Neurontin In Recovery

I am in Recovery for 8 years 7 months from a severe opiate addiction. I abused painkillers for nearly ten years. I underwent rapid opiate detox. I was given Neurontin upon discharge for the residual withdrawal to combat agitation, mood swings, irritability etc;
After 30 days, the rx ran out and I didn't see the need to refill it. After all, it wasn't giving me instant gratification. However, when I stopped taking it, I began go from crying uncontrollably to dangerous road rage to nearly killing my husband throwing a blender at his head. So I went back on it. I've been on it for almost 9 years. I have never abused it or taken more than prescribed. If anything I've titrated down or taken less but have never been able to get off. Two doctors that know of my history of addiction, pretty much said, "if it ain't broke don't fix it" or "just wean off gradually". I did not get clean to be shackled to another drug!

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Hello, Christine! How are you doing? I am so sorry about what you've been through.

Yes, a slow taper would be the best solution, coming off of it too fast creates the risk of seizures, as well as the same rebound effects you experience before, such as rage and depression.

The FDA classifies Neurontin as an anticonvulsant that can also be used to treat certain types of nerve pain and some mood disorders. Typical side effects may include nausea, dizziness, weight changes and mood swings.

What type of doctors have you been seeing? I have to wonder if you might not be better of with a specialist.

Does anyone else have any ideas?

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My primary doctor has just been refilling it through the years. I just lost my job recent and struggle financially. I probably should be on some kind of anti depressant or mood stabilizer but the truth is, I can't afford to be assessed properly. It doesn't pay to work for a living.
I should just get a Medicaid gold card! I'm constantly negative, judgemental, angry, and often hopeless. And I don't want to be around people like that myself

So who's going to want to be around me? However, I don't want to be a guinea pig playing with different ssri's either until some Dr. Feel good "gets it right", either! Rock and a hard place.

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HI Christine,

Are you still taking Neurontin? If so I have a possible solution for you. I am not a doctor so take this under advisement! But I did the rapid detox too and they put me on Neurontin too and I had a hard time getting off it. What I finally did was taper to one tab a day, then I jumped on to alpha lipoic acid. They sell it OTC in health food stores / pharmacies / places with supplements. It is recommended online by natural healers as a replacement to Neurontin. I did all the reading a person can do online and I suggest you do the same, but my take-away is, the Neurontin paperwork says that they have no idea how Neurontin works in the brain (so why do they give it out?) - But anyway I skipped a day of Neurontin, took 3 Alphas a few times a day, took a Neurontin, skipped with Alpha, then just stayed on Alpha for a while. I felt weird as hell for a couple days in there but then it was gone and I was clean. You're right, you didn't get clean to get hooked on something especially if it does nothing! So maybe consider this...

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