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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Bert on April 12, 1999, at 12:43:54
I was reading a site where this guy BB was talking about
replacing benzos with a slight amount of Gabapentin. It said the
effective amounts were .125 to .375 /mg once a day. He said this was effective for
panic attacks and maybe social phobia? I am curious about this
and whether or not the Gabapentin can be taken with Lithium.
Posted by Elaine on April 12, 1999, at 22:36:01
In reply to Gabapentin to replace benzos, posted by Bert on April 12, 1999, at 12:43:54
I'm not sure about panic attacks and social phobia per se, but I would say possibly on the panic attacks because it addresses both depression and manic symptoms. Gabapentin is used for mood disorders - it is another in the series of anti-convulsives being used for mood disorders. I am currently taking gabapentin with lithium. The good thing about gabapentin is, there is very little in the way of side effects or drug interactions. Also, if you forget if you've taken it and take another dose, you don't have to worry - it's practically impossible to OD on it.
There is a lot of website information. You can look under gabapentin or Neurontin. The official, extensive manufacturer's info is at www.parke-davis.com. There is a good FAQ on Gabapentin for Depression and/or Mania at www.psycom.net/depression.central.gabapentin.html. I read that some people who have not been able to tolerate AD's because of switches to mania...or development of mixed states, have been able to tolerate therapeutic doses of anti-depressants when taking gabapentin. So, if gabapentin is right for whatever ails you, you might find it helps the other meds be tolerated better. That's just a guess. Check out the web sites.
Posted by Sean on April 15, 1999, at 18:07:54
In reply to Re: Gabapentin to replace benzos, posted by Elaine on April 12, 1999, at 22:36:01
> I'm not sure about panic attacks and social phobia per se, but I would say possibly on the panic attacks because it addresses both depression and manic symptoms. Gabapentin is used for mood disorders - it is another in the series of anti-convulsives being used for mood disorders. I am currently taking gabapentin with lithium. The good thing about gabapentin is, there is very little in the way of side effects or drug interactions. Also, if you forget if you've taken it and take another dose, you don't have to worry - it's practically impossible to OD on it.
>
> There is a lot of website information. You can look under gabapentin or Neurontin. The official, extensive manufacturer's info is at www.parke-davis.com. There is a good FAQ on Gabapentin for Depression and/or Mania at www.psycom.net/depression.central.gabapentin.html. I read that some people who have not been able to tolerate AD's because of switches to mania...or development of mixed states, have been able to tolerate therapeutic doses of anti-depressants when taking gabapentin. So, if gabapentin is right for whatever ails you, you might find it helps the other meds be tolerated better. That's just a guess. Check out the web sites.From what I understand, benzo-class meds work in
the GABAergic system as does gabapentin, so it
may follow that gabapentin can help with some of
the same symptomology as the benzos, albeit from
a different mechanism...
Posted by Sally on April 21, 1999, at 2:07:47
In reply to Re: Gabapentin to replace benzos, posted by Sean on April 15, 1999, at 18:07:54
> > I'm not sure about panic attacks and social phobia per se, but I would say possibly on the panic attacks because it addresses both depression and manic symptoms. Gabapentin is used for mood disorders - it is another in the series of anti-convulsives being used for mood disorders. I am currently taking gabapentin with lithium. The good thing about gabapentin is, there is very little in the way of side effects or drug interactions. Also, if you forget if you've taken it and take another dose, you don't have to worry - it's practically impossible to OD on it.
> >
> > There is a lot of website information. You can look under gabapentin or Neurontin. The official, extensive manufacturer's info is at www.parke-davis.com. There is a good FAQ on Gabapentin for Depression and/or Mania at www.psycom.net/depression.central.gabapentin.html. I read that some people who have not been able to tolerate AD's because of switches to mania...or development of mixed states, have been able to tolerate therapeutic doses of anti-depressants when taking gabapentin. So, if gabapentin is right for whatever ails you, you might find it helps the other meds be tolerated better. That's just a guess. Check out the web sites.
>
> From what I understand, benzo-class meds work in
> the GABAergic system as does gabapentin, so it
> may follow that gabapentin can help with some of
> the same symptomology as the benzos, albeit from
> a different mechanism...
>all i know is that reading this has given me a panic attack........talk about stress.....
This is the end of the thread.
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