Hey all, not sure where to post this but I am a long-time user of Gabapentin. Just about 12 years and I am wanting to come off. I am down to 900 mg per day, to feel normal. My problems begin when I try to cut back from current amount. Biggest problem is the mental and the anxiety in the chest is just overwhelming. At times feels like a heart attack or stroke is about to occur. Hot flashes etc.. You all know the process. My question is, for the Anxiety part, is there anything that can help? I will have some klonopine in about a week or so, I will give that a try, but are there any otc tricks or tips that one can pursue? Nootropics, natural pharma, anything at all. Thank you and I truly hope you are all well. I feel what you have felt or are feeling now, believe me. Take care and I appreciate any help. If there is a thread specifically talking about Anxiety from Gabba please let me know. I have oxycondone and tried it for the anxiety but it did not help. Not sure which part of the nervous system the gabba hits, but it is clearly different than the oxy.
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NMI Moderators: Coffeeshroom
FNG here Anxiety Help
- Thread starter rock1970
- Start date
Are the pills or capsules?
At what mg are each per?
Either form can be opened (to lessen the contents) or cut (to lessen the amount) so that there is not as large a drop in dosing.
So if we are talking about capsules; open one and maybe dump out 1/4 of the content and see if this helps.
Welcome to bluelight and hope there is an answer for this "issue".
There is also a like gabapentinoid phenibut that has a longer half-life and similar action. It is legal as a "supplement" in many parts of the world and may help reduce the usage of gabapentin but careful not to take this substance more than once every third day or week as there could arise an addiction that can lead to some terrible withdrawals if stopped suddenly.
There must be other supplements or drugs that could aid in this taper of gabapentin and I know a few but would hate to see one jump from frying pan into the fire.
Welcome to bluelight if ya have any questions or further info please do not hesitate to ask, yes?
Wow fast reply! My god thank you. They are capsules, I did not know about the opening and dispensing less etc...Very good idea. I will look into the phenibut as well. It is that, this feeling of anxiety is different than the oxy anxiety. When I felt it coming on, I took two oxys and it did absolutely nothing to decrease my anxiety, so it seems that the gabba hits a different part of the nervous system? It feels like the part that a couple of beers could fix, but I do not want to make matters worse with simple trial and error. I truly appreciate your help!! I will keep reading and hopefully learning, but you have certainly started me in the right direction. I hope you are well!!Are the pills or capsules?
At what mg are each per?
Either form can be opened (to lessen the contents) or cut (to lessen the amount) so that there is not as large a drop in dosing.
So if we are talking about capsules; open one and maybe dump out 1/4 of the content and see if this helps.
Welcome to bluelight and hope there is an answer for this "issue".
There is also a like gabapentinoid phenibut that has a longer half-life and similar action. It is legal as a "supplement" in many parts of the world and may help reduce the usage of gabapentin but careful not to take this substance more than once every third day or week as there could arise an addiction that can lead to some terrible withdrawals if stopped suddenly.
There must be other supplements or drugs that could aid in this taper of gabapentin and I know a few but would hate to see one jump from frying pan into the fire.
Welcome to bluelight if ya have any questions or further info please do not hesitate to ask, yes?
Powerful story here. Real and familiar situation.
Gabapentin Horror - Mad In America
I was continually told my symptoms could not possibly be from gabapentin. I was diagnosed as severely depressed. I was told I was delusional.www.madinamerica.com
I read it and what stood out to me most is the dose and the addition of pregabalin (lyrica) to the mix. That made me wow.
That is almost 5g of gabapentin.
Seems like someone was used as a black psy/ops lab rat.
But seriously... that is way too high a dose for anyone to sustain for long.
Ya know what I find curious is that some never have withdrawals with gabapentin or lyrica. I do and they are terrible and dark; especially with pregabalin.
Keep us posted and hope the best for you.
By the way: Were you diagnosed and prescribed gabapentin for 12 years or just picked it up along the way?
Also (and I probably shouldnt have to bring it up); be super careful with any benzodiapines if thinking of using to get off gabapentin. Unless you have the strongest of will and self-control this would be the "fire" that one would be jumping into from the pan.
Here if needed.
Peace
No they are two different classes of drugs. Opioids hit on certain receptors and gabapetinoids work on calcium channels in a blocking mechanism.
Like ya can only drop benzos with benzos.
You can get through this.
I applaud the decision to keep alcohol out of the equation.
