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This is the advice I just got


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The “best” addiction specialist in Asheville, NC just told me to drop from 3mgs K a day to .5 and substitute 800mgs of gabapentin. How crazy is this person?
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to drop from 3mgs K a day to .5 and substitute 800mgs of gabapentin. How crazy is this person?

 

Of course I am not a doctor, nor a famous addiction specialist, but imo that is beyond crazy. Why?

 

1)The drop is wa, wayy too big, and 2) Gabapentin is being "prescribed" for just about everything that docs can't figure out an answer for. I took gaba on my taper. It was awful and a real beast to taper off of.

 

If it were me, I would seek out another doc. Or just manage your own taper. A 5-10% drop every 2 weeks or so. (You could consult the Ashton Manual for her suggested schedule). Most of us on here managed our own tapers, with advice from each other.

 

Just my opinions, of course.

 

Best wishes,

 

:smitten:

 

Katz

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That is my plan. I’m just trying to find SOMEONE in this town who won’t encourage irresponsible tapering techniques. Everyone I talk to in Asheville pulls out a crystal or tells me to quit over 8 weeks. And then they don’t want to prescribe to me for long enough to do a real taper.
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Katz---great advice thanks !

 

Crazy, it's Gabapentin -- gaba-- that's our issue why make things worse !  I tried Gabapentin it's was horrible !

 

agree 100% with oregonkatz !

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That is my plan.

 

Good for you!

 

It's very frustrating trying to find someone who will "let" you taper at your own pace. I gave up on doctors and sought out a nurse practitioner. They are much more open-minded. Really, all you need is someone with a prescription pad.

 

Best,

 

Katz

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My doctor told me to taper in 3 days and then to come and see him. He also basically called me an addict. He’s the one who had me at 2 mg a day and I’m the one who wanted off.

 

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If you don't mind traveling a little, I found a benzo wise dr who is fucking amazeballs.  She specializes in this!

 

I'm actually traveling from GA to see her (lived in NC for a long time).  She does telehealth too! She's ok with sharing her info and I'll be cross posting.

 

Nadia S. Meyer, MD

 

https://www.medpsychnc.com

 

 

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That is my plan. I’m just trying to find SOMEONE in this town who won’t encourage irresponsible tapering techniques. Everyone I talk to in Asheville pulls out a crystal or tells me to quit over 8 weeks. And then they don’t want to prescribe to me for long enough to do a real taper.

 

You live in Ashville? That is a town I sure wish I could move to. So pretty, so devoted to the arts. Envy you!

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Betty

 

I got a meeting with a member of her team, she told me she wanted me to drop 1/6of my dose and substitute gabapentine plus an sssri. So maybe the other members of her practice aren’t on the same page as her.

 

Thanks for the suggestion though

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Quietquiet--

that's odd advice for someone who specializes in Benzo recovery

that's the normal advice for some doctors. Take one away or lower one  and add 2 more medications.

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It was a nine hour drive. And I've now called another 10 physicians in western North Carolina and they either "don't do that," or aren't taking new patients. called a rehab to see if they knew of any support groups and they said to come on in and they'd have me off of it in 7 days. There might be places where people are educated on this topic, but it sure aint here.
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[

 

quote author=Quietquiet link=topic=228967.msg2945002#msg2945002 date=1568916438]

Betty

 

I got a meeting with a member of her team, she told me she wanted me to drop 1/6of my dose and substitute gabapentine plus an sssri. So maybe the other members of her practice aren’t on the same page as her.

 

Thanks for the suggestion though

 

Weird.  Was it 1/6 or %.06?  That is not the advice I got from Dr. She didn't want me going to a 10% cut and keeping atva %05 cut for another 2 weeks (I've been on thus cut for 4 weeks).

 

I'd send her an email in the message center, bc that is really off and she'd probably want to know. 

 

She *offered* to give me gabapentin or other drug to help with the side effects, but I  chose not to.  She had me start  cut one of my SSRI bc my other dr had me on 2.

 

Good luck.

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she said that I should do that for two weeks. She didn't give me a reason other than that "was the plan." I told her that I had done this exact same thing before and it hadn't worked, that it was too fast, but she said the added gabapentin would make up the difference. I just emailed the place and told the doctor how frustrated I was with how that had worked out.
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BB,

 

Their office called after I sent a message, scheduled me a teleconference with Dr. Meyer. That's a responsive doctor! Thanks for the suggestion of contacting them.

 

quiet

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