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Re: neurontin to zonegran : weight loss, anxiety ? » jtevers

Posted by SLS on July 18, 2004, at 20:19:04

In reply to neurontin to zonegran : weight loss, anxiety ?, posted by jtevers on July 18, 2004, at 16:29:18

> i have been taking neurontin (a mood stabilizer) and seroquel (an antipsychotic) since a 2000 diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

> because i have gained almost 80 lbs. and sleep 10 hrs. since my medication, i am currently investigating a switch.


Hi.

Why don't you switch the Seroquel first and see how you do with the weight and sleep issues before switching the Neurontin? Neurontin usually isn't the big offender when it comes to weight gain. The Seroquel can account for both the weight gain and sleepiness. Removing the Neurontin might leave you vulnerable to anxiety. I can't think of any reason why you can't add the Zonegran to the Neurontin first before attempting to discontinue the Neurontin.

There really isn't a whole lot of experience out there using Zonegran as a mood stabilizer so that your questions can be answered definitively. I am currently taking Zonegran 200mg, and have been on it for about three weeks. It has reduced my appetite, but has not produced anxiety nor insomnia. My sleep seems to be unaffected. I take it twice a day. I am treating chronic bipolar depression without mania or cycling. Last week, I experienced profound fatigue that I could not account for except for the Zonegran. It has abated, but I am not convinced that it has completely disappeared. Zonegran seems to be a very clean drug with respect to cognitive side effects, unlike Topamax.

How does Neurontin help you? In what ways does it improve your condition? Are you convinced that it is Neurontin and not Seroquel that is providing you with mood stability? I'm just trying to get a better idea as to how effective Neurontin really is as a mood stabilizer. There are so many conflicting opinions.

Trileptal and Lamictal are two alternative mood stabilizers that don't normally cause much weight gain. Depakote, on the other hand, does in many cases. You would be one of the first people to try Zonegran, so I'm afraid you'll have to be the guinea pig required to answer your own questions.

Good luck.


- Scott

 

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