Im epileptic and suffer grand mals. If danny continues to ''step down'' from gabapentin, he could suffer a severe grand mal.. He really needs to go to a doctor. Stopping aed's is highly dangerous

gabapentin, of which i take at 4800 mg per day for epilepsy, is not a drug to taper off on ones one. It needs to be monitored by a doctor.

I've been on gabapentin for 15 years, at 1200 mgs then 900 mgs in a single dose for a good part of those 15 years. Been on 600 mgs every night for 8 years or so. I take it for twitches that happen when I sleep.

I can understand the risks when it is taken for a seizure disorder but that is not why DannyT takes it. He takes it for headaches at the original concussion site and perhaps to aid in his anxiety and OCD symptoms. So, it sounds like it was prescribed for neuropathic pain. He has only been taking it since June.

DannyT,

Would you be trying to taper off if you had not read the post about its reduction on synapse neurogenesis ?

As I said, that risk is in young children when their brains are growing. At 26, your brain has very little neurogenesis anymore. Plus, it only slows the rate of synapse neurogenesis. It does not stop it. It is also at the high doses used for serious seizure disorders. You have never taken more that 25% of the max dose.

As a chem eng major, you have the aptitude to understand these issues. Please don't let your OCS/anxiety prevent you from understanding the issues at hand.

I'm attempting to taper off because of visual side effects I have noticed from the drug. That study is not the main reason at all. I have just had a bad reaction to this medication.

Those that are concerned for my chance of seizure, I do appreciate it. I would be in contact with the prescribing physician but I don't trust him at this point. Like Mark said, I didn't start taking the medication for any type of seizure condition.

Unfortunately I have noticed a severe withdrawal symptom. My resting heart rate is 66 Bpm. Upon standing it jumps up to around 100 Bpm. If I exert any effort I'm looking at 120 BPM. In the end if I sit back down again my pulse will return to normal.

I'm not sure how long this has been going on but I've been feeling like crap from this med for a while. I recently purchased a pulse Oximeter to check this out and was shocked at how consistently this happens. Thankfully my lungs seem to be fine as my spo2 stats usually remain around 97/98 even when standing.

Currently on my 4th day at 750mg. Not sure what to do about this heart symptom. I wish I could trust my neuro but he is the one who needlessly got me on the medication in the first place and would suggest a quick taper.

The change from sitting to standing would normally cause an increase in pulse. I don't think you should be concerned. I doubt gabapentin has even the slightest thing to do with it. Don't let the pulse oximeter cause you undue anxiety.

The PCS brain can easily become over-reactive to changes in demands on the heart. This is part of the anxiety malfunction, not gabapentin. A term used is adrenal-cortical hyperfunction but for most, it is just a minor over-reaction.