Gabapentin for Alcohol Withdrawal User Reviews (Page 2)

• CWano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2019

"The short-term use of gabapentin assisted me through alcohol withdrawal and recovery. I also found that it helped with my shoulder and minor back pain. It also helps as a mood stabilizer for me. In the past, things like going to the mall or being in large crowds used to cause anxiety and anger, so I would avoid these and any similar situations. I’ve always run on the hot-tempered side (no outbursts, just the internal struggle). Gabapentin has made a huge difference for me, and I feel peaceful. For now, the only side effects are minor swelling in my ankles, and I can feel a little sluggish in the morning."

• Sidew...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 17, 2017

"My husband has been an alcoholic for 16 years. He has struggled with depression, severe anxiety with disassociation, and seizures. Alcohol was the only thing that helped. Yesterday he was prescribed gabapentin at a starting dose of 100mg 3 times daily. About an hour after his first dose he stated that he felt different and better and he didn't feel the need to drink. A couple of hours later he stated that for the first time since puberty he felt like himself. He has only taken one dose, but if you're thinking about trying this medication for alcohol dependence, there's strong research that it is beneficial, and can help fix the imbalance in your brain that makes you need alcohol. It's worth a try. Blessings to you"

• Malibu
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 6, 2016

"I went on gabapentin for alcoholism that troubled me for 10 years when nothing, including Alcoholics Anonymous, barely worked. I read anecdotal information that it helped with alcoholism, went on 600mg twice daily, and it was the first thing that helped me. Now I take 1200mg twice daily and find it works great! Afterwards, I read a study in the Journal of American Medicine, Gabapentin in Alcohol Dependence, 2014 that confirmed it works well in many people for cravings and binge drinking. This medicine should be further studied to confirm it works well. On this site, it is obvious it helps a lot of people struggling with alcoholism, which I have, along with Bipolar Disorder. I call Gabapentin my 'happy pills' that also take away my anxiety."

• guyguy
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 12, 2024

"Wrote a review in 2020. Still on gabapentin and still sober. Going to AA, and gabapentin worked for me and still works. If you can't calm down and have to drink or feel sick even physically not drinking, give this a try. It's not an opioid, and it sure is fun to have money in your pocket and not spend it all on booze and drugs. It helped me stop both."

• Toomb...
• July 26, 2020

"Not alcohol withdrawal, abuse. I've lived with having to argue with myself every day, saying 'Don't drink today.' 'I must not drink today.' My days were consumed with me arguing with myself and not having the mental bandwidth to deal with other things. And of course, I mostly lost the arguments to not drink. Until... until Gabapentin. I started taking it 6 weeks ago for nerve pain. I denounce any doctor that does not offer this to any patient that they suspect alcohol abuse, as Gabapentin is magic. I still argue with myself to not drink, but I have begun to realize it is just a 50-year-old habit. I have no desire to drink. NONE... I did, however, go out shooting pool with my son and friends and had a beer, just one beer with my son and friends, was fantastic. If you drink and hate yourself half as much as I did, you must try Gabapentin for your problem - it is magic, pure and simple. Doctors, shame on you for not offering it off-label to anyone you suspect of having AUD."

• Neil
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 28, 2019

"It was a miracle for me. I am on the highest dose a day. I got it for my neuropathy, and it helped a lot to deal with my alcoholism, which was an unexpected bonus. But I have to say I've detoxed from pretty much everything, so if you want to go off it, taper! Because withdrawal off gabapentin is right up there for severe, terrible withdrawal symptoms. They told me it was non-narcotic and non-addictive. Well, I challenge my doctor to start a regimen and try to stop, then he'll find out! Non-addictive - my ass, lol."

• Sober...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2016

"I suffer from generalized anxiety and abused alcohol heavily for over a year for sleep and stress reduction. When ready to quit, I was terrified of withdrawal, my doctor prescribed 300mg, 3x a day. So far, so good. I've been on it for a month and have noticed it really helps my anxiety. Sober just three days but feeling okay! Some precautions: Experiencing a little weight gain and notice an increased appetite an hour after I take this medication. Also, I notice when I miss a dose almost immediately. Good luck! It's worth it!"

