Gabapentin is an addiction treatment medication

Gabapentin is used to treat cases of addiction in an off-label manner. Different companies, including Parke-Davis, Greenstone, and Teva, manufacture several varieties of the generic drug. Other drugs that have been used to treat the symptoms of addiction withdrawal, for specific substances, include:

Clondine
Other anticonvulsants, such as Tegretol and Depakote
Methadone and buprenorphine
Naltrexone

Typical Application

Available in capsules, tablets, and as an oral liquid, dosages range from 100 mg to 800 mg. The frequency with which a dose is repeated depends on the specific dose, which is usually based on the severity of withdrawal and the client’s weight. The drug’s half-life is around 5-7 hours.

Generally, it is used during medical detox and throughout subsequent treatment modalities to support relapse prevention while clients adjust to their new sober lifestyles.

Treating Substance Abuse

According to Medscape, gabapentin can inflict users with suicidal thoughts and abrupt changes in behavior. For this reason, it should only be used under medical supervision. It can also cause elevated blood pressure, fever, sleep problems, appetite changes, and chest pain.

While it has been used to treat addictions to other substances, gabapentin is most often used to treat alcoholism — an addiction some 16.6 million adults suffered from in 2013, per the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

During withdrawal from alcohol abuse or dependency, clients may experience anxiety, tremors, agitation, and irritability. In order to understand how gabapentin works, there must be a basic understanding of how the brain works first. Nervous system activity is partially controlled by GABA neurotransmitters. Gabapentin works by reducing activity among GABA. As a result, signals for pain, agitation, and anxiety are reduced, too.

An American Journal of Psychiatry study showed impressive results during the 16-week treatment of 150 people who were dependent on alcohol, noting better results among those who were treated with both gabapentin and naltrexone than the latter alone. TheJournal of Clinical Psychiatry reported on another study in which individuals treated for alcoholism with gabapentin showed a significant reduction in how much they drank and a greater rate of abstinence than those in the placebo group.

Gabapentin has the same calming effect on individuals who are detoxing from marijuana and benzodiazepines. Despite claims from fans of the plant-based drug, marijuana is indeed addictive. In 2012, 305,560 people checked into rehab citing cannabis as their primary drug of abuse, per the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. One Neuropsychopharmacology study that analyzed the use of gabapentin in the treatment of marijuana addiction and withdrawal noted individuals in the gabapentin treatment group used less marijuana, had fewer withdrawal symptoms, and experienced improvements in cognitive functioning, compared to the placebo group.

Gabapentin is also used to treat Alcohol Withdrawal

I am still on gabapentin. Dose is 600mg three times a day – total 1800mg in a 24 hour period. I had not had a drink “craving” since August 11, 2014 when I quit. (I did this within one week of starting gabapentin).

I did have a glass of wine at Christmas, one beer on my birthday, and one glass of wine at Easter. That’s it. I use to have 10 beers a day, and three glasses of wine or gin for bad panic attacks and generalized anxiety. So for me (not everyone) I can have that occasional drink with friends, at party or any social event – then come home and not touch the stuff and WITHOUT ANY CRAVINGS AT ALL – as I had during my 40-year binge. Still, this drug is amazing. AA never worked for me.

“I went on gabapentin for alcoholism that troubled me for 10 years when nothing including Alcoholics Anonymous barely worked. I read anecdotal information that it helped with alcoholism, went on 600mg twice daily and it was the first thing that helped me.

