Posted by Simcha on November 7, 2002, at 23:47:52
Well, I'll try to post this again.
I'm starting Neurontin tonight. I'm taking 100mg tonight and I'm increasing the dose by 100mg per night until I feel that the Neurontin is having some effect and/or I experience side effects. I don't know where this will be. It's an experiment.
This pdoc thinks that Neurontin will be a better choice to treat the Bruxism than the Klonipin. He also thinks that Neurontin will add something to my Celexa/WellbutrinSR mix by augmenting the current antidepressants. He's also said something about maybe switching to a Tricyclic if this does not work because Tricyclics don't add to Bruxism.
He says he's not concerned that I will suffer Klonopin withdrawal because I've missed my 1mg dose a few times with no ill side effects. So he's having me take only .5mg per night until the Neurontin kicks in. Then he said that I could take the Klonopin on an "as needed" basis if I feel anxious. So he's not "benzophobic."
Mainly he had issue with the Klonopin because of my sleep patterns (not good). The Klonopin is supposed to cause an abnormal sleep architecture. I've read that here and elsewhere. Also he says that anecdotally it might add to depression. He felt that the last pdoc was using a "sledge hammer" to treat Bruxism.
He was having me read about Topamax because he thought that I might be bipolar. He just got my charts from the old pdoc and he thinks that there is still a chance. He gave me a book "Dr. Fieve on Depression: Moodswing." It's the second edition 1997. He wants me to read the book and he wants me to examine my life to see if I have cycles of depression and mania. I don't remember having mania yet some of my actions could be classified manic sometimes. Therefore he wanted me to be certain as to what manic really meant.
Basically I feel comfortable with this pdoc because he wants me to be an educated consumer. Also he said that I will be an integral part of the decision making process where diagnosis and treatment is concerned. I really like that.
Anyway, I'll let you all know how the Neurontin trial goes.
Simcha
poster:Simcha
thread:126922
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021101/msgs/126922.html