Severe Depression from Gabapentin Withdrawal?

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pi8carrots

New member
Hi guys,

I have been taking 400mg gabapentin every night off-label without prescription for the last 2 months or so. I used it to enhance my sleep and it also made me feel very refreshed the next morning. After a while, I realized that it was causing a lot of anxiety during the day when I was not on it. So I decided to discontinue it.

The last dose I took was a week ago on Monday night. Today is the next Monday and I haven't taken any doses at all for a week. Here is a summary of my symptoms:
Tuesday and Wednesday: pretty bad depression. Life has lost meaning and I don't feel like doing anything at all. Of course, this is bearable and expected.

Thursday and Friday: Feel really good. Back to normal, or maybe a little better than normal. I am thinking the withdrawal is over.

Saturday evening to present: Slipped into a horrible depressive episode. Everything I think of causes me pain and suffering. Physical inability to feel happiness. Haven't eaten at all and the sight of food makes me want to throw up.

This is very scary. I am a very healthy person emotionally and physically. I have never really been depressed like this ever before. I sincerely regret ever having messed with my psychology as normally I am a happy person.

I know what I am feeling right now is very abnormal and must be because of stopping the gabapentin cold turkey. But what puzzles me is that I had 2 wonderful days and then crashed into depression again. Can this be gabapentin withdrawal? When will this go away? Can I do anything to avoid this depression?

Please help. I am having terrible thoughts, which were very alien to me a while back. My self-confidence has gone down the drain and I can look forward to absolutely nothing. I just cant feel good even for a second.
 
I would suggest seeing your doctor and being honest with him. I had taken Gabapentin for quite awhile until my doctor switched me to Lyrica, which is in the same family only a little bit stronger.
I am taking Lyrica because I have RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) and it helps a lot with the nerve pain that I get.
These medications are not something to fool around with, especially if you are not prescribed them from a doctor. But I'm sure that if you are honest with your doctor he will be able to help you. I do not know how long your depression may last. And yes to me it does sound like withdrawal from the medication. You will probably be surprised just how understanding your doctor will be when you tell him what is happening to you. I do not know how long this withdrawal will last without your doctor's help. But if you are still feeling the effects of the withdrawal over a week later.........
Please contact your doctor Ok?
Take Care,
Chris
 
I did see a psychiatrist. He was of no help. He went on and on about completely irrelevant stuff and kept repeating how I shouldn't be on the meds in the first place. It was hopelessly helpless. I KNOW I shouldn't have screwed around with these meds, thats why I want to get off them. If I had known I would be going through such severe withdrawal then I'd never have touched the medication.

Well, I couldn't take the emotional pain anymore and have resumed gabapentin. Its actually so bad as now I've started taking it during the day as well. The pain hits me as soon as the gabapentin gets metabolized so I have to keep redosing. I think I might be getting more dependent on it.

I am currently at college and am taking the next semester off. So I'll probably try and get off it as soon as I am home. And I'll probably stop it cold turkey. Man, this is so hard.
 
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