![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Angelique on July 24, 2001, at 16:47:38
My doc just gave me neurontin. I've done paxil before
(bad time with that....got severly depressed and gained
weight), prozac and buspar, prozac on its own.
I'm currently on prozac 10mg (20mg had too many side
effecs) and catapres, a blood pressure medicine she
gave me for anxiety. Now she's adding neurontin to the
mix.
My diagnosis at this point from her is PTSD with
depression. My last non-doc shrink thought maybe
OCD. Before my doc had said GAD. All I know is I have
OCD symtpoms, anxiety, and mild to moderate depression
(it's been worse at times), and hormonal moodswings
that can get pretty bad. I have endometriosis and was
put on depo provera, but at a higher dosage than is
used for birth control. Every two months when I'm
due for a shot I get the moodswings. I get just like
those PMDD commercials advertise only more so and with
my already existing symtpoms.I'm nervous to take this drug. I don't want any more
weight gain. And I can't afford to be tired or dizzy.
I have a hard enough time waking up in the mornings
and have been known to sleep through two alarms.
I think she's got me starting on 300mg a day...100 AM
and 200PM, but it may be higher, cant' remember.SO...the point here is can anyone tell me any side effects,
anything to expect from this drug...the pros and cons,
etc. I had a friend who took depakote and it knocked him
out for 12 hours every night after he took it and I don't
want this drug doing that to me. MY doc said it won't
and that she has young kids on it but I don't 100%
trust her...she's changed dosage on my prozac
once without asking and once her office called in the
wrong drug (paxil when I was taking prozac).any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Posted by Else on July 24, 2001, at 20:20:06
In reply to new to neurontin, posted by Angelique on July 24, 2001, at 16:47:38
I've been on Neurontin, 900mg a day, for about 6 weeks. I'm taking it for anxiety and find it is a mild anxiolytic and an adequate mood-stabilizer if you're not bipolar but just labile (like if you start feeling intensely sad for no reason for a few minutes and then it goes away, I get that, it's weird) . I have virtually no side effects from this drug except loss of libido (of course). I don't tend to gain weight on drugs so my own experience is probably not typical. I was on Depakote and I didn't gain one pound though some people gain dozens of pounds on this drug. Neurontin can cause weight gain, it is listed as a possible adverse effect but it hasn't happenned to me. One way you could try to control this is Wellbutrin. I had recently stopped but I just started again because I am getting a very strong feeling it was controlling my PMS symptoms better than anything else (I used to take Zoloft and it did nothing). For the past few months I have had virtually no PMS and then two weeks after I stopped the drug, it came back with a vengeance ( I am in hell as I write this). So at least for me, it seems to be effective.And it has the added benefit of being a pretty good appetite suppressant (it is chemically related to Tenuate, an diet pill), most people loose five pounds while on it. It is not a diet drug though, too much of it can produce seizures. Still it might even out any weight gain you could get from other meds.
> My doc just gave me neurontin. I've done paxil before
> (bad time with that....got severly depressed and gained
> weight), prozac and buspar, prozac on its own.
> I'm currently on prozac 10mg (20mg had too many side
> effecs) and catapres, a blood pressure medicine she
> gave me for anxiety. Now she's adding neurontin to the
> mix.
> My diagnosis at this point from her is PTSD with
> depression. My last non-doc shrink thought maybe
> OCD. Before my doc had said GAD. All I know is I have
> OCD symtpoms, anxiety, and mild to moderate depression
> (it's been worse at times), and hormonal moodswings
> that can get pretty bad. I have endometriosis and was
> put on depo provera, but at a higher dosage than is
> used for birth control. Every two months when I'm
> due for a shot I get the moodswings. I get just like
> those PMDD commercials advertise only more so and with
> my already existing symtpoms.
>
> I'm nervous to take this drug. I don't want any more
> weight gain. And I can't afford to be tired or dizzy.
> I have a hard enough time waking up in the mornings
> and have been known to sleep through two alarms.
> I think she's got me starting on 300mg a day...100 AM
> and 200PM, but it may be higher, cant' remember.
