In this video, I’m going to teach you how to use gabapentin for acute opiate withdrawal symptoms relief. Years ago I wrote an article called How To Use Gabapentin For Opiate Withdrawal. Since then, I’ve read a superabundance of comments at the end of that article stating how gabapentin “worked like a charm for symptom relief.”
Thus, I decided to make a helpful, simple, and informative video explaining the absolute best way to use gabapentin for the instant relief of acute opioid withdrawal symptoms.
In the video below, I’ll provide you with an overview of using gabapentin to get off opioid drugs.
You’ll get specific dosages that are safe and that can help you reduce symptoms the most.
Watch the video below:
(Click here to watch the video on YouTube)
Gabapentin Overview
More and more people are starting to learn about the benefits of using gabapentin for opiate withdrawal symptoms. Gabapentin (brand name Neurontin) is a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analog.
Gabapentin was initially synthesized to mimic the chemical structure of the neurotransmitter GABA.
Gabapentin was developed for the treatment of:
- Epilepsy
- Neuropathic Pain
Gabapentin is used off-label for:
Gabapentin is now one of the most common medications used on people with alcohol, crack, opiate, and other addictions.
Research Studies
The first study I will refer to on gabapentin for opiate withdrawal symptoms was done in Iran. There is an extremely potent drug in Iran called “Iranian crack” that many individuals have become addicted to. Iranian crack is mostly composed of condensed heroin. Although multiple medications have been studied for the treatment of dependence on various substances, no medications had previously been shown to have a robust effect on Iranian crack craving and its related side effects.
This randomized double-blind clinical trial examined the effectiveness of gabapentin for opiate withdrawal symptoms in patients undergoing inpatient treatment for Iranian crack, which contains primarily condensed heroin.
60 men ages 18 to 60 years old with an addiction to Iranian crack were put into two groups: gabapentin group and placebo group. During the double-blind phase, study medication was titrated to thirty capsules of either gabapentin or placebo orally 45 min prior to bedtime over a duration of one week. Each capsule received by the medication group contained 300 mg of gabapentin (one capsule) for the first day and then 300 mg/q12h for the second day, 300 mg/q8h for the third day, and 600 mg/q8h for the other days. Each subject received one capsule at bedtime for three nights, then two capsules at bedtime for four nights. After one week passed, the Subjective Opioid Withdrawal Scale (SOWS) was measured by a physician.
Results: Pain severity during the most of detoxification duration was significantly lower in the gabapentin group compared with the placebo group. It is suggested that gabapentin may have an effective role in removing heroin withdrawal-related pain.
The second study done with gabapentin for opiate withdrawal symptoms consisted of 27 patients that were addicted to opiates. In the study, patients were put on methadone for a rapid three-week detoxification. They were then divided into two groups. The first group was given 900 mg of gabapentin for opiate withdrawal symptoms per day. The 2nd group was given 1600 mg of gabapentin for opiate withdrawal symptoms per day.
Results: Gabapentin with a dose of 1600 mg/d was significantly superior to a dose of 900 mg/d in decreasing severity of coldness, diarrhea, dysphoria, yawning, and muscle tension.
How To Use Gabapentin For Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms Relief
Gabapentin has been shown in several studies to be an effective medication for opioid withdrawal symptoms relief. It really can work amazingly well!
Here’s how to use gabapentin for acute detox symptoms relief:
- Always use gabapentin under the care of a doctor.
- The morning of Day 1 off opioids, use 600 mg of gabapentin.
- Wait 90 minutes and assess how you feel.
- If you need to take more to feel comfortable, take up to 600 mg more, for a maximum of 1200 mg for the morning.
- Take 600-1200 mg of gabapentin 3x a day for the acute opioid withdrawal phase.
- Don’t go over the maximum daily dosage of 1200 mg 3x a day (3600 mg total).
- Use gabapentin for 4-7 days if you’re detoxing from short-acting opioids.
- Use gabapentin for 7-14 days if you’re detoxing from long-acting opioids.
- If you use gabapentin for more than two weeks, taper off the medication to avoid gabapentin withdrawal symptoms.
Testimonials
In this section I’m going to print comments I’ve received on my first article on using gabapentin for opiate withdrawal, which you can read here.
I haven’t edited them so the spelling and grammar are pretty bad, but you’ll be able to read how well this medication has worked for people.
