Hi everyone
I'm new here and looking for some advice
I have a history of opiate addiction, mainly tramadol and dihydrocodine. I have been in (and I'm currently in the process of getting back into) the nhs prescribing service but have never really been free of addiction. I suffer from severe depression and use drugs as a way of coping.
I am now hugely addicted to gabapentin and over the counter dihydrocodiene and co codamol.
The drug service have told me that the best thing to do is reduce the gabapentin slowly myself and come off it as there is no substitute. But I am not sure how to do this? Has anyone else had to come of gabapentin. I am terrified of wd as I take very high doses.
They want to put me on subutex or suboxone for opiates.
I am so depressed with everything. I am off work sick as had a suicide attempt recently. I'm struggling to cope and the addiction is ruining my life
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Lisa.
He estado allí y lo he hecho y tengo la camiseta, cariño!! ¡Créeme!!!!
Hay una organización benéfica llamada "Release" el número de teléfono es
02073242972
Por favor llámalos. Saben más que los médicos y también tienen respaldo legal.
Te ayudarán cuando el sistema que se supone que lo hará no lo haga.
Por favor llámalos. En realidad me salvaron la vida. No estaría aquí ahora mismo si no fuera por ellos.
Buena suerte
Con amor Ritchie xx
Hola Lisa, recientemente dejé de tomar Suboxone y antes de eso, estaba en el programa de metadona.
En total, pasé más de 12 años en ambos programas de tratamiento. Por lo tanto, puedo tener alguna idea sobre la situación. Si no estás llevando bien la vida como usuario de drogas de cualquier tipo, la realidad es que necesitarás ayuda para aliviarte físicamente y obtener apoyo para abordar los aspectos psicológicos de tu patrón de comportamiento repetitivo y, con suerte, recuperar algo de control positivo y una perspectiva consciente de tus acciones y elecciones y por qué has tomado esos caminos. Deberías buscar apoyo en algún lugar que ofrezca una rehabilitación completamente holística si es posible, ya que te reduce a lo más básico, es decir, sin azúcar, café, estimulantes de ningún tipo, para que puedas pensar con claridad y sentirte lo suficientemente bien como para adherirte a cualquier programa que elijas emprender, incluyendo suboxona/metadona. Esto es lo que hice y es prueba y error. ¡Solo ten en cuenta que has construido malos hábitos durante muchos años, por lo que sentirte mal y castigarte si no tienes éxito de inmediato es definitivamente contraproducente y una pérdida de energía! Si al principio te cuesta... sigue adelante, levántate al desafío de reconectar contigo mismo, escondido debajo de todo el abuso de drogas y la vergüenza, etc. ¡Enamórate de ti mismo y mantente real... mentirte a ti mismo solo se interpondrá en el camino de lo que claramente quieres hacer! B33 feliz.
Todo lo mejor... CHARLOTTE.
When you say a high dose, what dosage are you taking. The higher the amount, the higher withdrawals are.
Why have you been prescribed gabapentin? Do you suffer from epilepsy or severe migraine headaches?
I am not sufficiently qualified yet to give advice on how to withdraw from gabapentin. As you're on a very high dose you say, then you need to go to your gp or drug services and get correct advice. You can't just suddenly stop, reduction has to be done very gradually. If you reduce too quickly it can affect your epilepsy and can bring on seizures. The withdrawal of gabapentin can be very unpleasant and debilitating, and you may find you need something like diazepam (Valium) or Librium to help with the withdrawals.
Its not really a good idea to ask on an open forum for advice on how to withdraw, your gp or whoever prescribed it originally.
Gabapentine is not an antidepressant, nor is it a mild tranquilliser. As it's a pain killer, surely you want another type of pain killer. You will definitely IMO need something to help you withdraw and also another pain killer.
You need a detailed drug plan, drawn up by whoever prescribed gabapentin originally. It's too dangerous asking unqualified people how to withdraw and by how much.
Hi
Thanks for you're reply.
