Gabapentin is a prescription medication that is used to treat seizures, nerve pain, and restless leg syndrome. It works by altering the way nerves send messages to the brain. While gabapentin can be very effective in treating these conditions, stopping it abruptly or “cold turkey” is not recommended. Here’s what you need to know about quitting gabapentin safely.
Why You Should Not Quit Gabapentin Cold Turkey
Quitting gabapentin cold turkey means stopping the medication all at once instead of gradually tapering off of it, This can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms,
Some key reasons not to quit gabapentin cold turkey include
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Gabapentin changes brain chemistry: Gabapentin alters the way the nerves send messages to the brain. Stopping it suddenly reverses this process too quickly, which can disrupt normal brain function.
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Risk of seizures: Gabapentin is commonly used to control seizures. Quitting it abruptly makes seizures much more likely to occur.
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Severe withdrawal symptoms: Going cold turkey can cause very uncomfortable and even dangerous withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, sweats, heart palpitations, and insomnia.
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Psychological effects: Sudden gabapentin withdrawal can include mood swings, depression, and suicidal thoughts. This can be very emotionally difficult.
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Relapse of pain or restless leg syndrome: For people taking gabapentin for nerve pain or restless leg syndrome, quitting cold turkey means the original symptoms may quickly return in full force.
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Not recommended by doctors: Medical providers do not recommend quitting gabapentin cold turkey because of the health risks involved.
While the prospect of getting off gabapentin may be appealing, doing it in an unsafe way can jeopardize your health. Work with your doctor on a gradual discontinuation plan instead.
Gabapentin Withdrawal Symptoms
Quitting gabapentin cold turkey can cause difficult withdrawal symptoms. The most common include:
- Anxiety
- Sweating
- Heart palpitations
- Insomnia
- Diarrhea
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tremors
- Hypersensitivity to touch and sound
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Brain fog
- Muscle pain and weakness
- Depression or suicidal thoughts
These symptoms may begin within 1-2 days after the last dose and can last for a week or longer depending on factors like:
- The gabapentin dose taken
- Length of time on the medication
- Rate of tapering
People who were on higher doses for long periods tend to have more severe and extended withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms that don’t go away may be a sign that you tapered too quickly.
Dangers of Gabapentin Withdrawal
While gabapentin withdrawal symptoms can be miserable, they can also be dangerous depending on your health history.
Potential risks include:
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Seizures – Gabapentin controls seizures, so suddenly stopping can make them occur again. This is especially dangerous for people already prone to seizures.
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Suicidal thoughts – Some people experience worsening depression and suicidal thoughts during gabapentin withdrawal. Extreme mood changes require urgent medical care.
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Pain and restless leg syndrome – For those taking gabapentin for nerve pain or restless leg, symptoms may severely worsen during withdrawal.
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Cardiac effects – Gabapentin withdrawal can cause heart palpitations and fast heart rate. These could trigger heart attack, stroke, or death in vulnerable people.
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Acute psychological disturbances – Confusion, delusions, panic attacks, and even psychosis have occurred during gabapentin withdrawal, especially among the elderly.
While not life threatening in most cases, withdrawing from gabapentin does require medical supervision and gradual tapering to minimize adverse effects. Quitting cold turkey should be avoided.
How to Safely Stop Taking Gabapentin
To safely discontinue gabapentin, work closely with your doctor on a tapering plan. This involves gradually decreasing your gabapentin dosage over time under medical supervision. Tapering prevents severe withdrawal symptoms and allows your body to adjust to functioning without the medication.
Here are some general guidelines for stopping gabapentin safely:
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Taper slowly – Reduce your gabapentin dose gradually over weeks or months. Quick tapers can cause increased withdrawal effects.
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10% reductions – Decrease your dosage by only about 10% of your current dose per week. Some doctors recommend going even slower at just 5%.
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Symptom monitoring – Watch closely for withdrawal symptoms as you taper. They may signal you’re reducing too rapidly.
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Pause if needed – If withdrawal effects become too severe, pause your taper for 1-2 weeks to stabilize before resuming at a slower rate.
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Add other medications if necessary – Your doctor may prescribe other drugs to manage withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, pain, or insomnia during the tapering process.
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Psychological support – Counseling can help with the emotional impact of withdrawal. Tell your doctor if you experience depression or mood instability.
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Reinstate if required – If withdrawal becomes intolerable, temporarily reinstate your previous gabapentin dose to alleviate symptoms, then resume tapering more slowly.
