Gabapentin, a medication formerly used to treat seizures and nerve pain, is now abused by individuals seeking euphoria. This abuse, typically over the prescribed dosage, worries families and medical practitioners about safety.
Gabapentin is legal in most places, making the consumer believe that it has little risk. But doses that are higher than what they recommend can lead to euphoria, sleepiness, and harmful Gabapentin side effects, especially when combined with other medications.
Here at DeNovo Recovery, we see how “low risk” drugs can lead to addiction and dependency. Knowing about gabapentin’s potential for abuse is the secret to recovery, and seeking professional help can prevent long-term damage to health and relationships.
DeNovo Recovery is a practice that is dedicated to personalized treatment for substance abuse addiction and mental illness, helping clients regain control and become well.
What Is Gabapentin?
Gabapentin, which you might know as Neurontin or Gralise, is a medication approved by the FDA that can really help with certain conditions. This medication is mainly used to help manage partial seizures in both adults and children, as well as to relieve nerve pain, including post-herpetic neuralgia shingles.
Physicians routinely prescribe gabapentin for off-label uses like anxiety disorders, chronic insomnia, and restless leg syndrome, a condition marked by a compulsion to move the legs involuntarily and unpleasant sensations.
Gabapentin calms those overly excited nerve signals, making it a helpful option for treating not just seizures but also chronic conditions and pain. Gabapentin does not stimulate the brain’s dopamine system, which triggers pleasurable sensations linked to addiction, unlike opioids and stimulants.
Many users of gabapentin report feelings of euphoria or sedation, especially when taking doses higher than recommended. This raises important questions about how we can prevent abuse while staying within the recommended doses.
Can Gabapentin Get You High?
Gabapentin sometimes produces a sense of euphoria or dizziness when it is used other than in the manner prescribed. People may become relaxed, sedated, or even dissociated with minor hallucinations, which may simulate intoxication. It should be taken seriously to avoid alcohol-like effects.
Distorted effects are primarily experienced with drug abuse, such as crushing gabapentin tablets, consuming more than the recommended dosage, or combining it with other drugs. Understanding that these bad habits can lead to serious health complications and can harm you in certain circumstances is significant.
With cautious prescription and monitoring by doctors, the overwhelming majority of patients stay clear of gross altered states at therapeutic doses. Ensuring one knows the difference between using a product as medicine and getting high on it is important because the latter can result in unsafe practices. Fuzzing this boundary significantly increases the risk of negative side effects and health complications, with a proper focus on cautious adherence to medical guidance in the instance of gabapentin.
Why Do People Misuse Gabapentin?
Several factors have contributed to gabapentin’s emergence as a drug of misuse in recent years. A primary driver stems from widespread perception of the medication as “safe” compared to other substances. Because gabapentin remains unclassified as a controlled substance in many states and regions, many people incorrectly assume it carries minimal risk. This misunderstanding leads some individuals to experiment with the drug without fully comprehending potential consequences.
Another concerning trend involves potentiation—the practice of mixing gabapentin with other substances such as opioids, benzodiazepines, or alcohol to enhance or modify the high. This practice poses extreme dangers and can result in life-threatening overdose situations as these substances interact unpredictably in the body.
Accessibility also plays a significant role in gabapentin misuse. As one of the most frequently prescribed medications in the United States, gabapentin remains relatively easy to obtain through friends, family members with legitimate prescriptions, or various online sources. This widespread availability creates opportunities for diversion and recreational use.
Many individuals also turn to gabapentin as a means of self-medication, attempting to manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, or withdrawal from other substances, particularly when trying to avoid using opioids or other drugs perceived as more dangerous or stigmatized. This pattern of self-treatment without medical supervision creates significant risks and often leads to complex patterns of dependence.
Risks and Side Effects of Gabapentin Misuse
Misusing gabapentin, even occasionally, can lead to serious physical and mental health consequences. Users may experience common Gabapentin side effects like dizziness, which impairs coordination and increases fall risk. Significant memory issues and confusion can also affect daily functioning and routine tasks.
Misuse of gabapentin is linked to an increase in suicidal thoughts in some individuals, highlighting the need for proper monitoring. Additionally, physical dependence can develop quickly, causing withdrawal symptoms upon cessation.
The main concern of gabapentin misuse is the risk of seizures from abruptly stopping the drug, even for those without a seizure history. This poses a serious health threat. Users must closely follow medical advice and consult healthcare professionals before discontinuing or if they face Gabapentin side effects.
Gabapentin Withdrawal Symptoms
When someone has been using gabapentin regularly, especially at high doses, stopping suddenly can precipitate a range of withdrawal symptoms. These commonly include persistent insomnia that disrupts sleep patterns, intense anxiety or panic attacks, noticeable irritability or agitation, physical symptoms like nausea and excessive sweating, and in severe cases, potentially life-threatening seizures.
