Gabapentinoids My Gaba drug nightmare.

[Gearhead19]

I just read a thread that prompted me to write this I've been diagnosed with ADHD, PTSD, anxiety disorder and bi polar that lacks manic symptoms. I've been on several different meds too many antidepressants to name, antipsychotics, many different benzos(at my highest 9 mg of alprazolam a day) beta blockers ect.

I abused every drug under the sun, most predominantly heroin and benzos. I've been sober from heroin and all opiates going on for years now. After several attempts over the years I finally accepted the fact that benzos are not a viable treatment option for me. I've wanted to stay sober have a successful life, take care of my priorities and be self-sufficient for years now but I just couldn't get my habits under control. Until now I thought I finally had got it but now my prescription meds have gotten the best of me yet again.

I've withdrawn off gabapentin and Lyrica way too many times to count. For me the withdrawals can be almost as bad as benzos and opiates. I experiance hot flashes, flu-like feelings, stomach pain, crippling anxiety and depression to name a few. I've been on and off gabapentin for years. I always feel unhappy, un motivated, full of anxiety, mood instability and lack of enjoyment from life when I'm not on it, the main thing however is that it is the only thing that actually eases my irritable bowel syndrome from constantly affecting my life.

I currently have a script for lyrica 300 mg a day for neuropathy and ibs and gabapenton 2000 mg per day for anxiety. When I'm on either gp or preg the ibs is undercontrol. The problem is I'm consistently running out. When I run out ive found that phenibut can serve as somewhat of a substitute. For instance, if I don't take my lyrica or gabapenton that day I need too take in upwards of 4g of phenubit too get any effect which is not ok and I realize this. Please understand I dont mix my meds with phenubut, (I'm getting too that point tho).. I just substitute the phenubit if I am out or running low on the other meds. I have a gaba drug tolorance and obviously addiction so I can say confidently I find both gabapenton and lyrica too be significantly stronger than phenubit in there dosing thresholds.

Phenibut has lost any recreational value. The only Value I truly get out of the phenibut is when I run out of my Lyrica or gaba (which unfortunately I tend to do) 1g doses about 4 hours apart 3x per day of phenibut seem to ease the withdrawals, but I just feel kind of depressed a little sick and unmotivated. I've tried mega dosing the phenubit just too feel good again and ended up taking a 4g dose than another 3g dose a few hours later. I did feel a little better but had that electric zappy feeling all day and that dosing is completely reckless but that's were I'm at with my tolorance.

It sucks I don't feel like I can do a thing without at least 300-400 mg of lyrica a day with about 2000 mg gabapenton... If I diddnt have days were I took massive doses I would be fine and not run out but I'm doing this over and over again. I'm doing my best too try too lower my dose when I do it causes major depression and I lose a whole day. When I try to wean multiple days I have a Damn near breakdown. I'm worried I stopped using H over 4 years ago, I don't drink I don't even smoke weed anymore but addiction has creeped back up on me again. I told my Dr about it because it's obviously causing my addiction too continue too build and I'm tired of it

. On a given day I could take 500 mg of lyrica along with 3600 mg of gaba and with tolorance becoming so high this has obviously gone far enough. Today I took about 3600 mg of gabapenton and I barely got any relief. I'm going too be tapering off the gabapenton under the supervision of my Dr. and will go from there. The phenubit is the only thing that relieves the w/d when I'm out of my meds but the thing about it is, every 4 hours I feel it wear off and and withdrawals start, I can either redose or just try too get too sleep and dose in the morning. If I wait I wake up with the most messed up stomach, cramps, terrible gas, diarrhea and irritability.

These drugs are no joke guys and too anyone who things frequent recreational gaba drug use is nothing it feels withdrawing from opiates mixed with benzos no joke. I'm wondering if the withdrawals are so bad for me because the fact that the Gaba drugs actually block nerve pain. My thought is that while I take these Gaba drugs they're blocking the pain associated with my IBS and therefore when I start withdrawing I have a flair up due too the fact that no longer controlling my symptoms? This has been a really big question of mine because I noticed that people do have stomach discomfort when it comes to withdrawals from these meds but not too the same extent.

I'd be curious if anyone has an input on this because it's why I'm thinking of staying at least on the Lyrica and trying to control the prescription better. I'm making an effort too get back in control, I know this isnt healthy and this is not anything close too sobriety, any input or thoughts would really be appriciated in how I should move forward.

Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE device

 

[Quere]

Yeah I've heard of lots of others having bad WD's but yours sounds particularly nasty. I took gabapentin at a similar dose to you for chronic (almost everyday) tensign headaches for 4 years and suprisingly and luckily I had no withdrawals. My tension headaches are back but I've gotten better at relieving them with active relaxation and meditation in the time since starting the gabapentin.

I stopped gabapentin because my teeth were having bits break off all the time (my dental hygiene was good at the time and I had been avoiding sugar successfully but I did also neglect my teeth and diet when I was actively abusing/addicted to drugs. So my not have been only the gabapentin in my case) and when I looked up gabapentin and tooth decay/loss I found an outrageous amount of people with previously good dental health/hygiene who after being on gabapentin for a while began rapidly suffering tooth decay or straight up tooth loss!!

So I found that very scary and decided to see if I could cope without it, and as I said I had no withdrawals but the frequency of my headaches increased again.

But with you it sound like you need these drugs to cope, are you sure coming off them is the best idea?

Edit: oh I see you want to at least stay on lyrica. I think it sounds like attempting to gain control of your use would be ideal. Do you have a family member Or significant other who can dole them out to you?

 

[Gearhead19]

My roommate could hold them if I asked, I know staying on one of these meds is necessary. I am like you said looking too gain back some control as these drugs have controled me for too long now. What I didn't add because I was waiting for a few responses was that yesterday I saw a new psych she was fantastic, started me on 20 mg ir adderall for adhd, 25 mg Lamictal for bipolar and she put me on Clonidine for anxiety along with helping to ease the Adderall Comedown. I realize the potential for adderal misuse but that is a medication I already know that I can control as it helps me too much to want to ruin the effects by abusing it.

 

[Gearhead19]

As for the adderall she gave me 20 mg or 1x daily, I think she wants me too get used too the med before moving too 2x daily dosing. I took 20 mg at 330 pm yesterday and didnt end up getting too sleep without 3 sleep aids and a lyrica and that wasn't untill 4 am. That means this med still had lingering effects 13 hours after the first dose. I'm glad she went w once per day. Ive been on and off adderall for years and every time I start it over it amazes me how strong it can be to a stimulant naive person. I'd like too get some input as too whether it would be a better idea to take 10mg in the morning followed by another 10mg 4-6 hours later or just stick too the 20 mg in the morning. The reason I ask is I'm working at 5 pm-10pm tonight unloading a truck.

 

[Gearhead19]

Yeah I've heard of lots of others having bad WD's but yours sounds particularly nasty. I took gabapentin at a similar dose to you for chronic (almost everyday) tensign headaches for 4 years and suprisingly and luckily I had no withdrawals. My tension headaches are back but I've gotten better at relieving them with active relaxation and meditation in the time since starting the gabapentin.

I stopped gabapentin because my teeth were having bits break off all the time (my dental hygiene was good at the time and I had been avoiding sugar successfully but I did also neglect my teeth and diet when I was actively abusing/addicted to drugs. So my not have been only the gabapentin in my case) and when I looked up gabapentin and tooth decay/loss I found an outrageous amount of people with previously good dental health/hygiene who after being on gabapentin for a while began rapidly suffering tooth decay or straight up tooth loss!!

So I found that very scary and decided to see if I could cope without it, and as I said I had no withdrawals but the frequency of my headaches increased again.

But with you it sound like you need these drugs to cope, are you sure coming off them is the best idea?

Edit: oh I see you want to at least stay on lyrica. I think it sounds like attempting to gain control of your use would be ideal. Do you have a family member Or significant other who can dole them out to you?

The teeth thing ive never really heard of to be honest but any medication that decreases your saliva production or makes your mouth dry can defanitly have those effects. You're not the first person I've heard who experienced minor withdrawals from Gabapentin but for some reason it's straight death for me I've had c-diff colitis and intestinal parasite that went unchecked for almost 6 months and to be honest the feeling is reminiscent to that. Do you think what it is is that these medications really really help for my IBS pain and during withdrawal I'm simply experiencing a bad flare up which would explain why its particularly bad for me?

 

[Gearhead19]

GABAerics do increase gaba, especially in mentioned quantities. Your withdrawals are harder because you had previous benzodiazepine (gaba) dependendence. Maybe you even have kindling effect.
Doses you are mentioning are not unheard-of but they are quite big given daily dosing. Pregabalin/gabapentin is serious stuff. Anything that can take away 80% of opioid withdrawal and is anti seizure medication must be some potent stuff. You have knowledge and experience so you know what you got yourself into. Given your health issues I applaud that you are not determined to gett off everything for the sake of being sober.
I do not have any additional advices. Just wanted to acknowledge your experience and wish you to regain that much needed stability. Excercise and eating healthy can help you. Healthy diet stabilizese yor mood as blood sugar is not going up and down like on a rollercoaster. Some excercise would give further benefit and if you would exert control in those 2 important aspects of yor life it may help you in regaing control in other things.
I hope you regain stability. I know how difficult things can get when GABA and glutamate are not as they should be. Start small and don't beat yourself if it takes time. You have beaten quite a devils before and you can do it once again!

