How long does it take to get addicted to Neurontin?

[Ryan Lewis]

Hello everyone. I am terrified of the posts of addiction and withdrawal from Neurontin. I am a recovering opiate addict who is just now getting clean. I am now 21 days clean from Opiates. On day 4 of my withdrawals I was feeling suicidal and someone in NA reccomended Neurontin for the anxiety, I later found out my aunt had some from a while back that she said I could use for my withdrawals.

I now found out that this is addicting and it scares me as I do not want to have to face addiction once more. I have only been taking 1200mg once a day for about 2 1/2 weeks, and I don't feel addicted, but I just want to make sure it's safe to just quit this early into using it, and if I will experience any withdrawals.

[Thom]

I have been taking Neurontin for 4 years now for MS. I have gone without for awhile and found that I do not experience withdrawls.

Good luck.

[Leech McBuggnuts]

Man, If you can stop, by all means do so. I got off
opiates after 2yrs on following a car accident easier. I've even had an easier time getting off methadone than this crap. The problem is that it
doesn't involve the parts of the brain usually associated with addiction, but the withdrrawal syptoms resemble the tail end of a meth binge.

Your biology may differ, but if you can stop, do so
asap.

[Nancy]

You are oh so right... I AM IN HELL WITH THIS STUFF. I have anxiety so bad when I dont take this. I dont know what to do???

Leech McBuggnuts wrote:

Man, If you can stop, by all means do so. I got off
opiates after 2yrs on following a car accident easier. I've even had an easier time getting off methadone than this crap. The problem is that it
doesn't involve the parts of the brain usually associated with addiction, but the withdrrawal syptoms resemble the tail end of a meth binge.
Your biology may differ, but if you can stop, do so
asap.

[Linda]

Okay...after having "sleep-problems" for years, I was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. My doctor tried me on an SSRI for sleep, I was suicidal within 4 days. I got off of it immediately...Doctor said NEVER take another SSRI. Then puts me on Depakote...for sleep. One 250mg. tab. and I felt like I would have a panic attack. Never took another one. Finally told my doctor I was not taking any Depakote...was then prescribed Neurontin...100mg. "One cap. twice a day and 3 at bedtime" No Way!!!! I've read so much here that I am hesitant even take the 100mg. at bedtime that I have considered taking.
Thanks........

[Bill]

Linda wrote:

Okay...after having "sleep-problems" for years, I was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. My doctor tried me on an SSRI for sleep, I was suicidal within 4 days. I got off of it immediately...Doctor said NEVER take another SSRI. Then puts me on Depakote...for sleep. One 250mg. tab. and I felt like I would have a panic attack. Never took another one. Finally told my doctor I was not taking any Depakote...was then prescribed Neurontin...100mg. "One cap. twice a day and 3 at bedtime" No Way!!!! I've read so much here that I am hesitant even take the 100mg. at bedtime that I have considered taking.
Thanks........

I was on Neurontin for 7 years and developed fibromyalgia while on it and other meds, however the foundation for developing it goes back a long ways I believe for me and maybe for a lot of fibro patients. I admire your stubborness to fight your fibro without meds, that is what i am doing it. I have been off Neurontin now for going on 12 weeks. My sleep is still not that great, but I don't believe that being on neurontin would significantly improve my fibro and all its symptoms including insomnia at this time. Fibro is a tough one, but there are a lot of methods out there that are non-pharmaceutical that may help you. If you choose to take the neurontin- don't feel bad, but in the long run I don't think it would help my fibro and have suspiciouns that it was actually feeding it somehow. Please see the thread- "getting off neurontin" if you choose to- there is some support there that may help you.

[Karen]

Gabapentin (http://www.originaldrugs.com/medicine/neuront... ) is not associated with withdrawal symptoms like antidepressants do. It is structurally related to the neurotransmitter GABA.

However, it is recommended to taper off gradually, since abrupt discontinuation has been anecdotally associated with status epilepticus and development of a syndrome resembling alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal.

[jay]

my husband has been tsking garbapentin for about a year now. The problem is! He always runs out about a week 1\2 to soon. I thnik he does go through withdrawal every month. He seems to be sick. Sweating, clamy, shortness of breath, that fluttery heart thing and nausiated.I told him he needs to tell his doctor that he obviously needs a few more to get through the month. Anyway just wanted to hear about the withdrawal part thanks.

