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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by zonked on January 28, 2015, at 23:50:25
Hi all:
Gabapentin apparently prevents new synapse formation, I've learned in the last year.
Won't touch the crap with a ten foot pole. Being a chemical cousin, does anyone know if Pregabalin (Lyrica) does the same thing?
The reason I'm asking is that it's very very hard to find a doctor who will maintain patients on benzodiazepines in Washington - I meet my new provider tomorrow, and I am struggling with an alprazolam (!) taper imposed on me by another doctor, but I need to find *something* effective just in case he refuses to prescribe me alprazolam or diazepam.
It seems some clinicians here would rather have their patients on antipsychotics for anxiety (who else agrees - if these drugs were truly safe and effective for anxiety disorders, they would have gotten indications by now - it'd be the ultimate wet dream of big pharma!) than benzos.
Yuck. Wish me luck - I function a lot better than I have been on 1mg alpraz bid.
-z
Posted by rjlockhart37 on January 28, 2015, at 23:55:51
In reply to Pregabalin - does it cause brain damage?, posted by zonked on January 28, 2015, at 23:50:25
lyrica is just a another form of nuerontin, it's diffrent in some ways, i read it improves mood better, but thera re other sources that say otherwise......but still, they use it for offlabel treatment for anxiety....
no it's not nuerotoxic, not that i know of....
Posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2015, at 9:24:40
In reply to Pregabalin - does it cause brain damage?, posted by zonked on January 28, 2015, at 23:50:25
Zonked after 44 years on benzos my pdoc feels they are one of the safest meds on the market and continues to prescribe both xanax and valium for me. He also knows I vary my doses depending on circumstances in life. And not just to you but how come medicaire is now paying for benzos in the last two years and didn't before if they are so dangerous?. My next door neighbor takes up to 6mg of xanax a day. So many around here do. She also takes gabapentin. And she functions fine. Oh my pdoc said to ignore the studies that tie benzos to Alzheimers. Seems studies say that so many meds cause Alzheimers. Phillipa
Posted by ed_uk2010 on January 29, 2015, at 10:27:50
In reply to Pregabalin - does it cause brain damage?, posted by zonked on January 28, 2015, at 23:50:25
>Gabapentin apparently prevents new synapse formation, I've learned in the last year.
>
> Won't touch the crap with a ten foot pole. Being a chemical cousin, does anyone know if Pregabalin (Lyrica) does the same thing?Pregabalin and gabapentin act at the same receptor, but pregabalin is more bioavailable and more potent. Whatever effect gabapentin has on synapse formation, pregabalin probably exerts a more powerful effect.
I don't think it's entirely clear what the long-term effect of these drugs is on the adult brain. New synapses *are* formed in the adult brain, particularly after injury, but far less than are formed during development. The effect of these drugs during pregnancy clearly needs a lot of research.... they cross the placenta into the fetus.
It's possible that the synaptic effects of these drugs (often called gabapentinoids) leads to memory and cognitive impairment. Other psychiatric drugs substantially implicated in cognitive impairment are benzodiazepines and those drugs with antimuscarinic effects (acetylcholine blocking properties) eg. tricyclic antidepressants and many antipsychotics. SSRIs and SNRIs are not antimuscarinic.
With all of the above, elderly people are much more susceptible to cognitive/memory impairment and confusion.
Whether gabapentin and pregabalin are safer or less safe for cognitive function than benzos I don't know. Benzodiazepines have a particular effect on memory ie. they reduce the ability to form detailed new memories. High doses may cause considerable amnesia in some people.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on January 29, 2015, at 10:31:08
In reply to Pregabalin - does it cause brain damage?, posted by zonked on January 28, 2015, at 23:50:25
>I function a lot better than I have been on 1mg alpraz bid.
Any side effects that you're aware of? If you have been on it long-term at a relatively stable dose and functioned well, your doc might decide to leave well enough alone.
Pregabalin is approved in some countries for anxiety disorders. It may also reduce benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms when taken short-term and then tapered. Rapid taper of pregabalin can cause its own withdrawal syndrome... which may be rather 'benzo like' in nature!
This is the end of the thread.
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