Thank you so very much, and I figured as much, as far as hitting different receptors. I am not well versed in the verbiage of it all, but I am learning and truly want to stop, my god. Having a taste of withdraw, and the escalation of anxiety, was too much. I truly felt like I was about to snap. I have no idea what my future looks like. I know so many have been here, are in the throes of it now, or are headed there, but man, I can tell it is going to be life altering. That is the scary part. Not knowing what I will do, or having doctors etc....no understanding, and frankly not caring, as I am just a statistic. I do not want to be simply that, and I was never like that before. In 2010, my 17 year old daughter died from ewings sarcoma. That was the beginning. I was prescribed effexor. My life then became a search for the magic pill. The pill that could solve everything. You know the tale. And here i sit, 12 years later... My story is unique to me, but the same in truth and outcomes. I was good until I turned 40, and right after my daughter passed. Seemingly I have sub consciously used her death I think, to justify my search? I do not know. A divorce followed, broken home, displaced kids splitting time with me and the ex. Everything I never wanted, nor believed in, was beginning to manifest. I just went along to get along, day by day, still I am doing this. I spend 90 percent of my day in my bathroom, on my laptop, listening to audiobooks and staring at the mirror. It is f*cking insane what I have become. I was the best damn dad, still do good there, I use to coach all of their teams, was a AVP of a large credit union, beautiful home in a gated community, BMW, Boat etc..."Living the dream" lol! All falls down. Starting with Efexxor. Truly, I know I am at the heart of the cause, but I also see some inconsistencies and ignorance by doctors for their role, in trivializing my situation and simply throwing more pills my way. Of course I am going to try them, I want relief, but had no idea about the dependency and withdraw. There needs to be a video each person prescribed meds must watch, that details true horror stories to scare people into thinking twice about simply resorting to trusting the dude with the degree on the wall. Homelessness etc...finds its roots in folks like many of us and our stories. Very tragic. Thank you for sharing, and I will certainly continue to reach out, even though I feel like I cant or that it is a waste of time, because it still does not solve the anxiety. At this point i just want it to stop. Any means necessary. Sad that I have simply become that person. Held prisoner by pills. Crazy at it is, it is true.I also take Paxil and Wellbutrin. Diagnosed with PTSD, Bi Polar and depression. I want to be rid of everything. Literally, all medications. I am sure that would result in death probably, so I will refrain from that. I am just frightened that I will not get the proper care at the clinic and will end up wore off.
I had a doctor in college who didn’t want to RX Valium and gave me a FUCK TON of Gabapentin. She told me to “Take as much as you need, but I won’t write for 5mg of Diazepam.” I took the script and never went back. Tried it out… Meh.
My situation is not new, but it is underrepresented in posts here, seems to me anyways, so I am searching and know I will find something. It helped me, it is simply the want to stop, that seems not to be helpful. Just like with other dependent drug scenarios, can't find much description of stories with tapering, that worked. Or they are limited. I'm just searching for something that gives me hope. I do not want to trade addictions, but it seems like that is possible,, when wanting relief. Thank you for sharing, I hope you are well.
* worse offMaybe not any help but may be.
I have been put on med-stacks (many different pills at once) for PTS, anxieties and other issues plus some of the meds were prescribed to combat the negative side effects of other meds.
I have had "colleagues" of mine on the same type of regimens and some have hurt themselves, their families, other random people or all of it. There are many who commit suicide on these drug cocktails every year and day after day these cocktails are still prescribed. I mean... if something doesnt work it doesnt work, right? If it causes destruction or the opposite of what is "expected" why continue the practice of causing harm rather than reducing it? This is obviously a rhetorical question but in my mind I feel it is a by product of greed.
I am not anywhere close to being a doctor of any kind but can share what I experience and offer what has helped or is helping me cope and sustain.
A support system and a well meaning psychologist that seems to know her shit and a willingness to be completely open and transparent to what we discuss and practice while "in session".
Bluelight (this place) has definitively been a major support column for me as an extended family that has been through it themselves and sharing their experiences and responding to mine in kind.
Although this is great I find that being face to face and getting real-time feedback from a psychologist who is specialized in trauma has been a great help and another column of support.
I have a friend (1 - the others have passed in one way or another) for decades that has been through and shares a lot of the same ideas and beliefs that I hold. Another column of support.
A couple of kitties that depend on me for their well-being/health and a SO who can drive me nuts sometimes (being honest here); but she has some mental issues and has been traumatized as well as having a learning disorder. Another pillar to keep me standing.
Maybe it is time to get away from the psychiatrist and replace the meds with a competent psychologist...? This is just what finally brought a genuine smile to my face after many decades of being "lost" and although there is plenty to work through she seems to have the tools to chip away at some past baggage (dead weight) to free me up to deal with current and future potential life issues.
