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gaba: taking 12,000 mg of gabapentin at 2


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I have searched the web for a long time looking for help and this forum seemed like the best choice.

 

It is 1:00 pm in the afternoon and I just took my last dose of gabapentin an hour ago and I think I am finally starting to feel better. (3,000 mg for a total dose today of about 12,000 mg so far)

 

I typed a full history here, but somehow lost the edit and I am not feeling good enough to type it again now. I will edit this again later. I am sorry for this terrible first post

Prozac 120 mg? - 1987-2006

Cymbalta 90 mg - since 2006

Abilify 2 mg - since appr. Dec 2015

Wellbutrin 300 mg - since appr 2001 

Risperdal 1 mg - since appr. 2010

Trazadone 100 mg - since appr. 2010

Gabapentin 900 mg - off and on 2012-June, 2015; 3600 mg June, 2015-March, 2016; 7,200 mg to 10,800 since March 2016 

 

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I somehow lost the rest of this post and get a message that I am not allowed to edit it. So here is what I intended to post:

 

I have searched the web for a long time looking for help and this forum seemed like the best choice.

 

It is 1:00 pm in the afternoon and I just took my last dose of gabapentin an hour ago and I think I am finally starting to feel better. (3,000 mg for a total dose today of about 12,000 mg so far)

 

I felt to bad to finish. It's almost 3 and I'm feeling ok because I took another 3,000 mg. 

 

About 4 years ago I was prescribed 3 x 300 mg a day for anxiety, but I didn't like it. If I just couldn't stand the anxiety, I might take one, but it seemed like I was replacing one bad feeling with another one.  If I took more than one, I felt like was covered with glue. I don't know why the feeling then was so much different than it was later.

 

About a year ago,  my father died and i was prescribed up to 12 x 300 mg a day. I was really grateful to have it this time and took it only for a few months. Somewhere along he line I read all the horror stories about tolerance and withdrawal, so I was surprised that over a few weeks I was able to taper off without any real withdrawal.

 

This time is different. I had another family tragedy, got another prescription at the same dosage, and noticed that I could get this really energetic, happy feeling at the higher doses. I had a lot of gabapentin left over from before that I used. 

 

I used to be able to deal with the tolerance you develop by skipping a day or two or taking less. Things really changed when I ordered a lot of gabapentin over the internet without a prescription. The dose increased and i started having withdrawal feelings in between doses. 

 

Now I am taking all this crap and feel like i have the flu most of the day. I meant feel ok (like now) for about an hour a couple of times a day.

 

I am feeling very desperate. I don't know what to do. This can't go on. I don't know what advice I expect to receive form this post. I guess the first thing I should do is figure out how much I am really taking and try to gradually reduce the dosage. 

 

I am embarrassed to say that I think all this is causing me to have liquid diarrhea. Today I realized I better start drinking more liquids to avoid dehydration. 

Prozac 120 mg? - 1987-2006

Cymbalta 90 mg - since 2006

Abilify 2 mg - since appr. Dec 2015

Wellbutrin 300 mg - since appr 2001 

Risperdal 1 mg - since appr. 2010

Trazadone 100 mg - since appr. 2010

Gabapentin 900 mg - off and on 2012-June, 2015; 3600 mg June, 2015-March, 2016; 7,200 mg to 10,800 since March 2016 

 

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  • Administrator

Welcome, gaba.

 

That does seem like an excessive amount of gabapentin, and it does sound like you have not only become dependent on it, but you are experiencing adverse symptoms from your huge dose.

 

If I were you, I would commence on a gradual reduction immediately.

 

Please read Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Tips for tapering off Neurontin (gabapentin)

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Thanks Administrators

 

You know, one thing  I didn't consider, and didn't mention in my profile,  is that I have reached the last stage of tapering off Risperdol. I used to take 1  mg, then went to one half, then one quarter. Last night I tried to take one eighth. It seems unlikely this could be causing my problems, but I went ahead and took anohter milligram this afternoon to see if I felt normal tomorrow morning.

Prozac 120 mg? - 1987-2006

Cymbalta 90 mg - since 2006

Abilify 2 mg - since appr. Dec 2015

Wellbutrin 300 mg - since appr 2001 

Risperdal 1 mg - since appr. 2010

Trazadone 100 mg - since appr. 2010

Gabapentin 900 mg - off and on 2012-June, 2015; 3600 mg June, 2015-March, 2016; 7,200 mg to 10,800 since March 2016 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi gaba and welcome to SA.

 

So that suggestions can be made tailored to your individual situation it is important that we know ALL drugs, dates, doses and how you decreased/increased them.  Please create a summary drug history in your signature.  Instructions for doing this:

 

Please put your Withdrawal History in Signature   OR   Complete your Signature from Phone or Tablet

 

Please read the links that Alto gave you and then post any questions here in your Intro/Update topic which you can also use as a journal of your progress.  It is a good idea to update your signature each time you make a change so that your drug history remains current and can be seen at a glance.  Also if you click FOLLOW top right your will be notified when someone responds.

