billybatts: Help with Neurontin/gabapentin

[billybatts]

Hello all - I am 1 month post taper of Klonopin. Took over 4 months liquid titration. 

 

I was given the neurontin to take to assist with the withdrawal process. I take anywhere between 300-900 mg every other day to every third day over the past 3 month. However, I think I am having a bad reaction. I feel suicidal and cry all the time. Since I was not taking alot and was not taking it every day, can I just take a week of oif work and let it get out of my system? Considering it makes me have those horrible suicidal thoughts, I would prefer not to taper, but if you feel that is better let me know. I am so not ready to taper another med and deal with more withdrawls after the hell of the Klonopion, but I need to do what is safest and best for me. Im close to losing my job from suffering job performance due to the Klonopin taper/withdrawl and the fact I sleep once every three days. My brain is a mess. Please help me!

Edited March 31, 2017 by scallywag
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[billybatts]

Hello all - I am 1 month post taper of Klonopin. Took over 5 months liquid titration. 

 

I was given the neurontin to take to assist with the withdrawal process. I take anywhere between 300-900 mg every other day to every third day over the past 3 month. However, I think I am having a bad reaction. I feel suicidal and cry all the time. (This never happened while tapering the klonopin, so the only thing different is the addition of gabapentin) Since I was not taking a large dose, and was not taking it every day, can I just not take it any more?? My last dose was 300mg about 60 hrs ago. Considering it makes me have those horrible suicidal thoughts, I would prefer not to taper and be gone with this med asap. I do not like what this does to me mentally. If you feel that is better that I taper let me know, however the severity of the mental issues from this are overwhelming. I am so not ready to taper another med and deal with more withdrawals after the hell of the Klonopin, but I need to do what is safest and best for me. Im close to losing my job from suffering job performance due to the Klonopin taper/withdrawl and the fact I sleep once every three days. My brain is a mess.

 

Should I have already started feeling awful by now if C/T was going to be an issue? When will I know I should reinstate?

 

Please help me!

[scallywag]

billybatts -- Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants (SA)

 

Benzos are a beast in a class of their own. As far as I know, 4 months is a fast taper off Klonopin. The symptoms you are experiencing are likely withdrawal symptoms, not side effects of the Neurontin (gabapentin).  I'm sorry that you are having to deal with them.

 

Taking Neurontin inconsistently -- varying doses and skipping days -- is probably causing more problems. Medications that affect the CNS (central nervous system) such as psychiatric medications often have short half-lives and are best when the same dose is taken at the same time every day.

 

Please tell us more about your Klonopin taper:

• what was your dose before your first decrease?
• how often did you decrease and by how much?
• what was your last dose and when did you take it?
• when did you start Neurontin (gabapentin)?

A request: Would you summarize your history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly?

• Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years.
• Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago)
• Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016.
• Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses.
• A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs.
• You can find instructions in this topic: Please put your withdrawal history in signature
• If you are using a phone or mobile device, you need to switch to the "full" or desktop version of the site. Instructions are in Post 9 and Post 10

Once we learn more about your medication history, we'll be in a better position to point you to useful information. 

 

I hope you'll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation. I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but am glad that you found us.

[Shep]

Hi, billybatts.

 

As Scallywag stated, once we know more about your drug history, we can better assist.

 

I wanted to add some information about Klonopin and benzo withdrawal. Even though you are off it now, knowing symptoms that are common may place your mind at ease about what you are going through. 

 

 

The Ashton Manual - list of benzo withdrawal symptoms

 

Ashton and beyond in benzo tapering

 

Please let us know more, and we can better advise you. 

 

[billybatts]

Hi, billybatts.

 

As Scallywag stated, once we know more about your drug history, we can better assist.

 

I wanted to add some information about Klonopin and benzo withdrawal. Even though you are off it now, knowing symptoms that are common may place your mind at ease about what you are going through. 

 

 

The Ashton Manual - list of benzo withdrawal symptoms

 

Ashton and beyond in benzo tapering

 

Please let us know more, and we can better advise you. 

 

 

 

 

I am sorry! I thought I placed this in my signature!

 

Occasional Xanax - Jan 2012 to Sept 2016. 

Quit drinking August 2016 after 25 yrs

Sept 1,2016 Put on Klonopin 2.5 MG

Sept 20, 2016 - C/T Klonopin - Bad move! Had to reinstate after a little over a month. All the rescue doses were a sign this was a failure. 

Nov 2016 - Reinstate @ 1mg, liquid taper .008 daily liquid over 4 months. Hardly any symptoms during taper. Maybe 3-5 bad days

Feb 28th 2017 - Jump!

