Medically reviewed by Kevin Wandler, MD, Chief Medical Advisor
Gabapentin is a prescription medication used to treat certain seizure disorders and nerve pain, and doctors prescribe it for a range of other conditions as well. Because it is not an opioid or a benzodiazepine, many people assume it is easy to stop. For some, it is. For others, especially those who have taken it for a long time, at higher amounts or in ways other than prescribed, stopping suddenly can bring on uncomfortable and sometimes serious withdrawal.
This article explains why gabapentin withdrawal happens, what symptoms to watch for, how misuse can develop and what safer options look like. If you take gabapentin, talk with your prescriber before stopping or changing how you take it.
How Gabapentin Affects the Brain
Gabapentin calms overactive nerve signaling. That effect is why it helps with some types of seizures and nerve pain. With ongoing use, the nervous system adjusts to its presence. If the medication is stopped abruptly, the nervous system can become temporarily overexcited, which is what drives withdrawal symptoms.
Gabapentin is not a federally controlled substance, but some states monitor it more closely because of concerns about misuse. Its prescribing information advises reducing the dose gradually rather than stopping suddenly, particularly for people taking it to control seizures.
Common Gabapentin Withdrawal Symptoms
Not everyone who stops gabapentin has withdrawal, but symptoms reported by people who do include:
- Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
- Trouble sleeping
- Sweating and a racing heartbeat
- Nausea and stomach upset
- Increased pain, including a return of nerve pain
- Irritability and low mood
- Confusion or disorientation
- Seizures, especially in people with a seizure disorder
Because gabapentin leaves the body relatively quickly, withdrawal symptoms can begin fairly soon after a missed or stopped dose. How long they last varies, and a gradual taper usually makes them easier to manage. If someone has a seizure or becomes severely confused, call 911.
How Gabapentin Misuse Develops
Gabapentin misuse sometimes starts innocently. A person may take extra doses when pain flares or sleep will not come. In other cases, people use it for its relaxing or euphoric effects, often in combination with other substances. It is especially common for people who use opioids to add gabapentin to intensify the effect.
That combination is risky. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned that gabapentin and related medications can cause serious breathing problems when taken with opioids or other substances that slow the central nervous system, as well as in people with existing lung problems or older adults. Mixing gabapentin with alcohol or benzodiazepines raises similar concerns.
Signs that gabapentin use may have become a problem include:
- Taking more than prescribed or running out early
- Using it without a prescription or getting it from others
- Combining it with opioids, alcohol or other sedatives
- Feeling unable to cut back despite wanting to
- Continuing to use it even when it causes problems at home or work
Concerns about prescription medication misuse are not new. Our article on whether prescription drug misuse is increasing offers helpful background.
Talking With Your Prescriber About Stopping
If gabapentin was prescribed for you and you want to stop, your prescriber is the right first call. It can help to go into that conversation prepared. Consider asking:
- What condition is gabapentin treating for me, and what happens to that condition if I stop?
- How should my dose be reduced, and how will we know if the pace needs to change?
- Which withdrawal symptoms should I report right away?
- Are any of my other medications affected if I stop gabapentin?
Be honest about how you have actually been taking it, including any extra doses or other substances. That information helps your provider keep you safe, and it is not a reason for judgment.
When Other Substances Are Involved
People who misuse gabapentin often use other substances too, and that changes the picture. If opioids are involved, opioid withdrawal may happen at the same time. If alcohol or benzodiazepines are involved, the situation becomes more serious: withdrawal from alcohol and benzodiazepines can be life-threatening and should never be attempted abruptly without medical guidance.
A medical team can sort out which substances need attention first, what order makes sense and how to keep you as safe and comfortable as possible. That is where medically supervised detox services can help.
Getting Help at Promises Dallas-Fort Worth
At our Lewisville campus, medical detox provides supervised withdrawal management, with medication-assisted treatment used during detox when clinically appropriate. The team reviews every substance you have been using so the plan fits your real situation.
After detox, our prescription drug addiction treatment helps people understand how their use developed and build healthier ways to cope with pain, stress and sleep problems. If anxiety, depression or trauma is part of the picture, dual diagnosis treatment addresses mental health and substance use together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is gabapentin addictive?
Gabapentin can be misused, and some people develop physical dependence or a pattern of compulsive use. The risk appears higher in people with a history of other substance use.
Can I just stop taking gabapentin?
Talk with your prescriber first. Stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms and, for people with seizure disorders, may lead to seizures.
How long does gabapentin withdrawal last?
It depends on how long and how much you have taken, and whether other substances are involved. A gradual, supervised taper typically makes the process more manageable.
What if I am using gabapentin with opioids?
Please seek medical help. The combination can slow breathing dangerously, and withdrawal from both needs careful management.
Get Support for Gabapentin Misuse
If gabapentin has become harder to control than you expected, reaching out is a sign of strength. Our admissions team is available 24/7, and same-day admission is often possible when a bed is available. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988.
We offer free, confidential insurance verification. Learn about insurance options, call (469) 546-9303, or contact us to talk with someone today.