 

Keeping notes of your doses and symptoms on paper will help.  Another thing that is important:  Keep it Simple, Slow and Stable

 

These might help you to understand why a slow taper and holding to stabilise is recommended.  Because the drug has changed your brain reducing the drug gradually allows the brain to adapt to not getting as much of it and to keep withdrawal symptoms to a minimum.

 

Brain Remodelling (Rhi's Description of Brain Healing)


Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery


What is Happening in Your Brain

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • Administrator

Are you taking the gabapentin to deal with Risperdal withdrawal? Please stop changing your Risperdal dosage until we can sort this out.

 

Please put ALL the drugs you take in the Drug Interactions Checker http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html
and copy and paste the results in this topic.
 

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Hi,

 

Cymbalta 90 mg - 1987

Abilify 2 mg - 8 mos

Welbutin 300 mg - 15 years

Risperdol 1 mg - 4 years

 

I was probably getting some tardive dyskinesia (sucking movement in my cheeks), so my doctor decided to gradually replace the Risperdol with Abilify. I gradually educed by 25% to 1/4 mg over 8 months I think. I think it went ok - hard to tell. Neither one really controlled my anxiety, especially in the morning.

s

 

I have described my experience with Gabapentin except, yes, at some point I was taking the Gabapentin to help with with withdrawal. I wanted off both of them and started to taper the Abilify too until about 3 months ago I got so sick I thought I had such a bad flu I wanted to die for 3 or 4 days until I realized it was withdrawal and went back on Abilify and Risperdol at the original prescribed dosage.  No matter how much Gabapentin I took, everything just got worse.

 

Soon I went back to 1/2 mg Risperdol and later 1/4 mg. I think it was ok, but maybe it was because of the  increased Gabapentin.

 

As I said in my earlier post, I realized that I had reduced Risperdol to 1/8 mg for a few days before my horrible episode yesterday and so took a full mg dose to see if that was the problem. Well, I guess it was. I started feeling better a few hours later, but wasn't sure what had caused it because I had taken another 1,500 mg, but this morning I feel ok, so I guess it was the Risperdol after all.

 

Finally, I am not sure if this matters but I had encephalitis as a child and took dexedrine from 1973 until about 4 years ago. I had also taken klonopin for maybe 10 years until 4 years ago. 4 years ago I went into rehab for drinking/DWIs and was forced to stop taking everything, including the dexedrine which I had never really abused. I take drugs tests now. I was a very high achieving professional and the lack of the stimulant I had been taking since I was almost a child has been devastating. I don't feel like myself any more. Well, I guess I have reaced the point of irrelevance to my current problem so I will stop here.

 

Thanks

Prozac 120 mg? - 1987-2006

Cymbalta 90 mg - since 2006

Abilify 2 mg - since appr. Dec 2015

Wellbutrin 300 mg - since appr 2001 

Risperdal 1 mg - since appr. 2010

Trazadone 100 mg - since appr. 2010

Gabapentin 900 mg - off and on 2012-June, 2015; 3600 mg June, 2015-March, 2016; 7,200 mg to 10,800 since March 2016 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi, Gaba. Thank you for this information. 

 

I also started psych drugs quite young. I'm glad you wrote about Dexedrine and Klonopin because it explains the acute anxiety you suffered four years ago when you started the gabapentin.  Klonopin is a very powerful benzodiazepine and many people who go through rehab are taken off through a rapid taper process that can make you extremely sick for a very long time. And anxiety is one of the many symptoms involved. 

 

When I was on dexedrine, it caused a great deal of insomnia and anxiety, so a lot of your anxiety may be the result of the meds you've used and as you slowly taper off, you'll be in really good shape in the end. 

 

I'm a bit confused about what drugs you are currently taking. You have 4 listed at the top of your last post and 6 listed in your signature. Which drugs are you currently taking? Is it just Gabapentin and Risperdal now? Also, please list your Gabapentin in your signature. 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hey Gaba - 

 

Last night I tried to take one eighth. It seems unlikely this could be causing my problems, but I went ahead and took anohter milligram this afternoon to see if I felt normal tomorrow morning.

Please resist the urge to bounce your doses.  If you want to get stable, you will not know what is happening if you keep going up and down with doses.  Please stop and hold your risperdal at a comfortable dose, and leave it there.

 

So - the 12000 mg of gabapentin - does any doctor know you are doing this?  This is nearly 3x the maximum dose of gabapentin!  With your substance abuse history - were you trying to get high?  Feel something?  What's this about?  How much pain are you in?  Why are you on it, and why do you keep increasing it?

 

So - if your signature is correct, you are currently on:

Abilify 2 mg

Risperdal (how much now?)

Trazadone 100 mg

Gabapentin (how much?  Sig says 10,800, but the title of this thread says 12,000)

 

How quickly did you taper the risperdal?  When you cut it in half, then quarters - was that over a matter of days?  weeks?  What were the approximate dates of those cuts?

 

It also looks like your situation is complicated by reducing Abilify, also, within the past 3 months.  It's very important that drug changes happen SLOWLY, and one at a time, so that we can tell what is a drug reaction, and what is withdrawal, and what actions cause symptoms!