Head up!

Soma

Thank you for your comment and I appreciate your kind words I do have a fair amount of knowledge which is why it's so frustrating that I let it creep up on me again. It's a been there done that kind of thing and I'm too old for this s*** I exercise regularly 5 or 6 days a week but make sure I get plenty of rest between. I'm hoping the fact that they started me on Lamictal which actually works similar to how gabapentin and Lyrica it effects the calcium volt channels and glutamate. I'm feeling pretty optimistic my psychiatrist actually really knows what she's doing, yesterday was at first appointment and she did a complete psych eval which lasted from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. she was very thorough.

 

[Xorkoth]

Wow, phenibut only holds the withdrawal off for 4 hours? Phenibut lasts for like 36 hours for me, it's like the methadone of gabapetinoids.

 

[Quere]

The teeth thing ive never really heard of to be honest but any medication that decreases your saliva production or makes your mouth dry can defanitly have those effects. You're not the first person I've heard who experienced minor withdrawals from Gabapentin but for some reason it's straight death for me I've had c-diff colitis and intestinal parasite that went unchecked for almost 6 months and to be honest the feeling is reminiscent to that. Do you think what it is is that these medications really really help for my IBS pain and during withdrawal I'm simply experiencing a bad flare up which would explain why its particularly bad for me?

I think it's probably flare ups as well as you being one of the unlucky ones who get severe WDs from gaba/lyrics

 

[Gearhead19]

How the saying goes? Life is not a straight line, it's a spiral. From what I can conclude it seems that you are spiraling upwards. Yes, you have the same kind of issues but the intensity is not as strong as it was. I am glad that you have found somebody competent who takes you seriously.

Just keep on doing what you have to and learn the lessons you haven't the first time. One day at a time. I see no reason why you wouldn't go through this with some painful battles but war that is won by you.

Take care, you know how to do this!

Soma

Thank you I really appreciate it.

 

[Gearhead19]

I think it's probably flare ups as well as you being one of the unlucky ones who get severe WDs from gaba/lyrics

Unlucky is my middle name my friend....
Actually it's Michael?
Lol things could be worse as some have pointed out and I'm glad these days I can see that. Thanks for the info guys!

 

[HoldBack]

I think it's probably flare ups as well as you being one of the unlucky ones who get severe WDs from gaba/lyrics

Withdrawal is infinitely more difficult when the drug being taken is actually medically beneficial. For instance, chronic pain patients have almost no success trying to get off their opis and typically will only stop when cut off by a doctor.

Those being treated with benzos for anxiety seem to be at the highest risk for protracted withdrawal.

Your reduction of doses produces both withdrawal and rebound effects. Stopping gabapentin definitely was not fun for me, but I had a relatively easy time doing so as there weren’t any rebound effects that made me go running back to the pill bottle.

 

[Gearhead19]

Ok so hears something new for the last week or so ive been dosing very conservatively like between 900-1200 mg gabapenton a day, so hears whats been happening. For the last 3 weeks ive been seeing a physical therapist for my shoulder I have what's called scapular winging, basicly if your back muscles are imbalanced that can causes your shoulder blade too rotate.. Ya ouch. So this bothers me but this past week its gotten so bad that ive had too take off work I have an MRI later today and am seeing a spine specialist because were thinking it's a nerve being pinched in my neck. I've been crippled with pain for over a week and I still took my conservative dose. Well tonight I had just had enough so I ate about 7 800s in the course of a few hours and guess what... I feel fine.. I mean its there I can still feel it but the excruciating pain has become a dull ache again. So hears my question does gabapenton and lyrica have a dose dependent effect on pain signaling? It's like ive lowered my pain threshold with my high doses now a conservative dose is causing my pain levels too skyrocket. I've heard of somthing similar with opiates so I'm thinking thats whats happening but I would like too hear some input on this. Ive been ready too go too the emergency room and not once did I think it could be the lack of nerve pain medication causing my nerve pain too flair... ive just never had this experience before and I'm hoping it's not the new norm, id like too continue too lower my doses but it seems I've hit a road block, any suggestions guys?