>
> SO...the point here is can anyone tell me any side effects,
> anything to expect from this drug...the pros and cons,
> etc. I had a friend who took depakote and it knocked him
> out for 12 hours every night after he took it and I don't
> want this drug doing that to me. MY doc said it won't
> and that she has young kids on it but I don't 100%
> trust her...she's changed dosage on my prozac
> once without asking and once her office called in the
> wrong drug (paxil when I was taking prozac).
>
> any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Posted by SalArmy4me on July 24, 2001, at 20:41:51
In reply to new to neurontin, posted by Angelique on July 24, 2001, at 16:47:38
I think the neurontin is a good choice, and here's why:
--It can be used for many different mood disorders
--It less drowsiness, sexual side-effects,
--it does not have anticholinergic side-effects
--it comes in many different dosages now (600s and 800s)
--it requires no blood-tests
--it can be titrated quickly
--it has few significant drug interactions
--it has gained the respect of psychiatrists in less than a decade of FDA approval
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.gabapentin.htmlHere are the studies that prove Neurontin's efficacy:
5: Vieta E, Martinez-Aran A, Nieto E, Colom F, Reinares M, Benabarre A, Gasto C. Adjunctive gabapentin treatment of bipolar disorder.
Eur Psychiatry. 2000 Nov;15(7):433-7.6: Frye MA, Ketter TA, Kimbrell TA, Dunn RT, Speer AM, Osuch EA, Luckenbaugh DA, Cora-Ocatelli G, Leverich GS, Post RM. A placebo-controlled study of lamotrigine and gabapentin monotherapy in refractory mood disorders
J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2000 Dec;20(6):607-14.9: Bennett J, Goldman WT, Suppes T.
Gabapentin for treatment of bipolar and schizo-
affective disorders.
J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1997 Apr;17(2):141-2.10: Pande AC, Pollack MH, Crockatt J, Greiner M, Chouinard G, Lydiard RB, Taylor CB, Dager SR, Shiovitz T. Placebo-controlled study of gabapentin treatment of panic disorder.
J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2000 Aug;20(4):467-71.15: Brannon N, Labbate L, Huber M.
Gabapentin treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder.
Can J Psychiatry. 2000 Feb;45(1):84.16: Dallocchio C, Buffa C, Mazzarello P.
Combination of donepezil and gabapentin for behavioral
disorders in Alzheimer's disease.
J Clin Psychiatry. 2000 Jan;61(1):64.17: Herrmann N, Lanctot K, Myszak M.
Effectiveness of gabapentin for the treatment of
behavioral disorders in dementia.
J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2000 Feb;20(1):90-3.19: Schaffer CB, Schaffer LC.
Open maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder spectrum patients who responded to gabapentin augmentation in the acute phase of treatment.
J Affect Disord. 1999 Oct;55(2-3):237-40.20: Maurer I, Volz HP, Sauer H.
Gabapentin leads to remission of somatoform pain
disorder with major depression.
Pharmacopsychiatry. 1999 Nov;32(6):255-7.21: Sokolski KN, Green C, Maris DE, DeMet EM.
Gabapentin as an adjunct to standard mood stabilizers in outpatients with mixed bipolar symptomatology.
Ann Clin Psychiatry. 1999 Dec;11(4):217-22.23: Botts SR, Raskind J.
Gabapentin and lamotrigine in bipolar disorder.
Am J Health Syst Pharm. 1999 Oct 1;56(19):1939-44. Review.24: Magnus L.
Nonepileptic uses of gabapentin.
Epilepsia. 1999;40 Suppl 6:S66-72; discussion S73-4. Review.26: Young LT, Robb JC, Hasey GM, MacQueen GM,
Patelis Siotis I, Marriott M, Joffe RT. <
Gabapentin as an adjunctive treatment in bipolar disorder.
J Affect Disord. 1999 Sep;55(1):73-7.28: Perugi G, Toni C, Ruffolo G, Sartini S, Simonini E, Akiskal H. Clinical experience using adjunctive gabapentin in treatment-resistant bipolar mixed states.
Pharmacopsychiatry. 1999 Jul;32(4):136-41. Review.
