How common is it to get prescribed gabapentin for anxiety?

Old thread but probably way easier than getting a Benzo. Won’t know if you don’t ask

I would say it helped more than I wanted it too . Cause then docs get more excited and lower any of the hood stuff :/
I was prescribed after back fusion . Helps calm nerve pain / noises which is like the red flashy pain in am . Signals I guess . But makes me tired and no way would it replace a opioid . But I can see enhancement when I am lucky to have both ..

Gabapentin is interesting to me because it’s probably the only drug I know of that gets prescribed for just about anything except it’s FDA marketing authorization approved use. Last time I looked it up there was 1% of US prescriptions for gabapentin according to the label’s designated use. So, 99% of the time it’s off label. And while those uses clearly have merit in many people and conditions- it’s not at all understood who and what it will work on. Most meta reviews find no actual proof it works for what many people, just know it does. Stupid healthcare system indeed.

It is a weird experiment.
I think it’s one of those things if you keep taking more and more than physiologically, the body has withdraw from it even though I don’t or we don’t know what actually what it does lol
Granted, I didn’t know some subtle differences but when I tried to reduce what I took then I got weird and sweaty cold sweat not hot sweat please I think it’s the gabapentin. It could just be the stress my life is under. I’m not sure I’m either going to quit, decrease or increase, but since it’s Christmas I’m not gonna worry about it right now

@LatsDoodis that's interesting stats. I just know I am so over it listed under "pain reliever" in instructions after surgery.

Can't use an FDA approved opiod but they will use a horrible drug that has done more harm that good as an off-lable pain medication. What if I went to the doctor and said I need an opiod because it treats my depression? You know the first thing I would hear would be that's not what opiods are labeled for.

Y'all know the point I'm making here. A lot of docs would kiss me if I said I was there for something to treat my pain pancreatic cancer pain and ask for gabapentin. I would have unfettered access to that insidious drug from most perscribers. Even though by a wide margin gabapentin could do--has done-way more harm than the gold standard medication approved by the FDA many, many, many times over.

No matter how many times I rant about this bullshit I still cannot wrap my head around it. I look at the alcohol morbity stats and it floors me that NOT ONE FUCKING legislator is concerned enough to bring a bill forward. Why? Well, a lot of reasons. I would like to think it's because we have learned that prohibition/rationing doesn't work. Nope, can't give that much credit. It's because of the tax revenue generated. It's because of what society would look like if we ripped the scientifically proven, most catastrophic drug known to humankind, away from tens of millions of people in this country. It's because the alcohol lobby would stop giving funds. It's the number of people employed in the alcohol industries. It cracks me up that there are a few crazy doctors who espouse that one opiod--for every person-- pill will create an addiction that a person loses all their free-will to.

But not alcohol. Let's leave that bullshit money maker alone. Don't look over there in the corner where we see the billions of dollars lost in wages, profits, insurance loss, early on-set diseases, property damages, murders, and so many deaths of their addicts. The story is in the cartels feeding Americans bootleg fent because they are dying to get their pain treated. Unfortunately alcohol doesn't kill their pain like it does for millions and millions and millions.

This all stems from a work bestie who had a double mastectomy done Thursday. She is a tough gal. 34, 3 kids. Amazing in all aspects. 10 years ago she had breast implants. She got 30 perks. Shit, her husband went to the ED earlier this year because he hurt his back from lifting weights--he got 20 narcos.I told her to ask for her meds beforehand. She hasn't had any opiods really (got trams for a c-section 6 years ago) in years. Didnt need them.

She told me the doctor assured her that she will treat her pain "very well:"

She called me 6 hours after getting home and said her chest hurt so much that she couldn't describe it. I asked what she got for pain. She said 4 different PAIN pills. She sent me the list.

1. Tramadol 50 mg taken every 8 to 12 hours
2. Gabapentin
3. Celebrex
4. Robaxin

Jesus FUCKING Christ. She had her breasts cut away from her body. With a knife. Down to muscle and bone. And this is treating her pain "very well". She is now throwing up, which causes more pain and has a rash on her checks. She called the surgeon and she said "Stop the Tramadol. You probably don't even need it any longer. Take Tylenol "

Reason 130976 of why I will continue to have as much medical care as I can get in Mexico. This would be seen as torture there. Go figure, right?

To the OP: I can't imagine getting gabapentin would be a problem. But just to guarantee it, have a double mastectomy.

