1800 mg of gabapentin a day
That isn't so bad. My opinion, anyway. Could be a lot higher. This is a relatively easy substance to taper in my experience. If I were to taper I would drop 300mg and wait a few days to see how it affects. If all goog or bearable, stay at the 1500mg for a couple weeks. Drop anther 300mg and repeat.
Phenibut does have several "kinds" but I believe the effects are basically the same. Time to "come up" would depend on the type of phenibut. I use the hcl and it works. I am at 1g every two to three days but my normal "work/social" dose is 1.5g. Some take more some less. Some are sensitive to it's effects and some are not.
The effects of phenibut will vary from any/everyones perspective but it makes me feel like there really doesnt exist a problem that is actually a problem. In other words; there is no problems.
The time it takes for phenibut hcl to "hit" will vary from person to person as well. First coupla years it used to click like clockwork for me at exactly five hours after dosing. It has change to 9-10hrs now for the last 9 or so months. Some say 30 minutes to a few hours. Some say never. lol For real, though.
Welcome to BL.
Hope to see this thread ending in you reaching the goal of getting off.
I would not recommend phenibut as a replacement for gabapentin as one would have to dose a lot (IMO) and this would cause even more liver damage. Just not worth it. Phenibut every third day at low dose may be safish but if the liver is already "hurt" please just follow through on your own thoughts and words of tapering off of the gabapentin and walking away from them and other potentially live/kidney damaging substances.
I would also (if an option and a gabapentinoid is necessary) suggest pregabalin as it is adsorbed almost completely as opposed to gabap only ~30% average absorption. Much more effective/efficient with very little need for maintenance (I am down to 100mg a day but Rxed more)... I still feel it. Used to be Rxed 1800mg gabapentin day after I stopped opiates. Too fuckin much load on the body with minimal return, ya know?
Do a slow taper your liver will thank you for it my body/mind did.
Best,
J