Gabapentinoids HELP Tapering Pregabalin/Gabapentin

[neonxy]

Hi all. I've discovered I have a pregabalin addiction. Happened entirely by accident, I didn't know that stopping pregabalin 300mg-900mg/day cold turkey after 5 weeks would cause withdrawals. Stupid me.

Main withdrawal symptoms are insomnia and *sweating*. Like, sweating ALL THE TIME. It's worst at night. I am autistic and the sensory nightmare of sweating all the time causes me insane amounts of anxiety. Through the roof.

So I'm going to do a taper. I have enough gabapentin to do 800mg/day, dropping 100mg/week, over 8 weeks.

Is this a reasonable and appropriate taper? Or is it too fast? I could do it over 16 weeks instead, but I want this over and done with.

PLEASE HELP. I have no other supports.

 

[Dextro .45]

Clonidine 0.1mg tables. Any walkin clinic will prescribe, as it's not a controlled substance. Also maybe they'll give you Gabapentin 100mg or 300mg capsules?

Your doc should give you a repeat to gradually reduce dose over the last month

 

[neonxy]

Clonidine 0.1mg tables. Any walkin clinic will prescribe, as it's not a controlled substance. Also maybe they'll give you Gabapentin 100mg or 300mg capsules?

Your doc should give you a repeat to gradually reduce dose over the last month

How does clonidine help?

I have plenty of gabapentin to do my taper. Is an 8 week taper (reducing by 100mg per week) reasonable?

 

[Dextro .45]

Yes, reduce weekly, daily…speak to your doc.

100mg X 3 daily is relatively low also….which is good….then morning and bed, then take half a 100 morning and night, etc….probably going to experience some discomfort either way….then bite the billet and have 3-7 days of nothing and you’ll feel normal again. Slowly.

You can taper in a month…..

 

[neonxy]

then bite the billet and have 3-7 days of nothing and you’ll feel normal again. Slowly.

You can taper in a month…..

Will I feel bad during that first week with nothing? I just can't go back to sweating 24/7 I'll drive into a truck I swear

Asking my Dr today for clonidine, but after some reading I'm concerned that I could become addicted to clonidine???

 

[Cbk1013]

way over thinking all this...flush all meds..u will be fine walking off now...the amount and time are lol...and worrying about a clonidine addiction come on...not gonna happen

 

[negrogesic]

Frankly, an 8 week taper of gabapentin for a 5 week run of pregabalin will likely put you into a deeper gabapentinoid hole than you're in now. Time of exposure has an arguably more profound effect dysregulating homeostasis (glutaminergic/ion channel balance) than dose. So if you feel like a taper is absolutely necessary I'd do a 10 day taper, starting at 800mg gabapentin and dropping 100mg a day, with day 9 and 10 being 50mg and 25mg.

1g agmatine sulfate and 500mg black seed oil as needed (get the capsule version) will be helpful managing the symptoms as well. You can get them both on amazon, or etc. Agmatine can help reduce sweating, as well as diphenhydramine.

But an 8 week gabapentin taper for a 5 week pregabalin run is a really bad idea.

 

[neonxy]

But an 8 week gabapentin taper for a 5 week pregabalin run is a really bad idea.

I've used gaba on and off for nearly 2 years now, it's just that the past 5 weeks was every day. I simply cannot cope with ANY sweating at all, so I suggested an 8 week taper to completely eliminate any chance of that happening. Do you still think 8 weeks is too much? I have some clodidine now but I'm not sure how to use it.

 

[neonxy]

way over thinking all this...flush all meds..u will be fine walking off now...the amount and time are lol...and worrying about a clonidine addiction come on...not gonna happen

I am an idiot when it comes to drugs, if I can abuse them I probably will. I do not want to abuse and then be addicted to clonidine as well.