All hell breaks loose after jump. 

 

So I am about 1 month and 4 days post jump. I sleep once every 3-4 days. I know this is normal after just jumping from benzos and will eventually return. I was taking neurontin PRN during the taper and post jump, but i think my CNS sensitivity without the Klonopin is making interdose withdrawl of neurontin more prevelant. I tried to go a few days without taking any and it was absolutely awful. I think I may have even had a seizure. I dont remember what happened but I started shaking really strangely then blacked out. So I started the neurontin and now divided the doses among the entire day. I feel much better after 24 hrs. Almost normal. So that means it was the gabapentin. 

 

So how do I get off this crap? Im so disheartened that I now have another taper. I was told by my doctor I can just stop taking this junk. Oh well. In total I was really on it like 4 months, but was dosing every 3 days or so. So I didnt really take alot. I am reading some places say 10% a month and some people are sucessful much faster. What are your thoughts considering my short time on it? My CNS is still fragile from the K. Maybe stabalize for a week or 2 at 900 mg per day first?

[Petunia]

Hi billybatts,

I'm sorry you are finding yourself in this difficult situation, but glad you found us.

 

If I were you I would stay on your current, daily Neurontin dose for at least 2 weeks. If this is helping with symptoms and enabling you to keep your job. This this would be sensible, if keeping your job is important to you.

 

Only you can decide when you are stable enough to begin a new taper. But a good guide would be when you have had two weeks free from symptoms or with consistent but minor, tolerable symptoms. Personally,  would stay on it longer if its enabling you to continue to function. Wait until you are feeling good and stable again.

 

If the Neurontin is masking residual benzo withdrawal, then its going to return when you stop taking it. So you will want to start very slowly to see how it will effect you.

 

Here is the relevant topic:  Tips for tapering off Neurontin (gabapentin)

 

Read through the thread, there are comments from someone who was also given neurontin for benzo withdrawal, and was about to start a taper.

 

I'm sorry you were misinformed by your doctor, unfortunately, most of them don't yet know the truth about the long term effects of these drugs, withdrawal problems, or how to help their patients come off them safely.

[billybatts]

The problem is since staring the gaba, it appears to not be agreeing with me. I feel very out if body, dizzy, memory issues, depressed, emotional, and a strange urge to not live any more. I was never like this. Can I do an accelerated taper you think? Over 1 month with a liquid daily taper? I'm between a rock and a hard place and it is awful. I'm so broken.

[Petunia]

Hi billybatts,

I'm a bit confused. In one post it sounds like the neurontin was helping, when you started taking it in regular doses...
 

. I tried to go a few days without taking any and it was absolutely awful. I think I may have even had a seizure. I dont remember what happened but I started shaking really strangely then blacked out. So I started the neurontin and now divided the doses among the entire day. I feel much better after 24 hrs. Almost normal.

 
 but here you wrote that it's causing new symptoms...

The problem is since staring the gaba, it appears to not be agreeing with me. I feel very out if body, dizzy, memory issues, depressed, emotional, and a strange urge to not live any more. I was never like this.

In the first post on this thread you wrote "Im close to losing my job from suffering job performance due to the Klonopin taper/withdrawl and the fact I sleep once every three days. My brain is a mess."

 

I'm trying to ascertain if these symptoms could possibly be related to klonopin withdrawal rather than being caused by the neurontin.

 

When exactly did these symptoms start? Are they getting better, worse, or staying about the same?

 

If the start of these symptoms coincided with your jump from klonopin, then they are more likely to be caused by benzo withdrawal. If this is the case, then a fast taper off neurontin now could possibly make you feel even worse.

 

But if you are sure that what you are experiencing now is an adverse reaction to to neurontin, a fast taper off might help, but I don't know.

 

Perhaps you could post your story and current symptoms in our Members-only benzo forum

where members with more experience of benzo withdrawal might be able to help.

[Sk8N883]

Sounds a lot like me. Thought gabapentin was helping after a benzo and suboxone withdrawal but now I'm figuring out it can have similar withdrawals to benzodiazepines. I'm guessing more likely if your nervous system has already been compromised by benzos. Feels like I'm starting over.

[chrona]

gabapentin is a nightmare.   it definitely causes extreme psychological disturbance.  knowing this,  one can at least not believe your thoughts and feelings when they are happening.   my depression and suicidal feelings usually happen most intensely on waking.  the sooner I can get up and moving the better.   I try to avoid stressful people, conversation, news, and noisy places.  sometimes the only thing that helps is putting earphones on and watching an intense movie.  ' homeland' was a life saver.   

