Former FDA Officer Breaks Down Truth about Gabapentin Label

[@merriecampbell-lee7802]

My improper taper off gapapentin in 2019 caused me to have a seizure, gave me every withdrawal symptom imaginable (akathisia, air hunger, intense anxiety, insomnia, suicidal ideations, severe head pain, and on and on). That was five years ago, when I didn't know what was wrong with me. I continued to get help from the medical profession, which had no idea what was wrong with me, so I kept trying new drugs, which further injured my body. I got an autoimmune disease nine months after stopping the drug (psoriatic arthritis mutilans), and after having a severe reaction to prozac in 2022, which was treated with xanax, I became physically dependent on benzodiazepines. I've had setback after setback in my taper process, but thanks to yours and others' amazing work, I'm healing slowly, but more safely. I live in Ivins! I'd be happy to do an interview with you about my gabapentin horror story. I've kept a daily journal, so, I'm thorough. I'd love to be part of helping people avoid the setbacks I've suffered. I wouldn't wish my life experience on my worst enemy. I'm just glad it's not terminal!

[@GalexZ-]

Thank you for sharing! I'm so sorry you've experienced all this. I wish the system wasn't a heartless money making machine of human experimentation because it's people's lives they're devastating. I'm glad you're doing better and I hope your journey back to health is smooth sailing ⛵️🩵

[@TheWithdrawalCoach]

Gabapentin withdrawal is horrific. I've had withdrawal symptoms for over 26 months now since stopping. It would have been nice to have received some informed consent.

[@pattyfluegel7816]

You did not cover the increased risk of dementia. Which is serious.

[@KateG-s8c]

Thank you youve just helped me with my preparation - specialist tomorrow - i was going to refuse it if recommended ( ive seen what it can do) you've just armed me

[@Walsh25]

Good I tried memory gone just stayed on a few months threw it in garbage 😢

[@KateG-s8c]

Thank you and I'm sorry

[@mr.giggles4995]

This drug (and the rest if the pharmaceutical cocktail) made me think i was dying of dementia or Alzheimer's by age 30. After years of telling my docs i can no longer function and do basic things they finally gave me a 4hr neuro-psych eval and told me my the damage to my memory is due to my depression and not the drugs that had me passing out cold while i was standing up and the countless times i hit my head because of it and their well documented "side-effect" of memory loss and dementia-like symptoms... I'm down to 300mg/day from 3600mg/day which is a lot better than it was. My memory is still garbage though, although i don't forget words halfway through saying them nearly as much as i used to.

[@pattyfluegel7816]

Gabapentin is associated with increased risk of dementia and with cognitive impairment. He did not discuss that here.

[@shoutuckerdidnothingwrong]

3600mg is a massive daily dosage, so no wonder you didn't feel right. So, they admitted you had damaged memory but wanted to blame it on depression? What a joke.

[@bhfdsghf]

Just light up a joint

[@GalexZ-]

Sue those baztids!

[@wednesday55]

I'm pretty sure this was the drug my prescriber wanted to put me on for my "anxiety," which was actually akathisia induced by Latuda.

[@wellinever1558]

Its just shocking

[@Uma921]

Can you do buspar?

[@annstar2793]

Yeah- What’s up with Buspar ?? Thank you !!

[@wildlightarts]

I'm curious what you think about the supplement Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid sold as Gaba, a supplement for Neurotransmitter Support. I'd love to see you create a series on Supplements for Neurological Health and Brain Health and Mind Body Wellness. I'd love to hear your perspectives on Herbs and Supplements that might assist with withdrawal and tapering symptoms. I appreciate your work very much!

[@davidkruse4030]

Oral gaba doesn’t pass the BBB.

[@jasminebarratt1809]

@@davidkruse4030 There are herbs that get gaba past your blood brain barrier.

[@arlobubble3748]

​@@davidkruse4030oral GABA is actually a good test to see if your BBB is permeable when it's not meant to be. Ideally it shouldn't cross the BBB but if you do have some compromise oral GABA can be very sedating

[@pf100andahalf]

I've tried gabapentin for fibromyalgia and it made it hard to think like my head was full of cotton so I stopped taking it. I 'm not saying it'll do that to everyone because everyone's different.