 

[DrMike]

::EDITED::

 

[Señor Moreno]

Don't worry, OP, you won't get addicted to clonidine. All what you need to do is a slow discontinuation as clonidine is a bp medicine and an abrupt discontinuation could trigger a high bp peack by rebound. Clonidine isn't 'fun", abusable or whatsoever and doctors aren't unconfortable nor afraid of prescribing it
Important not to overdo it, not more than 0,3 mg/ 24 hours or so ( 0,1mg each 8 hours, that is)

 

[DrMike]

Senor Moreno is right about the clonidine. I'm using Inderal (propanolol) for the same purpose and it seems to work very well. I would prefer the clonidine bc I don't really like beta-blockers... The clonidine will help a lot, especially with heart palpitations and anxiety.

 

[DrMike]

Hi all. I've discovered I have a pregabalin addiction. Happened entirely by accident, I didn't know that stopping pregabalin 300mg-900mg/day cold turkey after 5 weeks would cause withdrawals. Stupid me.

Main withdrawal symptoms are insomnia and *sweating*. Like, sweating ALL THE TIME. It's worst at night. I am autistic and the sensory nightmare of sweating all the time causes me insane amounts of anxiety. Through the roof.

So I'm going to do a taper. I have enough gabapentin to do 800mg/day, dropping 100mg/week, over 8 weeks.

Is this a reasonable and appropriate taper? Or is it too fast? I could do it over 16 weeks instead, but I want this over and done with.

PLEASE HELP. I have no other supports.

How long have you been taking the neurontin for? I've heard that rapid discontinuation of neurontin can cause a similar withdrawal syndrome as lyrica. Maybe somebody else with more experience will chime in here... I was prescribed 900mg 3x/day at one point, and I was able to reduce to 300mg 3x/day without any discomfort. So at least it seems like neurontin is more forgiving when it comes to discontinuation.

 

[neonxy]

How long have you been taking the neurontin for? I've heard that rapid discontinuation of neurontin can cause a similar withdrawal syndrome as lyrica. Maybe somebody else with more experience will chime in here... I was prescribed 900mg 3x/day at one point, and I was able to reduce to 300mg 3x/day without any discomfort. So at least it seems like neurontin is more forgiving when it comes to discontinuation.

Funny you should ask, but now I'm in am even bigger pregab mess. I'm taking 2-3 grams per day. I've totally screwed up. Not sure what to do at this point, I've got no supports.

 

[neonxy]

wow. How long have you been taking this much for? do you get it prescribed or what? that's a lot of pregabalin... I've never taken over a couple hundred mg in a day, and that got me buzzed like I was on some old-school heroin (when it was actually heroin, not the fent crap that's going around now). At this point I only take 50mg per day in the mornings. it takes about 1-1.5 hrs for me to feel "normal" again, but before that I feel like I'm in withdrawal from opioids. Too bad I'm going to have to try and quit this stuff when my script runs out. I've only got about 25 50mg caps left, so that day will come soon. However, I do have a crapload of neurontin to replace it with... I've also got benzos in high supply so hopefully those 2 things will help. Do you swallow the capsules or what? I know some people like to insufflate this crap as well. I'll be prayin' for your soul. For real. This stuff is no joke... and it's too bad bc it takes away all my pain, and really helps with anxiety and social awkwardness. (for me anyways) When I was first prescribed it, I got so high off of about 300mg that I couldn't do anything besides sit there and nod out very nicely.

Yeah definitely not prescribed at those doses, so use your imagination regarding how I get hold of it. Anyway I've contacted the local drug service and am getting their help. The worst part is that now I have to do a very LONG tapering which I hate, I just want to be free of this monkey NOW.

 

[neonxy]

Nah just a drop in drug and alcohol clic. They've prescribed 900mg daily so I can start my taper there, but it's going to take a loooooong time. This stuff is insidious. I got hooked on it initially when it was prescribed for my cat (who died).

