Gabapentin Withdrawal: Symptoms, Timeline, Treatment

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPrevalenceWithdrawal TimelineSigns and SymptomsTreatmentCopingWarningsResources

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Prevalence

Withdrawal Timeline

Signs and Symptoms

Treatment

Coping

Warnings

Resources

What is the most important information I should know about gabapentin withdrawal?Some people may experience tremors, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, and insomnia when they stop taking gabapentin suddenly.Never stop taking gabapentin without talking to your doctor first.

What is the most important information I should know about gabapentin withdrawal?

Some people may experience tremors, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, and insomnia when they stop taking gabapentin suddenly.Never stop taking gabapentin without talking to your doctor first.

Gabapentin, sold under the brand nameNeurontin, is an anticonvulsant used to treat seizures and nerve pain. It is also sometimes prescribed “off-label” to treat migraines, fibromyalgia, and pain. If you’ve been on this drug for some time, you may experience withdrawal when discontinuing its use.

Gabapentin withdrawal can begin within 12 hours and last up to 7 days.

As of 2023, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has not classified gabapentin as acontrolled substancebecause experts have always believed it showed little potential for abuse or dependence. However, several states have independently declared it as a controlled substance. Despite its legal status, gabapentin prescriptions have increased significantly over the past decade, and recent research points to an uptick in illicit abuse and accidental overdose-related deaths.

Gabapentin Withdrawal Prevalence

It is rare to experiencewithdrawalsymptoms from gabapentin, but it does happen. A review of medical journals published between 1993, when gabapentin was approved, and 2015 found 18 case reports of gabapentin addiction, dependence, or withdrawal.

Healthcare providers publish case reports when they encounter a patient with a rare disorder or with a condition that they want to make their colleagues aware of. Case reports are significant because they help further knowledge and identify subjects worthy of future research.

It’s worth noting that just because there are so few reports of gabapentin withdrawal, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s as rare as people once thought. It’s possible that many people simply don’t seek treatment for gabapentin withdrawal.

It’s also possible that we may see more cases of gabapentin withdrawal in the future because, according to the DEA, gabapentin use is on the rise. Healthcare providers wrote more than double the number of gabapentin prescriptions in 2021 (70.9 million prescriptions) as they did in 2011 (33.4 million prescriptions).

Gabapentin Withdrawal and Other Drug Use

The illicit use of gabapentin also appears to be increasing. In a small survey of prescription drug abusers in Appalachian Kentucky, 15% reported using gabapentin to get high. That number is a 165% increase from the year prior (from 2013 to 2014) and a 2,950% increase from 2008 to 2014.

It appears as though gabapentin dependence and withdrawal are most common among people who use at least one other substance, such as opioids or alcohol. In the case reports, all patients had past drug or alcoholaddictionissues.

Opioid users have reported using gabapentin to intensify their high. Cocaine users have reported the same, as well as attempts to use gabapentin to help alleviatecocaine withdrawal.

Gabapentin Withdrawal Timeline

Among the documented cases, gabapentin withdrawal began between 12 hours and 7 days after the last dose.The majority saw withdrawal symptoms within 24 to 48 hours.

Signs and Symptoms of Gabapentin Withdrawal

In many of the cases reported in the medical journals, individuals entered gabapentin withdrawal without the intention to do so.This was typically a result of running out of gabapentin or leaving it at home during a trip out of town.

This sample of cases is unlikely to be reflective of most people’s experiences with gabapentin withdrawal. The reason for this is that only people with severe or alarming symptoms seek emergency medical treatment.

Gabapentin Withdrawal Treatment

Your long-term treatment plan for gabapentin dependence will depend on the presence of pre-existing conditions, including substance abuse, and your reasons for taking the drug in the first place.

There are no clinical protocols designed to manage gabapentin withdrawal. You and your healthcare provider can work together to figure out the best way forward.

The general consensus seems to be that tapering off the drug can help prevent severe gabapentin withdrawal symptoms. You could taper your dose at home, but it is best to stay in communication with your healthcare provider.

Depending on your situation, risks could include seizures,opioid dependence, or pain. Your healthcare provider may advise transitioning to a different medication before tapering off gabapentin completely.

