Gabapentin Withdraw Issues

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EsGirl
EsGirl Member Posts: 5
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

While receiving radiation and chemo for SCC (Stage Unknown - no stagging system for lacrimal sac SCC) my hubby was given copious amounts of Gabapentin as a nerve blocker for the treatments. The onc nurse gave him a generic 10 day taper schedule. We followed it and he completely stopped taking the medicine on Wednesday. He has now had terrible nausea, sweating, insomnia, etc. I'm assuming this is due to withdraw? Anyone else experience this? Thanks - Danika

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  • SuzJ
    SuzJ Member Posts: 427 Member
    #2
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    I think it sounds more like..

    I think it sounds more like.. a bug? Gabapentin shouldn't do that

  • hlrowe
    hlrowe Member Posts: 80
    #3
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    IF your hubby received more

    IF your hubby received more than 400mg/day over a course of a few weeks then sweating and insomnia can certainly occur as withdrawal symptoms. I take it for perephial neuropathy (non-diabetic related) but only 200mg/day. 

    It is a controlled substance in KY and may also become controlled in Ohio later this year. Mostly due to people abusing it after/during opiod addiction.

  • ERomanO
    ERomanO Member Posts: 317 Member
    #4
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    hlrowe said:

    IF your hubby received more

    IF your hubby received more than 400mg/day over a course of a few weeks then sweating and insomnia can certainly occur as withdrawal symptoms. I take it for perephial neuropathy (non-diabetic related) but only 200mg/day. 

    It is a controlled substance in KY and may also become controlled in Ohio later this year. Mostly due to people abusing it after/during opiod addiction.

    Are you sure about that?

    I take 300 mg Gabapentin tablets 4 times daily and was told by my doctor that a person can take up to 3600 mg per day.  My nephew, a pharmacist, said that it has been used to treat alcoholism so it would have some similar effect as alcohol, but patients get used to it and don't feel those affects for long. He was right.  I would prefer not to take it, but I also want to reduce the annoyance of neuropathy.

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