• Caution...
• December 28, 2020

"I am only a few days into my abstinence from alcohol, but I'm beyond thrilled/baffled that I'm here at all. I was drinking nearly a bottle of wine at night to soothe stress and anxiety, but the fallout was mood swings and hangovers. I read in an article how gabapentin helped with alcohol withdrawal and/or cravings. By way of experiment, I tried it, and as if by magic, I had no cravings for drinking. Gabapentin seems like a miracle drug to me. It truly is the game-changer I never even imagined existed. If you're looking to quit or reduce your alcohol dependence, try it. You'll be dazzled. Suddenly, I feel so much more positive about myself and my future. Good luck and power to you all."

• Trying
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2019

"Dr. recommended gabapentin for alcohol withdrawal, starting with one 100 mg at night for 3 nights, and it is working. Then twice a day for 3 days. Will increase to three times per day (300 mg per day). Helped cut down on wine consumption. I feel the effects of the alcohol much sooner, so don't need/want to drink as much. Seems to be really helping! I do notice that I feel a little confused, though. Very happy with it otherwise."

• Cenizo
• December 16, 2015

"I've detoxed several times. The last one was really bad. This time my doctor put me on gabapentin 300 mg, three times a day and lithium. I usually suffer withdrawals for 5-7 days. I did have anxiety for two days, but I'm on day three, no anxiety and no cravings."

• Dianey
• September 24, 2020

"Gabapentin has been a godsend for me. It has kept me sober from alcohol for over 2 years. Introduced to it when I went in to detox and 28-day rehab. Had dual diagnosis alcohol abuse/anxiety. I could not believe that I would ever quit my daily heavy wine drinking for 20+ years, but here I am, so happy, proud, and truly know gabapentin got me sober and no cravings ever after 2 years. Please consider it if you were like me, who never knew about it. And it is not a controlled medication."

• aslasha
• March 27, 2015

"I was drinking heavily for a few months and had to go to detox 6 weeks ago. I thought I'd be okay to drink about five days ago-started one day with four drinks, escalated to 12 drinks yesterday. I'm taking Neurontin (600 mg 4x/day) right now because I'm scared of withdrawal. I expected I would be having symptoms today and would have to do an at-home 3-4 day taper. Instead, I have had two drinks today, that plus the Neurontin and 0.5 mg of Klonopin with barely noticeable symptoms. I hope to have less than five drinks today, a maximum of two tomorrow, and then stop for good after. Highly recommend this!"

• dres
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 4, 2018

"I used 1800 mg per day for several years while in recovery from opiates, then alcohol abuse. I was shocked to find extremely minimal withdrawal symptoms on a very fast, doctor-prescribed and monitored taper. The taper began at 900 mg per day and went down 300 mg every 3 days, going from 300 mg to 0. I've had a few sleep disturbances, but I experienced those from time to time on the 1800 mg per day prescription as well."

• Freedom
• August 5, 2021

"I was drinking about a 750ml a night and then a couple quarts on the weekend. I had 4 seizures due to alcohol withdrawal, have been in detox 4 times, hospitalized a bunch and had severe liver Cirrhosis and kidney failure. I tried naltrexone but just kept drinking, tried therapy, anti-depressants, and some AA meetings but nothing helped. When not intoxicated I had horrible anxiety, insomnia, depression and thought about killing myself. I drank not to feel happy but to basically survive. I finally saw an amazing compassionate doctor during my latest hospitalization from withdrawal. He prescribed me gabapentin and have been sober 6 months. Gabapentin has changed my life. I never thought I could go this long without drinking. I take it 3 times a day at 300mg and I’m ridiculously happy. My anxiety is basically gone and I can sleep again. I feel almost normal is social situations. Gone is the feeling of impending doom. I would highly recommend this to anyone, it was a miracle drug for me."

• kwhile
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 28, 2020

"I've been on several drugs for AUD, among them topiramate and naltrexone. Both drugs worked very well for the craving, and I could quit drinking, but because of the side effects, I had to quit taking them in the short term, which caused me to drink again. This time, for a recommendation from a friend, I started taking 300 mg 3x a day, and I have seen the results from day one: almost 0 craving. I have had some drinks while on it, but min quantities compared to how I was before taking the med. I am having almost all week alcohol-free, worth trying for AUD."

• Sissy
• October 26, 2017

"I have a boyfriend who has been drinking alcohol for years, he's 51 and drinks the 20% alcohol, and he got gabapentin 600 mg 3 times a day, and it worked the first day! I'm hoping he stays sober. Thanks for this site. Good luck to all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 15, 2020

"Been on the gabapentin for a couple weeks now to help with alcohol withdrawal. I believe I have hereditary AUD and have been strong with my alcohol intake for roughly 15 years. My psychiatrist recommended the doses of 900 3x/day. I take only 300 at around the typical time I would have a drink, and it really does work. I tried the full recommendation of the dose, but the side effects were too powerful... sleepiness being a major one and not being able to sleep a full cycle at night. I find 30 mg at dinner time is good for me, along with some willpower. I’m sensitive to medication also, so it will be different for everyone. Give it a try, it does work."

• thega...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 16, 2016

"Just found this site. Was prescribed gabapentin 3 yrs. ago for neck pain. Made me too groggy and sleepy, so didn't take the 1200 mgs daily as prescribed. I stopped using it. It was also to help neuropathy. Drs. never mentioned it would ease anxiety or withdrawals from alcohol. As a binge drinker for 25 yrs., I'm willing to try it again to stop alcohol cravings. BUT have read withdrawals from gabapentin are severe, as bad as withdrawals from 1) alcohol and 2) opiates. Anyone off gabapentin, and if so, how bad was it? I'm not going to start them until I hear pros and cons of stopping them. Only took sporadically. None in 2016. I'm a 57 yr. old female with a prescription. Thanks."

• bill
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2021

"I got gabapentin after a binge episode that landed me in the hospital. It worked immediately at a low dose. No thoughts of drinking. I would typically binge on 24 tall cans a day. After three days of this medication, I've had one beer, and I think it will be my last - and my home is fully stocked to the point I could destroy myself. It just works. It's likely saved my life."

• G Per...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 19, 2017

"This was like the light switch flipped to off for me. I never thought there would be a medication that stopped craving for drinking. 1200 mg per day, and I am not thinking about drinking at all! The obsession is simply lifted! I also attend AA, and many there are skeptical, but they do say, 'Science may one day achieve this, but it hasn't done so yet.' Maybe now it has. I even had a drink the other day, and I didn't fall back into the mental obsession as in previous relapses. Let's hope more doctors prescribe this for alcohol dependence."

• JustA...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 12, 2021

"I've been a chronic alcoholic for over thirty years, but this drug really helps. It's odd: it does have an anxiolytic effect (not as much as the benzos), but it takes away the cravings (and I mean it REALLY takes them away). I have no idea what the mechanism is, but I I'm glad that it works!"

• deete...
• December 15, 2017

"The only medicine I've tried for my benzodiazepine withdrawal, out of countless psychiatric meds and supplements, to help at all versus benzo withdrawal. Helps me feel more like myself. Also calms my anxiety quite a bit. Hoping this doesn't backfire like benzos themselves did, but so far, a life-saver. Taking just 100 mg every 4-5 hours."

• Guyla...
• December 16, 2020

"I have had alcohol problems for 40 years and was never able to stop for more then a few weeks. I have been taken gabapentin 100mg, 3 times a day and 15 mg of mirtazapine at bedtime gabapentin amazing. I can finally sleep and think before I drink, like my mind is not running all the time at 100 miles an hour. Its been 6 months now and I can finally say, I have a life."

• Joseph...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 8, 2020

"I actually started taking Gabapentin about 6 months ago for nerve pain, not for alcohol withdrawal. I didn't know this medication has proven, in some people, to be an effective treatment for alcohol withdrawal. I've had issues with alcohol for a number of years where I would drink steadily then stop for a long period of time. I've gone through the 12 step program a few times now, but relapsed. When I ran across this information on Gabapentin I was quite surprised since it's had NO effect, absolutely NONE, in terms of reducing my craving for alcohol even though I'm taking 2,000 mg/per day . Glad to hear it works for some people ... keep up the good work."

• Bella
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 24, 2018

"Gabapentin helped me horrible back issues due to a car accident and also with suboxone withdrawals when I started tapering off. But unfortunately when I stopped taking them I experienced horrible horrible withdrawals. My doctor is helping me taper off of them and it's gonna take awhile. Rapid weight gain is one of its side effects."