Gabapentin Withdrawal and Itchy Skin

 My Quora Answer to: "Why when I had withdrawal from gabapentin my skin itch that felt like bugs for crawling all over me?"

You are hallucinating.

Gabapentin withdrawal resembles the symptoms of alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal because they all act on gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, an inhibitory brain neurotransmitter. Release the inhibition (stop taking the drug) and you increase brain excitation.

Several medications and illicit drugs can lead to physical dependence in people who use them for a longer period of time. A person’s body adapts to it and essentially "expects" a substance to be present and will rely on it to function normally. This is physiological dependency, which is not the same as addiction. Addiction involves a compulsion to seek out the drug and use it, negatively interfering with other areas of the person’s life.

When a dependent person stops taking the drug or drastically reduces the amount of the drug used on a regular basis, they can experience withdrawal.

Withdrawal can also cause "formication," or the feeling that ants are crawling over their skin. Itching is prominent. The name comes from the Latin word “formica,” which means ant. It is a tactile hallucination, meaning that a person feels a physical sensation without a physical cause. Feeling sensations on the skin with no physical stimulation is called a "paresthesia." Other paresthesias include sensations of burning, tingling, numbness, and cold.

Formication due to drug withdrawal is usually temporary and should resolve when a person recovers from withdrawal.

https://cb.run/zG3j

Neuro-Mag Review

 

MAGNESIUM AND OSTEOPOROSIS

 

The original question on Amazon asked, “I’ve been on neuro-mag (sic) for 3 months and love it. I was recently told that I may have osteoporosis. Is L-threonate going to help my bones?”

Neuro-Mag is the trade name by Life Extension Labs for their formulation of Magnesium threonate, a highly bioavailable form of magnesium that crosses the blood-brain barrier, unlike other formulations of the mineral. I take Neuro-Mag and love it. It creates calmness within me, and has a lower risk of diarrhea, one of the more unpleasant side-effects of magnesium supplementation. I also have no financial interest in either Life Extension or any other supplement manufacturer. As always, follow my advice with a jaundiced eye, and run any of my recommendations by your health care provider before starting ANYTHING new.

Elemental magnesium is vital for many physiological processes, including energy production, muscle and nerve function, and bone strength. I take the supplement because it is essential to functioning cardiac muscles and because I am starting to have slight problems with my memory. The most obvious issue is word searching, or the “it’s at the tip of my tongue” phenomenon. It also lowers blood pressure by relaxing the smooth muscle that lines the interiors of our arteries. But to specifically answer the question, I am going to quote the National Institutes of Health:

Magnesium is important for healthy bones. People with higher intakes of magnesium have a higher bone mineral density, which is important in reducing the risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis. Getting more magnesium from foods or dietary supplements might help older women improve their bone mineral density. More research is needed to better understand whether magnesium supplements can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis or treat this condition.¹

Dosing of supplementation has been established through research. Three capsules of Neuro-Mag provide 144 mg of elemental magnesium. That is my current dose: one capsule in the morning and two at night. Not only is it calming as a sleep aid, but I would much rather have diarrhea while I am close to a toilet! The second link below lists the proven benefits of magnesium.²

The following chart lists the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA) based on sex, age, and pregnancy/lactation status. Remember to always run it by your provider first: ³

Category	Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
CHILDREN
1-3 years	80 mg/day
4-8 years	130 mg/day
9-13 years	240 mg/day
FEMALES
14-18 years	360 mg/day
19-30 years	310 mg/day
31 years and over	320 mg/day
Pregnant	Under 19 years: 400 mg/day 19 to 30 years: 350 mg/day 31 years and up: 360 mg/day
Breastfeeding	Under 19 years: 360 mg/day 19 to 30 years: 310 mg/day 31 years and up: 320 mg/day
MALES
14-18 years	410 mg/day
19-30 years	400 mg/day
31 years and up	420 mg/day

 1. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-Consumer/ 

2. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-magnesium-benefits

3. https://www.webmd.com/diet/supplement-guide-magnesium#