Akup7ich said:

It is a weird experiment.
I think it’s one of those things if you keep taking more and more than physiologically, the body has withdraw from it even though I don’t or we don’t know what actually what it does lol
Granted, I didn’t know some subtle differences but when I tried to reduce what I took then I got weird and sweaty cold sweat not hot sweat please I think it’s the gabapentin. It could just be the stress my life is under. I’m not sure I’m either going to quit, decrease or increase, but since it’s Christmas I’m not gonna worry about it right now

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I’ve been struggling trying to quit Gabapentin too. I went from 1800mg to 300mg in about a month fairly easily but I get this deep shakiness and bad hot flashes.

I would say screw the Gabapentin and go to it's bigger but younger brother, Pregabalin (Lyrica). Been on it for at least 10 years and I'll never go back to Gabapentin for anxiety. I've found it helps to be forward and fairly blunt with your Dr. Like, "I've have many friends that have anxiety and they take Gabapentin and it works wonders for them. I would really like to try it". Something like that. i used to beat around the bush and would be upset if I didn't get what I was looking for. Now I'm on literally every med I've ever needed/wanted to be on

DoomKitty said:

@mountaincat9 Here's the recommended way: Take one 300mg every 30-40 minutes WITH seltzer water until you got the vibe you want. The seltzer is essential. Eating a fatty meal prior also aids metabolism. Usually 900-1800mg total but im sure folks do heaps higher. Feels like a wonky drunk a bit with like a vice around the head warm feel. Also people do that a lot in conjunction with opis to intensify the general high feel. (Obvs poly-drug can be unsafe so proceed with caution!)

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Never could feel these I took 10 600mg or something one time at someone’s suggestion. Felt kinda off but no euphoria or intoxication, maybe some anxiety. Strange my chemistry seems different than most people’s. I don’t feel phenibut. L-theanine gave me amazing focus maybe 2x same with the green tea variety with high theanine content. Seems I build rapid tolerance. Interesting to note that I’m ambidextrous left brain-right brain dominant I wonder if that’s related.

I was prescribed GABA 100mg capsules, during the pandemic — due to isolation & social anxiety.

GABA = THE DEVIL

I couldn’t go for 9 days!!! I was SO CONSTIPATED — I literally started to feel my intestines (feces) bubbling thru my skin. I had lumps around my bunghole; but NO MATTER WHAT — I could not pass bowel movement.

I GOOGLED about my situation. GOOGLE advised me to go to an ER, ASAP. Because my intestines could’ve ruptured & killed me

Luckily, somehow on day 9 — I ended up making probably 4 full bowel movements!!! And continued to do so, until all of my built up was cleared. [It took about 3-4 weeks before I was taking my regularly schedule poops again]

PS: GABA did 0 for my anxiety — unless I combined it with another psych med. But by then, I’d feel like a zombie GABA was in my life for about 2 months….. did absolutely nothing for me — except almost killed me, literally from the inside out

I have been taking gabapentin since 2002. I have found that doctors for some reason won't prescribe a therapeutic dose anymore. In people it's pretty high. like 300mg or more 4 times daily. I was taking 800mg 4 times a day for years with great results. I only went down to 600 because my father (I am autistic and was reliant on him for help paying for some things) he said he would not pay for me to see a doctor unless the doctor reduced the amounts. my father knew nothing about anything, and I said well i was in a good place and could go down to 600.

It was a terrible mistake. I have essential tremor and also RLS as well. So I needed it for label us as well as off label. Now years later, it is impossible to find a doctor that is willing to give 800mg at all, let alone 4 times daily. since I am already on 600, they will continue it, but absolutely refuse to raise it.

So something happened in the last few years that changed how doctors treat this medicine. It is one of the safest meds. the LD50 is so high is is basically impossible to reasonably overdose. You can't get high on it.

So what that a high dose plus alcohol made people feel it more. That is how medicine works with alcohol. I don't drink. But like i said, it is easy to get a script, but impossible to get a script that is hitting therapeutic doses like at least 300mg 4 times daily. I need 800mg. The reduction to 600mg is still hard to handle years later. I regret ever agreeing. My father disowned me anyway so it was pointless.

ClaytonWest said:

I was prescribed GABA 100mg capsules, during the pandemic — due to isolation & social anxiety.

GABA = THE DEVIL

I couldn’t go for 9 days!!! I was SO CONSTIPATED — I literally started to feel my intestines (feces) bubbling thru my skin. I had lumps around my bunghole; but NO MATTER WHAT — I could not pass bowel movement.