First of all I'm not asking for advice on how to withdraw and I am aware that most users of the forum would not be qualified to advise this and not do I expect them to be. I was asking if anyone had ever came off gabapentin and could share there experience maybe?
I was not prescribed gabapentin. It is a drug that I began to abuse about a year ago. I take it illicitly unfortunately
I take approximately 4800mg daily though it varies and can be less.
My gp has offered no advice on how to do this.
Like I said I am waiting to be prescribed a substitute and I am under the appropriate drug service.
Hi charlotte thank you for you're reply 😊
The drug service where I live, unfortunately has been cut and changed a lot recently. I received a bit of psychological support from the drug service when I was under them around two years ago.
I suffer from severe depression which I am still receiving help for and I think that this and the addiction go hand in hand with me.
I want to change its just so hard to see light at the end.
It sounds like you have been through quite a journey yourself. Xx have you had good support with it?
Hi Richie. Thanks for you're reply.
I will look into the charity thank you 😊
I am always looking for things which have helped other people.
Which area is this in because I am in the UK x (Scotland) x
Hi Lisa, I've no experience with what your going through but all I can do is send you my love and sincere hope that you get the best treatment possible. You deserve an addiction free life and I wish you all the best with your journey.
Neil xx
Why on earth are you taking a dangerous drug like gabapentin when you don't suffer from epilepsy?
Theres loads of advice online about withdrawing from gabapentin, none of it pleasant. As you seem to be able to get whatever drugs you like without a prescription, then I'm sure you will find something else. Swap one addiction for another, simple. Why should the NHS help you when you can get all the drugs you want illicitly
This forum is for substance abuse advise is it not?
Why are you in here if you are going to be so judgmental??
You don't know me or what my history is so please don't assume.
Not sure why you are in here if not to give sound advise!!
Hola Lisa.
Están en Londres, pero llámalos y te ayudarán.
En serio, si no fuera por estas personas abriéndome cada puerta que me habían cerrado en la cara, no estaría aquí ahora.
Por favor, por favor llámalos.
Ritchie xx
Lisa.
Estoy totalmente de acuerdo contigo.
He estado allí y tengo todas las camisetas, y lo último que necesitas es un montón de basura (Si maldices aquí, se elimina ;-) )
Por favor, llame a Release, Lisa.
No había oído hablar de ellos hasta que estaba suicida y tomaba suficiente Oxycontin para matar a 3 hombres y 4 caballos!!!!
No recuerdo si publiqué su número de teléfono antes, si no, aquí está:
02073242972
Por favor, llámelos mañana.
Te prometo que están mucho más cualificados que cualquier médico de cabecera, y también tienen respaldo legal.
Claire me ayudó, pero Dan también es un diamante y solo quieren ayudar y obtuve más ayuda de ellos que de cualquier médico de cabecera o servicio de drogas!!!
¡Buena suerte 😊!
Ritchie xx
Vickylou.
Por tu actitud totalmente ciega hacia Lisa, supongo que nunca has estado en la desafortunada posición de ser adicto a nada!!!!!
¿Se te ha ocurrido (como en mi situación) que puede que le hayan recetado esto un médico de cabecera que no sabía lo que hacía????
Como dije, supongo que por tu actitud despiadada nunca has sido adicto a nada, si lo has sido, entonces sabes lo que es y deberías saber mejor.
Si no lo has sido, entonces qué hace una persona despiadada como tú en este foro cuando obviamente no tienes ni idea de lo que es estar en la posición de Lisa, o de cualquier otra persona con una adicción!!!!????
Cuídate
Ritchie!
I am very aware of addiction and the problems it causes, not just to the user, but their friends, relatives are all affected.
Are you claiming medical malpractice then? If a gp prescribed an anti epilepsy drug and I didn't have epilepsy, I think I might just query it!
make an official complaint then, if that's what happened, instead of moaning report the dr for malpractice. Simple.
Estoy diciendo que en mi situación me recetaron 800 mg de Oxycontin al día, cuando lo máximo debería ser no más de 400 mg al día.
Pero no estoy aquí ni "quejándome" de mi situación.
