Incredible success with Gabapentin

I felt I should relate my amazing experience on Gabapentin so that people should at least consider it if they are struggling.

 

I struggled for five years with an addiction to first Lorazepam and then Valium.  After a gruelling Valium taper (all the usual symptoms) failed in 2009 my drug use spiralled slowly upwards again.  Several other failed tapers followed.  My use skyrocketed to 100 mg/day this year and even 200 mg/day a few times.  I was terrified of entering a drug treatment facility because of the stories I had heard but was exhausted and did not see how else I was going to get off of the drugs.

 

In August detoxed from 90 mg/day of Valium in a 35 day program at a highly regarded drug treatment facility near where I live in Ontario, Canada.  I was prescribed 300 mg of Gabapentin 3x/day for the duration and experienced no physical withdrawal effects whatsoever.  I was cut to 80 mg/day for four days, then 60 mg/day for four days, then 40, 20, 10,5, and was clean by the time I left.  I dealt with a lot of anxiety but nothing I couldn't handle.  The side effects of the Gabapentin were moderate numbness all over my body and some mental fogginess, but it was not a big deal.

 

After I was discharged I continued with the dose of Gabapentin for a month, then cut to 300 mg 2x/day for a month, then 200, then 100, and now after four months I am off of the Gabapentin as well.  The only side effects were the general numbness which has worn off, a loss of appetite which is also gone and some mental fog.  I have had a lot of anxiety and several panic attacks and my OCD has gone wild as the Valium has worn off over the past months, but nothing I can't handle and not as bad as episodes in the past when I was on the drugs, even massive doses.

 

I know that Gabapentin has not worked or had mixed success for many people on this forum but for me it has been nothing short of a wonder drug.  It is the standard treatment for benzo addiction at the facility I went to and they treat several dozen such cases a year.

 

I should also add that not all treatment facilities are created equal.  Where I went, at any one time there were 40+ recovering alcoholics and drug addicts and only one (an alcoholic) seemed to be suffering what I imagined my withdrawal might be like, and then only for about a week before she seemed quite well.  They had a wide range of medications to assist with detoxing and very well-educated staff including an addiction doctor who himself was a recovered drug addict.

 

Several studies have demonstrated that oxcarbazepine, a similar anti-seizure medication, has also had a remarkable effect on benzo withdrawal.

The thing is I was already on the Gabapentin 300mg night only for hot flashes for about a year when I started tapering xanax 1mg per day. Mayo Clinic gave me this because I came off of hormone replacement--supposed to stop hot flashes. I understand there is withdrawal from Gabapentin, but also know at 18 mos. off the xanax I will wait to taper gabapentin. Xanax withdrawal is still severe at times, but gabapentin does help with sleep. Mayo also gave me Tramadol 50mgx3 for burning, not realizing that the burning was from xanax withdrawal. Do not know when to stop Tramadol--heard so many stories of withdrawal from it. Doctors are ignorant to this benzo withdrawal. Cannot depend on doctors to help. They tell Tramadol is easy to taper off. Anyone on benzo buddies who know about Tramadol taper? Thank you!!!!!

I'm happy that Gabapentin worked for you, and I congratulate you.

 

If it worked for everyone, we would all be doing it.

Have you tried it, Zig Zag? I was already on it, but am afraid to taper til xanax withdrawal goes away(18 mos off)

I totally agree about the gabapentin. I only take it at night, but it stops the burning and lets me sleep 5-6 hrs.

daisy mae, 300mg/day is not that high of a dosage. I went to detox/ rehab for 1 month. The whole time I was up to 1600mg/day . It did take care of the burning pain. I was then given 100mg to take 3 times per day for 2 weeks I had no trouble getting off of the Neurontin but then all the horrible withdrawl sxs from Klonopin withdrawl came back. I have heard of some people taking up to 2800mg and some can quit with no problems