This drug is supposed to be non-addictive, but people are finding that they need treatment to stop using it. A lot of people take this drug for a number of different reasons. It can be used to treat seizures, epilepsy and even alcohol and opioid withdrawal. But that does not mean it is completely safe.
Gabapentin does have some of its own addictive properties. It works on the GABA system in the body, and the effects of it are similar to what is experienced with opioid painkillers. Although it is often used as a treatment for withdrawal, it is not intended for long-term use. It is very easy to get addicted to this drug, which means someone who takes it needs to detox all over again.
People get addicted to Gabapentin accidentally and because they abuse it recreationally. It can be a dangerous drug in both instances, and more people need to be made aware of the risks. We would like to talk about those risks and explain the effects of this medication on the mind and body. We also want to talk about where to find drug treatment in Idaho.
Before we get into what makes this drug so addictive and potentially dangerous, let’s take a closer look at what gabapentin is and how it works.
The body uses two main chemicals to control the electrical activity in the brain: glutamate and GABA. Glutamate’s role is to excite your neurons and make them more likely to produce an electrical charge. GABA, on the other hand, does the opposite and suppresses electrical activity.
In the most basic sense, if a neuron is flooded with more glutamate than GABA, it fires off an electrical signal. And if there’s more GABA, it doesn’t.
Some disorders have been linked to having far too much electrical activity in the brain. Seizures, tremors, certain anxiety disorders, and more are just a few examples. And modern medicine has discovered that increasing the levels of GABA in the brain can keep these disorders under control.
Gabapentin is a unique chemical that is incredibly similar to GABA. In fact, the two are so alike that the brain usually can’t even tell the difference. And as a result, doctors have begun using it to treat the many different disorders caused by an imbalance of glutamate and GABA.
Gabapentin is the generic version of the medication. Popular brand names of medications that contain the same active ingredients include:
Out of the 5 brand name medications, Neurontin is the most popular. Medications are available in the form of immediate-release capsules or oral solutions. Doses range from 100mg to 800mg. In most cases, doctors will prescribe a dose of 300mg at a time. Several doses may be taken throughout the entire day to treat the condition or disease.
There’s a lot of confusion surrounding what constitutes abuse of prescription medications like gabapentin. And on top of that, many people wrongly think that physical dependence and addiction are one in the same.
In order to clear up some of that confusion, let’s take a look at what these different terms mean starting with abuse.
In its most basic sense, abuse describes using a substance either illegally or in a way that it wasn’t intended to be used. For drugs like heroin, using it even once is considered to be abuse since this drug is illegal and doesn’t have a legitimate medical use.
With prescription medications, however, things get a little more complicated since they’re technically legal. With these drugs, using them in a way that they weren’t prescribed is mainly what’s considered abuse. But don’t be misled – that definition extends to an enormous number of scenarios.
Just to give you an idea, below are some of the most common ways drugs like gabapentin are abused today.
As you can see, there are many different ways you can abuse a prescription drug today.
Unfortunately, the line between use and misuse is quite thin. Many patients who are prescribed Neurontin may end up misusing the drug. And eventually, that misuse can end up fueling a habit of abuse.
To put the problem into perspective, a recent study found 22% of opioid-dependent patients had a prescription for gabapentin. Of these patients, 40% used more gabapentin than prescribed.
But how is it abused today?
Many times, gabapentin is used in conjunction with other drugs like alcohol and opioids. That’s because this drug tends to enhance the euphoria felt during drug use.
But there’s more at play here than just enhancing the effects. Gabapentin can actually help bypass the blocking effects of certain drugs taken during addiction treatment. And that can mean that recovering addicts can get high while in recovery.
And this is made all the more dangerous by the fact that gabapentin is notoriously easy to get your hands on. According to StreetRx, street gabapentin pills (also known as Gabbies or Johnnies) can be as cheap as a dollar per 100mg.
Methods of abuse are typically confined to ingesting it orally or crushing and snorting it similar to cocaine.
Long-term use of gabapentin can lead to physical dependence. Dependence is marked by the body needing a drug in order to function normally. If you’re physically dependent and you try to quit gabapentin, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms.
Identifying a gabapentin addiction can be difficult. Many patients don't exhibit any outward signs of an addiction. They're able to hide it with ease.
This is also because gabapentin addicts do not exhibit strong drug-seeking behaviors. They are not compulsive and impulsive.
To determine whether a person is addicted to gabapentin, pay attention to the details. Common signs of a Neurontin addiction include:
Often times, even those who are close to addicts won't realize what's happening. Those who suspect that a loved one is addicted to gabapentin may not easily get the answers they seek.
Those who need some help in this department should check out our addiction quizzes. Some of these quizzes are self-assessments, whereas others are for loved ones.
While the quizzes might help point addicts and their family members in the right direction, they may not provide a concrete answer. Those who are looking for more insight and information should contact one of our counsellors. A thorough professional assessment may be needed.
One of the factors that have led to an increase in gabapentin abuse lately is just how often this drug is used for conditions that it wasn't originally designed to treat. This is what's known as prescribing "off-label."
