Know the Lethality of Gabapentin and The Risk of Overdose
One step medical professionals have taken against the ongoing opioid crisis is avoiding opioid prescriptions when possible. One commonly prescribed alternative is gabapentin, which decreases nerve pain and induces a state of calm.
But is gabapentin the safer alternative? And can you overdose on gabapentin like opioids?
Gabapentin does not have the same overdose risk as opioid prescriptions, however, taking enough of any substance can result in an overdose. As a central nervous system depressant, too much gabapentin causes slurred speech, loss of motor coordination, and extreme lethargy.
Fortunately, with prompt medical treatment, most gabapentin overdoses are not fatal. Keep reading to learn more about the signs of gabapentin overdose, when to seek medical treatment, and the benefits of getting help at Purpose Healing Center.
Can You Overdose on Gabapentin?
It is possible to overdose on any prescription medication if you take enough of it and gabapentin is no exception. You may be wondering how much gabapentin it takes for a fatal overdose.
Factors like how long you’ve been taking the medication and individual tolerance, metabolism, general health, and if you’ve taken it with any other substances can all affect the amount needed for toxic doses of gabapentin.
Unlike opioid or fentanyl overdose, which can be treated on-site, Narcan will not reverse gabapentin toxicity. Often, overdose situations require kidney dialysis to cleanse the body of gabapentin, since the medication is processed by the kidneys.
What Are the Signs of Gabapentin Overdose?
If you are taking gabapentin, it’s important to follow the dosage instructions recommended by your doctor. If you believe you have ingested too much gabapentin, it’s important to be aware of the signs of a drug overdose.
The most common Gabapentin overdose symptoms include:
- Labored breathing
- Low blood pressure
- Decreased heart rate
- Extreme fatigue, drowsiness, or lethargy
- Double vision
- Drooping upper eyelids
- Poor muscle coordination
- Diarrhea
- Sedation or loss of consciousness
Without medical attention, there’s a heightened risk of significant complications. Respiratory depression, loss of consciousness, and other symptoms can be more severe when it is combined with other drugs including alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines.
Can You Die from Overdosing on Gabapentin?
Overdose deaths from gabapentin are rare, however, statistics show gabapentin has increasingly been implicated in lethal doses in the last decade. Unlike with other drugs such as mushrooms and overdose risk, Gabapentin can and often is used in deliberate attempts at self-harm and suicide.
Many factors contribute to an overdose on gabapentin including mixing with alcohol, opioids, or other drugs, especially other central nervous system depressants.
According to post-mortem clinical toxicology tests, gabapentin was taken by about 1 in 10 people who fatally overdosed from 2019-2020. In about half of these cases, gabapentin was determined to be the cause of overdose death.
Since it is stored in the body, long-term use increases the risk of taking a lethal dose. Some people also use gabapentin to increase their opioid high, increasing the risk of opioid-related death.
When Should I Seek Medical Treatment for a Gabapentin Overdose?
You should seek medical attention as soon as possible after noticing symptoms like drooping eyelids, labored breathing, poor muscle coordination, or extreme fatigue. This can rapidly progress to respiratory depression, loss of consciousness, coma, or death.
The risks are even higher when gabapentin is taken with alcohol or other drugs. Drinking alcohol even causes a more rapid release of extended-release medications, which intensifies the effects of taking gabapentin and increases the risk of overdose deaths.
What is Gabapentin?
Gabapentin, brand names Neurontin, Gralise, and Horizant, belongs to the medication family gabapentinoids. It reduces nerve pain by decreasing nerve excitability and inducing calm and euphoria. Some people compare the euphoric effects at certain dosages to the high when consuming marijuana.
This family of drugs works by binding to calcium channels in the brain. Here, it mimics the neurotransmitter GABA, which tells the brain cells to slow down. This has depressant effects and slows nerve activity.
Gabapentin for Nerve Pain and Other Conditions
Gabapentin is FDA-approved for treating seizure disorders, nerve pain, and postherpetic neuralgia, a shingles complication. Off-label, Neurontin may also be prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, hot flashes, general pain, and restless leg syndrome. It is not considered a controlled substance.
Is Gabapentin Addictive?
