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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 31. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on January 16, 2004, at 18:16:19
In reply to Neurontin, posted by ladylight57 on January 16, 2004, at 12:39:18
Originally posted by Ladylight57 1/16/04
> Hi,
>
> Haven't been back here in ages, but thought I'd come by to see what I might find on Neurontin. I am starting it tonight, 300mg to help with anxiety. Is there anyone who has had good luck with this (or bad luck) and would like to share their experiences? thanks
>
> LL
Posted by contemplative1 on January 16, 2004, at 19:19:29
In reply to Re: Neurontin » ladylight57, posted by Dinah on January 16, 2004, at 18:16:19
> > Hi,
> >
> > Haven't been back here in ages, but thought I'd come by to see what I might find on Neurontin. I am starting it tonight, 300mg to help with anxiety. Is there anyone who has had good luck with this (or bad luck) and would like to share their experiences? thanks
> >
> > LLI just started Neurontin (600Mg at night in one dose)for my essential tremor to replace Inderal which has been like a placebo. I feel as I have found my miracle drug and I have tried my share (Celexa, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Zoloft, Paxil with Lithium to augment and finally Prozac with Lamictal).
I am so happy with this drug that I am off of Prozac. I am sleeping like never before and do not feel hungover in the morning.
My Pscychodoc is considering taking me off of Lamictal also if the Neurontin continues to be effective as the Lamictal was really just to control my hypomania which was apparently caused by the Prozac.
Good luck....as luck seems to be such a big part in treating these maladies.
Posted by Tom G on January 16, 2004, at 20:36:08
In reply to Re: Neurontin, posted by contemplative1 on January 16, 2004, at 19:19:29
I justed started Neurontin this past Mon. 300mg and moving up to 600 this coming up Mon. I felt a little weird my first two days and groggy ,but now I can't really tell I am taking anything.
Let me know how you do.
Tom
Posted by David Smith on January 16, 2004, at 21:31:21
In reply to Re: Neurontin » ladylight57, posted by Dinah on January 16, 2004, at 18:16:19
Glad you asked. I have been taking it for over a year. One of the side effects (for me) appears to be an increase in blood pressure. This led to moments of anger which came from out of the blue. Several postings I have read recount similar experiences.
On the other hand...when I take neurontin on a regular schedule, LIFE becomes wonderful. I miss it but it was not worth alienating friends and family.
A few weeks ago, I added 5htp to the Neurontin and suffered EXTREME muscle pain. I could barely walk and laid in bed crying. Perhaps I titrated up to 300mg too quickly (don't believe everything you read on the internet).
p.s. I have also read that we should not take magnesium along with Neurontin. The headache I suffered seems to confirm that.
Good luck!!
> Originally posted by Ladylight57 1/16/04
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > Haven't been back here in ages, but thought I'd come by to see what I might find on Neurontin. I am starting it tonight, 300mg to help with anxiety. Is there anyone who has had good luck with this (or bad luck) and would like to share their experiences? thanks
> >
> > LL
>
>
Posted by Adam33 on January 16, 2004, at 22:49:59
In reply to Re: Neurontin » ladylight57, posted by Dinah on January 16, 2004, at 18:16:19
I tried it for my SA (performance anxiety). I really hoped for good result, as did my psychiatrist, but it did nothing for me. I started at 300/day and worked up to 1800/day. That said, my psychiatrist has said he has seen good results with this drug, and from what I have read on this forum, it's may just kind of be a hit-or-miss deal. Furthermore, my doc even suggested that had I bumped up to 2000-4000mg/day I might have felt some relief, but my pocked book could not affort that (since it's an expensive drug and my coverage stinks). I am now trying Klonopin. Best of luck!!
