I am looking for some feedback about my gabapentin withdrawal and the possibility of switching to Phenibut for the remainder of the taper. I’ll try and explain my reasoning and hopefully some of you pharmacology wizzes can let me know if my logic makes any sense.
I also know baclofen is another option, but I am not as familiar with it. I’d be open to any info on that choice as well.
I was prescribed gabapentin 6 years ago and have been on it ever since. Like many others, it was portrayed to me as this benign harmless medication. Also, like others, I have come to find it is anything but. Gabepentin withdrawal is the worst withdrawal I have experienced, and that’s compared to the heroin and benzo withdrawals I had before I got sober. Even at a super slow taper it’s still difficult. It’s taken me 6 months to get from 1200mg to 600mg so I still have a long road ahead of me.
The reasons I have been considering switching to phenibut or baclofen for the rest of the taper are:
1. Gabapentin has a short half life and requires 3 or sometimes 4 daily doses. I get interdose withdrawals and even just missing a dose by an hour makes me feel like shit. My mood is up and down throughout the day which I also attribute to the gabapentin. Although phenibut seems to have an equally short half life, everything I read Says the effects last quite long. It seems people can get away with twice or sometimes even once daily Dosing. I would be so happy to be able to only dose twice a day.
2. Gabapentin has weird bioavailability issues that change based on dose and just seem unpredictable overall. I have no idea about phenibut bioavailability, but I was guessing it’s better or more consistent.
3. Gabapentin has taken a psychological toll on me. This whole experience has sucked and I have grown to despise the medication and the people who put me on it. This may be crazy, but I feel like it would be a mental relief to be off the gabapenin, even if I was just trading it for another dependence.
I feel like I had another reason but can’t think of it right now. Regardless, I am aware that all of these substances have very difficult withdrawals. I don’t have some delusion that I will somehow avoid them if I switch to something else. I just feel like there’s some pharmacological differences between them which may make the taper a bit easier or more manageable.
I’d love some feedback, and if my logic is flawed I’ll just stick to my gabapentin taper and do my best.
Thank you!
I also know baclofen is another option, but I am not as familiar with it. I’d be open to any info on that choice as well.
I was prescribed gabapentin 6 years ago and have been on it ever since. Like many others, it was portrayed to me as this benign harmless medication. Also, like others, I have come to find it is anything but. Gabepentin withdrawal is the worst withdrawal I have experienced, and that’s compared to the heroin and benzo withdrawals I had before I got sober. Even at a super slow taper it’s still difficult. It’s taken me 6 months to get from 1200mg to 600mg so I still have a long road ahead of me.
The reasons I have been considering switching to phenibut or baclofen for the rest of the taper are:
1. Gabapentin has a short half life and requires 3 or sometimes 4 daily doses. I get interdose withdrawals and even just missing a dose by an hour makes me feel like shit. My mood is up and down throughout the day which I also attribute to the gabapentin. Although phenibut seems to have an equally short half life, everything I read Says the effects last quite long. It seems people can get away with twice or sometimes even once daily Dosing. I would be so happy to be able to only dose twice a day.
2. Gabapentin has weird bioavailability issues that change based on dose and just seem unpredictable overall. I have no idea about phenibut bioavailability, but I was guessing it’s better or more consistent.
3. Gabapentin has taken a psychological toll on me. This whole experience has sucked and I have grown to despise the medication and the people who put me on it. This may be crazy, but I feel like it would be a mental relief to be off the gabapenin, even if I was just trading it for another dependence.
I feel like I had another reason but can’t think of it right now. Regardless, I am aware that all of these substances have very difficult withdrawals. I don’t have some delusion that I will somehow avoid them if I switch to something else. I just feel like there’s some pharmacological differences between them which may make the taper a bit easier or more manageable.
I’d love some feedback, and if my logic is flawed I’ll just stick to my gabapentin taper and do my best.
Thank you!