Chris: “I am extremely grateful for this information. Have struggled on and off for several years, and only continued to use to avoid withdrawal. I followed the advice here, but have divided the dose into 4 hour intervals. I have been able to work, and go about life with only a mild groggy feeling. I am at day 4 and will taper down. An added benefit of gabapentin seems to be a reduced sense of compulsion to use opiates. I wonder if a small ongoing maintenance dose would help with this?”
Friend: “Gabapentin. I just used it for this and am on day 9 symptom free.”
Jackie: “Today is my first day cold turkey from 350 mgs of oxycodone. I took 800 mgs of gabapentin at 7 am and slept like I was in a coma until 2 pm. Then I took another 800 mgs of gabby. I then slept until 5 pm. I’m now up and a bit loopy but feel pretty good. I’m gonna try to eat something and then go for a walk. So so far, so good!
Jackie’s Update: “Day 2 no opiates…slept from 1 am until 12 pm. Little dizzy and cold. Headache…but that’s it! Pretty darn good if you ask me. Gabapentin is a miracle!! Thanks Matt! Seriously, your site gave me the courage and optimism to beat this devil. I feel so positive. Thank you for all of the information. I want to get better and share my story and help others too!”
Jackie’s 2nd Update: “Matt, Today is officially 12 hours in past the 72 hour mark without opiates. I haven’t done much but I have forced myself to walk everyday and I’m taking the gabapentin and calm support and other supplements. I’m waiting on the dlpa in the mail. Is this around the time I should start to taper from the gabapentin? Isn’t it supposed to be used for 5 days? So should I start cutting my dosage? I only used 1200 mgs before bed. The rest of the time I’ve been using 800 mgs. Oh and I’ve been drinking protein smoothies and fruit and veggies smoothies. I’ve been able to eat real food every night with a lean protein and I’ve not had any nasuea or vomiting and very little diarreah. Why are more rehab centers not using this amazing medicine gabapentin??”
Little Rattler: “Well here I am 27 hours in with no heroin. I took 900mg of gabapentin last night. and work up after about 5/6 hours and took another 900mg of gabapentin and went back to bit of restless sleep, just a bit of tossing and turning, but its now 3pm in the afternoon and I feel ok, Just a bit fuzzy but nothing like a withdrawal from heroin. My stomach felt a bit messed up so I took 1 10mg of buscopan and this sorted it out. Oh ye I took another 900 mg of gabapentin around 3pm cause i heard it only has a short life in the body and did not want to go into withdrawals. I carnt believe they are treating people with opiate addiction with more opiates how is that going to help. I found myself on methadone for over 5 year and what a horrible time that was to get off. I am finding the gabapentin stops that urgency in you mind and body that tells you you need to scrore. It quietens the mind and body down. Great stuff anyway will keep you posted on progress and tell everyone I know who is still using about Gabapentin, spread the word people. Peace Love Light and Laughter.”
Anonymous: “Having used this to Detox off opiates initially and then for several weeks after to mitigate the psychological effects of PAWS as well as lingering physical effects, such as increased susceptibility to pain, night sweats, and diarrhea, I can tell you this medication works WONDERS. There is however one huge drawback, that being, if you use it for more than 3-4 weeks, your body does build a tolerance to it, and you will become physically dependent on this medication, which has its own lovely slew of withdrawal symptoms.”
Jill: Gabapentin is a miracle- I’ve been an addict most of my adult life and this time I had gabapentin for neuropathy and it was really smooth considering I went cold turkey.”
Jim: “I’ve been on some type of opiates for about 15yrs non stop. I took the gabapentin the night before my first day of no drugs and I had absolutely no withdrawls. Day 2 took them the night before and again no withdrawls. ”
John: “I am on day 3 of withdrawing from pain pills. I am taking 300 mg gabapentin capsules about every 4-5 hours. Although it is not a complete cure all, it does help to the point that I have been able to function and get my responsibilities (work, etc.) done each day. Without it, I would be a twitching blob in the corner of the room. It especially comes in handy at night when the restless legs and skin crawling begins. I take a Gabapentin when that happens and within a half hour it goes away about 80% and I can catch 3 or 4 hours of sleep which is a god send.”
Brenda: “I happened to be put on gabapentin, around the same time that I read that it can help withdrawal from opioids. So when I started the gabapentin, I simply stopped the Vicodin (I have lupus and neuropathy from autoimmunity-not diabetes) . Thank The Good Lord, I had zero withdrawal from the Vicodin.”