Now, it’s important to remember that just because a drug is prescribed off-label doesn’t mean it’s being used illicitly or even illegally. Off-label prescribing is common in many doctor’s offices today.
However, it is a practice that has led to this drug being far more available than many others – especially because it’s been believed to be non-habit forming. In fact, one study found that as much as 83% of gabapentin prescriptions are used for off-label purposes.
With the ever-growing opioid epidemic and increasing rates of addiction all around the country, addiction researchers are working feverishly to find new ways of preventing and treating substance use disorders. And recently, gabapentin has emerged as a possible treatment for reducing the severity of certain drug withdrawals.
Since gabapentin is similar in shape and structure to GABA, it makes it a particularly useful compound for treating drug addictions that deal specifically with this chemical. This includes treating alcohol withdrawals and those experienced while detoxing from benzodiazepines.
With both alcohol and benzodiazepines, the brain becomes so used to their GABA boosting power that when addicts stop using them entirely, GABA levels tend to drop dramatically. Researchers believe that gabapentin may help fill that gap and reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
Surprisingly, gabapentin has also been shown to be effective in making detox from opioids far more manageable as well. With proper use of this drug, symptoms like coldness, diarrhea, dysphoria, yawning, and muscle tension all decreased in severity quite a bit.
Many insurance companies will cover 100% of the cost of outpatient treatment. Call today and find out if your plan qualifies. We can also help with financing. [DirectNumber]
For years, Gabapentin was considered a low-risk way to treat certain medical conditions. It is often prescribed alongside opioid painkillers as a way to treat pain following surgeries or injuries. But the northwest region of the country has felt the sting of what might possibly be the newest drug epidemic. Idaho is no exception, and we feel it too, right here at home.
Gabapentin is one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the country. The recent increase in the number of prescriptions can be attributed to less opioid painkillers being prescribed. Doctors found that they needed an alternative, which this medication provided them with.
But here is the problem – many doctors are not aware of the addictive potential Gabapentin has. In their minds, it is a much safer option than opioids, which is why it is often substituted for them. The risks are greater for people who have a history of abusing various drugs.
A lot of experts believe that as many as 25% of opioid users also use Gabapentin. Taking both of these drugs at the same time increases the risk for deadly overdoses. Fortunately, our country seems to be changing their views on this drug. They are making adjustments to help keep people safe from becoming addicted to it.
The first state that classified Gabapentin as a scheduled substance was Kentucky. Other states have started tracking this medication through their databases. But is that good enough? A lot of experts say that it is not, and that the federal government needs to step in and make laws to protect people.
While gabapentin may be becoming more popular as an addiction treatment medication, the unfortunate reality is that this drug itself is quickly becoming a substance of abuse.
And as with any addictive drug, the first step towards getting clean from Neurontin requires you to detoxify your body.
During this process, your body will readjust to functioning normally without the help of gabapentin while flushing out the last traces of the drug. While this part of recovery is entirely necessary, it can end up being quite painful due to the withdrawal symptoms involved.
Gabapentin withdrawal symptoms are quite similar to alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms. This is probably because gabapentin affects GABA levels within the brain, as do alcohol and benzodiazepines.
Most Neurontin withdrawal symptoms are not considered dangerous. However, seizures can cause injuries and even death. As a result, those who experience gabapentin withdrawals should speak with a doctor or addiction professional.
The intensity of the withdrawal symptoms is also based on the dose taken. Those who have taken higher doses will usually experience more intense withdrawal symptoms. As most patients develop tolerance to the drug, it's not unusual for most patients to need a large dosage.
In short, many patients will experience intense, and even unbearable, withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms may cause relapses to happen.
Long-term gabapentin users will experience a whole array of withdrawal symptoms when quitting. The withdrawal symptoms will be more intense for those who try to quit cold turkey. Slowly tapering off of the drug is usually a better option, and is highly recommended by experts.
Even patients who used the medication as prescribed may experience withdrawal symptoms. Whether withdrawals will kick in is dependent on the length of the Neurontin use.
Some common gabapentin withdrawal symptoms include:
Withdrawal symptoms can begin to kick in as soon as 12 hours of the last dose. In most cases, however, withdrawal symptoms will begin to emerge 1 to 2 days after last use. The exact timeline will differ from patient to patient.
Most symptoms will begin to peak after 3 to 4 days and will take up to a week to subside.
Some patients will experience psychological symptoms for up to a month. These symptoms are otherwise known as Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms (PAWS). PAWS is more likely to affect children and young adults.
The best way to avoid experiencing debilitating withdrawal symptoms is to gradually taper off of the drug. Most experts recommend a taper treatment that is similar to a benzodiazepine taper. The tapering process should happen over a period of several weeks to several months.
The withdrawal timeline for gabapentin will differ from patient to patient. This is because there are many factors at play. Some factors that affect the intensity of the withdrawal symptoms, as well as the length of the withdrawals, include:
Medical professionals can estimate what each patient should expect after a thorough assessment. Our staff can walk addicted individuals through the process of detoxing from gabapentin, so the process feels less scary. We will also explore all of the possible treatment options with people who are addicted to gabapentin. Some popular options include residential treatment programs and intensive outpatient programs.