Posted by Karen_kay on January 17, 2004, at 8:31:35
In reply to Re: Neurontin, posted by Adam33 on January 16, 2004, at 22:49:59
Hello! I actually have a success story. I started taking Neurontin in March of 2003 for severe anxiety. I tirated up quickly to 1200 mgs/ 3 times a day. And it helped IMMENSELY (without knocking me out). Through therapy, I targeted where my anxiety was coming from and I stopped cold turkey without telling my Pdoc. I didn't have any side effects. Now, I am beginning to have slight anxiety and take 300 mgs occassionally, on an as needed basis. It calms me almost immedietly, again without many of the extra side effects that klonopin, ect have (such as addiction).
Posted by panic_attack on January 17, 2004, at 17:19:57
In reply to Re: Neurontin, posted by Karen_kay on January 17, 2004, at 8:31:35
I took Neurontin for awhile and felt NOTHING. No good, no bad. I was only on 100mg. But I felt like i popped an aspirin. Didn't notice any effect but I only took it for 2 weeks at a very low dose.
Posted by Simcha on January 17, 2004, at 20:24:40
In reply to Neurontin, posted by panic_attack on January 17, 2004, at 17:19:57
I take 600mg of Neurontin at night in order to releive symptoms of Bruxism and restless legs. It works well. I still have a hard time sleeping sometimes and I have to take more. My pdoc gave me an extra prescription for 90 doses at 100mg each so that I can take more when I'm having trouble sleeping or for anxiety throughout the day. I've taken as much as a gram at night and it's helped me.
Neurontin provides me with a background of elevated mood. It's effects are very subtle with mood, I've found. I don't feel groggy on this medication at all.
For me Neurontin is a good treatment for my anxiety issues. I have Major Depressive Disorder. My anxiety is a bit above baseline but not out of the park enough for being considered for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Neurontin seems to help me fight stress.
Blessings,
Simcha
Posted by jtevers on January 20, 2004, at 18:13:16
In reply to Neurontin, posted by panic_attack on January 17, 2004, at 17:19:57
hello all..
i have been on neurontin and seroquel ( an antipsychotic ) since being diagnosed bipolar in 2000.
i have consequently gained 60 lbs over two winters due primarily to my med. regimen... weight that has not responded to diet or exercise.
i am currently investigating alternatives to my present treatment schedule and a local doctor advised i switch from neurontin to lamictal because of a decreased propensity to cause weight increase. i have heard of only variable reports of weight gain on neurontin and wondered what your collective experience has been?
i must admit, the weight i gained seemed to coincide with a dose increase in my gabapentin / neurontin and makes me wonder, along with the doctor, whether neurontin is the culprit ... any insight?
Posted by platinumbride on January 21, 2004, at 1:41:46
In reply to Re: Neurontin / gabapentin weight gain?, posted by jtevers on January 20, 2004, at 18:13:16
I notice that when I take neurontin I want to eat like crazy! I know that for that reason, at least, I have gained a lot of weight. I have wondered, too, whether or not it slows the metabolism...
Unfortunately for me, lamictal was ineffective after a time. Neurontin always has been able to calm me down, and that is what I have relied on it for. Does it work as a mood stablizer? Well......I can't say, because I don;t know what having stable moods feels like LOL.I wish you luck with Lamicatal. My shrink thinks it is a great drug.....well, maybe for other patients, but not for me.....
Diane
Posted by jtevers on January 21, 2004, at 18:35:57
In reply to Re: Neurontin / gabapentin weight gain?, posted by platinumbride on January 21, 2004, at 1:41:46
> I notice that when I take neurontin I want to eat like crazy! I know that for that reason, at least, I have gained a lot of weight. I have wondered, too, whether or not it slows the metabolism...
diane, and friends,i too have had relatively good success with neurontin "smoothing things out." although not a a mood-enhancer for me, hence my future trial with lamictal, it has always dealt quite fine, in combination with my antipsychotic (seroquel), with releaving mania.
although seroquel is infamous for its ability to pack on the pounds, i must by a process of elimination determine whether, as it is with a few, neurontin is the culprit behind my weight gain ... i have only read irregularly that it is responsible for such grand weight increase as mine (60lbs.).
a doctor has proposed i temporarily replace neurontin with lamictal and gabatril / tiagabine and exercise (hopefully) some weight off ... if it does in fact respond to this switch.
i wonder... has the weight you once gained on neurontin responded at all to diet or exercise?
and are you aware that very often when any drug, including lamictal, "poops out" an increased dose is very often all thats necessary?