29: Hardoy MC, Hardoy MJ, Carta MG, Cabras PL. Gabapentin as a promising treatment for antipsychotic-induced movement disorders in schizoaffective and bipolar patients.
J Affect Disord. 1999 Aug;54(3):315-7.30: Harden CL, Lazar LM, Pick LH, Nikolov B, Goldstein MA, Carson D, Ravdin LD, Kocsis JH, Labar DR. A beneficial effect on mood in partial epilepsy patients treated with gabapentin.
Epilepsia. 1999 Aug;40(8):1129-34.31: Pande AC, Davidson JR, Jefferson JW, Janney CA, Katzelnick DJ, Weisler RH, Greist JH, Sutherland SM. Treatment of social phobia with gabapentin: a placebo-controlled study.
J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1999 Aug;19(4):341-8.32: Grunze H, Erfurth A, Amann B, Normann C, Walden J. [Gabapentin in the treatment of mania].
Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr. 1999 Jun;67(6):256-60. German.34: Dodrill CB, Arnett JL, Hayes AG, Garofalo EA, Greeley CA, Greiner MJ, Pierce MW.
Cognitive abilities and adjustment with gabapentin: results of a multisite study.
Epilepsy Res. 1999 Jun;35(2):109-21.37: Letterman L, Markowitz JS.
Gabapentin: a review of published experience in the treatment of bipolar disorder and other psychiatric conditions.
Pharmacotherapy. 1999 May;19(5):565-72. Review.38: Cabras PL, Hardoy MJ, Hardoy MC, Carta MG. Clinical experience with gabapentin in patients with bipolar or schizoaffective disorder: results of an open-label study.
J Clin Psychiatry. 1999 Apr;60(4):245-8.40: Hatzimanolis J, Lykouras L, Oulis P, Christodoulou GN.
Gabapentin as monotherapy in the treatment of acute mania.
Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 1999 Mar;9(3):257-8.45: Erfurth A, Kammerer C, Grunze H, Normann C, Walden J. An open label study of gabapentin in the treatment of acute mania.
J Psychiatr Res. 1998 Sep-Oct;32(5):261-4.46: Dopheide JA, Wincor MZ.
Gabapentin and lamotrigine in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
J Am Pharm Assoc (Wash). 1998 Sep-Oct;38(5):632-4.47: Ferrier IN.
Lamotrigine and gabapentin. Alternative in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
Neuropsychobiology. 1998 Oct;38(3):192-7. Review.49: Ghaemi SN, Katzow JJ, Desai SP, Goodwin FK. Gabapentin treatment of mood disorders: a preliminary study.
J Clin Psychiatry. 1998 Aug;59(8):426-9.53: Pollack MH, Matthews J, Scott EL. <
Gabapentin as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders.
Am J Psychiatry. 1998 Jul;155(7):992-3.55: Soutullo CA, Casuto LS, Keck PE.
Gabapentin in the treatment of adolescent mania: a case report.
J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 1998;8(1):81-5.56: Knoll J, Stegman K, Suppes T.
Clinical experience using gabapentin adjunctively in patients with a history of mania or hypomania.
J Affect Disord. 1998 Jun;49(3):229-33.57: Sheldon LJ, Ancill RJ, Holliday SG.
Gabapentin in geriatric psychiatry patients.
Can J Psychiatry. 1998 May;43(4):422-3.58: Chouinard G, Beauclair L, Belanger MC.
Gabapentin: long-term antianxiety and hypnotic effects in psychiatric patients with comorbid anxiety-related disorders.
Can J Psychiatry. 1998 Apr;43(3):305.61: Watson WP, Robinson E, Little HJ. <
The novel anticonvulsant, gabapentin, protects against both convulsant and anxiogenic aspects of the ethanol withdrawal syndrome.
Neuropharmacology. 1997 Oct;36(10):1369-75.62: Young LT, Robb JC, Patelis-Siotis I, MacDonald C, Joffe RT.
Acute treatment of bipolar depression with gabapentin.
