It is not at all trifling. Even if this is "just" anxiety, that is a real problem which needs to be medically addressed.
Time to see another doctor, IMHO. I can't understand prescribing this for anxiety... there are a couple of possible reasons standard meds were not chosen, but then... 2400 mg??? That is a phenomenal amount!
Oh dear! I know the stoned haze thing but I only get that when I first start treatment... you are still having that, and then later get withdrawal? Yuck!!
It sounds as though you do not even tolerate the drug peaks at this dosage. So 800 in the morning means you've been taking it 3 times a day? What if you tried splitting your daily amount into 4 doses, spaced evenly. That's how I usually take it. It is a bit of a pain, but it might help with the nasty grogginess at the "peaks" and also reduce the feeling antsy before the next dose. Your blood level will remain more even.
Absolutely not.
That depends on the individual -- you see that in the degree to which you can taper comfortably.
Well, generally speaking, the longer one is on a drug, the harder it is to get off it. So yes, the faster you could get off it, the better. However, you
must do it safely (slowly enough to avoid seizures). The other question is, how much discomfort can you put up with? When you removed 400mg, you reported immediate restlessness (pacing), hyperventilation and chest pain -- these are severe anxious symptoms. Enduring that level of anxiety for any length of time is just not healthy. A small amount of anxiety might be ok, but I'd not make the next reduction immediately the first day your anxiety resolves. You need breathers from it.
I hear you.
I can think of a few things you can try. This will be safe, but you have to see what works. Try these one at a time, not all together:
-- alter your doses just slightly so you take slightly less during the daytime. This will be safe, and it should buy you some daytime acutity even at the current higher dosage. (I'd suggest no more than 300 mg difference between one time of day and another, at any given time. Later in the reduction, you'll want to make that difference smaller).
-- If you find you are more comfortable (less post-dose grog, less pre-dose agitation) with a 4 times a day schedule, you might find you can tolerate reductions of 200mg in a single shot.
-- Whether you stay with 3 daily doses or go with 4, make dose reductions on rotation,
always starting with the morning dose.
What kinds of doctors have you seen? I'd choose a neurologist or a psychiatrist, not a GP, for help, as you need someone who is knowledgeable about this drugs. A neuro will be more used to dealing with gabapentin, but a psychiatrist might be more sensitive to your situation, and evaluate some alternatives with you regarding the anxiety and agitation. (Having these symptoms and choosing to see psychiatrist does not mean you are "crazy".
)
Beware of the vocabulary you use with doctors. Sometimes we have to fence around with what we say to them. Asking to be "treated" can be interpreted by some doctors as "I need pills" and saying you are in "withdrawal" can mean "I am addicted", concept which many will reject when it comes to gabapentin. Also, when they see someone who feels they are "addicted" and asking for "treatment" or "substitution", they might interpret that as
drug seeking behavior and refuse service accordingly. This is totally not your case, so pick your words accordingly.
You need: assistance and supervision with gabapentin discontinuation, because you experience
severe side effects when you remove even small amounts.
The NA folks don't relate because they are in a different boat than you are. Your desire is to get off the drug, you don't like it, it is not a drug of abuse for you, you don't engage in drug-seeking behavior.
LOL, yeah. Don't take it too badly... just, any little bit of activity you can add in great. I know personally I'm not real safe to go out and run or similar, when I'm all goofy on gabapentin, but an exercise you can work into your day will help you with anxiety in general. Barring that, try 5 mins of meditation, relaxation, breathing, or mindfulness exercises. Or try 2 mins at a time, two or three times a day.
No problem at all.
I'd really like to see you get help from a doc on this. I can at most try to talk you through some things, but I do know anxiety is a bad beastie (personal experience) and I hate to think of you dealing with that without medical support.
waves