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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Planning To Take Tegretol Instead Of Gabapentin For Trigeminal Neuralgia. Should Gabapentin Dose Be Decreased Slowly?

Hello, My neurologist is planning to take me off my Gabapentin and put me on Tegretol for my trigeminal neuralgia . I am wondering how this is going to be done ( In April) seeing I realize one should not come off Gabapentin abruptly. I have very slowly decreased my dose of G. from 2700mg per day to 1800 mg. without too much discomfort. Shall I continue to very slowly decrease G. I am in another country currently so cannot discuss this with the specialist. Thankyou for your help. Bev
Mon, 25 Feb 2013
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello Bev,

I am Dr Mbong. It is recommended not to stop Gabapentin abruptly and to decrease the doses slowly (just as you have been doing) before stopping it. The maintenance dose is 900-1800 mg and given the fact that you were on 2700 mg, you will need weeks to months of gradually reducing the dose to finally coming off the medication.

I know you are far from your physician but you will need to see a neurologist to know what dosage decreases to do and for how long. Equally the dosage decreases to do, have to take into consideration, the indication for which the medication was prescribed and how much of it you need in order not to start having again the symptoms for which it was prescribed.

All the best & hope this helps, Dr Mbong
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Planning To Take Tegretol Instead Of Gabapentin For Trigeminal Neuralgia. Should Gabapentin Dose Be Decreased Slowly?

Hello Bev, I am Dr Mbong. It is recommended not to stop Gabapentin abruptly and to decrease the doses slowly (just as you have been doing) before stopping it. The maintenance dose is 900-1800 mg and given the fact that you were on 2700 mg, you will need weeks to months of gradually reducing the dose to finally coming off the medication. I know you are far from your physician but you will need to see a neurologist to know what dosage decreases to do and for how long. Equally the dosage decreases to do, have to take into consideration, the indication for which the medication was prescribed and how much of it you need in order not to start having again the symptoms for which it was prescribed. All the best & hope this helps, Dr Mbong