Long-Term Treatment

Comprehensive addiction treatment programs typically combine a variety of tactics to help you understand why you began abusing drugs in the first place.

Individual and group therapy sessions can teach you to recognize the negative behavioral patterns that lead you toward drugs. A counselor, therapist, or psychologist can also help you develop strategies for dealing with triggers and cravings.

Coping With Gabapentin Withdrawal

The best way to cope with gabapentin withdrawal will depend on the severity of your withdrawal symptoms and the state of your mental and physical health. Your current dose of gabapentin and your reasons for taking it are also important factors.

Seek medical attention if you or someone you love is already experiencing gabapentin withdrawal symptoms. If your loved one is showing signs of confusion or psychosis, take them to the emergency room.

While it may sound odd, the best treatment for severe gabapentin withdrawal symptoms is gabapentin.Resuming your normal dose of gabapentin will get rid of potentially dangerous symptoms, likedelirium.

After resuming your normal dose, you should make an appointment with your healthcare provider to discuss your motivations for quitting gabapentin. They can help you safely taper your dose. Tapering means taking progressively smaller doses of medication over a period of several weeks or months.

How slowly should you come off gabapentin? The answer depends on your prescribed dosage, how long you’ve been taking it, and if you have any other conditions or issues. In some cases, it has taken more than a year of tapering to avoid or better manage gabapentin withdrawal symptoms.

Gabapentin Withdrawal Warnings

While gabapentin withdrawal may not be well understood, the recorded cases are alarming. Many of the gabapentin withdrawal case studies involve people with a history ofpsychiatric disordersor substance abuse problems.If you share either of these risk factors, there is cause for concern.

Pre-Existing Conditions

During detox and gabapentin withdrawal, the symptoms of pre-existing conditions often return. People with a history ofbipolar disorder,psychosis,depression, and epilepsy are all at risk.

If you have been taking gabapentin for pain, your pain may return to pretreatment levels. People with these conditions may be safer detoxing in a hospital setting, where healthcare providers are prepared to treat any possible complications.

If you have a pre-existing condition or a history of complicated substance withdrawal, you might want to consider spending the first few days of your gabapentin withdrawal in a hospital or specialized inpatient detox facility.

Pregnancy

If you are pregnant, gabapentin can have unpredictable effects. There is one case study in which an infant was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit because she was born in gabapentin withdrawal.

Gabapentin Withdrawal Resources

If you or someone you love is experiencing serious signs of gabapentin withdrawal, such as confusion or delirium, do not hesitate to seek emergency medical attention. If you are planning to stop taking gabapentin, you will want to make an appointment with your prescribing doctor or a primary care doctor who can help see you through the tapering process.

If you are struggling with addiction issues, especially if you’ve been mixing gabapentin with other drugs or alcohol, you will want to find long-term support. You have several options, including:

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

8 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Evoy K, Peckham A, Covvey J, Tidgewell K.Gabapentinoid pharmacology in the context of emerging misuse liability.J Clin Pharmacol. 2021;61(S2):S89-S99. doi:10.1002/jcph.1833U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).Gabapentin (Neurontin®).Mersfelder TL, Nichols WH.Gabapentin: Abuse, dependence, and withdrawal.Ann Pharmacother. 2016;50(3):229-233. doi:10.1177/1060028015620800Smith RV, Lofwall MR, Havens JR.Abuse and diversion of gabapentin among nonmedical prescription opioid users in Appalachian Kentucky.AJP. 2015;172(5):487-488. doi:10.1176%2Fappi.ajp.2014.14101272Norton JW.Gabapentin withdrawal syndrome.Clin Neuropharmacol.2001;24(4):245-246. doi:10.1097/00002826-200107000-00011Deng H, Benhamou OM, Lembke A.Gabapentin dependence and withdrawal requiring an 18-month taper in a patient with alcohol use disorder: A case report.J Addict Dis. 2021;39(4):575-578. doi:10.1080/10550887.2021.1907502Carrasco M, Rao SC, Bearer CF, Sundararajan S.Neonatal gabapentin withdrawal syndrome.Pediatr Neurol.2015;53(5):445-447. doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2015.06.023MedlinePlus.Opioid misuse and addiction treatment.

