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Re: Gabapentin v Benzodiazepines

Posted by jms600 on December 30, 2008, at 11:18:21

In reply to Re: Gabapentin v Benzodiazepines » jms600, posted by yxibow on December 30, 2008, at 0:29:28

> > Hi
> >
> > Does anyone know of the efficacy of Gabapentin in the treatment of anxiety disorders (GAD, panic disorder and social phobia)?
> >
> > I have read that Gabapentin mimics GABA in the brain. Surely, if it does this then it must be as effective as at least some of the benzos (e.g. Valium)?
> >
> > Could anyone advise on the above? I suffer from chronic anxiety (GAD, panic disorder, social phobia). Benzos are out as tolerance started to occur. I've also been through all the SSRIs, a couple of TCAs, Zyprexa, Seroquel, Haloperidol, Stelazine, Effexor, Remeron, Buspar and lithium - all of which haven't done that much. Also had five months of CBT which also hasn't helped much.
>
> > Hi
> >
> > Does anyone know of the efficacy of Gabapentin in the treatment of anxiety disorders (GAD, panic disorder and social phobia)?
> >
> > I have read that Gabapentin mimics GABA in the brain. Surely, if it does this then it must be as effective as at least some of the benzos (e.g. Valium)?
> >
> > Could anyone advise on the above? I suffer from chronic anxiety (GAD, panic disorder, social phobia). Benzos are out as tolerance started to occur. I've also been through all the SSRIs, a couple of TCAs, Zyprexa, Seroquel, Haloperidol, Stelazine, Effexor, Remeron, Buspar and lithium - all of which haven't done that much. Also had five months of CBT which also hasn't helped much.
>
>
> That's quite a list of medications, especially the neuroleptics -- I'm not doubting you, but how much time did you give Seroquel, because it can take months for real improvement.
>
> Buspar works for about 1/3 of people and tends to make (some) people dizzy too.
>
> Yes, tolerance unfortunately is a problem and backing off when that happens is necessary. Sometimes you just have to let your GABA transmitters readjust themselves.
>
>
> If you've recently stopped a benzodiazepine, I'm not sure how effective Neurontin would be in crosstolerance but its worth a try certainly as its not terribly harmful -- Lyrica is stronger and some people say it is more effective, which made it enough to be C-V.
>
>
> You have to be really open to CBT to have success with it, especially with GAD. Have you tried regular psychotherapy?
>
> Also how many AED augmenters have you tried -- Lithium is fairly strong and can be jittery in its own right. E.g. Trileptal and especially Lamictal.
>
> I assume the TCAs included Clomipramine ?
>
>
> -- Jay


Hi Jay

Seroquel - took it for about 8 weeks at a dosage of up to 250mg. I didn't gain any benefit from it. Zyprexa did help, but only a bit - and even then at 10-15mg+ (dosages which my p/doc refuses to prescribe for anxiety).

I'm currently taking Lithium (600 mg) with 150mg Amitriptyline and 40mg Buspirone.

How do you mean - "Lithium is fairly strong and can be jittery in its own right. E.g. Trileptal and especially Lamictal." Do you mean that Lithium can cause anxiety??

Also, dose using Lyrica on a daily basis lead to tolerance??

Thanks for your advice.


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poster:jms600 thread:871320
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081223/msgs/871414.html