The common anticonvulsant gabapentin has become frequently misused by individuals looking to experience the “high” that comes with it. However, this is leading to more cases of gabapentin overdose and abuse.
Read on to learn more about what a gabapentin overdose looks like, what to do if you or a loved one is overdosing, and how to get treatment for a gabapentin overdose or addiction.
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Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant [1] that comes in the form of pills, tablets, and other oral solutions. It can be prescribed to both children and adults. This drug reduces the excitability of neurons in the brain that are linked to nerves, which stop the transmission of pain signals and can prevent seizures. Gabapentin is approved by the FDA to treat partial seizures, relieve postherpetic neuralgia from shingles, and restless legs syndrome (RLS).
Gabapentin is a common drug that, when not misused, can be incredibly effective in helping those suffering from seizures and other syndromes. However, if you or a loved one are struggling with gabapentin addiction, it’s important to reach out for help from a professional in order to avoid overdose or unwanted side effects.
Gabapentin—also known as Neurontin, Horizant, or Gralise—is used to treat seizures and other involuntary movements of the body. This can include seizure disorders, post-herpetic neuralgia, or restless leg syndrome. Dosage depends on height, weight, age, and severity of conduction. Gabapentin can be combined with other medications to help treat epilepsy symptoms.
Although gabapentin is mainly used for epilepsy, it can also be used for nerve pain caused by shingles, diabetes, or an injury. Other off-label uses for it include:
Gabapentin works by reducing abnormal electrical activity in the brain that leads to seizures and convulsions. With nerve pain, it blocks pain messages traveling throughout the brain.
Common side effects of gabapentin include the following:
Serious side effects of gabapentin include:
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you notice any of the above serious side effects or if the common side effects are affecting your daily life.
Taking gabapentin long-term has been shown to potentially have mild toxic effects [2] to the liver and kidneys. However, compared to opioids and other drugs, gabapentin is non-lethal in the instance of a toxic dose or an overdose.
Gabapentin can begin to become dangerous when taken in amounts more than prescribed. A potentially lethal overdose can begin at about 49 grams. A standard gabapentin dose is about 50 mg per day for children and about 300mg to 600mg for those 12 and older. However, the exact amount of grams that result in overdose can change depending on if the gabapentin is mixed with other substances, such as drugs or alcohol.
When taken on its own and in prescribed doses, gabapentin is not lethal, addictive, or dangerous. However, gabapentin still can be misused, and when combined with other substances, could result in overdose or death.
Gabapentin is not typically associated with addiction [3]. However, gabapentin is becoming increasingly abused due to its relaxing effects that have a similar feeling to opioid highs, with sensations of euphoria and sedation. Gabapentin has become popular to use in conjunction with other drugs to boost [4] the sensation of being high. Users have reported effects like:
However, others report gabapentin’s effects to be extremely sedative, often resulting in a “zombie-like” state.
With this increase of misuse comes the increased risk of gabapentin overdose and even overdose death.
Gabapentin has sedative effects, so when taken in excessive amount, it will result in the following gabapentin overdose symptoms:
If you or someone you know are exhibiting these symptoms, it’s critical that you call 911 or get to an emergency room immediately for medical intervention.
Although death in the case of a gabapentin overdose is extremely rare, taking too much gabapentin in conjunction with other substances, like opioids or alcohol, could prove to be lethal. Mixing gabapentin with other substances that have depressant effects increases the risk of serious gabapentin overdose symptoms and requires medical attention. Especially when combined with respiratory depressing substances, gabapentin could potentially lead to death in the case of an overdose.
On its own and taken in the prescribed dosage, gabapentin is not deadly. When combined with other substances that have similar effects, the results could lead to death. For example, gabapentin combined with opioids can result in profound respiratory depression. This leads to shallow and slowed breathing, which could potentially lead to respiratory arrest and then death. Other serious effects of this are permanent brain damage or comas.
Potentially deadly gabapentin combos include:
Always take gabapentin responsibly and consult with your doctor if you have questions about what other medications are safe to take with gabapentin.
Insurance can be tough to deal with, but our team makes it easy. We’ll help you verify your coverage and work with your provider to get you the help you need.
An overdose of any substances is alarming and stressful, but the first thing to do is remain calm. Call emergency services immediately so that the severity of the overdose can be assessed and properly mitigated. Avoid taking more medication or other substances unless explicitly instructed by a medical professional. Some cases of gabapentin overdose may need in-depth treatment, like airway maintenance or ventilation assistance. Other treatments include IV fluids, cardiac monitoring, administration of activated charcoal, and coma/stupor support if necessary.
Although gabapentin addiction is not always common, individuals abusing gabapentin could still benefit from addiction treatment.
Gabapentin overdose will be different based on the severity. Some cases require intense medical intervention and monitoring, such as in cases where the patient has experienced a coma or difficulty breathing. In other cases, a patient might be administered activated charcoal or gastric lavage to help remove any remaining gabapentin in their system.
Treatments for gabapentin addiction also vary. If an individual is addicted, they might be checked into a rehab. There, they will undergo a detox process and receive the treatments and therapies they need to help them break the cycle of addiction.
After a gabapentin overdose has been mitigated and monitored, you’ll be released from the hospital. To further heal, visit your primary care physician to know next steps. They might recommend taking a break from gabapentin or suggest therapeutic interventions to help if you are experiencing trauma from the overdose or are struggling with gabapentin addiction.
There are also different gabapentin alternatives, such as Lamictal, to try in the case that you still need anticonvulsant medication but are suggested to go off gabapentin. Stopping gabapentin suddenly might increase the risk of having seizures, and you may need to slowly taper off gabapentin. Always talk to your doctor before stopping or starting medication.
If you’re looking for gabapentin addiction help, contact a trusted, established rehab center. Rehabs and addiction treatment centers will help get you connected to resources that will help you or your loved one receive the right treatment for gabapentin addiction. Here are a couple of ways to find a rehab center near you:
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At Gratitude Lodge, we recognize that each person has a different addiction story and will have a different path to recovery—there is no one-size-fits-all program when it comes to addiction treatment. That;s why we offer personalized treatment plans that include a mix or all of the following:
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[1] https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/gabapentin-uses-side-effects-and-what-you-should-know-if-youve-been-prescribed-this-medication
[2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0024320520317008
[3] https://www.poison.org/articles/neurontin-gabapentin#:~:text=Common%20symptoms%20of%20gabapentin%20overdose,coma%2C%20and%20death%20may%20occur.
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3404313/
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