I GOOGLED about my situation. GOOGLE advised me to go to an ER, ASAP. Because my intestines could’ve ruptured & killed me

Luckily, somehow on day 9 — I ended up making probably 4 full bowel movements!!! And continued to do so, until all of my built up was cleared. [It took about 3-4 weeks before I was taking my regularly schedule poops again]

PS: GABA did 0 for my anxiety — unless I combined it with another psych med. But by then, I’d feel like a zombie GABA was in my life for about 2 months….. did absolutely nothing for me — except almost killed me, literally from the inside out

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GABA and gabapentin are different medicines. GABA is over the counter and high doses cause all kinds of horrible feeling side effects. Gabapentin you can't really overdose and the worst part is you can no longer eat grapefruit. It does make some people feel a bit light headed, and that is a side effect. But it helps most people that needs it.

GABA though is not the same as gabapentin. Don't get the two confused. GABA is sold in health food stores like GNC. I would avoid it.

randomdaysnow said:

GABA and gabapentin are different medicines. GABA is over the counter and high doses cause all kinds of horrible feeling side effects. Gabapentin you can't really overdose and the worst part is you can no longer eat grapefruit. It does make some people feel a bit light headed, and that is a side effect. But it helps most people that needs it.

GABA though is not the same as gabapentin. Don't get the two confused. GABA is sold in health food stores like GNC. I would avoid it.

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My friend @randomdaysnow ,

This TOPIC is regarding “Gabapentin.”

So instead of typing out “Gabapentin” 20x — during my I ALMOST DIED FROM GABAPENTIN Christmas story

… I simply made a calculated, business decision to abbreviate “Gabapentin” with GABA

** I ASSumed that our nerdy, educated, computer-savvy, regulars, general, DBG community wouldve / shouldve / couldve got my GIST :

between my GABA abbreviations versus “Gabapentin” s-p-e-l-l-e-d o-u-t 1 l-e-t-t-e-r a-t a t-i-m-e ….. 20 t-i-m-e-s

Happy Holidays

randomdaysnow said:

I have been taking gabapentin since 2002. I have found that doctors for some reason won't prescribe a therapeutic dose anymore. In people it's pretty high. like 300mg or more 4 times daily. I was taking 800mg 4 times a day for years with great results. I only went down to 600 because my father (I am autistic and was reliant on him for help paying for some things) he said he would not pay for me to see a doctor unless the doctor reduced the amounts. my father knew nothing about anything, and I said well i was in a good place and could go down to 600.

It was a terrible mistake. I have essential tremor and also RLS as well. So I needed it for label us as well as off label. Now years later, it is impossible to find a doctor that is willing to give 800mg at all, let alone 4 times daily. since I am already on 600, they will continue it, but absolutely refuse to raise it.

So something happened in the last few years that changed how doctors treat this medicine. It is one of the safest meds. the LD50 is so high is is basically impossible to reasonably overdose. You can't get high on it.

So what that a high dose plus alcohol made people feel it more. That is how medicine works with alcohol. I don't drink. But like i said, it is easy to get a script, but impossible to get a script that is hitting therapeutic doses like at least 300mg 4 times daily. I need 800mg. The reduction to 600mg is still hard to handle years later. I regret ever agreeing. My father disowned me anyway so it was pointless.

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What were they prescribed for, my friend?

They started me at 100mg for anxiety, during the pandemic.

- Led to nothing but constipation city
- 2/10 as for as anxiety aid

But I understand lately that it’s now considered a “narc0tic.”

At what doses of “Gabapentin” made you feel pain-free, anxiety-free, etc?

It's like voting. I vote for the people I know that under their authority it will be MUCH easier to advocate for, and possibly achieve my goals. I vote for the people where I can be as authentic as I have the means to. Where I have the most access to the accommodations I need, as well under which there is the strongest SafetyNet for me in case something happens and I fall down.

Gabapentin is that for me. I vote gagabentin everytime when it comes to the world I want to live in. Is it perfect? no. does it solve every problem? no. When compared to the alternative, would you rather suffer life with it, or without it? Will it help me endure that suffering? Yes. Does it go a fair job at attempting to get along with the rest of my body? yes. In fact, it goes above and beyond it's campaign promises. All in all, I would continue to vote gabapentin until it was gabapentin vs something even better.

In the end, I cannot tell you how to vote. And I am only one of millions of people with a voice.