Biol Psychiatry. 1997 Nov 1;42(9):851-3.64: McElroy SL, Soutullo CA, Keck PE, Kmetz GF. A pilot trial of adjunctive gabapentin in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
Ann Clin Psychiatry. 1997 Jun;9(2):99-103.65: Ryback RS, Brodsky L, Munasifi F.
Gabapentin in bipolar disorder.
J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1997 Spring;9(2):301.66: Schaffer CB, Schaffer LC.
Gabapentin in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
Am J Psychiatry. 1997 Feb;154(2):291-2.67: Stanton SP, Keck PE, McElroy SL.
Treatment of acute mania with gabapentin.
Am J Psychiatry. 1997 Feb;154(2):287.68: Singh L, Field MJ, Ferris P, Hunter JC, Oles RJ, Williams RG, Woodruff GN.
The antiepileptic agent gabapentin (Neurontin) possesses anxiolytic-like and antinociceptive actions that are reversed by D-serine.
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1996 Sep;127(1):1-9.69: Dimond KR, Pande AC, Lamoreaux L, Pierce MW.
Effect of gabapentin (Neurontin) [corrected] on mood and well-being in patients with epilepsy.
Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1996 Apr;20(3):407-17.
Posted by Angelique on July 24, 2001, at 22:21:41
In reply to new to neurontin, posted by Angelique on July 24, 2001, at 16:47:38
I went to the doc today to get the persc. She said to take 150mg in am and 2 150mg tabs at night. When I got to the pharmacy I noticed SHE DIDN'T SIGN THE STUPID THING. Then the pharmacy called home and said it doesnt' come in 150mg doses they will call her tomorrow. She promised me a small dose...I thought 100mg a day tops! I don't do well taking pills in the morning. Often forget and had to stop with the catapres cause made me too tired..had to leave work early once I was sooooo tired almost falling asleep. Also some mornings I'm up at 8am others not till 1/2pm. That doesn't make for an even dosing schedule. I'll try talking toher next week when I see her.
> My doc just gave me neurontin. I've done paxil before
> (bad time with that....got severly depressed and gained
> weight), prozac and buspar, prozac on its own.
> I'm currently on prozac 10mg (20mg had too many side
> effecs) and catapres, a blood pressure medicine she
> gave me for anxiety. Now she's adding neurontin to the
> mix.
> My diagnosis at this point from her is PTSD with
> depression. My last non-doc shrink thought maybe
> OCD. Before my doc had said GAD. All I know is I have
> OCD symtpoms, anxiety, and mild to moderate depression
> (it's been worse at times), and hormonal moodswings
> that can get pretty bad. I have endometriosis and was
> put on depo provera, but at a higher dosage than is
> used for birth control. Every two months when I'm
> due for a shot I get the moodswings. I get just like
> those PMDD commercials advertise only more so and with
> my already existing symtpoms.
>
> I'm nervous to take this drug. I don't want any more
> weight gain. And I can't afford to be tired or dizzy.
> I have a hard enough time waking up in the mornings
> and have been known to sleep through two alarms.
> I think she's got me starting on 300mg a day...100 AM
> and 200PM, but it may be higher, cant' remember.
>
> SO...the point here is can anyone tell me any side effects,
> anything to expect from this drug...the pros and cons,
> etc. I had a friend who took depakote and it knocked him
> out for 12 hours every night after he took it and I don't
> want this drug doing that to me. MY doc said it won't
> and that she has young kids on it but I don't 100%
> trust her...she's changed dosage on my prozac
> once without asking and once her office called in the
> wrong drug (paxil when I was taking prozac).
>
> any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Posted by MM on July 24, 2001, at 23:47:58
In reply to Re: new to neurontin, posted by Angelique on July 24, 2001, at 22:21:41
Neurontin isn't effective for bipolar? Not even BPII?
Posted by Else on July 25, 2001, at 18:26:04
In reply to Re: new to neurontin-else, posted by MM on July 24, 2001, at 23:47:58
That's what my doctor said and I've read claims made by bipolars supporting this on this board . It might work for some people, I don't know. It's not ideal, I think.
> Neurontin isn't effective for bipolar? Not even BPII?
