Going “cold turkey” is strongly discouraged due to the potential for severe and distressing withdrawal effects. Therefore, close collaboration with a healthcare professional is crucial to safely manage the discontinuation process. Tapering or slowly reducing your dose is recommended to stop taking gabapentin. Tapering off will help you avoid side effects. The timeline to reduce gabapentin depends on the individual Gabapentin withdrawal symptoms occur more commonly in people taking this medication at a high dose or in those who take it for a long time. They include: Agitation. Anxiety and restlessness. Tiredness. Sensitivity to light. Dizziness. Irregular heartbeat. If you’re taking gabapentin for seizures, stopping it can cause seizures to return or However, if you have been taking gabapentin for a prolonged period, you may be wondering if it is safe to stop taking it abruptly, or in other words, “cold turkey.” Let’s explore this question in more detail. Even though gabapentin is generally considered a safe drug, its abuse potential is becoming increasingly clear. People who misuse the drug may take higher doses than recommended to achieve a high or to supplement the intoxicating effects of another drug. People may also use gabapentin to relieve symptoms of withdrawal from other substances. 4 Don’t stop taking gabapentin abruptly, as it can cause withdrawal symptoms and exacerbate sexual dysfunction. Consider supplementing with natural libido-boosting agents, such as maca root or black cohosh. Took Gabapentin for 17 consecutive days at 1 x 300mg capsule at night. Prescribed for lower back neuropathic pain. No impact on pain and didn't like how this med made me feel - constant "spaced out" feeling, unable to focus or concentrate at work or driving and completely flat mood. So, decided to stop taking it cold turkey 7 days ago. What Is Gabapentin Withdrawal? Gabapentin withdrawal is when they stop taking the drug, 1,3,7 and people who have been abusing the drug are at risk for more severe symptoms. Is it ok to stop taking gabapentin cold turkey? People who want to get off neurontin should do so under the care of a doctor or medical professional. Not recommended by doctors: Medical providers do not recommend quitting gabapentin cold turkey because of the health risks involved. While the prospect of getting off gabapentin may be appealing, doing it in an unsafe way can jeopardize your health. Never take it upon yourself to reduce your dose or stop gabapentin “cold turkey,” as this can make the withdrawal symptoms worse. Speak to your doctor if you wish to stop taking gabapentin and follow the recommended taper schedule. Get help for drug or alcohol addiction. Contact us today to learn about your options. Treating Gabapentin Can You Stop Gabapentin Cold Turkey? After taking this medication for an extended period of time, your brain becomes used to it. Reducing the dose too quickly or stopping it cold turkey can lead to withdrawal or other serious symptoms like seizures. Individuals should not stop taking gabapentin on their own. They should consult their medical provider before weaning off the drug. In general, the medical provider should slowly decrease the amount of gabapentin the person is taking over the course of more than a week. 8. An individual struggling with misusing gabapentin may need addiction Reduce your dose gradually over at least a week. The doctor will likely have you reduce your dose little by little each day. Typically, this reduction process lasts at least a week, to get your body used to not taking the medication. The answer to the question “Can I stop taking gabapentin cold turkey?” is no. It is not recommended to stop taking gabapentin abruptly without medical supervision. Doing so can result in withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, tremors, nausea, sweating, and even seizures in certain individuals. A study on gabapentin abuse from 1993 through 2015 showed that people who experienced withdrawal were taking an average of 3,000 mg (600 to 8,000 mg) of gabapentin per day, but some case reports mention withdrawal symptoms after taking dosages of 400 to 800 mg per day for at least 3 weeks. How to Stop Gabapentin Use. For many addicts, there is a point where they realize that they need to get themselves together and stop. Stopping gabapentin isn’t entirely straightforward due to the way the medication works in the brain. Two methods can be used to stop taking this drug. These are the Cold Turkey method and Tapering. Cold Turkey Stopping any prescription drug all at once, including gabapentin, can come with certain risks. Stopping gabapentin cold-turkey could lead to withdrawal and other negative side effects of gabapentin discontinuation. Can You Stop Taking Gabapentin Cold Turkey? You should not stop gabapentin cold turkey. Suddenly stopping the drug can cause withdrawal symptoms and the underlying condition that gabapentin is treating may flare, which can be dangerous. Definitely Do Not Stop taking this medication Cold Turkey Call your Dr. & he will taper you off correctly. I am not sure what dosage you are on right now. But your dr. will probably give you a prescription for 100 mg pills that way you can taper in increments. In addition, people who are taking gabapentin for seizures and suddenly stop taking it may experience a rebound in or increased frequency of seizure activity, including continuous, uncontrollable seizures (status epilepticus). 6. Withdrawal usually occurs within 12 hours to 7 days after quitting the medication.
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