Gabapentin is not a controlled substance because it does not bind to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain, making it less addictive than drugs like benzos and opioids. However, there is still a chance of dependence.
Taking any substance, even prescribed ones, causes your body to develop a tolerance over time. You’ll need to take higher doses to feel the same.
As time goes on, you’ll feel that you need the gabapentin to feel normal. This is how tolerance and addiction begin. Often, people who develop a tolerance also experience withdrawal symptoms when stopping gabapentin.
The Typical Symptoms of Gabapentin Abuse
Over time, gabapentin and other medications in this family accumulate in the body. Higher doses might be required for the same effects, a sign that you’ve developed a tolerance and dependence on the drug. There is also a greater risk of side effects, including:
- Sleepiness
- Dizziness
- Restlessness or insomnia
- Anxiety
- Jerky movements
- Poor coordination
- Difficulty speaking
- Unusual eye movements
- Manic or violent behavior
- Poor impulse control
- Kidney problems
Gabapentin appears to have mental health effects associated with long-term use, especially suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Talking about being a burden, losing interest, acting dangerously, and saying goodbye to family and friends can indicate suicide risk.
Gabapentin Toxicity from Long-Term Use
Often, gabapentin is recommended over opioids to treat seizures, restless leg syndrome, and other chronic conditions because the drug is less addictive. Unfortunately, with long-term use, risk factors like gabapentin abuse and side effects increase.
Gabapentin is eliminated by the kidneys. With long-term use, there’s a high potential for kidney failure. When this happens, it can result in seizures, permanent kidney damage, coma, and other complications.
Gabapentin overdose occurs when levels of the drug accumulate in the kidneys. The best way to eliminate gabapentin levels is kidney dialysis. However, dialysis will not reverse the damage that has already been done. This is why it’s important to be monitored closely by your physician and take this drug as prescribed, particularly in cases of long-term use.
When Gabapentin Overdose is a Sign to Get Help
Following a gabapentin overdose, it can be helpful to take a critical look at the effects of gabapentin on your life. Often, people take it because they have pain or an underlying mental health condition.
As your body builds up a tolerance, you may need to take more to get the same effects. You may also find yourself looking for gabapentin or other substances on the street when you run out of your prescription.
In instances like these, or when you have built up a tolerance to gabapentin, it might be worth looking into recovery. Gabapentin does come with a risk of addiction with long-term use.
Additionally, gabapentin addiction comes with an increased risk of other types of substance abuse. This can have drastic financial, relationship, health, employment, and legal consequences. Reach out to Purpose to start overcoming gabapentin abuse today.
Gabapentin Withdrawal and Attending a Medical Detox
After using gabapentin long-term, even if you use it as prescribed, there’s a risk of gabapentin withdrawal symptoms when you stop. This is true for low doses and high doses. Common withdrawal symptoms include:
- Restlessness and insomnia
- Anxiety
- Irritability, irritation, and agitation
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Sensitivity to light
- Nausea
- Irregular heartbeat
- Sweating
- Pain
During a medical detox treatment program at Purpose, you’ll be monitored closely. Medication may be prescribed to relieve more severe withdrawal symptoms or manage pre-existing medical conditions.
There’s a higher risk of complications for people who have pre-existing conditions. For example, for people who use it to treat seizures, these will return when you suddenly stop gabapentin. In severe cases, tapering might be recommended to reduce the risk of complications.
Other Elements of Addiction Treatment
At Purpose Healing, we provide a safe, supportive environment to go through detox. We also help our clients develop motivation for staying sober, establish structure and a daily routine, learn to manage stress and drug cravings and build a lifestyle that supports lasting sobriety.
Dual diagnosis is also available for people who have co-occuring mental health, physical health, or substance abuse issues. By treating you as a whole, rather than just one condition, there’s a better chance of lasting recovery.
Overcome Gabapentin Dependence at Purpose Healing
Are you ready to learn more about your options for gabapentin treatment?
Reach out to Purpose Healing Center today. A staff member is waiting by the phone to answer your questions, verify insurance, or set up a tour of our beautiful facilities in Scottsdale and Phoenix.
We take many public and private health insurance plans and can also help with transportation to our facility, making quality treatment more accessible than you might think.
480-579-3319