Posted by 16# on July 25, 2001, at 18:37:18
In reply to Re: new to neurontin-else, posted by Else on July 25, 2001, at 18:26:04
> Neurontin isn't effective for bipolar? Not even BPII?
For me it is very effective for BPII insofar as anxiety is a trait strongly associated with it and neurontin has brought my anxiety level way down.
Posted by Else on July 25, 2001, at 20:49:08
In reply to Re: new to neurontin-else, posted by 16# on July 25, 2001, at 18:37:18
> > Neurontin isn't effective for bipolar? Not even BPII?
>
> For me it is very effective for BPII insofar as anxiety is a trait strongly associated with it and neurontin has brought my anxiety level way down.OK, but BPII is a bit different. Neurontin is not likely to control psychosis and I doubt doctors would consider it a first line treatment for BPI patients. Anxiety is present in virtually every mental illness under the sun so Neurontin can probably help everybody (as long as they're not allergic to it). But Klonopin could make the same claim.
I find it's a much weaker anxiolytic than benzodiazepines or even SSRIs although I realise SSRIs are not indicated for bipolar II sufferers. In any event, I was only reporting what my doctor told me. He said that studies showed it was not as good as other drugs for stabilizing mood (which other drugs, he didn't say, probably Depakote or lithium) but that they discovered it was quite effective for Social Phobia and PTSD. Personally, I find it is no more effective than Prozac and less effective then Klonopin but that is only my humble opinion. That said, if Neurontin works for you there's no reason why you shouldn't take it. Everyone is different.
Posted by Angelique on July 25, 2001, at 22:21:10
In reply to new to neurontin, posted by Angelique on July 24, 2001, at 16:47:38
in reply tothe posts about effectiveness for bipolar and such....There are other drugs out there, but I think this one has less side effects and that is why many docs perscribe it. My doc said she has young kids on it.
I hope it works. The hormonal mood swings are not fun. The nurse practitioner at my GYN's office saidd I shouldn't be on depo provera if I suffer from depression. But then I explained I'm on it for endometriosis and at a higher dose and I'm pain free since taking it (and the surgery). I figure I'd rather have the depression and mood swings than then pain.
The pharmacy called the doc and got the perscription straighted out. 100mg AM 300mg PM. I took it 3 hours ago. At first I was in a good mood, but I had been before I took it. Was very awake with lots of energy. Now I'm finally tired. Functioning, but tired.
I'm worried how this will effect me being able to wake up for work in the morning.
Posted by Else on July 26, 2001, at 6:06:22
In reply to Re: new to neurontin, posted by Angelique on July 25, 2001, at 22:21:10
That sounds like a really small dose. I take 300mg 3 times a day and that usually the lowest dose prescribed. Look, I'm not bipolar but I tend to have mild mood swings during the day. I can go from elation to anxiety to depression to anger within a matter of hours during the day. Neurontin evens me out. So did Depakote but it made me retain water and I hated that. It's true that it has very few side effects and I'm grateful for that but it would not be strong enough for Bipolar I.
As I've said before, I think, but I'm not completely sure, that Wellbutrin works well for PMS. I didn't get PMS while I was on it and then I got it two weeks after I stopped taking it. I haven't read anything about it, that's just my own personnal experience. But I don't react to drugs in a typical way, tranquilizers don't make me feel sedated at all and I don't improve on any SSRI, they just make me feel indifferent about everything. I think Neurontin is similar to SSRIs in many ways, without the anxiety they cause, but it does numb me a bit so I don't like it very much. It's not a bad drug, I just don't think it's likely to be much help on it's own. It is not even supposed to be used all by itself for epilepsy and that's its FDA-approved indication.> in reply tothe posts about effectiveness for bipolar and such....There are other drugs out there, but I think this one has less side effects and that is why many docs perscribe it. My doc said she has young kids on it.
>
> I hope it works. The hormonal mood swings are not fun. The nurse practitioner at my GYN's office saidd I shouldn't be on depo provera if I suffer from depression. But then I explained I'm on it for endometriosis and at a higher dose and I'm pain free since taking it (and the surgery). I figure I'd rather have the depression and mood swings than then pain.
