Gabapentin And Addiction

My husband is prescribed gabapentin. He has been taking it for about four years now. He first took it while in rehab to overcome opiate addiction. He can take ten 600mg tablets at once and go about his day. When he runs out he buys it through other means. When he can't find it, he takes opiates. I am an extreme enabler and I give him money every week. He lies and steals and pawns things to support his habit. I need help. I don't know what to do. He wants help but doesn't want to go to rehab. How can I help him and save our family?

REPLY

REPORT

Sara, that's tough to hear. You pretty much described me. My wife took our 3 kids and stayed with her parents for a week. It scared me so bad that I let my pill addiction ruin my life. I talked her in to coming back and I continued to take pills and spend all the money we had on them without her knowing. I'm pretty good at hiding them. It wasn't until I decided enough is enough. I tapered off by taking half doses every week until I was down to 2. I told myself that these are the last 2 I will ever take. That was 4 days ago and I still have a strong will to quit. Withdrawals are gone. No more runny nose. I'm finally out of the fog that I have been living in for the past 2 years. I feel great and know that I will never take another pain pill. I don't care if my back is broke.
My point to all this is that he won't quit until he wants to quit. I would suggest that you try to make him as miserable as possible so he will decide opiates aren't worth it. If you have somewhere to go then leave and show him what's it's like without you. If you can't leave then for gods sake quit giving him money. I know it's easier said than done but you have to try. Raise that rock bottom so he'll hit it faster. I wish I could say the words you need to hear but I think in your heart and mind that you know what you need to do. Be strong! Good luck to him and you. This isn't the life we should be living.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

While Gabapentin is not an opiate, it does carry warnings that there is a risk of addiction, when someone is taking it, and since it is an anticonvulsant, stopping abruptly can create the risk of seizures.

I think the best thing to do would b e to consult his doctor. He may not need rehab, especially since they usually deal with opioids, not medications like this, he just might need support to help with tapering, and managing any withdrawal symptoms that might occur.

Is he on any other medications?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

So, I started taking subutex, now up to 16mg, and gabapentin 900mg x3 daily. I’ve been to the ER twice in one week...

15 REPLIES

Does gabapentin help at all with opiate withdrawals? Does it make it at all any more comfortable? ## It may help allevia...

8 REPLIES

I take 4 mgs of suboxone everyday and it's been like 5 hours since I took my suboxone. Is it ok to take a gabapentin...

7 REPLIES

Is it ok to drink wine while taking this medication? ## No. Alcohol will only add to the rapid heart beat associated wit...

7 REPLIES

I take 30 mgs of baclofen per day and was recently prescribed gabapentin 300mgs 3 x daily. The other day after taking my...

6 REPLIES

Does Gabapentin enhance sleep apnea? ## Hi Mare - By "enhance", are you asking whether Gabapentin increases slee...

4 REPLIES

Why would my doctor prescribe gabapentin when my blood pressure is difficult to control? It's 100/150 at times. I wa...

4 REPLIES

I take 600 mg. of gabapentin (3) times a day for nerve pain. For me it has been a miracle drug. I do have difficulty if ...

4 REPLIES

I've been taking gabapentin about 9 mo now 300 mg nightly for hot flashes. But I noticed the last few months I was h...

3 REPLIES

I'm taking 300 mg of gabapentin three times a day and noticed a rapid weight gain. I think it's mostly water ret...

3 REPLIES