Gabapentin -What You Should Know
Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant or antiepileptic drug medication used to treat epilepsy, neuropathic pain, hot flashes, and restless legs syndrome. It may be used for those with partial seizures, relieve nerve pain following shingles (a painful rash due to herpes zoster infection) in adults. It is sold under the brand name Neurontin among others. Gabapentin was positioned by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an alternative intervention to opiates for chronic pain. Generally, doctors prescribe no more than 1,800 to 2,400 milligrams of gabapentin per day far less than the gabapentin recreational dose
Is gabapentin highly addictive?
Gabapentin is thought to be less addictive than opioid medications for pain relief. Overall, gabapentin is not considered a highly addictive drug. Many cases of gabapentin abuse occur in people who already have addictions to opioids and other drugs.
Can you get high off Gabapentin?
Gabapentin high is the recreational use of Gabapentin to induce an altered state of consciousness for pleasure, by modifying your perceptions, feelings, and emotions. Snorting gabapentin induces an intoxicating effect when the drug enters your body which results in a pseudo feeling of euphoria known as Gabapentin high feeling or neurontin high. According to the National Institute of Health, recreational use of gabapentin is on the rise largely due to factors like its low cost and availability. Misuse of Gabapentin is now between 40% and 65% of those with prescriptions and between 15% and 22% of people who are abusing opioids. According to a study published in Pharmacoepidemiology & Drug Safety, the rise in gabapentin diversion seems to be related to the opioid epidemic as indicated by law enforcement descriptions of gabapentin misuse in combination with opioids.
Signs and Symptoms of Gabapentin High Dose
Gabapentin high is similar to marijuana high in many ways and this can cause a person to become zombie-like, drowsy, confused, or extremely quiet. Gabapentin high is characterized by
Euphoria and extreme feeling of bliss
Confusion
Drowsiness
Relaxation
Giddiness or giggliness
Unexplained Talkativeness
Staring or unresponsiveness
Enhanced social skills and sedative opiate like buzz without a comedown
Some patients have reported rapid increase in heart beat, extreme nervousness, loss of memory and confused state of mind after using the drug at prescribed doses.
Is high blood pressure a side effect of gabapentin?
High blood pressure is not a common side effect from gabapentin. However, if a patient is abruptly withdrawn from gabapentin and they are using it to control nerve pain, the pain can abruptly return. Severe pain in and of itself can drive up blood pressure.
What drugs should not be taken with gabapentin?
Types of drugs that are known to interact with gabapentin and may cause problems include:
- Opiate pain medications, including Vicodin and morphine, among others.
- Naproxen (also known as the brands Aleve, Naprosyn, and others)
- Medications used for heartburn, including Mylanta, Maalox, and cimetidine.
Is Gabapentin High illegal?
Gabapentin is a synthetic prescription drug approved for medical use by the United States FDA which implies that the recreational use of gabapentin by sniffing, snorting or any other means in order to get high is illegal. Although not a scheduled substance being in possession of gabapentin without a genuine doctor’s prescription or buying gabapentin from persons on the street is also illegal. In some states in the US it is illegal for you to be in possession of your own prescription drugs under certain circumstances. Most states have laws that make it illegal to carry around pills that are not in their labeled prescription bottle. In other words, if you are carrying around gabapentin pills that your doctor prescribed to you, but you have them loose in your pocket or purse, that is illegal. The presumption is that you are carrying them in that manner so that you can distribute them. In general, using and sharing prescription drugs such as Gabapentin is just as illegal as being in possession of marijuana. SEE How Long Does Ecstacy High Last
What Are the Side Effects of Taking Too Much Gabapentin?
There are several health risks of gabapentin overdose or misuse most of which are related to the deceleration of the body’s systems. Drowsiness, muscle weakness, lethargy and drooping eyelids can be expected. Other gabapentin overdose symptoms include diarrhea and sedation. These symptoms arise because gabapentin is formulated to slow down dysfunctional occurrences in the brain that cause seizures.in general the common side effects of gabapentin include:
- Clumsiness while walking.
- Visual changes, including double vision.
- Runny nose.
- Weight gain.
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