I want to reduce my dose of Gaba as feel it is behind the awful sedation and out of it dizziness I often feel. Has anyone reduced their dose quite alot and found they were ok with the pain after? I have nld sfn and it's significant at and everywhere. I do question how much the gaba helps. It did at first but sometimes feel it doesn't do much. I'm on 2700, having reduced from 3600 in the past. I didn't feel things worsened when I reduced to 2700 about three months ago. I am so sedated though, I don't know if it's the medication or the fatigue from autoimmune diseases

Dear Joanna, I'm in the middle of a taper of Gabapentin. I'm doing it because I was having episodes of jerking (left arm and middle of my body, and the last oe caused me to fall).

After many tests that ruled out other causes, I read about the possible side effects of Gabapentin, and found that my problems might be related.

I was taking 3600 mg a day. I'm down to 1800 mg a day now, going to 900 in a week and then 600, and then 300 a day.

I feel now like I have a sunburn on my face arms and hands. The symptoms were much worse when I started and I imagine it will get worse as I withdraw completely. I had that needles sticking in my finger tips feelings. My legs and feet are already 'gone' since I have profound peripheral Neuropathy, so there isn't much pain any more. I just can only walk with leg braces, and then very badly.

Once I find out that the jerking and falling is gone with the Gabapentin, then I will work with my Neurologist to find another medication to replace gabapentin.

That will be hard. Let me know what you decide and how things go.

Regards, ElaineD

I reduced my Gabapentin from 3000 milligrams to 2100 milligrams without too much difficulty. I was also feeling very strange cognitively and giddy and thought it was the Gabapentin. I am a lot better at the lower dose and don't think the pain is worse than usual. Are you taking anything like Nortriptyline? The combination of these two has been the most effective for the neuropathic pain. It's pretty limited but I think it's worth being on these two for me. Of course everybody is different. I hope you can get this sorted. All the best

Hi, the Spine Specialist that I saw today suggested that I stay at my current taper level of Gabapentin for a while.

I see the wisdom of that. I started the taper because I thought Gabapentin might be causing some problems I was having.

Gabapentin Side Effects in Detail - Drugs.com

"local myoclonus" has been my problem, with jerking of my left arm usually, and a couple of times jerking of my core and my legs, which made me fall, of course.

I haven't had an episode since I began the taper, and the Spine Specialist wanted me to stay at my current dose to see if the myoclonus is really gone now.

Since I have profound PN and also SFN and now this cyst on my spine (which he will try to aspirate later in the month) I believe he thinks I need the gabapentin as long as it is at a dose those doesn't cause the myoclonus.

Myoclonus is a very odd experience, and of course now I am afraid of falling every time I try to walk. Except I ALSO cannot walk due to the cyst on my spine. So it's all just no fun at all!

Gabapentin really is the medication of choice for Neuropathic pain, so I hope this lower dose will be a happy compromise. Something has to work right?

Regards, ElaineD

I have CRPS and have been on gabapentin for about a year and a half. I have been slowly tapering down from 3200 mg daily and am now at 800 mg a day, in my effort to go completely off of it. At one point I tried to cut out two doses and that was too much at once and I got myself really sick, it was scary and was a learning experience for sure. Now I am cutting it back a little a week at a time and I do feel more clear headed and do not see more pain. My doctor did not want to help me go off of it. I will have to go and see her for the last dose of 100 mg as I can not cut these pills that finely. Not sure what will be next. Thanks for sharing your experiences with me.

peace
zinnia

Thanks Elaine, Indigo, and Zinnia, that is really helpful and also hopeful. I have also made the mistake of missing doses before, if I miss 2 doses worth the effects are absolutely awful and scary. I will take it very slowly and try to reduce it a bit. I expect to have to take some, I'd just rather take a much lower dose as this amount is knocking me for six.
I'm not taking anything else with Gabapentin apart from the occasional tramadol. I try really hard not to take it too much as it causes lots of problems taking it. I've tried a fair few drugs but just can't tolerate them. Duloxetene was awful, amitriptyline was also awful. Gabapentin is the only one I've tolerated quite well compared to the others.

Hi Joanna...

I'm right with you...tried Amytriptyline and Duloxitine made me feel major anxiety...Gaba has been alright...little side effects but I get pain relief...but to go back to work I need to get off all the drugs...so that is my goal

Let us know...

Sven