Posted by ramsea on January 22, 2004, at 9:03:12
In reply to Re: Neurontin / gabapentin weight gain? » platinumbride, posted by jtevers on January 21, 2004, at 18:35:57
It did cause weight gain, and I believe it does this by affecting more than one system related to weight gain. We tend to forget just how many systems can be involved in weight gain---from insulin issues, filling up the excess fat cells that only some people have, increasing appetite, causing terrrible carbo cravings, slowing the rate of the body down so less energy is used 24/7 *where someone was previously reacting and figeting 24/7 they slow down and thus use less energy just to say alive than they used to---now this is a hard one to notice, but there is evidence that people who fidget a lot tend to carry less weight than people who fidget and move around less even in their sleep or when sitting...)
Nuerontin may affect you without causing too much gain. It also caused water retention in me--facial and stomach bloat. Unfortunately, the only advice is--stay active, eat healthily but don't overeat. good luck.
Posted by jtevers on January 22, 2004, at 16:15:42
In reply to Re: weight gain neurontin » jtevers, posted by ramsea on January 22, 2004, at 9:03:12
ramsea,
do you mind my asking how much weight you gained on neurontin, and whether it was resistant to exercise and diet?
have you lost any of it, and do you remain on neurontin to this day or what did you switch to? what dose levels had you been on or are you on?
had you lost any weight immediately after reducing or dropping your dose of neurontin, i wonder whether there is a dose-related response with the weight gain?
thanx
Posted by ramsea on January 22, 2004, at 18:13:52
In reply to Re: weight gain neurontin » jtevers, posted by ramsea on January 22, 2004, at 9:03:12
In the past few years I have had an amazing array of med trials. I guess it is most telling to look at my experience of Neurontin-only trials. When at my normal weight, which is as a middleaged adult 145 lbs at approx. 5'7, I immediately had about ten lbs water retention by the end of a week. My jeans wouldn't zip up where seven days previously they fit. That was taking 300 mgs. 3x daily. Over a period of three months on up to 2800 mgs daily I gained just over thirty pounds. This scared me and I dropped the Neurontin.
It didn't cause severe carbo cravings for me, as did Celexa and Lexapro---which for me was way OTT. But it did increase appetite. And I believe it also changed something in my normal weight regulating system. Insulin? Weight regulator changing its cue for normal? Who knows?
I can't blame unusual gluttony. I need fewer calories than most people do to survive. They say the average woman needs 2000 cals a day. Lucky average woman! More than 1700 cals and I gain. To lose, we are talking very low calorie, starvation level. Even when I was bulimic as a teenager I didn't binge--I just ate the normal meal and threw that up. So I am not even sure it counts as bulimia. I have a body which my husband describes as very efficient--what it takes in, it uses or keeps. He is very thin and eats a lot, and I figure some of that calorie intake just whooshes out of him. With me, it stays on loyally.
I said all of that to give you a picture of my individual body-type. What type are you? Were you a chubby baby/child? Have you gone on starvation diets and dieted a lot?
Without psychotropic meds, I eat and drink and exercise in such a way to keep my weight normal at around 140-150 lbs. I appear hearty and hale!! But really, the shape is healthy and womanly and though I might long for my bulimic teenage 115 lbs I really was rather ill with all that fashionable thinness. Nature designed me to be "voluptuous." But as soon as the antidepressants, et al, come into me, almost immediately I change. It becomes an arduous task to keep weight off.
The last time I used gabapentin I was on lithium too. I exercised three hours daily (yes, true), and kept calories to about 1500. I didn't lose or gain.
I know some people don't gain on gabapentin. You may be one of them. Without a doubt, keep a well-primed diet/exercise program going and that may be enough for you to keep off the bloat. Watch out for edema, which is common enough. hope I helped a little.