[Sue]

Hi, I'm new to this site. I found it when looking for info about withdrawl from getting off of neurontin. I was on it for about a year and a half. About 8 months ago, my throat swelled up and stayed that way. I went through several courses of antibiotics, prednisone, then had a tooth abscess. I was told it was allergies, sinus infections, then diagnosed with sleep apnea, and now have a cpap machine. Oh, then there's been the skin problems, hair falling out, memory loss including loss of words, and the night sweats. I recently found out that these are all side effects associated with neurontin. I was prescribed that hideous stuff while in patient in the hospital for exaserbated asthma. I was dealing with chronic pain from lumbar facet syndrome at the same time and was seen by a pain doc that spent less than 5 minutes with me, then prescribed it. I'm now dealing with the periodic stomach pain and insomnia but now have my mind and vocabulary back. I'm very angry that I was ever put on that garbage. I was on methadone at the time when the neurontin was added in. I went off of the methadone following having my nerves in the vertibra burned out to ease the pain. The methadone was much easier to handle as far as side effects and stopping as well. Personally, I feel that the benefits of neurontin don't come anywhere near the detremental effects of it's use.

[hello]

Ryan Lewis wrote:

Hello everyone. I am terrified of the posts of addiction and withdrawal from Neurontin. I am a recovering opiate addict who is just now getting clean. I am now 21 days clean from Opiates. On day 4 of my withdrawals I was feeling suicidal and someone in NA reccomended Neurontin for the anxiety, I later found out my aunt had some from a while back that she said I could use for my withdrawals.
I now found out that this is addicting and it scares me as I do not want to have to face addiction once more. I have only been taking 1200mg once a day for about 2 1/2 weeks, and I don't feel addicted, but I just want to make sure it's safe to just quit this early into using it, and if I will experience any withdrawals.

hello, DO NOT STOP TAKING NEURONTIN**********
GO TO THE DOCTOR FIRST,AND HE WILL HELP LOWER THE DOSAGE TO SAFELY GET YOU OFF OF IT. FATAL WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS IF YOU JUST STOP. i EXPERIENCED THEM NOT KNOWING TO LOWER MY SELF SAFELY OFF OF THESE. BE CAREFUL AND GOD WILL BE WITH YOU

[Jennifer]

May I ask what dose you are taking?

[Terri]

I just started Neurontin 5 days ago 100 mg. 3 times a day. I have had every side effect you can have; such as, nausea, joint aches, rash, depression, heavy headaches, dizziness, confusion. I was given this after spine surgery for sciatica nerve damage. Does anyone have any comments on this. I am stopping taking this today. I'm scared.

[lizzie]

what kind of fatal side affects?

[kellyp]

GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. I am a medical professional also recovering from alcohol addiction and was giving Neurontin for anxiety, well I found myself taking too much of this crap very quickly because I got such a happy feeling from it at first, I realized I was using it addictively, but none of my doctors would belive this because it is so supposedly not addicting. BULL!! I weaned off it very slowly over 6weeks and have been off for a month and still feel like hell. I am so anxious in the am I can hardly get out of bed, I was never that bad before Neurontin. I feel nauseous and jittery every am as well and I KNOW it is the neurontin because sometimes early on I would cave in and take just 300 mg and get immediate relief of the symptoms. I read one guys post on another site that he felft like hell for a year after quiting - God please don't let it be like that for me!!!!!! There is a ton of info on it being miserable to withdraw from all from users, the med field does not seem to be catching on at all!!!!

[Val]

I have been taking Neurontin for a couple of years or so. 2,400 to 3,000. I have not been able to wean off of it, even at a slow taper.
It's the worst drug I've ever taken in my life.
Any help on tapering?
Thanks,

[Bob]

Hands down the worst med I have ever come off of. Stopped right before new years and was in hell for 2 1/2 weeks. Took about 2 months before I was confident I could manage it. Still have horrible leg pain which developed while I was taking it. Fantasies of going postal at Pfizer helped get me thru it, as well as thinking up ways to hack off my legs to stop the pain.

[kellyp]

Val, I really had a terrible time too, but an say that now, 2 months totally off I feel sooooo much better. I found that I just had to be patient with myself and only reduced the dose by 300 every 3-4 days and then when I was finally down to only 300 a day it was really hard and sometimes after 2 or 3 days I would give in and take 300, but I kept getting more and more days without needing to do that and finally made it through. I seriously thought I never would, but just give yourself some time to do it slowly but consistently. Good luck!!!! kelly

[Sharon]

I hate this stuff. I have gained alot of weight and I try to ease my way off of it, but the anxiety is horrible. I have severe depression to begin with so I dont know if I will ever be free of it.

[kellyp]

Hang in there Sharon, I too have bad depression and getting off neurontin was really hard, but 3 months later I feel soooooo much better, back to normal with NO anxiety and I think my antidepressants are working normal again now that I am off the crap. It is worth it to get off of it. I was always nauseous, had headaches, was jittery and anxious. no more, so I know it gets better!!!

[Steph uk]

hi, came off gabapentin 2 weeks ago and the side effects are still with me. i came off over a 2 day period the sweats are not so bad now! but i cant concentrate,focus its just like a mental fog. also the diareah and feeling sick, only sleeping for about 3 hours at night. please can anyone give me some good advice how to cope ?