Whatever the case... do not just quit taking your meds outright. This is seriously counter productive and may be the most destructive. I would suggest the tapering off of one medication at a time and however slow it may take... take that time. Talk to your current mental health provider and discuss this plan with them so that everyone is on the same page. If they (current mental health provider) is not profit driven I believe they will be open to a plan of getting off the medications by tapering off and employing the use of a competent psychologist that may be more helpful.
Stick around and please visit our lounge it has brought so many cheerful moments of genuine amusement and laughing out louds that I find it like that spoon full of sugar that helps the medicine go down all in one and helpful in my darkest hours. Laughter and levity are (in my opinion) a very big part of healing and getting through some rough times.
I do hope the best for you and only wish peace for us all.
plumbus-nine
Bluelighter
Kava is easy to find online, but it's expensive and has a (imo) horrible taste. I also didn't get too many effects from the amount I could bear to down but I'd imagine it'd be effective against anxiety. They should definitely make more extracts out of Kava.
Valerian root never really helped me, but maybe the products I've tried were weak. Had some derivate of valerian acid from a Russian online farmacy which was ineffective as well.
For me personally the most effective anxiolytics are low dosed dissociatives. Didn't just relive my general anxiety but also pushed me out of social anxiety and made me to chat up with random strangers in the metro etc. Interestingly the reactions were much more positive than I had ever thought (having the mindset of disturbing others, bad general assumption). Like 5-10mg of a methoxetamine analogue. Ketamine works for acute relief but is too short acting and too intoxicating for this sort of effect. I did use ketamine though but redosed every 2-3 hours, which can become stressful if you're outside. Helped me a great deal to stay with other people. Had negative effects as well but these were primarily due to me not respecting the power of the drugs.Thank you all so much for the information. Wow, I am floored by the time spent your reply's. Yes, the support group. That is a part I struggle with. I have my mom, son and cat. Son lives with his mom and I see him during the summer and all holidays. I am able to hide things from him. It is exhausting and just makes me feel more like crap, not to mention a hypocrite. My mom is old, she listens but she is powerless. Her listening is meaningful to me, plus, she is Mom. I take care of her so I have that to somewhat occupy me, but again, at times the mental part makes me exhausted. My cat is cool. Just really clingy. LOL! She just loves me, I get it but at times I have to ask her to leave the room due to constant meows. LOL! I feel broken. Broken chemically and emotionally. Uncertain of if I can be helped, or if the people around me for treatment will be capable of helping me and keeping me safe. I have heart disease and when my anxiety gets going, I truly feel like I am going to step over the internal fence and lose it. My anxiety feels like there is a fence inside my chest that acts as a barrier, so when I sigh, it does not go over the fence. Feels like all it will take is for someone to put a mento in a coke, and then boom, I will go off. I just do not know. I want to believe all will work out but I am afraid for my health, more ways than one. I could deal with the non anxious symptoms but the anxiety just destroys me. My mind just goes in every direction, out of control with depression, helplessness etc... You all know the score. I truly want to be free of all medications and my copenhagen habit. I want to be free to go anywhere in the world and just be. No worrying about meds etc...Just go and fish all day or sit by a lake in Mexico and get hookers and provide wisdom, in every way! Basic desires. Nothing fancy or outlandish. But the meds and their affects on me overall have ruined dreams and hopes. I am truly afraid of waking up everyday in withdraw and the constant symptoms. My god, it kills me for just a few minutes, but everyday for months or years? Paxil is no joke, as I have gleaned from research and I do not hear many success stories, most are horror stories, just like with the gabbpentin. I truly feel I will have a stroke or heart attack. It just sucks that we have no options to combat this except for will power and more meds. I feel like I may be here on earth to goes through this to teach others. I die, and become a talking point. I am more than just another number, at least I use to be. I need something natural that I can easily get, to rid me of the anxiety. I know it is impossible but damn, I wish we had a plant or liquid non addictive that would aid in getting rid of the anxiety I feel when the withdrawals begin. I here about all of these things but I do not have access to them, nor know how to connect to obtain them. Not knowing if it will work, wasting the money, falling into something more etc...I just want to avoid issues all together by resorting to something easily available to help the anxiety. I do not want to drink but I seems like it may help, but I read it wont. I hate drinking anyways but if it aids the axiety, I feel I may try it. I hope you are all way, sorry for my rambling and various redirections, but I just type what pops in my head. I appreciate all, seriously.