Posted by jtevers on January 23, 2004, at 17:43:33
In reply to Re: neurontin weight » ramsea, posted by ramsea on January 22, 2004, at 18:13:52
ramsea,
thanx for the insight.
i myself had outgrown my babyfat in the 80s and developed over the following decade into a marathoner and gym-rat...you see why this, the weight issue, is overwhelming to me.
getting my life back in order means my physical health as well as emotional and psychological.
i refuse to resign myself over to obesity, and too have investigated for some time the root cause of and possible remedies to the weight gain.
while many doctors insist that it is the seroquel (an antipsychotic) causing my weight to increase, there remain both doctors and experienced patients who exclaim they have gained weight like mine simply from neurontin / gabapentin.
i am currently following the advice of one such docor, prominent in the field of bipolar research and treatment, and will try to exchange neurontin for tiagabine / gabatril which has a decreased propensity to add fat...she insists though that i must add lamictal additionally, since tiagabine doesn't have the mood stabilizing effect of neurontin.
i have heard that many side effects of neurontin, including the weight gain, are dose-dependant and i'm hoping to see my weight respond before i've weaned completely off of it.
i have been following the Atkins Diet and begun exercising to no avail.
i pray this switch, either tiagabine for neurontin or abilify for seroquel, will show some results.
thanx again.
Posted by ramsea on January 24, 2004, at 12:16:17
In reply to Re: neurontin weight, posted by jtevers on January 23, 2004, at 17:43:33
Thanks for your reply, though it does sound as if you have been through the proverbial mill, and I am never glad to hear of a fellow sufferer. It amazes me that some of your doctors don't see or own up to the Neurontin weight gain potential. But as PopEye would say (I think?) "I knows what I knows." We do have excellent documentation to back this one up.
Seroquel in low dose isn't stopping me from weight loss, but the process is slow. It can be an added devastation coping with massive and inexplicable weight gain caused from psych meds either on their own, or maybe made worse in combination. But the good news is that we can deal with this.There's so much to try--different meds, different combos, different doses. And all the lifestyle things, like trying Atkins. An obese relative of mine has found Atkins to be the only diet that has allowed sustained weight loss.
Hope the Gabitril is just the thing for you. And I have heard that Lamictal can be very healing. Knock on wood, this could be the year you leave the rotten old mill and its dirty old pond behind, lol!!
Posted by LOKIsDREAM on January 24, 2004, at 21:40:29
In reply to Re: neurontin weight » ramsea, posted by ramsea on January 22, 2004, at 18:13:52
> In the past few years I have had an amazing array of med trials. I guess it is most telling to look at my experience of Neurontin-only trials. When at my normal weight, which is as a middleaged adult 145 lbs at approx. 5'7, I immediately had about ten lbs water retention by the end of a week. My jeans wouldn't zip up where seven days previously they fit. That was taking 300 mgs. 3x daily. Over a period of three months on up to 2800 mgs daily I gained just over thirty pounds. This scared me and I dropped the Neurontin.
>
> It didn't cause severe carbo cravings for me, as did Celexa and Lexapro---which for me was way OTT. But it did increase appetite. And I believe it also changed something in my normal weight regulating system. Insulin? Weight regulator changing its cue for normal? Who knows?
>
> I can't blame unusual gluttony. I need fewer calories than most people do to survive. They say the average woman needs 2000 cals a day. Lucky average woman! More than 1700 cals and I gain. To lose, we are talking very low calorie, starvation level. Even when I was bulimic as a teenager I didn't binge--I just ate the normal meal and threw that up. So I am not even sure it counts as bulimia. I have a body which my husband describes as very efficient--what it takes in, it uses or keeps. He is very thin and eats a lot, and I figure some of that calorie intake just whooshes out of him. With me, it stays on loyally.
>
> I said all of that to give you a picture of my individual body-type. What type are you? Were you a chubby baby/child? Have you gone on starvation diets and dieted a lot?