Patience and close work with your doctor gives you the best chance of successfully stopping gabapentin with minimal adverse effects. Expect the process to take 2 months or longer depending on your dosage and duration of use.
Getting Help for Gabapentin Withdrawal
Quitting gabapentin on your own is challenging and inadvisable. Work with a doctor to safely discontinue the medication. Other resources that can help include:
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Addiction specialists – Doctors specializing in addiction medicine can guide you through detox and withdrawal.
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Rehab centers – Inpatient rehab provides 24/7 medical monitoring, counseling, and group support during withdrawal.
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Peer support groups – Connecting with others who’ve gone through gabapentin withdrawal can provide mutual understanding and tips.
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Talk therapy – A therapist can help you manage psychological withdrawal symptoms and adjust to life without gabapentin.
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Stress management – Techniques like meditation, yoga, or journaling can help you cope with withdrawal discomforts.
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Healthy lifestyle – Good self-care, including proper sleep, nutrition, and exercise, supports the tapering process.
Don’t struggle with gabapentin withdrawal alone. Building a strong support team can make the process smoother and safer.
FAQs About Quitting Gabapentin
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about stopping gabapentin use:
How long does gabapentin withdrawal last?
- Gabapentin withdrawal can last 1 week or longer depending on your dosage, length of use, and rate of tapering. Symptoms may come and go in waves during the taper.
Is gabapentin withdrawal dangerous?
- It can be dangerous depending on your health history. Risks include seizures, cardiac effects, suicidal thoughts, and extreme psychological disturbances. Medical supervision is vital.
What helps with gabapentin withdrawal?
- Working closely with your doctor, tapering slowly, pausing/reinstating doses if needed, adding helper medications, and receiving counseling/peer support can all help ease withdrawal.
Can you cut gabapentin pills to taper?
- Yes, gabapentin tablets can be safely split to allow for small dose reductions during tapering. Capsules can be opened and mixed with water then portioned out.
How do you know if you are tapering gabapentin too quickly?
- If withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, headache, nausea, insomnia or mood swings start occurring and persisting, it likely means you are reducing dosage too rapidly.
Can I substitute other drugs like Lyrica during withdrawal?
- Your doctor may substitute drugs like pregabalin (Lyrica) with similar effects to smooth the transition, but this strategy still requires careful medical tapering.
The Bottom Line
Gabapentin is a very useful medication when taken as directed, but discontinuing it too abruptly can have serious consequences. Work with your prescribing doctor to gradually taper gabapentin dosage over a period of weeks or months to avoid severe withdrawal effects. With medical guidance and support, you can successfully quit taking gabapentin safely.
Gabapentin Detox & Tapering
Individuals should not stop taking gabapentin on their own. They should consult their medical provider before weaning off the drug. In general, the medical provider should slowly decrease the amount of gabapentin the person is taking over the course of more than a week.8
An individual struggling with misusing gabapentin may need addiction treatment. Treatment may involve addressing underlying issues and learning techniques to manage stress and to cope with potential triggers and drug cravings.
Risks of Using Gabapentin
Gabapentin is a strong medication that can have serious side effects. To be sure that the medication isn’t putting you at risk, it’s important that you check in with your doctor at regular visits to be sure that this medication is right for you. Gabapentin commonly lists a series of warnings, which include:
The risk of a serious allergic reaction that may involve multiple organs including your liver or kidneys. If you are experiencing more than one of any of the following symptoms, you should check with your doctor immediately: fever, rash, swollen or painful lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin, unusual bleeding or bruising, or yellow eyes and skin.
Gabapentin can cause vision changes or affect motor and cognitive skills. Be sure to evaluate how the medication affects you before driving, operating machinery, or participate in any activities that can be dangerous if you are not alert.
In some cases, gabapentin can cause people to be agitated or irritable, have sad or hopeless thoughts, or be nervous, restless, or hostile. It can also worsen depression or cause suicidal thoughts. If you notice these symptoms in yourself, you should contact your doctor. Gabapentin will enhance the effect of alcohol and other CNS depressants, meaning medications that make you drowsy or less alert. This can include allergy medication, cold medication, sedatives, tranquilizers, sleeping medication, prescription pain medication or narcotics, seizure medications, muscle relaxants, and anesthetics.
Stopping the use of gabapentin without doctor supervision can lead to sudden seizures. Your doctor may want to gradually reduce the amount of gabapentin you are taking before taking you fully off the medication. You will also want to let any doctors or dentists you see that you are taking gabapentin. You should refrain from taking any other medications unless they have been discussed with your doctor, including prescription and non-prescription medications and herbal or vitamin supplements.