Lo que estoy diciendo es que, como afirmas saber sobre la adicción, deberías ser mucho más comprensivo con la situación de Lisa. Deberías ofrecer apoyo, ya que deberías saber exactamente por lo que está pasando y no buscar fallos en ella y criticar cada cosa por la que está pidiendo ayuda.
Deberías ofrecer apoyo, ya que afirmas saberlo todo sobre la adicción, deberías conocer todos los problemas que atraviesan las personas adictas. Pero todo lo que estás diciendo es atacar a Lisa, así que dudo mucho que hayas estado allí y usado su camiseta como afirmas haber hecho??!!!
I do feel sorry for anyone that has to take a drug they don't need. Obviously they have some sort of problem.
im not having a go at Lisa, but to deliberately take an anti epilepsy drug when you've not got epilepsy is odd to say the least.
please do not say I don't know about addiction, I can assure you I do. What I don't do is moaning about how to get a drug I don't need
Lo siento Vickylou, pero obviamente no tienes ni idea sobre la adicción. Si la tuvieras, no serías tan insensible y fría con Lisa, que sí tiene un problema de adicción.
Afirmas que la Gabapentina es solo para la epilepsia. ¡Entonces, cómo es que me recetaron Gabapentina para una enfermedad de disco en la parte baja de la espalda! Nunca he sufrido de epilepsia en mi vida, pero me recetaron este medicamento por mi médico de cabecera. Como confío en que un médico de cabecera calificado sabe más que yo sobre medicamentos, condiciones y cómo tratarlas.
Afirmas que sabes sobre la adicción, me atrevo a decir que nunca, jamás, has estado realmente adicta a nada. Si lo has estado, entonces tendrías más empatía hacia personas como Lisa, una adicta, que solo está pidiendo ayuda para poner su vida en orden. No esperando ser insultada por personas que nunca han caminado en sus zapatos y que nunca han estado en su posición.
Espero sinceramente que nunca tengas que hacerlo Vicky, porque si lo hicieras, solo entonces sabrías realmente cómo se sintió.
Cuídate
It's ok Richie,
Vickylou's attitude is just the sort of attitude and judgement toward addiction I have had to deal with in the past. People judge without ever really knowing the reasons.
Ignorance really.
For the record though Vicky, I saturated taking Gabapentin around 6 months ago. I was heavily addicted to Opiates and a family member gets gabapentin prescribed and offered me a couple after I tried to quit cold turkey. They helped ease the withdrawals but unfortunately My tolerance to them grew and when I stopped them I felt horrendous.
I never asked on the thread how to obtain them... just if anyone had experience of coming off them. In a sense, I have swapped one addiction for another. I hate what I have become. I use drugs as a way of dealing with my past and childhood which was very traumatic (I have ptsd and Major depressive disorder) I hate what I have become. I attempted suicide at the beginning of May because I hate myself so much.
I'm trying to dig myself out of this dark photo find myself in.
How can I do it with so many ignorant people judging me like you have?!
Ritchie,
I appreciate your understanding of what I am going through. You are a kind person. I hope u are doing ok. Love and hugs, Lisa x
Sorry about the bad spelling. Was quite upset when I wrote the reply.
Lisa,
You need specialist help. Withdrawal from gabapentin is certainly possible. However, it would require a complex approach. Firstly, you would need to be put on benzodiazepines, possibly diazepam, as they have a longer half-life time in the body. Then you would need to taper off gabapentin. At the same time, you would also need to be put on antidepressants - probably tricyclic antidepressants in this case - in order to manage the depression. Finally, you would need a strong non-opioid pain killer - e.g. diclofenac.
At some point, when you wouldn't need gabapentin anymore, diazepam could be slowly tapered off.
As you can see, this sounds complex. You need a withdrawal plan and this has to be prepared by a psychiatrist and/or a neurologist who has experience in substance misuse. It is also possible that you would be asked to spend some time in a hospital during this process (as a voluntary patient). Anyway, stay strong, do not give up, don't lose faith - your situation is bad, but certainly not beyond hope.