 

[neonxy]

They prescribed it for your cat? That reminds me of the time they prescribed liquid buprenorphine for my cat. Heh. How long have you been using this crap? I'm no stranger to withdrawals, but I've been waking up in the middle of the night kicking my legs like I'm in withdrawal from heroin or oxy.. and this is from only taking less than 50 GD mgs! Ever try neurontin for the rebound? I think it may be my only hope, besides cold turkey (which I'd really rather not do, but like you said, I want this monkey off my back NOW!)

Gabapentin 100mg tabs were prescribed for pain for my cat. I only gave it to him once, both he and I hated the way he reacted to it (like he was drunk). Some time after he died I found the leftover pills and addict me looked them up and found they had recreational value. My cat had just died and I was looking for any way to stop hurting, so I took them all (9 x 100mg I think). I felt so great and floaty for most of the day. So then I forgot all about them for ages, until I found a site that let me buy high quantities of gaba. Did that for a while, although I was never able to get that same feeling again. THEN I found out about pregabalin from a friend, and started on that instead, finding a site and ordering large quantities. I just kept upping the dose because I was forever chasing that first time, but never got there. So when I ran out I didn't think anymore of it, until a few days later when the withdrawals hit. Omg, the SWEATING NON STOP 24/7 for 4 days and inability to sleep had me about to drive into a truck (I get it now why sleep deprivation is a torture method), and it just did not stop until a concerned relative gave me a couple of benzos. Within an hour the sweating stopped and I was finally able to sleep. But I was terrified of this happening again, so I got more pregab. Again, the doses just went up and up, until a different relative basically cut me off for being a drug addict. Rock bottom, I went to drug and alcohol clinic, who are now helping me, it's been a week and so far so good. I just wish I wasn't a stupid addict.

 

[BadassMoFo]

Hang in there neonky! You can do it! Addicts aren't stupid!

If you feel like using, just remember those sleepless nights sweating and how you don't want to experience that again! It sounds like you're in the right place with people that will help and support you. Thanks for sharing your experience because I just started using it and am now going to taper off it before any dependence happens.

I wish you the best in your recovery!

 

[BadassMoFo]

I recently had surgery for a torn UCL in my thumb and in an effort to get off the pain meds, I've been using it to sleep. It has very long lasting effects for me, enough to sleep two nights if I take late the first night. I've taken in less than 10 days but the effects are less every time so I went from 300, then 600, 900, 1200, and 1500 this last time but recently I have been experienceing the sweats that others have discribed on the days I'm not taking it. I don't have any Gabapentin but plan to taper of the Pregabalin now that I've read the rest of this thread. Sweats and sleepless nights are the worst!

 

[soulwentmia]

Gabapentin 100mg tabs were prescribed for pain for my cat. I only gave it to him once, both he and I hated the way he reacted to it (like he was drunk). Some time after he died I found the leftover pills and addict me looked them up and found they had recreational value. My cat had just died and I was looking for any way to stop hurting, so I took them all (9 x 100mg I think). I felt so great and floaty for most of the day. So then I forgot all about them for ages, until I found a site that let me buy high quantities of gaba. Did that for a while, although I was never able to get that same feeling again. THEN I found out about pregabalin from a friend, and started on that instead, finding a site and ordering large quantities. I just kept upping the dose because I was forever chasing that first time, but never got there. So when I ran out I didn't think anymore of it, until a few days later when the withdrawals hit. Omg, the SWEATING NON STOP 24/7 for 4 days and inability to sleep had me about to drive into a truck (I get it now why sleep deprivation is a torture method), and it just did not stop until a concerned relative gave me a couple of benzos. Within an hour the sweating stopped and I was finally able to sleep. But I was terrified of this happening again, so I got more pregab. Again, the doses just went up and up, until a different relative basically cut me off for being a drug addict. Rock bottom, I went to drug and alcohol clinic, who are now helping me, it's been a week and so far so good. I just wish I wasn't a stupid addict.

how are you these days? still on pregab? switched to gaba? please be alive