>
> The pharmacy called the doc and got the perscription straighted out. 100mg AM 300mg PM. I took it 3 hours ago. At first I was in a good mood, but I had been before I took it. Was very awake with lots of energy. Now I'm finally tired. Functioning, but tired.
> I'm worried how this will effect me being able to wake up for work in the morning.
Posted by Angelique on July 26, 2001, at 7:01:44
In reply to Re: new to neurontin » Angelique, posted by Else on July 26, 2001, at 6:06:22
Wellbutrin just has too many side effects it lists. You can't take it if you have seizures, an when I was very young I had some episodes that the thought might hve been seizures and the EKG (or whatever) was borderline, but the second one was normal. Prozac is perscribed for PMDD and PMS as well.
I'm on two other psychatric meds (or drugs used for psychiatric purposes) along with the neurontin and also my allergy medicine.Last night a few hours after taking it I felt tired and weird, kinda like after taking codine or something but not as strong, maybe like taking ativan? But definately not normal. I don't think it's wise for me to take a dose in the morning, I am tired enough and have low BP which can cause dizziness and I need to function normally.
Well I'll see how today's dose goes.But some stuff I read about neurontin is encouraging. That it's used for some muscle cramps and restless leg symdrome...I have muscle cramps and restless feelings in my leg (my grandmother has restless leg syndrome...I may also but haven't been diagnosed). It also is used to treat neuropathies, or pain from them, and I have some neurological problems including a neuropathy and myopathy.
Posted by Else on July 26, 2001, at 9:09:23
In reply to Re: new to neurontin, posted by Angelique on July 26, 2001, at 7:01:44
Don't worry about the drowsiness too soon. When I first started taking Neurontin it felt like Codeine mixed with a barbiturate, I was high as a kite, I swear. (The only drug I've ever taken I can compare it to is Fiorinal 1/2 which is butlbital with 30mg codeine)
This effect went away in two days and now it doesn't make me feel sleepy at all, and I Don't feel high either. It was just that first day.
> Wellbutrin just has too many side effects it lists. You can't take it if you have seizures, an when I was very young I had some episodes that the thought might hve been seizures and the EKG (or whatever) was borderline, but the second one was normal. Prozac is perscribed for PMDD and PMS as well.
> I'm on two other psychatric meds (or drugs used for psychiatric purposes) along with the neurontin and also my allergy medicine.
>
> Last night a few hours after taking it I felt tired and weird, kinda like after taking codine or something but not as strong, maybe like taking ativan? But definately not normal. I don't think it's wise for me to take a dose in the morning, I am tired enough and have low BP which can cause dizziness and I need to function normally.
> Well I'll see how today's dose goes.
>
> But some stuff I read about neurontin is encouraging. That it's used for some muscle cramps and restless leg symdrome...I have muscle cramps and restless feelings in my leg (my grandmother has restless leg syndrome...I may also but haven't been diagnosed). It also is used to treat neuropathies, or pain from them, and I have some neurological problems including a neuropathy and myopathy.
Posted by kid47 on July 26, 2001, at 9:35:53
In reply to new to neurontin, posted by Angelique on July 24, 2001, at 16:47:38
Howdy. I took Neurontin for about a year. At one point I was taking 3200mg (800x4) a day. It had a very subtle calming & stabilizing effect on me. I don't believe I had any noticeable side fx from it. I stopped all meds about 3 mos ago & now am starting back on some of the ones I think helped without severe side fx. I will probably start back on the Neurontin soon. Good luck. Take care
kid
> My doc just gave me neurontin. I've done paxil before
> (bad time with that....got severly depressed and gained
> weight), prozac and buspar, prozac on its own.
> I'm currently on prozac 10mg (20mg had too many side
> effecs) and catapres, a blood pressure medicine she
> gave me for anxiety. Now she's adding neurontin to the
> mix.
