I have taken Gabapentin at different doses 4 over 30 years. I also have had a muscle relaxer available to me for the same amount of time. Sometimes I have found that the muscle relaxers stop to work and then my doctor's change to a different one for me to try. I knew doctor doesn't want to give me Soma which is the most sedating even though I used it correctly and did not abused it in the past. Cymbalta has been the best antidepressant for me because it also helps with pain. Again the dose changes from time to time. I can't get any opioids anymore including Tramadol because of the so-called opioid epidemic. It doesn't matter that I've use them responsibly for more than half my life and never abused a single pill. I was never mentally addicted. When I had to stop Tramadol I had to do it without any tapering because of the doctor's insistence. That was really torture! I suffered all effects of withdrawal. I hope this helps and I wish you well!

This is what benzodiazepines such as clonazepam, valium, alprazolam, lorazepam etc. can do to patients, link below.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/healtha...

I'm on Clonazepam for my anxiety disorder but almost every month I can't afford it at the time I need to get it and sometimes go without it for up to a week. The withdrawal symptoms are not nice. My family Dr. is on personal leave at the moment and the Dr. taking her place wanted me to slowly cut back on my 2 pills twice a day to one twice a day. After the fourth week I was just starting to take one pill twice a day and then I started having bad anxiety attacks as well as nightmares and the odd night terrors which are very scary. I'm back to four pills a day for now.

Look into LDN ( low dose naltrexone) it has been so helpfuk for me and has little side effects they sell a book about it in amazon

Oh my! This is exactly my latest struggle -extreme hypersensitivity. I had it begin while I was off from work for several months - it only happened about 2-3 days a week and seemed to be only lights. I returned to work part-time on Dec. 1 and now I am experiencing full blown hypersensitivity -light, sound, coordination, brain fog - everyday. I have been on gabapentin for 2-3 weeks - worked well for 2 weeks and then sensitivities began to come back, so doctor increased my dose. My sleepiness has lessened, however I do wish there were alternatives to this medication. I am still in research mode, and haven't found an alternative. Looking to hear from others about this.