Now I take 1200mg twice daily and find it works great! Afterwards I read a study in the Journal of American Medicine, Gabapentin in Alcohol Dependance, 2014 that confirmed it works well in many people for cravings and binge drinking. This medicine should be further studied to confirm it works well. On this site it is obvious it helps a lot of people struggling with alcoholism which I have, along with Bipolar Disorder. I call Gabapentin my” happy pills” that also takes away my anxiety

I’ve detoxed several times. The last one was really bad. This time My Dr. put me gabapentin 300 mg. 3 times a day and Lithium. I usually suffer withdrawals for 5-7 days. I did have anxiety for two days, but I’m on day 3, no anxiety and no cravings

Treating a Gabapentin Addiction

Frequent and excessive use of Gabapentin can lead to a physical and psychological dependence on the drug. This is when someone becomes so accustomed to taking a drug that they need it to feel and function normally. Quitting a drug like Gabapentin cold turkey can be dangerous and induce several withdrawal symptoms of varying severity. These include anxiety, insomnia, nausea, pain, and sweating. Quitting also increases one’s likelihood of having a seizure which can lead to personal injury or the development of medical problems and life-threatening emergencies. Trying to quit should be done at a rehab facility or with the guidance and supervision of a professional during a medical detox.

Signs of a Gabapentin Addiction

Effects of excessive Gabapentin use include:

Drowsiness
Coordination problems
Tremors
Dizziness
Depression
Suicidal thoughts/behaviors
Changes in mood
Dizziness
Poor coordination
Forgetfulness
Anxiety
Difficulty speaking
Inability to feel pleasure

It is important to try to recognize these symptoms and to be wary of other red flags, such as the presence or abundance of pill bottles. These effects can be detrimental to one’s health, livelihood, and overall safety.

Many Gabapentin users in early recovery abuse Gabapentin because at high doses (800mg or more), they may experience a euphoric-like high that does not show up on drug screens. Gabapentin abusers typically take the drug in addition to opioids to produce their desired high, a dangerous and potentially deadly combination. It is possible to fatally overdose on Gabapentin, both on its own or in conjunction with other drugs. However, there is currently no antidote that can be administered to someone in the case of a Gabapentin overdose as there is with opioid overdoses. If you find a loved one showing signs of an overdose–drowsiness, muscle weakness, lethargy and drooping eyelids, diarrhea, and sedation—seek medical attention immediately.

Signs of Gabapentin Addiction

Lying about or exaggerating symptoms to doctors
Seeking out multiple doctors to get extra doses
Switching doctors after the original doctor refuses to continue prescribing the medication
Changes in social habits and/or circles
Changes in personal hygiene and grooming habits
Constant preoccupation with the drug
Unease at the thought of the drug being unavailable
Refusal to quit despite social, financial, or legal consequences
Failed attempts to quit

Can Gabapentin cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them.

The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with gabapentin.

You will find a full list in the manufacturer’s information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Common gabapentin side-effects	What can I do if I experience this?
Feeling sleepy, tired, unsteady or dizzy; blurred vision and other eyesight problems	Do not drive or use tools or machines
Headache	Ask your pharmacist to recommend a suitable painkiller
Feeling or being sick, indigestion, stomach ache	Stick to simple foods – avoid rich or spicy meals
Diarrhoea	Drink plenty of water to replace the lost fluids
Constipation	Try to eat a well-balanced diet and drink several glasses of water each day
Dry mouth	Try chewing sugar-free gum or sucking sugar-free sweets
Infections, flu-like symptoms, increased appetite, flushing, increased blood pressure, changes in weight, changes in emotions or mood, fits, movement difficulties, feeling shaky, difficulties sleeping, breathing difficulties, cough, gum changes, bruises, muscle or joint pains, impotence, and swollen feet or ankles	If any of these become troublesome, speak with your doctor for advice

Important: gabapentin has been associated with a number of unwanted effects which affect the blood, pancreas and liver.

Although these occur less commonly than the side-effects listed above, you must let your doctor know straightaway if you notice any of the following as they could be serious:

- Persistent stomach pain with sickness (these could be symptoms of an inflamed pancreas).
- A skin rash, or any swelling of your mouth or face (these could be symptoms of an allergic reaction).
- Any yellowing of your skin or of the whites of your eyes (these could be symptoms of jaundice).
- Any unusual bruising or bleeding (these could be symptoms of a blood disorder).

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

How many health condition can Gabapentin used for ?

There are a lot of off label usage of Gabapentin.