These withdrawal manifestations can closely resemble those experienced during withdrawal from alcohol or benzodiazepines, sometimes necessitating medical detoxification to ensure safety. The severity of withdrawal often correlates with the duration of use, dosage, and individual physiological factors, highlighting the importance of medically supervised cessation.
Is Gabapentin Addictive?
While the gabapentin uses doesn’t create physical dependence identical to substances like opioids or methamphetamine, psychological dependence represents a very real concern. Many individuals develop a compulsive need to use gabapentin, particularly if they regularly pursue its euphoric effects, use it as a coping mechanism for mental health symptoms, or combine it with other substances to achieve more intense highs.
Over time, this pattern of use can evolve into a full addiction profile, characterized by continued use despite negative consequences in various life domains, including work performance, personal relationships, and physical health. The psychological attachment to gabapentin’s effects can prove extremely challenging to overcome without proper support and treatment.
Who Is Most at Risk for Gabapentin Abuse?
The misuse of gabapentin is an increasingly prevalent issue that impacts various populations, with some groups showing a significantly higher risk of misuse.
Individuals with Opioid Use Disorders
At-risk individuals include those with opioid use disorder who might turn to gabapentin as a substitute for opioids when withdrawing or to increase their effects. The use has the capability of increasing the risk of gabapentin misuse.
Patients with Chronic Pain
Another at-risk group is chronic pain patients. Chronic pain patients might increase doses of gabapentin to increase relief, meaning higher doses and abuse.
Individuals with Mental Health Conditions
People with depression or anxiety use gabapentin to cope with obstacles blocking access to quality mental health treatment. It is usually an ultima ratio, lest one lives in suffering without professional treatment.
Incarcerated Populations
Research shows that the increased gabapentin misuse,on people who often lack sufficient mental health care, worsens their drug dependence and leads them to misuse gabapentin as a coping strategy.
Co-occurring Conditions
The risk is higher among those with co-occurring mental illness as well as a history of drug abuse. Appropriate intervention and treatment are required for treating these co-occurring problems as well as reducing abuse potential.
Getting Help for Gabapentin Misuse
For those struggling with gabapentin misuse, professional intervention provides the most effective path to recovery. At DeNovo Recovery in Joseph, MO, we offer comprehensive treatment options tailored to address the specific challenges of prescription drug misuse. Our medical detox program enables clients to safely discontinue gabapentin use under careful medical supervision, managing withdrawal symptoms safely and comfortably.
Our residential treatment program provides a structured, supportive environment focused on addressing root causes of substance misuse while developing healthy coping mechanisms. For those unable to commit to full-time inpatient care, our Day Treatment and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) offer flexible alternatives that accommodate work and family responsibilities while still providing robust clinical support.
Recognizing that gabapentin misuse frequently occurs alongside mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, or trauma, we emphasize integrated co-occurring disorder treatment addressing both substance use and mental health simultaneously. Our Family Support Program acknowledges addiction’s impact on the entire family system, helping loved ones understand addiction dynamics and learn to support recovery effectively without enabling harmful behaviors.
A Bright Future Ahead
Recovery from prescription drug dependence, including gabapentin dependence, is possible with help. Gabapentin, prescribed to treat nerve pain or seizures, may become an anxiety or stress coping tool. Treatment should be compassionate and focus on the individual, not the addiction.
If you or someone you know is addicted to or has an addiction to gabapentin, call for assistance immediately. Prompt treatment can be lifesaving and the beginning of a lifetime of recovery.
Contact us DeNovo Recovery, located in Joseph, MO, to receive information regarding recovery possibilities and start a healthier life free from addiction. It is a decisive step toward a better future to seek assistance.
FAQ’s
1. Can you get high from gabapentin?
Yes, some people report feeling high when taking large doses of gabapentin, especially when misused or mixed with other drugs.
2. Is gabapentin considered addictive?
While not as physically addictive as opioids, gabapentin can cause psychological dependence and withdrawal symptoms, especially with long-term use or misuse.
3. Is gabapentin dangerous when taken with other drugs?
Absolutely. Mixing gabapentin with opioids, alcohol, or benzodiazepines significantly increases the risk of overdose and respiratory depression.
4. What are the signs of gabapentin misuse?
Warning signs include taking more than prescribed, using without a prescription, combining it with other substances, or showing drug-seeking behavior.
5. How can I get help for gabapentin misuse?
DeNovo Recovery offers medical detox, residential and outpatient treatment, mental health support, and family services to help individuals recover from gabapentin misuse.