Open main menu ☰
HealingWell
Search Close Search
Health Conditions
Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety & Panic Disorders Arthritis Breast Cancer Chronic Illness Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes
Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Migraine Headache Multiple Sclerosis Prostate Cancer Ulcerative Colitis

View Conditions A to Z »
Support Forums
Anxiety & Panic Disorders Bipolar Disorder Breast Cancer Chronic Pain Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux
Hepatitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Multiple Sclerosis Ostomies Prostate Cancer Rheumatoid Arthritis Ulcerative Colitis

View Forums A to Z »
Log In
Join Us
Close main menu ×
  • Home
  • Health Conditions
    • All Conditions
    • Allergies
    • Alzheimer's Disease
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Arthritis
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Illness
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Migraine Headache
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Support Forums
    • All Forums
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Pain
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Hepatitis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Ostomies
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Log In
  • Join Us
Join Us
☰
Forum Home| Forum Rules| Moderators| Active Topics| Help| Log In

Gabapentin? Any comments about your experience is appreciated.

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
profile picture
Michael85
New Member
Joined : Apr 2020
Posts : 12
Posted 4/30/2020 10:44 AM (GMT -6)
Hey all,

I have GAD, and OCD(obsessive thoughts), started back on lexapro recently. My psychiatrist also prescribed me 100mg Gabapentin to take as needed. He no longer likes to prescribe Xanax, I haven’t had them in a long time anyway so that’s fine. I just have some emergency ones stashed.

Has anyone tried Gabapentin? Still use it? Does it work for you? Pros? Cons? Anything is appreciated.

Thank you all!
profile picture
medved
Veteran Member
Joined : Nov 2009
Posts : 1325
Posted 4/30/2020 1:07 PM (GMT -6)
Hi. I have OCD and probably GAD too, and I will be very interested in how you do with the gabapeptin. I have considered taking it. I am on Zoloft now, at a relatively high dose. I suppose it is helping somewhat but I could use something more, I think. I have a friend who took gabapeptin because she could not tolerate any SSRIs, and it helped her, though she took Valium prn as well.
profile picture
getting by
Forum Moderator
Joined : Sep 2007
Posts : 45187
Posted 4/30/2020 1:47 PM (GMT -6)
I took it for awhile, but it would make me stutter on words. So I stopped taking it. Doesn't mean it isn't a good med, just my experience with it. It was a long time ago too. I think it was called Neurontin then. I hope it works for you. Please do let us know how it goes.

Hugs, Karen...
profile picture
medved
Veteran Member
Joined : Nov 2009
Posts : 1325
Posted 4/30/2020 3:17 PM (GMT -6)
Neurontin is a brand name for gabapeptin.
profile picture
Michael85
New Member
Joined : Apr 2020
Posts : 12
Posted 5/1/2020 11:22 AM (GMT -6)
I’ll definitely let you all know if I decide to open the bottle. I am reading that it is normal something that is used and works over time like an SSRI, but my doctor was kind of spinning it as something I can use in place of Xanax. Of course not to that levers but he made it seem like if I’m feeling panicked or an attack coming, the GABA will help. Has anyone heard that?
profile picture
getting by
Forum Moderator
Joined : Sep 2007
Posts : 45187
Posted 5/1/2020 2:10 PM (GMT -6)
I thought maybe you were taking it for the ocd. I myself have not heard of it being used for anxiety. But meds can be used for different things I understand. I thought it was actually for nerve pain. Anyway, I hope it helps. Let us know. Maybe the doc got something mixed up. Maybe you should call and express your concern. I wish you the best.

Hugs, Karen...
profile picture
medved
Veteran Member
Joined : Nov 2009
Posts : 1325
Posted 5/1/2020 4:51 PM (GMT -6)
It is sometime used for anxiety — perhaps off label? I have not heard it used prn like Xanax.
profile picture
oceanfisher58
Regular Member
Joined : Aug 2017
Posts : 387
Posted 5/2/2020 4:46 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Everyone,
I would like to help if I can. I have degenerative disc disease and have had spinal fusion with discs taken out and metal hardware put in. I have taken Gabapentin in the past so here is my take on this med. It works well for nerve pain which is what I am left with after surgery. I still have more levels which need to be fused and will get this done after my cancer surgery I hope. Gabapentin is used off label for anxiety/depression.

Now for how it worked for me. When I first start taking this med it definitely takes the edge off my anxiety. I was on a baby dose of 3 capsules per day. Each has 100mg. My dr then increased this to 2 capsules 3 times per day. No side effects which are horrible. You will feel a bit tired and your cognitive abilities are slowed quite a bit. It does a good job of ending my anxiety periods. The bad news is the longer I take it the less effective it is for anxiety. If you come off it for a month then start over it works great, at least it did for me.

I am happy to answer any questions. I hope this helps anyone thinking of taking this med. I am of course not a dr and this is just my personal experience.

God bless us all.
profile picture
getting by
Forum Moderator
Joined : Sep 2007
Posts : 45187
Posted 5/8/2020 12:58 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Jamie Washington.

Welcome to the anxiety and panic forum.

I only took it for a short period as it caused me to stutter when I talked. So I stopped it and the stuttering stopped. I would get stuck on words. I didn't like it. I took it for nerve pain.

I hope you find some answers.

Hugs, Karen...
profile picture
Sungirl1
Regular Member
Joined : Mar 2014
Posts : 43
Posted 5/18/2021 9:37 PM (GMT -6)
I was wondering if anyone has walking or balance issues taking gabapentin.
This might sound very weird, but it is almost like I have forgotten how to walk!
It's like my legs and knees don't want to move correctly which is causing knee/ hip issues.
Thanks for any input!
profile picture
SharonZ
Forum Moderator
Joined : Mar 2014
Posts : 2807
Posted 5/19/2021 4:25 AM (GMT -6)
I take Gabapentin (300 mg) for RLS, and have never experienced any walking or balance issues. Usually side effects disappear as you continue taking Gabapentin, but, I would still contact your doctor.

Sharon
profile picture
laurar
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2006
Posts : 734
Posted 4/25/2022 6:22 PM (GMT -6)
I take 600mg Gabapentin and 50mg Hydroxyzine for sleep every night (as well as 25mg Zoloft for my anxiety every morning). Gabapentin is very effective for sleep, and also for calming my body down at night. I'm still sorting out which medication is causing which side effect, but I'm almost positive the Gabapentin is causing some balance issues (like others have said), and just to warn you it can also cause water retention and weight gain which I'm also struggling with at the moment.

Being on the Gabapentin has also allowed me to come off Klonopin, so it is very effective in place of a benzo. Hope that's helpful!

Post Edited (laurar) : 4/25/2022 6:36:19 PM (GMT-6)

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply


More On Anxiety Panic Disorders

5 Ways To Cope With Anxiety That Accompanies Chronic Illness

5 Ways To Cope With Anxiety That Accompanies Chronic Illness

Coping With Holiday Anxiety

Coping With Holiday Anxiety


HealingWell

About Us  |   Advertise  |   Subscribe  |   Privacy & Disclaimer
Connect With Us
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn
© 1997-2022 HealingWell.com LLC All Rights Reserved. Our website is for informational purposes only. HealingWell.com LLC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.