>
> Without psychotropic meds, I eat and drink and exercise in such a way to keep my weight normal at around 140-150 lbs. I appear hearty and hale!! But really, the shape is healthy and womanly and though I might long for my bulimic teenage 115 lbs I really was rather ill with all that fashionable thinness. Nature designed me to be "voluptuous." But as soon as the antidepressants, et al, come into me, almost immediately I change. It becomes an arduous task to keep weight off.
>
> The last time I used gabapentin I was on lithium too. I exercised three hours daily (yes, true), and kept calories to about 1500. I didn't lose or gain.
>
> I know some people don't gain on gabapentin. You may be one of them. Without a doubt, keep a well-primed diet/exercise program going and that may be enough for you to keep off the bloat. Watch out for edema, which is common enough. hope I helped a little.
>
> Anybody have a clue what my body's up to? I've been doing 2400mg/day Neurontin in conjunctio with 500mg/day Dilantin for several years and it has been keeping my epilepsy under control quite nicely with my weight holding steady around 125(I'm 5'10",age 36,Male,if it makes a difference). Due to recent events(ex#2), I have been put on Effexor 300mg/day and Remeron 60mg/at night(damn, I luv being able to sleep!), but while almost everyone on any of these meds gains weight, I lost about 30 pounds in the last 3 months! I have also, recently stopped taking the Effexor due to the unpleasant side effects and started having seizures again. Would be most appreciative of any answers. Thanx
Posted by jtevers on January 25, 2004, at 12:01:41
In reply to Re: seroquel, weight » jtevers, posted by ramsea on January 24, 2004, at 12:16:17
> Thanks for your reply, though it does sound as if you have been through the proverbial mill, and I am never glad to hear of a fellow sufferer. It amazes me that some of your doctors don't see or own up to the Neurontin weight gain potential. But as PopEye would say (I think?) "I knows what I knows." We do have excellent documentation to back this one up.
>
> Seroquel in low dose isn't stopping me from weight loss, but the process is slow. It can be an added devastation coping with massive and inexplicable weight gain caused from psych meds either on their own, or maybe made worse in combination. But the good news is that we can deal with this.There's so much to try--different meds, different combos, different doses. And all the lifestyle things, like trying Atkins. An obese relative of mine has found Atkins to be the only diet that has allowed sustained weight loss.
>
> Hope the Gabitril is just the thing for you. And I have heard that Lamictal can be very healing. Knock on wood, this could be the year you leave the rotten old mill and its dirty old pond behind, lol!!Thanx ramsea, i wish all who i've discussed my case with were both as informed, sensitive and sincere as you have been.
Posted by ramsea on January 27, 2004, at 7:08:30
In reply to Re: neurontin weight, posted by LOKIsDREAM on January 24, 2004, at 21:40:29
Although many meds ***can*** and often do cause weight gain, side effects on RXlist usually report some weight loss for some people, even if rare. I personally would want to have a GP give me the full works of blood tests, etc. to ensure I was not burdened by any other disorder. But paradoxical effects to occur. Some people lose weight even on the big gainer Zyprexa. So the concept of this great weight loss isn't shocking, but it is uncommon. Can you get a good physical done? Too much weight loss can be just as troubling aa weight gain gonemad. Let us know what you figure out??? Wishing you well, ramsea
Posted by thinkfast on January 28, 2004, at 6:36:36
In reply to Re: seeking help » LOKIsDREAM, posted by ramsea on January 27, 2004, at 7:08:30
This stuff works! I just switched from 45mg of Remeron to 100mg 3x daily. As with some people, it has a stimulating effect which is a nice change from the Remeron. Or, it could be the fact that it keeps me from feeling anxious which allows me to act 'normal'(which is somewhat hyperactive).
Nerontin almost has the same effect as Adderal has on me, but without the insomnia. It also helps the thoughts associated with SP by allowing me to let go of them instead of getting stuck, as did the Adderal. It lets the thought process proceed to the next item and levels out the whole process. It literally feels level, especially when compared to everyone else.
I'm trying to find a chemical explination of these medications and their effects so I can tell which freegin part of my head is screwed up! lol......
