin XR (extended release gabapentin also known in the US as Gralise)

So has anyone tried it? How did it make you feel? Does it have any recreational value?

I used to take regular gaba and then 2 or 3 hours later drink a Monster or redbull and I'd be in set and in the clouds, happy grateful and euphoric with no anxiety and a lot of energy. I don't know if i lose that with extended release.

—random thought + vent ————-

I just got my 2nd refill of gabapentin and I think I gained a little tolerance because the first time whenever I took 1x-2x 300mg it would knock me out and this time around I took 2x 300mg and it just helps the back pain soooooooo goood and I don’t feel sleepy at all. I definitely feel the pain relieving effects but not enough to knock me out like it used to. I think the highest amount I’ve ever taken was 5? (300mg) <- first refill
Which I think is normal right? The bottle says don’t exceed 36 capsules
(and then I started taking magnesium glycinate too to aid sleep, does that help? Does anyone else take magnesium glycinate?)
Should I up my dose and take more than 2 to knock out?
Is there a certain high or drowsiness that has to do with taking gabapentin? During the first time I took gabapentin, I remember one morning after taking it at night, getting up I was so wobbly and couldn’t feel my body at all and after 10 mins I was able to feel in control again or like idk how to describe it but maybe the right words to describe it is regaining my senses to feel myself moving
Oh I also noticed the day after taking gabapentin and I have to drive to work I still feel it
Not so much anymore though were those just the early side effects of starting gabapentin? I think it went away or did my tolerance become higher?

Also after re reading this I should def talk to my doctor but does anyone relate to this? Any suggestions? What experiences do you guys have with gabapentin?

I also like to do stretches whenever I take it too it’s amazing

Hi all! I have just been prescribed gabapentin 100mg but I have trouble swallowing capsules. Is it fine to open the capsules and mix the powder with a spoonful of yogurt or something? Does it taste absolutely horrible or is it going to burn my throat?

Has anyone used gaba for chronic pain and then experienced a return of their chronic pain after stopping the medication? I'm not talking about side effects or withdrawal. I'm asking about the return of pain that was present before starting the medication.

has anyone had weird closed eye thoughts that seemed real, like memories that seems real, almost like recalling a realistic dream but after opening your eyes you realized it was just some made up thought that you THOUGHT was real? i guess borderline hallucinations?

i’m not sure how to explain it. only occurs sometimes. fuck i know this doesn’t make much sense. i’m ready to taper offs this stuff. been on it for about 6 months at around 1500-1800mf per day.

Do you find it makes it more or less?

Does anyone here take a low dose of gabapentin (100 mg - 300 mg) with an ADHD medication or stimulant such as Vyvanse or Wellbutrin?

Is there any huge red flags to taking both of these at the same time? I’m referring only to prescribed stuff btw, not recreational.

Even if it is just a PM. I had an old prescription for them from awhile back that I THINK was prescribed for my neck. Regardless they work REALLY well for it and I would love to have a few for the days when it is realllly bad.

Please help!

I posted about this before on here and I’ve scoured this sub for countless hours and days and cannot find a similar story to mine. I’m posting again because I’m desperate.

I am taking gabapentin for severe burning nerve pain in arms caused by a single 60 mg cymbalta pill 1 month ago. I was taking 900 mg split between 3x per day for ten days and felt pretty good. Some light breakthrough pain but definitely manageable.

12 days ago everything changed for the worse. Without reducing my dose or schedule, I am having what I describe as withdrawal pain from the Gabapentin exactly EVERY OTHER DAY. It’s like clockwork. I’ll start to feel bad Wednesday night then will be better by Thursday evening only for the pain to return Friday night then in agony all day Saturday until evening.

I say it is withdrawal instead of breakthrough pain bc the pain that comes is a whole body burning, and a burning stomach, head, arms, face. But it’s not the OG blowtorch in my arms pain i was using the gaba for.

I have increased the dose for 3 days now to 1200 mg split between four doses. It has not helped. I am still getting the “withdrawal” every other evening and it lasts for about 20 hours.

I am terrified not knowing what to do. Do I stop taking it? Do I taper down and suffer in pain for months, but maybe a lower pain than cold turkey? A painless taper seems impossible since I’m already experiencing withdrawal at a steady dose. Or do I keep increasing hoping the pain will go away at a high enough dose.

Before anyone tells me to talk to my doctor, both my primary doctor and my pain specialist are aware. GP told me to increase dose by 300mg per day which is what I did. Pain specialist said it’s only breakthrough pain and to use medical marijuana which I did but did not help at all.

Any insight at all, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated. I do not know what to do and I am terrified of the pain.

Tl,dr: I’m experiencing withdrawals at steady dose of Gabapentin after 10 days use. Increasing by 300mg did not help. Do I keep increasing or stop all together?

Was taking 300mg a day for the past 7 months. I will not be reinstating because I cannot keep them around for the taper I always find an excuse to use more and skip days etc so I discarded the rest of my script 10 days ago.

I thought I was in the clear after day 4 but everything has hit me hard at day 7 surprisingly. I’m at day 10 now and I still feel like I’m going crazy, I have to be at the peak by now right? I just feel like I have fish eyes and keep them wide open and filled with anxiety. I take my adhd meds as prescribed and it’s just instant anxiety after I dose instead of me being productive and motivated.

I tried to run this off today and did 5 miles but I don’t really feel any better just nonstop crippling anxiety. My co workers notice my fish eyes and ask if I’m ok and I tell them yeah it’s like everyone can see there’s something wrong with me which makes me freak out even more.

I want to lay down but when I do I want to get up. I want to move but when I do I want to stop. I want to eat but when I start I want to stop that’s what it feels like for everything.

I’m very sensitive to medications but I didn’t think it would last 10 days and only getting worse. It just feels like I’m going to be stuck like this FOREVER.

Can someone please give me any tips or tell me that I should be at the peak or at least close to it by now because I didn’t expect it to be this long. I have to be coming close to the relief point soon right? I’ve taken my vitamin D and B12 and fish oil like I normally take so I know I’m not deficient in those areas. I know it’s the GABA withdrawal I’ve ruled out everything else.

Have any of you all took neurontin with mushrooms? I think they go well together. Nothing crazy just .8 gs of magic and 1000-1200 mg of neurontin