On top of withdrawal symptoms, both short-term and long-term use can lead to some side effects. The drug will affect each patient in a different manner. This is why most doctors recommend each patient to take some time to figure out how the drug affects their body.
Usually, the body will adapt to the gabapentin use. As a result, the side effects will tend to either disappear or lessen in intensity within time.
Gabapentin is not suitable for all patients. In rare cases, some patients will experience serious side effects. When this happens, the patients should seek immediate medical help.
The doctor may need to switch the patients to a different medication or to a lower dosage. It will depend on the intensity of the side effects, among many other factors. A thorough assessment will be needed to make an informed and calculated decision.
Some patients may even be allergic to gabapentin. Patients who are experiencing an allergic reaction will become fatigued. They may also get hives, frequent infections, rashes, and swollen glands and lips. Fevers, unexpected muscle pain, unusual bruising or bleeding and jaundice can also be caused by an allergic reaction.
Deaths caused by drug and alcohol overdoses are rising in all 50 states in America. Each year, more and more Americans lose their lives to drugs and alcohol. It's a major epidemic that plagues the medical industry. Unfortunately, America has yet to come up with a solution.
While not all overdoses are lethal, fatal overdoses due to gabapentin toxicity are possible. In fact, there have even been cases where people used gabapentin to commit suicide.
Fatal Neurontin overdoses are similar to opioid overdoses. The systems of affected individuals will begin to shut down. They will often look like they are drifting off to sleep; however, they will stop breathing. When this happens, they may die.
Unlike for opioid overdoses, there are no antidotes for gabapentin overdoses yet. Even if emergency responders are able to treat an overdose, the affected individual will likely sustain permanent damages.
If gabapentin is used concurrently with opioids, there's a 49% increased risk of a fatal opioid overdose. Both of these drugs can cause respiratory and cardiac distress. When both are used at the same time, the effects are magnified.
Some people are more at risk of overdosing than others. Overdose risks involve factors like:
Those who have used gabapentin for an extended period of time will likely have built tolerance. This means that they will need a larger and larger dose to achieve the same effects. These people are much more likely to take a dose capable of causing an overdose.
The amount needed for an overdose will vary from individual to individual. Acute oral overdoses for this drug can require up to 49 grams. When an individual is overdosing on Neurontin, the best thing to do is to call 9-1-1 immediately. It’s also a good idea to stay with the individual to keep them calm. If they ever stop breathing at any moment in time, perform CPR.
Not many people are aware of the dangers involved with taking gabapentin. As a result, many patients who take the drug won't realize that they're addicted until it's too late.
Once that happens, it can be incredibly tough to break the cycle of addiction without professional help. The cravings and drive for the high that gabapentin can create are certainly one thing holding addicts back from recovery. And even the most determined individuals can find themselves unable to control themselves.
But there’s more to just the desire for pleasure involved here. In fact, one of the leading factors in why so many addicts end up relapsing is because they can’t withstand the unbearable withdrawals that come with detox.
The combination of pleasure-seeking and pain avoidance is the driving force behind the cycle of addiction. Users may go through stints of trying to get clean but find themselves entirely unable to kick the habit on their own. And thus, the cycle continues.
But it doesn’t have to be this way forever. And with the right kind of professional help and expertise, anyone can break free from their addiction and finally stop the cycle of abuse.
And the very first step is asking for help.
People often wrongly assume that choosing a drug rehab center is easy because they are mostly the same. This could not be further from the truth. There are all types of recovery programs in Idaho, but not all of them are as beneficial as they could be.
Someone who is addicted to Gabapentin should commit to a drug treatment program that they can trust. Doing so requires looking for the following characteristics:
At Ashwood Recovery, we have one of the best outpatient drug rehab programs in Idaho. We view our clients as individuals who all have their own personal needs during treatment. That is why we provide each one of them with their own treatment plans. That allows us to give them the targeted care that they need to be successful.
We know that our clients all have different needs. That is why we offer three levels of care. Our clients are placed into either our traditional outpatient program, our IOP or our partial hospitalization program.
We have a location in Idaho. Our facility is located in Boise, Idaho as a way to offer convenient treatment to our clients.
Health insurance companies are mandated by law to offer addiction treatment benefits. For those who have insurance, this can drive the cost of rehab way down, which is great news!
Ashwood Recovery is in-network with many of the top insurance companies in Idaho, including Blue Cross of Idaho. We want to do everything we can to make drug rehab as affordable as possible.
At Ashwood Recovery, we know how hard it is to find out that you are addicted to a medication you take. So many people take Gabapentin because they have a prescription, and most do not realize its addictive potential. We want you to know that we are here to help with recovering from it.
Our admissions coordinators are here to help you get started with treatment the right way. They'll verify your health insurance, help set up travel arrangements, and make sure your transition into treatment is smooth and hassle-free.
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