1. Gabapentin (Neurontin) is a prescription drug used to treat seizures and nerve pain. It's been around since 1996 and is considered safe. But if you stop taking it suddenly, you may experience some unpleasant side effects.
2. If you've taken gabapentin for at least six months, you should be able to go without it for about two weeks before experiencing any symptoms. After that, you'll likely have mild headaches, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. These symptoms tend to get worse over time, and they can last anywhere from three days to several weeks.
3. You might not feel anything while you're going through withdrawal, but you could still suffer from anxiety, depression, irritability, insomnia, and memory problems.
4. If you take gabapentin regularly, you won't need to worry about these symptoms. However, if you abruptly quit taking it, you could experience them.
5. If you decide to try to wean yourself off gabapentin, talk to your doctor first. He or she can help you find alternative treatments.