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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant drug prescribed for seizures and nerve pain. People who develop physical dependence to gabapentin may experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to come off it. Withdrawal symptoms can begin within 12 hours to 7 days after quitting the medication and last up to 10 days. Symptoms of gabapentin withdrawal may include nausea, dizziness, headaches, insomnia, and anxiety.The safest way to stop using gabapentin is to taper off the medication under the supervision of a doctor.What Is Gabapentin?Gabapentin (marketed under the trade names Neurontin, Gralise, and Horizant) is an anticonvulsant medication used to treat partial seizures, postherpetic neuralgia, and other types of neuropathic pain. The Horizant extended-release formulation is approved for the treatment of restless leg syndrome.1 Though gabapentin abuse is relatively uncommon, studies have documented its misuse. Gabapentin abuse most often occurs in conjunction with other drugs, such as opioids, benzodiazepines, and alcohol.2Does Gabapentin Have a Withdrawal Syndrome?Even those who take gabapentin as prescribed may develop some physical dependence; however, those who misuse it or abuse it recreationally may experience significant levels of dependence and withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit or slow its use. There are documented cases of withdrawal symptoms in people who took daily doses between 400mg to 8000mg for at least 3 weeks.3,4The gabapentin withdrawal syndrome may resemble some of the symptoms of alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal. This similarity may be due to the fact that gabapentin and these other substances all act on gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.4In 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).6Withdrawal usually occurs within 12 hours to 7 days after quitting the medication. Though a withdrawal timeline hasn’t been clearly documented, some studies have noted symptoms that last up to 10 days.7,8 In some cases, individuals who are at risk of or are already displaying severe withdrawal symptoms may require intensive inpatient monitoring and medical withdrawal management if complications arise.Experts recommend gradually smaller doses of gabapentin to safely and comfortably wean a person off the medication. Such tapering schedules are commonly used with medications like gabapentin that have the potential to produce adverse withdrawal effects when being discontinued.Gabapentin use can be phased out over a period of one week, but the exact schedule will depend on the person’s particular situation. Slower tapers may allow for a safer discontinuation of the drug. Experts recommend reducing the daily dose at a maximum rate of 300mg every 4 days.9Why Do Gabapentin Withdrawal Symptoms Occur?As the drug’s mechanism of action remains somewhat unclear, the phenomenon of gabapentin withdrawal is also not entirely understood. Still, the presence of withdrawal symptoms in users suggests the development of physical dependence in those who take the medication over time.Certain medications and illicit drugs may lead to the development of physical dependence in people who use them for more than a few weeks. With regular
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