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Can Gabapentin Be Discontinued Cold Turkey?
Question: I have been taking gabapentin for a tremor for about 6 months to a year, the most 500 mgs. Now I feel I am starting to get confused. Will this go away when I stop taking it? Also the doctor said stop taking it immediately. The pharmacist said to ween. How much do I ween and will my confusion continue? Is it safe to just stop?
Brief Answer:
Ween gradually
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
It is true that Gabapentin may cause dizziness and confusion at times. So if no other causes can be identified it may be at the origin. If it is indeed the cause then it should be reversible once it's stopped, confusion shouldn't continue.
Regarding how to interrupt it I would side with your pharmacist in suggesting that it should be gradually interrupted not immediately. As for how to ween it there is no precise rule, the slower the safer, if you are on a 500 mg dosage right now I would suggest to lower the dosage by 100 mg every 1-2 weeks.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Ween gradually
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
It is true that Gabapentin may cause dizziness and confusion at times. So if no other causes can be identified it may be at the origin. If it is indeed the cause then it should be reversible once it's stopped, confusion shouldn't continue.
Regarding how to interrupt it I would side with your pharmacist in suggesting that it should be gradually interrupted not immediately. As for how to ween it there is no precise rule, the slower the safer, if you are on a 500 mg dosage right now I would suggest to lower the dosage by 100 mg every 1-2 weeks.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your help, I just don't understand why my neurologist would just tell me to stop! This frighens me, and it also frightens me to keep taking it, because of the confusion. I hope as I lessen it, the confusion will go away. I read such awful things on the internet about stopping this horrible drug.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
No reason for panic
Detailed Answer:
I believe your neurologist has told you you can stop it immediately because yours is a small dose, it may go up to 3200 mg a day, so he believes that it should be easy to withdraw from it. He may be right no reason for you to panic, you might interrupt it without any issues, but personally I would prefer to be as safe as possible and withdraw it gradually as I said.
As for the things you read around internet remember that generally the people who write online are those who have had issues, but I assure you there is a far far greater number of patients who withdraw without any issues. You do not find many such accounts because there is nothing to write online about when it has been an uneventful process. So shouldn't feel so alarmed, the dosage you are under is not high and there is every reason to be optimistic about not having any withdrawal issues.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
No reason for panic
Detailed Answer:
I believe your neurologist has told you you can stop it immediately because yours is a small dose, it may go up to 3200 mg a day, so he believes that it should be easy to withdraw from it. He may be right no reason for you to panic, you might interrupt it without any issues, but personally I would prefer to be as safe as possible and withdraw it gradually as I said.
As for the things you read around internet remember that generally the people who write online are those who have had issues, but I assure you there is a far far greater number of patients who withdraw without any issues. You do not find many such accounts because there is nothing to write online about when it has been an uneventful process. So shouldn't feel so alarmed, the dosage you are under is not high and there is every reason to be optimistic about not having any withdrawal issues.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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