secretchord

I visited my doctor this morning and she prescribed me with Gabapentin. Any advice from others that have been on this prescription?

She also told me I need to come back to this forum. So, I'm back.

ReadyAtLast

My friend takes it for chronic pain.

PeacefulWater12

My husband takes it for chronic pain too. For many years now. He is an active alcoholic.

As I understand it Gabapentin is additive. He is also on other addictive meds. I really don't know how they effect him as I say he is actively drinking already anyway.

As a recovering A myself, I would be very reluctant to take it. When I have needed meds from my doctor, I always ask for one suitable for an A in recovery.

Many years ago I was prescribed cocodemol for pain after a dental procedure. It was horrendous. It woke up my alcohol cravings big time so I stopped taking it.

secretchord

It is being prescribed for alcohol cravings. I have no other addictions other than alcohol and food so I'm not worried about dependency.

stickyone

I'll tell you from experience my friend not a good choice. It is very addictive and has psychological effects. Im recovering from opiate addiction do I understand pills and the pain it brings very well. If you can go without it , it will definitely help in the long term with your addiction to alcohol. Please be safe

tomls

I used to abuse it all the time. I looked it up on the internet and it told me how much to take and how to take it. An addictive personality has to be very careful with any kind of pain meds or anything that changes the way you feel. Best wishes!

TGO

I do not find it addictive.

It is supposedly for those with diabetic or peripheral neuropathy which is basically a neuro problem. Almost like your walking on pins and needles. Legs go numb, you can fall easily. My friend takes it non prescibed. He says it calms him down.

In severe cases of neuropathy, you could step on a nail and your nerves are so fried you wouldn't even know it. But alcohol actually slowly eats away at the very outside of nerve cells. Some people although rare develop " alcoholic neuropathy. I see neuropathy all the time with patients I deal with.

Some people love it. Some people hate it. Some find it addictive. Some don't.

suki44883

I have been taking it for several months for neuropathy pain. It doesn't do anything except make the nerve pain bearable. I have no side effects from Gabapentin. I have never taken more than the prescribed dose because the prescribed dose works for me. However, everyone responds to medications differently. I wasn't aware it was being prescribed for addiction.

secretchord

I am cautious now that I know it may be addictive. I am not extremely concerned though since I have taken other addictive prescriptions without abusing them. I have been prescribed valium for my panic disorder for about 20 years. I use it for anxiety 1-3 times per year. Never once have I abused it.

I just really hope this works for cravings and I can finally kick this addiction to the side.

Wastinglife

I am on Gabapentin. Started 11 days ago and have been sober since. It lessened the initial withdrawal symptoms and I find it blocks alcohol cravings in me. 90 percent of prescriptions are for off-label use and more and more research/information on its effectiveness for various conditions is coming out.

Its effect on me may be different than for other people. I have ADHD and alcoholism. I know it is also prescribed to opiate addicts whose experience with Gabapentin may be different. In any event, for anyone curious, speak with a doctor.

secretchord

Good to know. I probably have some form of ADHD as well though never diagnosed. I’m hopeful with this medication after reading your post. Congrats on 11 days. I hope to be there soon!

BeABetterMan

Gabapentin is the go to drug prescribed in detox to help people in early recovery. It is useful for preventing seizures in people withdrawing from alcohol. It also has many off label uses and receives mixed results for those ailments. For early recovery though, especially detoxing I know from experience it is very popular.

EndGameNYC

Ask your doctor.

Took it many years ago. No side effects, no therapeutic effect. It would have been like being addicted to nothingness if that would have happened with me.

travelbug

Hubby is using it now as post surgery nerve pain for a knee replacement.....I looked on WebMD & nothing is posted about Alcohol Treatment using it. I couldn't find any info on if it is addictive.

Wastinglife

If you Google 'Gabapentin and Alcoholism', a few articles will come up. Some scholarly reports. Research seems to be in the early stages. I was initially prescribed it by an ER physician when I was there for withdrawals. My GP now is prescribing it.

Unlike medications like benzodiazepines, Gabapentin does not have addictive properties. The jury is still out it seems on it's habit-forming potential. I don't feel anything when I take it. I am supposed to take 4 doses a day, spread out every few hours. I often forget because there is no change if I don't take it. All I know is that I don't have any desire to drink whereas before even thinking about a cold beer would fire off my neurotransmitters in anticipation. I have walked by liquor stores every day recently and the irresistible impulse I usually have to fight is not there anymore. That's the only effect I have noticed Gabapentin having on me.

travelbug

Interesting. I may have to try it if I feel weakness coming on.

PinnacleOR

I was prescribed gabapentin while in detox several months ago and my psychiatrist has had me continue it. I find it effective for anxiety and for reducing cravings. I have a 3x a day prescription, but I just take it situationally now. No side effects and no addiction issues, I’ve been told it’s not addictive and that’s been my experience. I’d consult your doctor but all around good experience for me.

secretchord

Thanks for all the replies. I’m on day 5 now on naltrexone and Gabapentin. So far so good. No cravings and my anxiety seems lower already. I start my full dose (3 times per day) next week. I feel pretty good about this so far. The only side effect I notice is a headache and sleepiness.

sortofhomecomin

This medication does not seem to be widely, or at all, prescribed in Ireland.

scintillady

I work in mental health. In our programs, Gabapentin is treated as a "controlled substance" and must be counted every shift change. (3 times daily). It apparently has a street value so we have to account for it so that it doesn't go "missing". This has happened before so it's reasonable for us to have to account for it.