[@bhfdsghf]

Klonopin

[@pf100andahalf]

@@bhfdsghf I took 1mg a day of klonopin for 5 years and it stopped working so I tapered off. It took me 2 years to get off of it. That was 5 years ago. I couldn't sleep the whole 5 years and it made my life hell for 5 years. I just now started sleeping again about a month ago. Klonopin, for me, was the worst thing I could have taken. I lost 5 years of my life because of klonopin. They should make it a law that except for special circumstances that any doctor who prescribes klonopin for over 4 weeks should go to prison for 20 years.

[@pf100andahalf]

@@bhfdsghf I lost 5 years of my life to klonopin and I'll never get that time back. I couldn't sleep for 5 years after stopping it. It shouldn't be prescribed for longer than a couple of weeks except in special circumstances.

[@GinaMFlorida]

I take this for non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy. I have epilepsy so also take zonisamide 500mg at bedtime. I was taking Lyrica & had terrible swelling so my neuro had me abruptly stop Lyrica & start Gabapentin 1800mg/day. It does not help with the pain. Now hear this... 24 hrs after taking gabapentin, I woke up at 3am to use bathroom. I have a balance disorder & lost my balance. Went head first into the shower. Face plant into the groove, forehead above left eye split wide open. Rushed to ER. Did COVID test 1st. Dr came in... Positive for Influenza A... Then 10 stitches. Never really got over flu. Always get flu shot & up to date on COVID shot/booster 2 weeks laters felt worse, slept all day, so hard to get out of bed. Next morning couldn't smell nor taste coffee . Off to urgent care. .. positive for COVID. I haven't been anywhere to contract the flu nor COVID. I'm disabled. Home all day. Had to cxl Dr appts. Only thing is I kept taking gabapentin & you mentioned viral infections. Now more than 2 weeks later I still have a cold & haven't been anywhere. My story is probably 1 in 100,000 but it can happen and it's been awful. Been so sick. I've noticed my hands shake all the time. I have tremors & thought they were getting worse. My neuro never mentioned any side effects to look out for..none, nada. Just another drug that's doing absolutely nothing for me except causing side effects. I'm so done it's not even funny Thanks Dr Josef for giving info on this drug, that our Drs should be giving. You're a lifesaver 😊

[@Cluless02]

Geez, that's nice to know, currently taking 3200mg/ day. I'm already 8 yrs off Klonopin and is still a nightmare. Plus I'm taking 600mg/ day Effexor XR. So I'll never be free of these drugs. I'm 66 and it's sad to think what my life could have been without all that in my head. Though I really did need the ADs for a time, should have reduced from 300mg rather than increase to 600mg. The Klonopin was 6~8mg/ day so everything is high dosage. Then added Nembutal and OD'd. No wonder I'm so dysfunctional and dumb as a tree stump. The emotional toll is huge as ya could imagine.

[@japojo1958]

I took this stuff, 400 mg per evening for a few years. It was for restless legs. When I finally figured out what actually was causing restless legs and changed my diet to low carb and keto the restless legs went away quickly. I stopped taking gabapentin without tapering and had no problems at all. I didn't notice any of the effects that you spoke about with this drug. What I did notice though is that gabapentin stopped working to relieve restless legs and actually started causing restless legs after a few years. I'm happy to be off of it because unless one really really needs medication, don't take it. They all have negative effects.

[@GalexZ-]

Thank you!

[@user-ks7gs8rp6z]

I was given Gabapentin with morphine for post operative pain. I ended up with acute respiratory depression and had to be worked on for hours in HDU.

[@kristenbrookeemdrtherapist]

Was put on this for pain after a series of surgeries. 1200mg per day for 6 months, they kept pushing the dose instead of addressing the cause of the nerve pain. It took me TWO YEARS to taper off. Had to use a jewelers scale and measure a tiny bit out of the capsule for 24 months because the withdrawal was so severe. Now years later doctors wanted to have me take it for Shingles like it’s totally safe and never causes issues during discontinuation. I’ve told these doctors my story and they act like I’m making a big deal out of nothing and continue to believe that it’s a no big deal medication that they should just give to everyone for pain. That stuff was poison to me and I’m lucky to have survived getting off of it. Informed consent is a joke when it comes to this med, they are messing with GABA receptors and act like it’s harmless like taking a Tylenol.