Jp: “Hey peeps gabapentin works trust me just a average guy.. was on opiates 2.5 years pretty much every day…. spent God know how much money 40 k plus I would sAy… I do have nerve damage in legs but not too serious.prescribed gabapentin 1 year ago. took few days didn’t like spinning in morning.. just a normal thing when taking but stoped…. sitting in cabinet for 1 year… Sunday I said enough is a enough.. been just taking opiates recently to just feel normal and so can get a peep in the day so dont feel like shit balls…Took gabapentin for legs cause knew legs would be restless… diden’t think I would have near to none withdraw symptoms… my gf couldent beleive.. I was out in pool swimming in pool all day on day 3 of withdraw… didnt take anything first nite was going to do a sub that nite I got. but read can’t take to early. Pushed through first night. next day wasn’t bad normal aches and shit… Still didn’t think was just time for to take sub witch I was scared of subs cause so potent. So took 600 milagram of gabapentin. I was alright the whole next day little leacky little sqirts no stomach pain no fatigue. Just sneezes yawns… so took it the next night 600 mg… Next day fine little bit off but not bad at all… I was so shocked that night just felt so good about this… got energy that night.. told girlfriend let’s go out and do something… felt that good… got little restless legs that nite so took again 600 mg… that morning up at 7 am.. not a morning person at you would say.. up jumped out of bed from morning till night spent day swimming like a fish in pool all day.”
Ali: ”
1. Gabapentin Works.. period
2. i took gaba with my opiates for 3 days. (TAPER)
3. Then went 7 days of 900mg 3/4 times per day
4. RLS was a bitch. couldn’t sleep. used valium.
5. clean after day 7.
6. NO WITHDRAWL Symptoms
7. Stop Taking GABA on day 7. felt amazing
they key is not to relapse. gaba makes coming off almost too easy.”
Conclusion
Trust me when I tell you there are WAY more comments at the end of my first gabapentin article that you will love to read. So many people have written in about their success getting off opioid drugs with ease using gabapentin. Click here to go check em all out.
Click here now to view my best home detox program.
If you have any comments or questions on using gabapentin for acute opioid withdrawal symptoms relief, please post them in the comment box below. Be safe, and take care!
Hey Matt,
I’ve tapered down with kratom to 10 gram. I could resume my taper regime of course but for some reason I find the last bits to be the hardest. That’s why I wanted to jump off. I have gabapentin but it doesn’t seem to do much. Anxiety-wise I’m fine but it’s as if there is electricity. This has been unfortunate relapse; before I remember clonidine taking that feeling away. But I can’t get those now. So I was thinking about ordering a small amount of tianeptine (1 gram is the minimum I can get). There’s no chance I will get hooked on that. I started Kratom again knowing fully well it would lead up to this. I was pressured by a goal that has to do with my work and it just works as an amazing nootropic for me. Probably the best ever. So it’s not an – I’m desperate – situation. I just wondered what you or anybody else thought about this. I maybe would 300 x 3 for the first three days. (3 doses) If the electric feeling is gone – but I have other complaints I could still use the gabap. for the remainder of the week.
Or if I taper; there’s a lot of talk about agmatine which would presumably boost the effects of a lot of things (phenib., kratom) … So that you have to take less. or each time you drop it smooths out the bump. It just feels like a long taper (especially with super-small doses) is a constant reminder; You have to do this or that; better take more. I’m quite disciplined but when I’m near to the finish I get sloppy:(
Your site is truly a gem btw
Kind regards,
You can call me bobby.
Matt,
I really hope you answer this. I have been on Suboxone for 11 years. Before that I was on it for 6 months and tapered off, and then it was hell!! I am petrified to be much older, with no emotions what so ever and to attempt coming off. I am currently taking 2mgs. per day but suffering with increased anxiety, RLS (mainly in my feet). I do not want to adjust my dose back up as I have only been on this dose for a week, from 3 mgs. I have Neurontin prescribed, but never really take it. Do you think if I took it for a few days it could help me adjust? Do you think if I take it, only when I taper my dose and have issues, it would be a problem? I am already anticipating the final jump with such debilitating anxiety. I have yet to find anyone that has been on Sub this long and been successful. I am seriously contemplating the unthinkable if this doesn’t work. I cannot imagine living my life with no happiness, emotion or connection. I do not even feel a connection with my children sometimes, and for a parent, that is unthinkable. I am using, all of your suggestions. Do you think an antidepressant would help or hinder the process?