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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by madeleine on October 12, 2001, at 11:52:37
My psychiatrist has suggested that I try taking Neurontin as a 'mood stabilizer'--currently I am taking Remeron (30 mg) and Klonopin (1.5 mg), which covers the bases pretty well (for me) for depression/anxiety, but my moods do cycle up and down (small ups, big downs) and the crashes are exhausting. Will Neurontin help with this? How long will it take to see an effect? What about side-effects, going on and going off--can I go straight to a therapeutic dosage (which would be how much?), or will I need to ramp up slowly? Also, I am not terribly good at taking my doses on time--will this be a problem?
I hate taking new meds.
madeleine
Posted by geno on October 12, 2001, at 16:45:11
In reply to What can I expect from Neurontin?, posted by madeleine on October 12, 2001, at 11:52:37
> My psychiatrist has suggested that I try taking Neurontin as a 'mood stabilizer'--currently I am taking Remeron (30 mg) and Klonopin (1.5 mg), which covers the bases pretty well (for me) for depression/anxiety, but my moods do cycle up and down (small ups, big downs) and the crashes are exhausting. Will Neurontin help with this? How long will it take to see an effect? What about side-effects, going on and going off--can I go straight to a therapeutic dosage (which would be how much?), or will I need to ramp up slowly? Also, I am not terribly good at taking my doses on time--will this be a problem?
>
> I hate taking new meds.
>
> madeleinemadeleine,
i also suffer from panic disorder, depression and sleep problems. im on remeron 30mg, xanax .5mg 2xs daily, and added desipraimine to give me a lift. My mood are up and down to. I wanna try neuronitn also. some users report a good feeling from it and sedation. I hope to learn more about it
geno
Posted by Greg on October 12, 2001, at 17:58:02
In reply to What can I expect from Neurontin?, posted by madeleine on October 12, 2001, at 11:52:37
Hi Madeleine,
I took Neurontin as a mood stabilizer for about 6 months. I got up to a dose of 1200mgs (600am and 600pm), but had to stop because it was causing excessive fatigue in me. I started at 300 and 300 for the first two weeks and then went up to the 6 and 6. I didn't experience any side effects coming off the Neu and I stopped cold turkey (which is a bad thing BTW). I'm dx'd Bipolar II (rapid cycling) and the Neu helped with the moods pretty well but I've found Topamax to be a much better med for me as it doesn't leave me feeling at all fatigued. I also take Zyprexa 2.5mgs at night and Xanax .5mgs as needed for anxiety.
I've heard of some people here taking much higher doses with a lot better results, so hopefully you'll hear from some of them too. I'm with you, I hate taking new meds too, and it took a long time to find the right ones. I'm glad I stuck it out though.
I hope you have great luck with it!
Greg
> My psychiatrist has suggested that I try taking Neurontin as a 'mood stabilizer'--currently I am taking Remeron (30 mg) and Klonopin (1.5 mg), which covers the bases pretty well (for me) for depression/anxiety, but my moods do cycle up and down (small ups, big downs) and the crashes are exhausting. Will Neurontin help with this? How long will it take to see an effect? What about side-effects, going on and going off--can I go straight to a therapeutic dosage (which would be how much?), or will I need to ramp up slowly? Also, I am not terribly good at taking my doses on time--will this be a problem?
>
> I hate taking new meds.
>
> madeleine
Posted by Krazy Kat on October 13, 2001, at 15:26:08
In reply to What can I expect from Neurontin?, posted by madeleine on October 12, 2001, at 11:52:37
> Madeleine:
I'm diagnosed BPII, rapid cycling just as Greg is. Neurontin on its own did not help me, but I have heard that it does help some folks, so don't let that be discouraging.
It is by everything I have experienced and seen, a gentle and good med to start with. I had no side effects. I've seen reported weight gain and fatigue, but everyone is different.
You do need to take it every 4-6 hours as it only stays in your system that long.
I am now on Depakote and Topamax, but I have Neurontin in my cabinet still and am reluctant to let it go. For me, when coupled with another mood stabilizer, it is quite calming.
Oh, and the other good thing, as far as I understand, is that it doesn't go through your liver, which gives that organ a nice break.
- K.
Posted by Ozzy on October 13, 2001, at 21:32:41
In reply to What can I expect from Neurontin?, posted by madeleine on October 12, 2001, at 11:52:37
Like many of us you will probably experience nothing if you expect a mood stabilization effect from Neurontin... I mean no real effect or side effect. I have been taken up to 4800 mg a day of Neurontin and it did nothing. Neurontin is a very expensive sugar pill.
However Neurontin could be effective for you as anti-anxiety agent. Moreover Neurontin has its place as add-on (adjunct) with a real mood stabilizer.
Yes your mileage may vary. And some (but few) have reported good and fair results on Neurontin.
So, good luck and give it a try. Its side effect profile is so benign.
Posted by madeleine on October 15, 2001, at 16:02:49
In reply to Re: What can I expect from Neurontin? Nothing!!! » madeleine, posted by Ozzy on October 13, 2001, at 21:32:41
Thanks to all who responded to my questions about Neurontin--I will probably go ahead and try it. If I have any luck with it, I will let you know.
madeleine
This is the end of the thread.
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