[@GalexZ-]

They need to take feedback and input serious and patients can Report to MedWatch at MedWatch Online Voluntary Reporting Form (fda.gov)

[@kazizon]

Started Gabapentin 7 weeks ago. 300mg three times daily. On day 5 my left foot, ankle and up to my calf became swollen. And very painful. My ankle stiffened so walking was hard. I didn’t connect it to the gabapentin. The other foot started swelling too. Seen various Drs who put it down to suspected heart failure. Tests were negative. The heat. Yeah right. At the six week mark I realised the connection between when I started it. So decided to stop taking it. On day two of no GABA. My feet went back to normal! Unfortunately I was having bad withdrawals so I restarted it to one tablet per day. On day two my feet are back to swollen and painful. Can’t speak to a Dr as no appointments Available Have no idea what I should do 😢

[@AmandainChrist88]

I heard about one persons toe falling off . It’s definitely an adverse reaction in your case .

[@kazizon]

Well I’ve finally spoken to my doctor who’s basically said, if it’s helping my other pain to carry on taking it and just put up with the swollen painful feet! 😮

[@AmandainChrist88]

@@kazizon be very careful I knew someone who did that. It didn’t work out for him . However that’s how meds are they usually are a between benefits and risk and it must be weighed out . I don’t think meds are without side effect . The risk outweighs the goal if they are causing more damage than good and that’s up to the patient and dr . Just watch out for skin color changes .

[@kazizon]

Be nice to have a doctor that cared. I’ll keep an eye out for colour change Thankyou

[@AmandainChrist88]

@@kazizon your welcome they are agents and slaves to the drug companies and fda . They are few rare drs like dr Josef speaking truth those are the ones we need on front lines but those drs are persecuted and have to become independent. If any color change contact your dr or go to an ER and do not let them tell you it’s not side effect they like to gas light a lot. The guy with the toe I can’t remember if he lost it or not. But the gabapentin caused the swelling dr told him stay on it and than he got a discolored toe thinking on it I can’t recall if he lost it or not but a infection developed . I believe there is connection to low immunity and medicine it affects the immune system or makes it look like the patient has an auto immune disease. That’s the issue with drugs drs never consider the drug as the offending agent but simply think a new disease has developed . Like benzodiazepines when anxiety gets worse they look at it like a new issue rather than an issue being a side effect directly related to a drug . Like anti depressants I get nervous and agitated but they would put me antipsychotic saying my mental health is getting worse and or a new mental illness is developed rather than them looking at he drug as being offensive to my system. You know your body best and never forget that.

[@stephaniemartin6898]

Thanks again for getting the truth about how this drug is being used. It is widely over prescribed, and is often abused, due the fact it isn't on urine drug test panels. You often cover diet and other chemical exposures that have a profound effects on both mental and physical health. Because of my health history I have been ignored by physicians all across the country. I have many questions regarding, CCK, GABA, and the chemical food industry, MSG and maltodextrine in most food and drink. FDA has said Maltodextrine is GRAS, generally recognized as safe, but with a long list of exceptions for preexisting issues. All very deceptive and (intently) confusing. Much information on CCK and its different ideation and effects as neurotransmitter is outdated and incomplete. CCK4 is known to cause anxiety. Can other firms of CCK and can it be regulated?

[@cebruthius]

Maltodextrine is a sugar polymer, which breaks down to glucose. It's like somewhat pre-digested starch.

[@doghouse94087]

How long and at what dose do you need to taper? For example if you have been on it for 2 weeks at 800mg a day do you still need to taper?

[@chancemiller6192]

Can you do Pregabalin ( Lyrica ) next, it being the only other gabapentinoid

[@akalucinda8821]

Ty ❤

[@sandywhat2429]

I feel like I was the canary in the coal mine with gabapentin for depression. I was suffering from respiratory depression, involuntary and it changed my walking gait putting me at risk for falls. The Dr had me on this and 6 other respiratory depressants so yes, the gabapentin really caused breathing issues. Withdrawal was scary. This is the only medication that I was hallucinating weaning off of. The dr denied all side effects and had never seen this withdrawal before.

[@wellinever1558]

A friend of mine died of a multiple myeloma after being on lyrica for fibromyalgia. No side effects were discussed with her.

[@DP-vz2su]

Excellent info. Can you please do a similar profile of amitriptyline? Thanks!

[@claireh.7605]

How do I continue my life if I had yelled and alienated people and said crazy things? I did damage to people and ruined their careers or put them in danger. My brain doesn’t think as well as before doing the cold turkey off Lexapro. I don’t adapt to people well anymore and don’t feel like focusing on my work and am afraid to commit and believe in myself again. It’s not fun living with a damaged reputation and brain!

