Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant drug that can help with seizures and nerve pain. However, it can lead to withdrawal if used too often. In this article, we’ll go over what you need to know about gabapentin withdrawal.
What Is Gabapentin?
Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant medication used primarily to treat nerve pain, seizures, and sometimes anxiety. The medication works by affecting the way nerves transmit signals in the central nervous system, though its exact mechanism is not fully understood.
Gabapentin acts on the brain’s nerve cells, reducing the frequency of messages sent between them. This calms the brain down, helping to mitigate seizures in epileptics. It’s often started at a low dose and increased gradually to minimize side effects such as gabapentin withdrawal. While gabapentin is not addictive, gabapentin withdrawal is possible and something to watch out for.
Does Gabapentin Help with Opiate Withdrawal?
Gabapentin is sometimes used off-label to help manage symptoms of opiate withdrawal, although it is not FDA-approved for this purpose. It can treat anxiety and improve sleep, which are common symptoms of opiate withdrawal. It can also help with body aches or nerve pain.
However, as stated, it’s no substitute for FDA-approved, evidence-based opioid withdrawal drugs like buprenorphine or methadone. However, it might be used to complement those other drugs.
Does Gabapentin Help with Alcohol Withdrawal?
Gabapentin is also used off-label to help with alcohol withdrawal symptoms, particularly in mild-to-moderate cases, or as an adjunct to other treatments.
Like with opiate withdrawal, gabapentin can treat the anxiety and insomnia that can result from alcohol withdrawal. And as an anticonvulsant, it can be helpful in treating withdrawal seizures like delirium tremens. However, it’s not as reliable for this as benzodiazepines.
Gabapentin has been shown in some studies to reduce alcohol cravings and help maintain abstinence.
Get confidential help from our addiction treatment specialists in Orange County. Call to join our rehab program today!
Call 866-881-1184Does Gabapentin Have Withdrawal Symptoms?
Yes, gabapentin abuse can lead to withdrawal symptoms. Gabapentin withdrawal symptoms can occur if the medication is stopped abruptly. While gabapentin is not considered as addictive as some other substances, such as opioids or benzodiazepines, it can still lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms in some individuals.
Here are some common gabapentin withdrawal symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Sensitivity to light
- Sweating
- Irregular heartbeat
- Nausea
- Pain
In severe cases, gabapentin withdrawal can also lead to symptoms like seizures, disorientation, and rebound nerve pain
How Long Does Gabapentin Withdrawal Last?
According to a study of 18 cases, gabapentin withdrawal commences between 12 hours and 7 days after gabapentin detox. The duration of gabapentin withdrawal varies depending on factors like the dose, length of use, individual physiology, and whether the medication is tapered or stopped abruptly.
On average, withdrawal symptoms typically last 1 to 2 weeks, but some lingering effects can persist longer in certain cases.
Risks and Challenges of Gabapentin Withdrawal
There are a couple of things to watch for when it comes to gabapentin withdrawal. If gabapentin was used for neuropathic pain, the pain may return or worsen during withdrawal, something known as rebound pain. Abruptly stopping gabapentin can also trigger seizures, especially in individuals with epilepsy.
Some psychological symptoms like anxiety and depression can also occur. Gabapentin withdrawal can cause heightened emotional distress, particularly if gabapentin is being used for anxiety or mood stabilization. Difficulty sleeping is another common withdrawal symptom and can exacerbate other issues.
Managing Gabapentin Withdrawal Safely
If you want to avoid the worst gabapentin withdrawal symptoms, it’s vital to take a tapering approach. Gabapentin tapering means reducing the dose gradually over the course of a few weeks or months. Your doctor will create a tapering schedule based on your dose, duration of use, and individual needs.
To address symptoms such as pain and anxiety, non-opioid pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen and anti-anxiety drugs can help. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can also help with anxiety.
Always consult a healthcare provider before reducing or stopping gabapentin, particularly if you are using it to manage seizures or chronic pain.
Looking for quality substance abuse treatment that’s also affordable? South Coast accepts most major insurance providers. Get a free insurance benefits check now.
Check Your CoverageWhen to Seek Professional Help for Gabapentin Withdrawal
If you or a loved one are seeking treatment for gabapentin withdrawal, South Coast Behavioral Health is here to help. The first step in treating any addiction is a medical detox. This means using drugs to manage withdrawal symptoms.
Our medical detox program in California is staffed by caring and compassionate professionals who can provide you with medications to manage your withdrawal symptoms.
At South Coast, we take pride in offering care that is closely tailored to specific issues. To that end, we offer gender-specific detox programs, with medical detox for men in Irvine, CA, and medical detox for women in Huntington Beach, CA.
After detoxing, proper treatment can begin.
Treatment for substance abuse takes place along an entire spectrum of care. Along that entire spectrum are various behavioral therapies, support groups, and the use of medically-assisted treatment (MAT).
These levels of treatment are, in order, as follows:
Residential Treatment in California
After successfully completing medical detox for gabapentin withdrawal, you’ll receive inpatient treatment in Orange County, California. There, you’ll receive medically-assisted treatment and dual diagnosis treatment to deal with any cravings or co-occurring mental health issues you may be battling.
We also offer residential treatment facilities in Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Huntington Beach for those who desire gender-specific treatment. There, patients get round-the-clock medical attention and monitoring while living at the institution full-time. Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) offer evidence-based healing alongside holistic recovery options.
In addition to individual and group counseling and medication management, you’ll also have access to leisure activities and family support services.
Partial Hospitalization in California
Most clients start gabapentin withdrawal treatment with South Coast in our residential treatment program. After completing that, many desire something that still provides structure and support but with extra space and time to oneself. For that, we offer Partial Hospitalization in Newport Beach.
A step down from inpatient care but with more structure than conventional outpatient programs, partial hospitalization offers a good balance for those looking to ease back into normal life. Clients can receive care five to seven days a week for a number of hours each day, returning back to their homes in the evening.
This way, they can recover without putting their daily lives completely on hold, receiving intense therapeutic interventions like group and individual therapy, skill development, and medication management as necessary.
Intensive Outpatient Treatment in California
For those leaving inpatient residential treatment or partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs (IOP) are yet another gradual step forward on the road to recovery from gabapentin withdrawal.
With a focus on group therapy, individual counseling, and education, clients undergoing Intensive Outpatient Treatment in Newport Beach can meet three to five days a week. Each session lasts three hours.
This level of care requires the least amount of attendance at an addiction treatment facility. If gabapentin dependence is causing issues in your life, it’s time to take steps toward treatment approaches that actually work. Addiction treatment centers can help recognize the signs of gabapentin abuse and offer effective treatment for those who can’t stop taking gabapentin. At South Coast, our substance abuse treatment and addiction treatment programs can help anyone on the road to a brighter future and happier, healthier relationships.
Get Started Today
If you or a loved one are struggling with gabapentin withdrawal but wonder how long treatment at a recovery and detox center takes or have other questions, call us at 866-881-1184 or contact us here. Our highly qualified staff will be happy to help give you an idea of what to expect from your addiction recovery timeline, verify insurance, and assist with any other questions you may have about our treatment plans for drug addiction.
- Gabapentin for alcohol use disorder: A good option, or cause for concern? | Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
- Gabapentin: Abuse, Dependence, and Withdrawal – PubMed
- Gabapentin Withdrawal: Case Report in an Older Adult and Review of the Literature – Mah – 2013 – Journal of the American Geriatrics Society – Wiley Online Library
