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How Can Side Effects Of Gabapentin Be Managed?

Posted on Thu, 10 Aug 2017

Question: I have been on 300 mg of Gabapentin twice daily for shingle pain now for 3 months. I still have some shingle pain but after reading more about this drug I really want to wean off of it. I have read some horrible side affects of coming off the drug but I also realize that the people who write on the blogs are usually the ones who have had horrible experiences. The only other meds I take are hormones, and thyroid and metformin. I do take vitamins and just started adding magnesium to my diet but from what I have read it is not good to take with gabapentin. Please advise a safe way to get this drug out of my system.

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (52 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Gabapentin is not a terrible drug!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about the negative reviews that have gotten you worried. Gabapentin is a good drug and while persons do get side effects from it, these are rare. Like you rightly highlighted, blogs are biased. If this drug were that bad, belief me we would have long stopped prescribing it. I will not recommend you stop this drug out of fear. Continue the treatment as recommended for the benefits clearly outmatch the risks. If you however insist on stopping despite this reassurance, let me know and I will guide your through.

I hope this helps and guides. I wish you well. Feel free to follow up with me as you please.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (26 minutes later)

I agree with you, but I do not intend to take the drug any longer than I have to, as soon as this shingle pain is gone I want to stop taking it, at that point how would I wean myself off of it and how long should it take?

Here is the article I read about the drug, this would scare anyone!

BY: Byron J. Richards, Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist
Neurontin and its newer more potent version, Lyrica, are widely used for off-label indications that are an outright flagrant danger to the public. These blockbuster drugs were approved for use even though the FDA had no idea what they actually did in the brain. A shocking new study shows that they block the formation of new brain synapses1, drastically reducing the potential for rejuvenating brain plasticity – meaning that these drugs will cause brain decline faster than any substance known to mankind.

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I will recommend withdrawing over 4weeks!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

4weeks is a reasonable time to stop fully.

week 1: 300mg every 2days
week 2: 300mg every 3days
Week 3: 300mg every 4days
Week 4: 300mg once

Then, stop fully. This generally works well for most of my patients. Let me know how this goes with you as well.

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar