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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Taken Gabapentin By Mistake. Have Headache, Difficulty Breathing, Chills, Paranoia, Weakness. Normal?

I was recently in the hospital for a broken tibea plateau, while in the hospital for five days, I was not administered my regular prescription medicine ( gabapentin 900mg day) by mistake for the entire stay. I developed strong headaches , no eating or sleeping, had trouble breathing , chills, paranoia , weakness. When I got home and discovered that they had failed to give me that medicine, I resumed my normal dosage and things got back to normal. I have been on this medicine for 5-6 years. Is this normal?
posted on Tue, 12 Mar 2013
Twitter Tue, 12 Mar 2013 Answered on
Twitter Wed, 13 Mar 2013 Last reviewed on
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hello
Welcome to Health Care Magic

Gabapentin is GABA analogue. GABA is a amino acid in brain which causes inhibition. Gabapentin is used in a number of conditions like Seizures, Peripheral neuropathy, neuropathic pains etc. It is used in doses of 300-1200 mg per day depending upon condition. It has been advised with gabapentin that it should not be stopped abruptly. As you are on this drug for 5-6 years and by mistake you skipped the dose of drug. This has resulted in withdrawal syndrome in you. The features like strong headaches, poor appetite, poor sleep, difficulty in breathing, chill, paranoid symptoms, severe weakness etc were part of withdrawal syndrome of Gabapentin. Even in some people seizures may occur due to withdrawal. Best thing to avoid such serious condition again is-
- Always inform the doctor that you are on some medicine
- If dose is to be decreased then taper it slowly, abrupt discontinuation is never advised.

Thanks

Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi
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Taken Gabapentin By Mistake. Have Headache, Difficulty Breathing, Chills, Paranoia, Weakness. Normal?

Hello Welcome to Health Care Magic Gabapentin is GABA analogue. GABA is a amino acid in brain which causes inhibition. Gabapentin is used in a number of conditions like Seizures, Peripheral neuropathy, neuropathic pains etc. It is used in doses of 300-1200 mg per day depending upon condition. It has been advised with gabapentin that it should not be stopped abruptly. As you are on this drug for 5-6 years and by mistake you skipped the dose of drug. This has resulted in withdrawal syndrome in you. The features like strong headaches, poor appetite, poor sleep, difficulty in breathing, chill, paranoid symptoms, severe weakness etc were part of withdrawal syndrome of Gabapentin. Even in some people seizures may occur due to withdrawal. Best thing to avoid such serious condition again is- - Always inform the doctor that you are on some medicine - If dose is to be decreased then taper it slowly, abrupt discontinuation is never advised. Thanks Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi