NeuroTalk Support Groups - Tapering off Gabapentin

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Tapering off Gabapentin

Right now I am taking 1000 mg gabapentin daily. 100 mg in the afternoon and 900 at bedtime for leg cramps from idiopathic motor neuropathy.

After 7 weeks of physical therapy, I am having fewer symptoms and would like to start tapering down the gabapentin.

Has anyone done this? How fast should I go? I have prescriptions for both 300 mg capsules and 100 mg capsules, so I can fine tune my dosage.

People with seizures have to go very slowly.

But others just a fair taper would work.

I'd drop the 100mg in the afternoon first for a day or two and see what happens. Sometimes it may take a few days to see effects.
This drug is cleared thru the kidneys and not metabolized at all,
so depending on your kidney clearance ability, that would show you how to taper.

Once off the 100mg you could then drop 300mg at night for at least 7-10 days.(that means 600mg a night for that time) If no problem, drop 200mg the next week or 10 days. (you would be taking 300 + 100 during that week).

Then drop the 100 the next 10 days. If it works okay for you and your pain is not terrible, just go down by 100 every 7 days, and then try off completely.

You can go slower if you want...alot depends on how you react pain wise... too much pain, and go slower. YOu may find you still need some, but at a lower dose. Typically when titrated up they do increments of 100mg. If you want, you can go down that way too.

Thanks, MrsD,

I tried to drop the afternoon dose 2 weeks ago, and the cramps came back during the evening before bed. (Wish they made 50 mg capsules.:Sigh:)

I'll try it again, and if that doesn't work, maybe I'll go for 800 at night.

I'm down to 900 mg at night. YAY! After 10 or 12 days I'll try 800 at night.

But I'd like more information about l-theanine and ALA, or the R-lipoic one. I'll post this on the PN forum, too.

Not sure if my motor neuropathy would respond to these supplements.

I answered you over there.

Hooray! I'm down to 700 mg at night, with no recurrence of night time cramps.

I think my brain is a little clearer now too. :)

One thing I have noticed is a jerking in my bad leg when I sit down to rest. My foot "jumps and jiggles", so I hope this isn't a reaction to dropping down my dose of gabapentin. I know motor neuropathy does weird things.

It doesn't happen often, but it's disconcerting.