> My diagnosis at this point from her is PTSD with
> depression. My last non-doc shrink thought maybe
> OCD. Before my doc had said GAD. All I know is I have
> OCD symtpoms, anxiety, and mild to moderate depression
> (it's been worse at times), and hormonal moodswings
> that can get pretty bad. I have endometriosis and was
> put on depo provera, but at a higher dosage than is
> used for birth control. Every two months when I'm
> due for a shot I get the moodswings. I get just like
> those PMDD commercials advertise only more so and with
> my already existing symtpoms.
>
> I'm nervous to take this drug. I don't want any more
> weight gain. And I can't afford to be tired or dizzy.
> I have a hard enough time waking up in the mornings
> and have been known to sleep through two alarms.
> I think she's got me starting on 300mg a day...100 AM
> and 200PM, but it may be higher, cant' remember.
>
> SO...the point here is can anyone tell me any side effects,
> anything to expect from this drug...the pros and cons,
> etc. I had a friend who took depakote and it knocked him
> out for 12 hours every night after he took it and I don't
> want this drug doing that to me. MY doc said it won't
> and that she has young kids on it but I don't 100%
> trust her...she's changed dosage on my prozac
> once without asking and once her office called in the
> wrong drug (paxil when I was taking prozac).
>
> any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Posted by Angelique on July 26, 2001, at 13:48:37
In reply to new to neurontin, posted by Angelique on July 24, 2001, at 16:47:38
I've been drowsy today, kinda a peaceful sleepy instead of a tired and irritable. I am not on the verge of falling asleep at my computer but I do want a nap very bad. I've had 3 caffinated sodas today. The codine feeling is gone now, but my morning dose (100mg) is less (compared to 300mg).
Posted by super on July 27, 2001, at 14:23:49
In reply to Re: new to neurontin, posted by Angelique on July 24, 2001, at 22:21:41
Get a new p-doc!!! BTW, I'm starting Neurontin now too. I haven't gotten my prescription filled yet though. I'll let you know how it goes.
> I went to the doc today to get the persc. She said to take 150mg in am and 2 150mg tabs at night. When I got to the pharmacy I noticed SHE DIDN'T SIGN THE STUPID THING. Then the pharmacy called home and said it doesnt' come in 150mg doses they will call her tomorrow. She promised me a small dose...I thought 100mg a day tops! I don't do well taking pills in the morning. Often forget and had to stop with the catapres cause made me too tired..had to leave work early once I was sooooo tired almost falling asleep. Also some mornings I'm up at 8am others not till 1/2pm. That doesn't make for an even dosing schedule. I'll try talking toher next week when I see her.
>
>
> > My doc just gave me neurontin. I've done paxil before
> > (bad time with that....got severly depressed and gained
> > weight), prozac and buspar, prozac on its own.
> > I'm currently on prozac 10mg (20mg had too many side
> > effecs) and catapres, a blood pressure medicine she
> > gave me for anxiety. Now she's adding neurontin to the
> > mix.
> > My diagnosis at this point from her is PTSD with
> > depression. My last non-doc shrink thought maybe
> > OCD. Before my doc had said GAD. All I know is I have
> > OCD symtpoms, anxiety, and mild to moderate depression
> > (it's been worse at times), and hormonal moodswings
> > that can get pretty bad. I have endometriosis and was
> > put on depo provera, but at a higher dosage than is
> > used for birth control. Every two months when I'm
> > due for a shot I get the moodswings. I get just like
> > those PMDD commercials advertise only more so and with
> > my already existing symtpoms.
> >
> > I'm nervous to take this drug. I don't want any more
> > weight gain. And I can't afford to be tired or dizzy.
> > I have a hard enough time waking up in the mornings
> > and have been known to sleep through two alarms.
> > I think she's got me starting on 300mg a day...100 AM
> > and 200PM, but it may be higher, cant' remember.
> >
> > SO...the point here is can anyone tell me any side effects,
> > anything to expect from this drug...the pros and cons,
> > etc. I had a friend who took depakote and it knocked him
> > out for 12 hours every night after he took it and I don't
> > want this drug doing that to me. MY doc said it won't
> > and that she has young kids on it but I don't 100%
> > trust her...she's changed dosage on my prozac
> > once without asking and once her office called in the
> > wrong drug (paxil when I was taking prozac).