Posted by SandyWeb on January 28, 2004, at 11:20:53
In reply to Re: Neurontin--new user, posted by thinkfast on January 28, 2004, at 6:36:36
We seem to almost be in the same situation. I keep bumping into you! Lol!
Yes, I've found Neurontin to be very stimulating. It is funny how you are supposed to start at bedtime due to the fatigue it causes. Well, it has never made me one bit sleepy.
I used to drag through the day with very little energy. Since taking the Neurontin, I find that I can tolerate the entire day without going through huge tiredness slumps. I am very thankful for that!
It is interesting that you mentioned ADD. I am inattentive myself, but I never considered Neurontin as a med for that particular situation. I will have to experiment some and see what results I get. I'm not sure if it helps me to focus, like you were saying. But it certainly wakes me up. Hmmmm....maybe if I take my doses closer together. Do you find that it helps on a continuous basis, or just a burst and then it's gone?
I take 800mg, two times per day. My prescription is actually for three times per day, but I haven't had the need to do that. Maybe I should. I truly need help with my focus! It is impacting very negatively on my life, and I just can't seem to get it together for any length of time. Sigh.
Anyways, let me know how it goes with the Neurontin. I also had quit Remeron, but I've gone back to it last night. I'm going to try and tolerate 45mg, when the NE is most prominent. Like I said, I really am in a bit of a crisis situation now in terms of my inattentiveness. I need to get myself focused!! Argh!
Take care! I'm so glad for you that you've found Neurontin to help! It is a wonder drug, isn't it?
Sandy
Posted by SandyWeb on January 28, 2004, at 12:52:34
In reply to Re: Neurontin--new user, posted by thinkfast on January 28, 2004, at 6:36:36
Chemical Effect: Unknown; although structurally related to gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), drug doesn't interact with GABA receptors and converted metabolically into GABA or a GABA agonist.
Absorption: bioavailability isn't dose proportional but averages about 60%
Distribution: drug circulates largely unbound to plasma protein
Metabolism: not appreciably metabolized
Excretion: excreted by kidneys as unchanged drug
Half-life: 5-7 hours
Pharmacologic class: 1-aminomethyl cyclohexoeacetic acid
Posted by thinkfast on January 28, 2004, at 14:06:09
In reply to Re: Neurontin--new user » thinkfast, posted by SandyWeb on January 28, 2004, at 11:20:53
Haha..Yes, we do keep bumping into each other. Your inattentive ADD is very interesting. There seems to be some conncetion in all of this. The doc's don't believe I have it, but I disagree somewhat. There are too many symptoms that apply to me. I also love reading your posts on the subject.
The Neurontin does seem to be the best med I've tried so far. It takes about an hour to kick in and lasts about 5 hours or so. I may play around with the dosage times a little, but every 4 hours seems to do get the best results. Jeez, I don't know what a higher dosage would do. Your 800mg is quite a bit more compared to my 300. The only prob that has came up is the insomnia. The doc said it would knock me out...ha! It takes something 'extra strengh' to put me out!
Does it help you sleep? Mine wears off before I go to bed, but the stimulation would keep me awake anyway. I just stopped the damn Remeron, which helped me sleep, but I felt I had been sedated for long enough. Do you have any reccomendations for a good sleep aid that doesn't have a long half-life that which you a zombie in the morning? God, it would be nice to find just one med that would take care of all of this, wouldn't it?
Posted by terrics on January 29, 2004, at 15:26:28
In reply to Re: Neurontin--new user, posted by thinkfast on January 28, 2004, at 6:36:36
Hi again, Is anyone using neurontin for bipolar or [besides seizures] what does it treat? thanks for any response. theresaM
Posted by thinkfast on January 29, 2004, at 15:57:23
In reply to Re: Neurontin--new user, posted by terrics on January 29, 2004, at 15:26:28
anticonvulsant, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, pain disorders, migraine
Here's a good link for meds
http://sl.schofield3.home.att.net/medicine/psychiatric_drugs_chart.html
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