 

And when did your Gabapentin go up last?  

 

I'll be right back with estimated drug interactions.  Obviously, you are on way too much gabapentin, and I worry that you are at risk of severe toxicity.  Are you driving a car on this high dose?  Please be careful!  This is scary!

 

Welcome to SA - I hope we can get you stable enough to get these doses down safely, and carefully.  It is better to be careful because once you hit the bottom of the withdrawal cliff - well - it's easier to prevent Humpty Dumpty from falling, than it is to put him back together again.

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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  • Moderator Emeritus

here is my best guess at your drug interactions:

 

 

 

Interactions between your selected drugs
Moderate trazodone  aripiprazole

Applies to: trazodone, Abilify (aripiprazole)

Using traZODone together with ARIPiprazole may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with these medications. Also avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medications affect you. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Switch to professional interaction data

Moderate trazodone  risperidone

Applies to: trazodone, Risperdal (risperidone)

Using traZODone together with risperiDONE can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances (for example, magnesium or potassium loss due to severe or prolonged diarrhea or vomiting). Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may already be aware of the risks, but has determined that this is the best course of treatment for you and has taken appropriate precautions and is monitoring you closely for any potential complications. You should seek immediate medical attention if you develop sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations during treatment with these medications, whether together or alone. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Switch to professional interaction data

Moderate trazodone  gabapentin

Applies to: trazodone, gabapentin

Using traZODone together with gabapentin may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with these medications. Also avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medications affect you. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Switch to professional interaction data

Moderate risperidone  gabapentin

Applies to: Risperdal (risperidone), gabapentin

Using risperiDONE together with gabapentin may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with these medications. Also avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medications affect you. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Switch to professional interaction data

Moderate risperidone  aripiprazole

Applies to: Risperdal (risperidone), Abilify (aripiprazole)

Using risperiDONE together with ARIPiprazole may increase side effects such as drowsiness, blurred vision, dry mouth, heat intolerance, flushing, decreased sweating, difficulty urinating, abdominal cramping, constipation, irregular heartbeat, confusion, and memory problems. Side effects may be more likely to occur in the elderly or those with a debilitating condition. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with these medications. Also avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medications affect you. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Switch to professional interaction data

Moderate gabapentin  aripiprazole

Applies to: gabapentin, Abilify (aripiprazole)

Using gabapentin together with ARIPiprazole may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with these medications. Also avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medications affect you. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Switch to professional interaction data

 

I have difficulty believing that a doctor would give you that much gabapentin. Are you going to multiple doctors to get it? 

 

Please let us know what you have decided to do, based on what you have learned here.

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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  • Administrator

As JanCarol said, what are you trying to accomplish by taking the gabapentin?

 

Your drug cocktail is complicated and dangerous enough before adding a fifth drug.

 

Please stop tapering anything. Keep daily notes on paper about your symptoms, when you take your drugs, and their dosages.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Thanks for the useful advice. No, I wasn't trying to get high with Gabapentin. Is that even possible? Just feeling normal isn't high for me. For me, it was always a matter of replacing a very bad feeling (anxiety so bad all I wanted to do was shut my eyes and lie down) with another bad, but not nearly as bad feeling (the heavy sort of buzzy dumb feeling of GBP).

 

I'm sorry if my previous history was unclear, but I was prescribed up to 12 x 300 mg GBP. That was more than enough at first, but the tolerance of GBP eventually led me to alternate a few days taking leas than 12 and enduring the anxiety even if it meant leaving work early and then getting in one good day. This was really all right until pretty recently.

 

Last January, something terrible happened to my son, the worst thing in my life (OK, he had a psychotic break and we still don't know, but it my be schizophrenia) and I could no longer get by with 12 x 300 GBP wasn't enough and I started ordering GBP over the internet. I know I have built up to a ridiculous dose, but now  I go into withdrawals between doses. I can sort of maintain at 24 to 32 x 300 mg GBP, although I have taken as little as 12 or 26 if I am willing to endure it and take 600 mg every couple of hours.  My 1st post was on an especially bad day, when I felt really desperate. I don't take that much usually

 

To complicate things, I was tapering pretty good I think. The GBP helped.  I explained it above. I tapered Risperdol down to at least 1/2 and maybe 1/4 mg of RSP over 4 months or so. Then I started tapering the Abilify too and got into trouble. I resumed taking 2 mg.

 

After thinking I had the worst flu I had ever had, I realized, I think, that I wasn't ready to  go from 1/4 to 1/8 mg RSP. 

 

Now, the GBP is the problem and I have stopped trying to reduce the RSP below 1/4 mg

 

Now

Prozac 120 mg? - 1987-2006

Cymbalta 90 mg - since 2006

Abilify 2 mg - since appr. Dec 2015

Wellbutrin 300 mg - since appr 2001 

Risperdal 1 mg - since appr. 2010

Trazadone 100 mg - since appr. 2010

Gabapentin 900 mg - off and on 2012-June, 2015; 3600 mg June, 2015-March, 2016; 7,200 mg to 10,800 since March 2016 

 

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