[@Tubinado]

I’m so sorry you had to go through that. I know how you feel, I had lots of confused rambling during withdrawal and made a fool out of myself to dozens of people. I feel so humiliated. It’s a real curse.

[@claireh.7605]

@ I sent an email to my boss saying “you are so stupid, you don’t even know how to..” thinking I had nothing to lose and had to create a conflict because I was being eliminated unfairly. I think.. she may have given me a chance with “okay tell what’s wrong” and sending me on mandatory vacation though it was probably getting ready to fire me but still. I wonder if I had taken her meeting with me seriously - and offered a solution like - I will take a vacation and let you know if I can continue without insulting people, she would have kept me. I openly insulted and yelled at people at work and then got people including my boss fired out of spite.

[@Tubinado]

@@claireh.7605 That’s terrible. I’m so sorry. At least you know in your heart that you didn’t do any of that maliciously. My body swelled Upanishads got hot during the withdrawal and never got better, then I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and feel sick and exhausted every day now and can’t do much and have to eat a very restricted diet. I’m angry, heartbroken and in shock that this could happen and I’m left with no recourse. I wish I’d never gone to the doctor.

[@claireh.7605]

@@Tubinado you gotta live in a clean, uncluttered, dust free apartment without mold. I just went to without coffee for two days and just ate a little cheese and I feel amazing. I was eating muffins and coffee and feeling awful

[@Tea_princess]

Didn't try gabapentin, but I've been on pregabalin for the past 2 years for anxiety. Tbh I believe it's what saved my life. Anxiety made my life absolutely miserable, I was on brink of alcohol addiction. I'm glad I'm not experiencing any side effects right now. There was a time I've got some pretty significant brain fog f.e. forgetting words, impaired short-term memory and worsened attention, so I had to lower my dose. I think it's important to monitor possible side effects like that and make patients aware of those possibilities, as well as the withdrawal risks.

[@atheistine]

Are there any meds for anxiety that don’t have horrible side effects?

[@NotSoNormal1987]

I tried this for anxiety. But it didn't seem to effect me at all. I had no side effects. But I also seemed to have no effects from it.

[@jeffwhite2872]

They have me on 3600 mg a day of gabapentin. Lyrica made me suicidal. Plus they also had me on 80 mg of Prednisone a day for 4 yrs straight never a taper

[@johndutton4860]

this should be done for the benzo as well doc

[@katsm-wo9704]

What is the difference between this drug and pregabalin?

[@lhodge1000]

I puffed up like CRAZY from gab and put on almost 30lbs. Hated this drug

[@Acetyl53]

A video on phenibut would be good. I found it made me feel "normal", but with repeated use it comes at a cost. Took several years to reverse and I wasn't one of those people that ended up taking grams per day or something. Just 500 to 1000 mg twice a week or so. It has a very curious and particular mode of action, and you are blind to it as well, it builds fast and is subtle as well as insidious.

[@SkellyMC]

Video about vortioxetine would be interesting

[@sandywhat2429]

I had multi-systemic inflammation weaning off of Clonazepam & Zopiclone.

[@susanboss9894]

Dr. Josef I need help. I was a physician assistant 29 years and I’m on max dose and having all kinds of “rebound” symptoms as I’ve built up a tolerance. I’m getting more and more weird symptoms and I’ve been so scared because I don’t know what is happening and I feel all my doctors have abandoned me. How can I contact you?

[@hannahrosa5485]

25 years ago I began it for to treat trigeminal neuralgia. 1200 mgs. after 3 weeks I'm taking 900 mgs. If I exert myself I become drenched in perspiration. Is this a with drawl symptom?

[@basketballfan5763]

If this is working on calcium channels in the body then I probably would have been allergic to this as well. It was one of the many pills that were also offered to me. I'm still trying to work out why I reacted so severely to one calcium channel antagonist 15 years ago and now have had 3 years of lipidemia from one calcium channel blocker.... All I can see that relates the two, apart from blood pressure drugs, is that they both run on calcium channels.. I would be grateful for any information anyone reading the comment or the doctor presenting this video would have to tell me why has my body reacted so violently to two calcium channel pills.. I do need to know what's going on because if I take another pill and it does even more to me.... I literally developed lymphedema which lasted for 5 years after 1 calcium channel antagonist pill for Raynaud's disease .... That was 15 years ago and it took me 5 years to get the swelling out of my legs and even though my gut told me they were the same, I allowed a doctor to convince me that a calcium channel blocker was a completely different pill to a calcium channel antagonist.... This time I've had three years of lipedema after 1 calcium channel blocker pill.... I truly can't take much more.... Now I'm afraid to take any pill for anything

[@drunkensquirrel7545]

It was suggested to me by my doctor to help with tapering off clonazepam because I've started to abruptly wake up at night with panic attacks & tachycardia. I'm so glad that I politely declined! 😮

[@cebruthius]

That could also be a breathing problem, have you had a sleep study done?