Gabapentin Can be used for a lot of Nerve Pain related health conditions including Cough, Hot Flashes, Alcohol Withdrawal, Anxiety 161 reviews, Bipolar Disorder, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Postherpetic Neuralgia, Migraine, Insomnia， Occipital Neuralgia， Peripheral Neuropathy，Vulvodynia, Benign Essential Tremor, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Pain Relief, Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy , Neuropathic Pain，Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome，Periodic Limb Movement Disorder， Spondylolisthesis， Burning Mouth Syndrome，Pudendal Neuralgia， Small Fiber Neuropathy.

Use only the brand and form of gabapentin that your doctor has prescribed. Check your medicine each time you get a refill at the pharmacy, to make sure you have received the correct form of this medication. Do not stop taking Gabapentin unless your doctor tells you to. If your treatment is stopped it should be done gradually over a minimum of 1 week. If you stop taking gabapentin suddenly or before your doctor tells you, there is an increased risk of seizures.

Where to buy Gabapentin ?

You can buy Neurontin at any drug store, if you have a prescription. But if you want to save your money, the best variant for you is to buy Neurontin or generic Neurontin (Gabapentin) from an online pharmacy.

We sell both gabapentin tablets and capsules.

Neurontin is a trade mark that is owned by Pfizer company.

Gabapentin is also manufactured and marketed by other pharmaceutical companies all over the world. However it can not be marketed under the brand name Neurontin, so you can find many other medicines having absolutely the same compound, effect and safety level as Neurontin, some of those medicines are: Fanatrex, Gabarone, Gralise, Nupentin. All of these medicines are called “generics of Neurontin”.

These medicines, as they are less advertised, are much cheaper than Neurontin. However they can be hardly found at local drug stores, the only option you have, if you want to save your money and receive a high quality medicine, is to buy generic

Neurontin at our online pharmacy, which guarantees you the highest quality of the medicine, and affordable price at the same time.

When Neurontin (Gabapentin) is prescribed?

Neurontin is prescribed for the treatment of the following conditions in adults and children over 3 years:

Various forms of epilepsy. Usually doctors prescribe prescribe Neurontin for patients to help them to treat your epilepsy when a current treatment is not fully controlling his/her condition. Neurontin is used as addition to the main treatment of epilepsy.

Peripheral neuropathic pain (long lasting pain caused by damaged nerves). This disease can occur and develop in various conditions: injury, diabetes, shingles, and others.

Your doctor may prescribe you Neurontin for the treatment of other diseases, if he thinks that it is a right medicine for your case.

Before you start the treatment with Neurontin

When your doctor prescribes you Neurontin, you should necessarily inform him about the following:

If you are hypersensitive to Gabapentin
If you have any allergy
If you have any chronic or acute disease
If you are on haemodialysis
If you are taking some other medicines at the moment
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed in near future

Pharmaceutical form of Neurontin (Gabapentin)

Capsules

Neurontin is supplied in a form of capsules by 100 mg, 300 mg or 400 mg of Gabapentin.

Capsules also contain lactose monohydrate, maize starch, talc, gelatin, purified water, and sodium lauryl sulphate.

Film-Coated Tablets

Neurontin is supplied in a form of film-coated tablets by 600 mg or 800 mg of Gabapentin.

Tablets of Neurontin also contain poloxamer 407 (ethylene oxide and propylene oxide), copovidone, maize starch and magnesium stearate, opadry white YS-1-18111 (hydroxypropylcellulose, talc), candelilla wax.

Oral solution

Neurontin oral solution if supplied in bottles containing 470 ml.

Dosage of Neurontin and special recommendations

For the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia in adults, the following daily dosage is prescribed: a single 300mg dose of Neurontin on Day 1, 600 mg/day on Day 2 (divided in 2 intakes), and 900 mg day on Day 3 (divided in 3 intakes). If the effect of Neurontin is insufficient, the daily dose may be gradually increased to 1800 mg (divided in 3 intakes).