I have no answers for you,  I have not been able to get off gabapentin and sometimes think it will be a lifetime thing.  LDN seems to help to help me and i am hoping it will help me all the way off.     there is a good supportive Facebook group.   also CBD oil helps people but I am allergic to it.  check the fb group.

[AwareButStruggling]

Taking Neurontin inconsistently -- varying doses and skipping days -- is probably causing more problems. Medications that affect the CNS (central nervous system) such as psychiatric medications often have short half-lives and are best when the same dose is taken at the same time every day.

 

I would concur with that. Gabapentin is a little different. It is not a benzodiazepine, and it doesn't bind to the receptors that bzd's do, but it is shorter acting than klonopin is (unless you are a rapid metabolizer of Klonopin). I take Gabapentin twice a day (2x300mg), and I feel each dose wearing off after several hours. I do believe it has interdose withdrawals just like the short-acting bzd's like Ativan or Xanax. You might have a dependency on it at this point, so, that may be another reason not to skip days. I've never taken Klonopin, but I assume it's easier to skip days with it because of its intermediate half-life.....

Gabapentin most likely wears off faster than Klonopin. Personally, taking a small dose (100mg) once in a blue moon may not be so bad, but I think it's a whole different ballgame with doses of 300mg and up. I think in those cases, it's much better to take the Gabapentin on a regular basis and find the dose that is not too high, where you feel horrific when you don't take it, but also not too low where you feel horrific in spite of taking it. It's not a "nice" psych drug by any means, but I personally think if that's something that can help you keep off Klonopin (if that is your goal), it may be somewhat helpful. 2.5mg of Klonopin is about 50mg of Valium, by the way, so you may still be dealing with residual symptoms of a Klonopin cold turkey and then the following taper.

 

This is just my purely personal view, but if you need a Glutamate suppressing agent, Gabapentin may be a better choice than Seroquel or Lamictal or Risperdal. Again, just my personal view.

[billybatts]

I am in desperate need of advice. I am 4.5 months from klonopin detox and 1 year out from alchohol.  I was perscribed klonopin to get off Xanax and alchohol. It was hell with a few failures, but this is the longest I have made it. I made it through the worst and only suffer from lack of sleep as last remaining withdrawl symptom. Will never take that junk again or any benzo. I am sensitized to them and tolorant.

 

While I was in rehab for klonopin I was given 15mg if remeron for sleep. Insomnia has been the worst side effect for me in this journey. It is total 100% sleeplessness. I sleep once or twice a week. Maybe 6 hrs total. The Remeron Didn't help much but i stayed on it for 3 months because i was in acute and didnt want to rock the boat relative to my klonopin recovery . I started tapering off because I didn't find it too effective for sleep.

 

The last month I was down to 7.5mg and I just jumped 3 days ago. I was also put on 10mg of zyprexa to help sleep 30 days ago which works 60% of the time.i have only been on zyprexa for a month. I would like to get off the zyprexa now before I dig too deep of another hole I need to crawl out of. I heard and read nightmare stories about getting off of this drug so you can see why i dont want to be on it. So here I am at a crossroad. Not sure what , if any, withdrawal lie ahead of me since jumping off of remeron. I got off of it no problem several years ago without much issue, so I hope the same holds true now. I'm bracing for hell.

 

Also, do you recommend I jump off the zyprexa now also before I get deep in that hole also? Should I stay on the zyprexa a bit more to mitigate the possible remeron withdrawal? What would you do in my situation?

 

My goal is to find natural sleep, drug free and need advice. I am a father, husband and bread winner of the family. I need to work. I cant losr my job.This is going to be brutal but I'm not sure what to do. What would you do in my situation?

 

Drug history

Xanax use from 2014-2016. 

quit alchohol August 2016
Insomnia started, placed on 2.5mg Klonopin Sept 2016
Attempt 1 - Oct 2016 - CT, reinstated Klonopin
Attempt 2 - Taper from 1mg 11/16-2/17. Failed , reinstated klonopin
Attempt 3 -  April '17 - Detox in rehab. 

May 2017 - placed on 15mg remeron for sleep. Last dose of remeron September 10th.

August 21st, placed on zyprexa for sleep.
 

[DMV64]

Hi billybatts,

I am pretty new here to offer suggestions but wanted to say hi and sorry you are suffering! There are a lot of knowledgeable people here and a lot of good reads!

-D