[@drunkensquirrel7545]

@@cebruthius I may request that soon. I've assumed it's just side effects from tapering, but it wouldn't hurt to check it out. 👍🏽

[@cebruthius]

@@drunkensquirrel7545 Barry Krakow MD has a TEDx video called Why do you wake up at night?

[@Den-hidayat]

Hallo doc..im from indonesia..i ve anxiety from 2020 until now..i use benzo as long as 4 years..i use benzo 25 Mg..i use benzo 3x a day..i want stop benzo but i can't..how to stop benzo doc??

[@gregwiele2502]

I have taken 100 mg per night at bedtime for 6 weeks, it really seems to make my vision worse---on this dose, I have gone 2 days without, but then feel like my legs are like jello?? On this small dose for six weeks I may just go ct from it. Is to supposedly help stop Klon., but does not. Thoughts?

[@junebelcourt-suhaka1434]

I took a few doses after gallbladder surgery and it felt good but I knew to stop because I did not need another drug to taper. My psychiatrist said it’s a good drug; I declined!

[@alnicospeaker]

Gabapeninoids are interesting and in my experience not as bad re: withdrawal as benzos. If you compare the molecules from gabapentin to pregabalin, phenibut to baclofen you get increasing GABA-B action

[@devpoe3640]

Pregabalin has zero GABA binding. VG-Ca channels. Don’t know about phenibut, but I know you’re right about Baclofen

[@ml3141]

Was prescribed for insomnia. The doctor did not want to prescribe to me Ambien which works well at the times i need it. Did absolutely nothing!!!

[@basketballfan5763]

I really have to make a comment that this 'off label use' of drugs carry on is beginning to really irritate me.. as somebody that was a minimum of twice been prescribed an antidepressant for fibromyalgia pain and having to find out at the last minute what it actually was.. apart from the anti epilepsy drugs used for my neck nerve pain(Lyrica )and then I had a reaction to a calcium channel blocker for pain ,again used off label .I am young and relatively healthy. I don't agree with heart pills being used- blood pressure pills I should say -on people that are perfectly balanced with their blood pressure.. twice over my lifetime I have been given blood pressure drugs off label.. the first one many years ago was given to me for Raynaud's disease and this set off in me lymphedema for 5 years after just one pill.. they also don't seen to care that I have quite severe allergies.. apparently they will still keep prescribing off label rubbish for me

[@CamStubbs]

What is considered a lethal dose?

[@jeanphillips1184]

This drug needs a deep dive not an overview. Wake up.doctors. paradoxical effects are real anf NOT welcomed so you also need yo learn the patient you are prescribing this for and when they tell you their crazy reactions do not abandon them making it another doctor's problem and for gods sakes if its on their contraindication list DO NOT RE-PRESCRIBE IT hoping for another reaction opposid of their previously documented experience. This poison has caused serious problems never addressed. Please do better!!!!

[@nicolascamacho319]

Dr. And now that we know that it is the worst poison, what can we do from it???? Why don't you give some therapy in your channel??? That would be spectacular...

[@thatbeezie]

Do one one pregablin

[@kassi4837]

I believe this medicine was tried during one of my withdrawal attempts ( can't remember which one) . It's hard to tease out the side effects of the med versus withdrawal from other meds. I remember having a strange feeling of ants rapidly rolling up and down my body and waking up with my arms and neck shaking in the morning after a nights sleep. It was really strange. I was well into akathisia at this point though and any med given in addition or in place of another just seemed to make me worse. At this point gabapentin or whatever G- med it was couldn't do much .

[@GalexZ-]

Genetic manipulation has been notoriously administered by different extraterrestrials and it's had a devastating impact on human health. One might think that they just don't give a damn. Let them be the ones in chronic pain and leave human experimentation out of it. Thanks!