Clinical studies show that the most effective and optimal daily dosage is 1800 mg daily, doses exceeding this amount do not show improvement of the effect achieved by the daily dose of 1800 mg.

For the treatment of epilepsy, Neurontin is used in different doses for children over 3 years and for adults, the daily dose of Neurontin for adults and children over 12 years is: from 900 to 1800 mg/day taken in divided doses (three times a day), using 300 or 400 mg capsules, or 600 or 800 mg tablets. The starting dose is 300 mg three times a day.

If necessary, the daily dose may be increased using 300 or 400 mg capsules, or 600 or 800 mg tablets three times a day up to 1800 mg/day. The interval between the previous dose and increased dose should be no less than 12 hours.

For the treatment of epilepsy in children under 12 years the following dosage is prescribed: the starting dose should range from 10–15 mg/kg/day, the dose should be divided in 3 doses. In order to find the correct dose, it is recommended to increase the dose gradually in 3 days.

The optimal dose of Neurontin in patients of 5 years and older is 25–35 mg/kg/day, the maximum dose is 40mg of Neurontin taken in 3 intakes. Neurontin in children can be administered as the oral solution, capsule, or tablet, or using combinations of these formulations.

Patients with diabetes and acute renal failure should take reduced doses of Neurontin.

Neurontin is a medication that is available these days for the purpose of treating problems in relation to epilepsy. It is an anticonvulsant medication that helps you in controlling seizure symptoms. In case when you need to buy this medication, you can do that online. But you should be cautious when you buy it.

Buy this from a reputed online pharmacy store. When you take generic Neurontin there will be a cost benefit as available to you. But make sure you know that how you should take this medication and all the precautions that you need to take.

When you are on Gabapentin or Neurontin you should wear an ID card having personal info and your physicians contact number. In case of any serious complication in an emergency there can be some help that can be demanded.

Gabapentin Usage

You should use Gabapentin exactly as per your doctors advice. You should report him in case when you have some allergic reactions like hives, skin rashes and breathing problems. You should also tell your doctor if there are any side effects.

Gabapentin 100mg, Gabapentin 300mg, Gabapentin 400mg, Gabapentin 600mg, Gabapentin 800mg

Patients having heart diseases, liver diseases and kidney diseases should be very much cautious when this medication is used. It should be taken only with doctors instructions and also there should be some amount of special medical attention that will be needed.

It is important to note that Gabapentin may give you suicidal thoughts and this can happen and you should therefore be in touch with your doctor when this medication is going on.

If you feel that the problems have worsened and there is depression, agitation, anxiety and seizures you must immediately tell your doctor about this. He may have to change the dose or at least change the medication.

It is up to the care givers to give extra attention to patients going through this phase and who are on Generic Neurontin.

It is still not known that whether this medication can be taken safely by pregnant women or not. But still, it is vital that you tell the doctor about pregnancy and plans to become pregnant so that he can guide you over the issue.

This medication can get into the blood and via that into the breast milk. Thus females who are nursing mothers should avoid generic Neurontin or Neurontin.

You should ask your doctor about all the instructions that are required to be followed when he tells you to buy this medication. You should ask about all the doubts that you have. You must also read the instruction list that comes with the medication.

It is also important to note that some doctors prescribe other medications also along with Neurontin so as to get effective treatment for the problem. It is vital to know that this epilepsy medication is not apt for children below3 years of age. The combination drugs with Neurontin are apt for children who are above 12 years of age.

If you are aware of the mentioned precautions you can take safe steps for treatment.

This medication may create a few risks for patients who are already suffering from problems like kidney, liver or heart problems. Thus if you have any such problems or you are tasking any medication in relation to these disorders then you should tell this to your doctor in advance.

You should be very specific about the scheduled appointments. Make sure that you check your doctor regularly and this is something for your safety.

If after starting the medication you feel that the problems have worsened then in that case you should be quite cautious. You should tell about this to the doctor and he will take the required action that may be needed.