What if you have the same difficulty discontinuing the Neurontin/gabapentin?

Doc

hi doc,
I have been on Neurontin before, several times, and had no trouble getting off it.
I really thought they were very similar and that is why I was surprised I had such problems getting off Lyrica. Bottom line is they both help with neuropathy a great deal, I just have problems with side effects. Like many of us, I have to juggle side effects vs. dealing with the pain.
thanks for your concern, Diandra

Which sorta begs the question of some combination of the two, to get the most benefit with the least S/E. Past discussions here have asked the question with little concensus. Might be worth looking into, if you haven't already.

neurontin lyrica together

Doc

I used to take 400mg Gabapentin and 75mg Lyrica for many years. I know they are similar but that combination worked best for me rather than increasing the Lyrica dose. At the time Lyrica only came in 75 & 150mg strengths. 150mg three times a day had too many side effects. Now that I have withdrawn from Lyrica & Gabapentin I am thinking it may have been easier to taper more gradually by using smaller doses of Gabapentin. I was unaware of withdrawal problems with these drugs. At the time I just stopped taking the Gabapentin. I had problems but nothing like when I began to decrease the Lyrica. I am sure you will experience problems withdrawing from the Gabapentin. In my experience it just wasn't as severe as the Lyrica. I could only just manage to decrease 25mg Lyrica every 2 weeks. The horror of it was indescribable. I probably should have broke the capsule open and divided the dose that way or tried to decrease more gently by using Gapapentin at low strengths.

I just marvel at our strength and determination to get off of, or reduce these drugs to more tolerable levels in our lives. Our tenacity proves a strength of mind all at a time when we are dealing with ongoing or new symptoms in our various ailments. Can you imagine what we could achieve with the willpower we demonstrate if we were fit and healthy.

If that is what many people are doing, it strengthens my belief that these meds are being prescribed at too high levels to begin with.

Doc

Doc, I can only speak for myself, I am repeatedly told by differing doctors to increase my medication dosage to provide satisfactory pain control. I suffer the consequences of increased medication and I then choose to reduce the pain relief to a level that affords me a life without regular trips to ER. Some people choose to reduce or eliminate prescribed meds because they have a real fear of addiction, some dislike taking tablets, others have successful SCS implants or differing medication as it's released to the market.

As to if the meds are prescribed at a high dose to begin with in my case no, I was started on a very low dose and I have tried many different medications with differing results. I've been prescribed a new medication in this past week - tapentadol 200mg every 12 hours and Norspan 20mg along with flixotide sprayed directly on to the skin before placing the patch on. Supposedly the flixotide reduces the allergic reaction. Not so much for me, I have a patch mark deep red in colour after 3 days on one arm and bright red on the other arm after just 2 days. But the good news is my PM will have another go at threading the 2nd scs lead on Wednesday and if all goes well I may be able to just get by with 10mg oxy. My aim of course is to be able to return to the workplace.

I'm sure there are doctors who prescribe too high a dose, possibly the same doctors who prescribe anti depressants with little investigation, when my mother in law passed away and my husband was just plain sad the local GP insisted he take Prozac. He did for a week and then binned them.

Hi to all, new to this, I took This hell of a Lyrica since 2 moths, firstly had good balance in mental mood and was very happy to find my < self > back and being no more depressed and moody but I realized after some weeks it had side effects so, after a party Sat. nite and the terrible consequences like total block of my mind, stucked on the sofa for entire DAYS without being even able to listen music, watch tv, or read or do anything but just waiting and suffering strong terrible depression, I stopped taking the pills and now very slowly recovering with strong abstinence symptoms, depression , paranoia, anxiety, etc. This forum helped me understand what it was and I keep resisting , not taking anymore it.
Thanks God I was just on 75/100mg per day I cannot immaging how much can suffer someone who takes this pill for longer period and with stronger dosage. Absolutely terrible and scary.

Welcome Ethan IT.

I have had the shakes and panic attacks. it took 11 months but it looks like the shakes are finally over. the "panic attacks" or what ever they really are seem to have for the most part gone. Watch your moods, and talk with your doctor about all the stuff you are going through.