Feeling really ill. Am I in withdrawal? I'm on my own

[PaillettenBedeckt]

It's my turn to have one of these.

I genuinely don't know what's wrong with me or whether it's serious.

I've already requested a call back from 111, which is supposed to be in 2 hours but no doubt will end up being at 6am and I'll miss it.

I have arthritis, suspected fibromyalgia, and bursitis in both hips. My GP prescribed me Gabapentin to try a few weeks ago. I ran out of the tablets and I've not been able to get through to the surgery to talk about any more, so I've gone cold turkey.

I've been getting serious insomnia (I already have insomnia so this has been balls to the wall insomnia). I've dropped off a few times today and had very, very vivid brief dreams before waking back up. I don't have a temperature but my chest is burning hot. I've been feeling very hot and sweaty and I've been next to fan on full blast for about 24 hours now. I had some nausea in the first half of the day that then turned into violently throwing up bile. I've not been able to eat today because I don't have much in, I live alone, and I don't have the strength to prepare a meal. I don't even have bread and butter so I can't just make a piece of toast or something. I couldn't even hold down water earlier either, so it probably wouldn't have helped. I feel a little unusual and on edge. No tremors and I'm pretty sure I haven't had a seizure. I haven't been sick in the last few hours.

I wasn't even considering whether this was withdrawal until late this evening. I thought I was just tired and nauseated from exhaustion. But I'm not sure now.

But what is anyone going to do? All the late night pharmacies have closed and I'll bet anything A&E would rather tell me to get in a Biffa Bin than give me Gabapentin If I went there. 111 won't call me back until tomorrow morning or I'll eat my shoe collection.

Is this withdrawal dangerous, if that's what it is? I can only find information about people who have been taking it long term. But I keep reading about it being able to cause seizures and I'm completely alone.

I've been sent over to the OOH GP because it's going to be quicker than waiting here. It's a seven hour wait here at A&E so I've got an appointment booked in an hour.

I'm pretty certain it's withdrawal. But the best they can do is get me a prescription for the morning, as I knew earlier.

They really shouldn't put people on these tablets without letting them book a follow up appointment. I've had withdrawal symptoms from other prescription medication in my time, but nothing like this. My heart rate has been jumping from 80 to 130 backwards and forwards, I've been throwing up again, I feel awful. This has been a scary night.

Gaba withdrawal is horrible. Way worse than opiate withdrawal. I didn't sleep properly for weeks.

I've got fibromyalgia too and I've been on and off most pain meds over the years. The only thing that properly treated it was BuTrans patches. They are great cause you just swap them once a week and forget about them.

Yes when I run out of gabapentin the withdrawal is awful

Just here to say it’s terrible that they prescribed it and then won’t facilitate a follow up - beyond unacceptable, it’s inhumane.

Gaba withdrawal is truly awful. I was told to stop taking it as it stopped helping even at high doses, but wasn't warned about the withdrawal either. I've no experience but can only assume it's like heroin withdrawal as that's how bad I felt. It was a few years ago now but I'm still angry at my GP for putting me on it and increasing my dose time after time, all without warning me about withdrawal or helping me to taper off. I couldn't get help either so just had to lay down / stand up / lay down again and again, shaking and sweating. My skin hurt, I couldn't sleep, I wasn't comfy anywhere. My heart rate must've been going wild etc.

I really hope you get the help you need today. And consider making a complaint to your GP surgery. They need to start telling people about these awful effects.

Hope you start to feel better soon.💐

From what I read last night, it's a bit similar to alcohol withdrawal i.e. dangerous. I've had withdrawal symptoms from prescribed codeine many years ago. It was pretty bad but it was mainly flu symptoms and a very bad headache. Nothing I couldn't push through.

It's really shocking that this has happened to other people. Although I've been gaslit by the GP about withdrawal in the past. Apparently it wasn't withdrawal, but me being allergic. To not taking them?? Hmm!

It makes me wonder if the drug companies tell them this.

I still haven't managed to get hold of any. I need to wait for someone to be able to go to the pharmacy for me. I'm in no fit state to drive. Plus with the risk of seizure, no doubt I'm not insured like this either.

I've had a little bit of sleep, which was ok but quite light and short. I haven't eaten since the day before yesterday either which isn't helping.

My plan is to stay in bed and listen to some audiobooks. I can't handle the TV right now. Too much light and colour.

I'm on a much higher dose of gabapentin (900mg three times a day) and I make sure I never run out.

It's essential to taper down if you're going to stop. It even says so on the label.

Hope you're feeling better soon, OP.

@BooneyBeautiful would you mind sharing what the CBD oil was? By pm is fine if you'd rather. I know someone with long term chronic pain who would be glad of any suggestions.

OP I'm relieved you're in hospital now. Hope they can get you sorted.

IME 111 over, rather than under, react.

I would like to know this too for my dad, I bought him some already but I would get him this if it helped.

Oh god, the hell continues. My friend went to pick up my prescription, got told to go straight to the pharmacy. He's just arrived here with a completely different prescription. The surgery didn't even check that it was the right one.

I could have cried. I still can't keep any food or water down and god knows how long this will take now.

😭

Ask your friend to go back to the OOH gp and tell them it's not right and needs correcting immediately. They should threaten an official complaint. Tell them you wouldn't ask if it wasn't urgent. If you were near me I'd do it.

He's gone back down there and has now got the right prescription. So now back to the pharmacy for him and then hopefully the tablet will stop these symptoms.

I know, it's awful treatment. I've been trying to get somewhere with this since last night, the whole time feeling like utter dogshit. I can feel a UTI coming on now from lack of fluid.

Not only that, but my friend has quit smoking and has now been driving all over the city for a couple of hours on a wild goose chase. He's about ready to tear what remains of his hair out.

Finally!!

Thank goodness. You'll start to feel better soon.

It's cbdactive+ oil from Dutch Natural Healing. You can email them and request a free sample. Tell them all your medical conditions and they might send you some of their other products too, such as pain patches.

I had been in extreme pain for six to eight weeks. It felt as if someone had pushed their fist into the back of my right thigh and was twisting it. At one point I would say the pain was at level 10. As I said, the Gabapentin took the edge off, but it was the cbdactive+ oil that got rid of it completely. It was a game changer for me.

I went to sleep so I wouldn't throw the tablet up. I feel a bit better now I've woken up.

I'm drinking gingerly but I don't feel sick which is great. I've got a headache from dehydration/withdrawal from other tablets I've missed, but that's bearable. My friend has bought me some deli food and some ready meals I can make easily so hopefully I can eat too. I've lost quite a bit of weight over the last couple of days.

I never want to feel like that again in my life.

I will have a look into the CBD oil as well, thank you @BooneyBeautiful

Really truly heartfelt thanks to everyone for your support. I'm quite good at sounding lucid in my writing, but I really was in an absolute state. I was babbling away to the paramedics about god knows what last night!