8 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Evoy K, Peckham A, Covvey J, Tidgewell K.Gabapentinoid pharmacology in the context of emerging misuse liability.J Clin Pharmacol. 2021;61(S2):S89-S99. doi:10.1002/jcph.1833U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).Gabapentin (Neurontin®).Mersfelder TL, Nichols WH.Gabapentin: Abuse, dependence, and withdrawal.Ann Pharmacother. 2016;50(3):229-233. doi:10.1177/1060028015620800Smith RV, Lofwall MR, Havens JR.Abuse and diversion of gabapentin among nonmedical prescription opioid users in Appalachian Kentucky.AJP. 2015;172(5):487-488. doi:10.1176%2Fappi.ajp.2014.14101272Norton JW.Gabapentin withdrawal syndrome.Clin Neuropharmacol.2001;24(4):245-246. doi:10.1097/00002826-200107000-00011Deng H, Benhamou OM, Lembke A.Gabapentin dependence and withdrawal requiring an 18-month taper in a patient with alcohol use disorder: A case report.J Addict Dis. 2021;39(4):575-578. doi:10.1080/10550887.2021.1907502Carrasco M, Rao SC, Bearer CF, Sundararajan S.Neonatal gabapentin withdrawal syndrome.Pediatr Neurol.2015;53(5):445-447. doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2015.06.023MedlinePlus.Opioid misuse and addiction treatment.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Evoy K, Peckham A, Covvey J, Tidgewell K.Gabapentinoid pharmacology in the context of emerging misuse liability.J Clin Pharmacol. 2021;61(S2):S89-S99. doi:10.1002/jcph.1833U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).Gabapentin (Neurontin®).Mersfelder TL, Nichols WH.Gabapentin: Abuse, dependence, and withdrawal.Ann Pharmacother. 2016;50(3):229-233. doi:10.1177/1060028015620800Smith RV, Lofwall MR, Havens JR.Abuse and diversion of gabapentin among nonmedical prescription opioid users in Appalachian Kentucky.AJP. 2015;172(5):487-488. doi:10.1176%2Fappi.ajp.2014.14101272Norton JW.Gabapentin withdrawal syndrome.Clin Neuropharmacol.2001;24(4):245-246. doi:10.1097/00002826-200107000-00011Deng H, Benhamou OM, Lembke A.Gabapentin dependence and withdrawal requiring an 18-month taper in a patient with alcohol use disorder: A case report.J Addict Dis. 2021;39(4):575-578. doi:10.1080/10550887.2021.1907502Carrasco M, Rao SC, Bearer CF, Sundararajan S.Neonatal gabapentin withdrawal syndrome.Pediatr Neurol.2015;53(5):445-447. doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2015.06.023MedlinePlus.Opioid misuse and addiction treatment.

Evoy K, Peckham A, Covvey J, Tidgewell K.Gabapentinoid pharmacology in the context of emerging misuse liability.J Clin Pharmacol. 2021;61(S2):S89-S99. doi:10.1002/jcph.1833

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).Gabapentin (Neurontin®).

Mersfelder TL, Nichols WH.Gabapentin: Abuse, dependence, and withdrawal.Ann Pharmacother. 2016;50(3):229-233. doi:10.1177/1060028015620800

Smith RV, Lofwall MR, Havens JR.Abuse and diversion of gabapentin among nonmedical prescription opioid users in Appalachian Kentucky.AJP. 2015;172(5):487-488. doi:10.1176%2Fappi.ajp.2014.14101272

Norton JW.Gabapentin withdrawal syndrome.Clin Neuropharmacol.2001;24(4):245-246. doi:10.1097/00002826-200107000-00011

Deng H, Benhamou OM, Lembke A.Gabapentin dependence and withdrawal requiring an 18-month taper in a patient with alcohol use disorder: A case report.J Addict Dis. 2021;39(4):575-578. doi:10.1080/10550887.2021.1907502

Carrasco M, Rao SC, Bearer CF, Sundararajan S.Neonatal gabapentin withdrawal syndrome.Pediatr Neurol.2015;53(5):445-447. doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2015.06.023

MedlinePlus.Opioid misuse and addiction treatment.

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