> >
> > any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Posted by Angelique on July 27, 2001, at 19:29:21
In reply to Re: new to neurontin, posted by super on July 27, 2001, at 14:23:49
I tried to get a new pdoc. Called the only women in my area, one wouldn't take new patients the other never returned my calls. Then I had my mom ask my brother's pdoc who in his office to see for talk therapy. Started with a social worker and she said after 2 sessions I could see pdoc. Then she said she'd have to check his schedule. At 3rd appt. they said he had no openings till September. I'm only home mid may-late August. I was upset for them not being upfront to start with. My GYN recommended one but she's not on my insurance. So I'm stuck with my old child psychiatrist. I don't even agree with her diagnosis.
Posted by Else on July 28, 2001, at 2:12:12
In reply to Re: new to neurontin, posted by Angelique on July 27, 2001, at 19:29:21
I don't know what to tell you. Call your doctor and try to sound really hysterical and suicidal on her answering machine. It's a rather vile tactic but it should work. Sometimes, manipulation is the only option left and this seems to be your case. (Maybe you have objections to this, I personally, believe that lies are OK when pdoc are either really thick or smug and arrogant.)
> I tried to get a new pdoc. Called the only women in my area, one wouldn't take new patients the other never returned my calls. Then I had my mom ask my brother's pdoc who in his office to see for talk therapy. Started with a social worker and she said after 2 sessions I could see pdoc. Then she said she'd have to check his schedule. At 3rd appt. they said he had no openings till September. I'm only home mid may-late August. I was upset for them not being upfront to start with. My GYN recommended one but she's not on my insurance. So I'm stuck with my old child psychiatrist. I don't even agree with her diagnosis.
Posted by KarenB on July 28, 2001, at 11:55:56
In reply to Re: new to neurontin, posted by Angelique on July 27, 2001, at 19:29:21
Angelique,
I just started on Neurontin, after adventures with Lithium (severe nausea), Tegretol, Trileptal, Lamictal and a list a mile long of antidepressants and other neuroleptics. I am Bipolar with some really ugly mixed states and super rapid cycling.
After a horrible (and rare)drug interaction between Lamictal and Trileptal which left me violently ill recently, I have scrapped most of the extensive and ineffective cocktail I was on and for the most part started over at ground zero. I kept two meds I have always known have worked for me (Adderall and Geodon) and added Neurontin. Because of my sensitivity to meds, my doc is taking it slow in titration and working me up to 800mg per day, in 200mg increments. Some people take 800mg in one dose, so this is extremely cautious. You are at a very low dose - I am not clear as to why your doc has chosen to do this (?)
All this to say, I feel better for the last several days than I have felt in as long as I can remember. Stable. Afternoons are always my manic time and I reserve some Xanax for such occasions but am needing it less as the days go by, with the upward titration of Neurontin. For me, it has been a good thing. If you read the Tips section of this website, there are many notes from pdocs who say it is a great last ditch resort for Bipolars like myself who have responded poorly to other mood stabilizers.
Oh, BTW, my doc suggested from the beginning that I should take my evening dose two hours before bedtime, to avert morning grogginess. This, I believe, has helped. I also take 15mg of Adderall before getting up, which jumpstarts my engine and keeps me focused (I have some ADD issues too...or is it the cycling? Hard to tell sometimes).
With your mood swings, you almost sound like a candidate for Bipolar Disorder. Have you ever seen a real mood disorder specialist for a consult? I did and it was so worth the money spent. I was misdiagnosed for most of my life.
Wishing you the best.
Karen
Posted by Angelique on July 28, 2001, at 18:01:28
In reply to Re: new to neurontin » Angelique, posted by Else on July 28, 2001, at 2:12:12
My pdoc has no answering machine. She has an answering service that will call her in an emergency. I have called her, my mom's called her, my psychologist has called her, she doesn't return calls. Maybe she doesn't get the messages. I've lost count of how many receptionists she's had in the past two years.
She's a child psych and I'm 20 now and too old. But I wasn't able to find a new one. I'm only home from June-August and I don't know if a new doc would accept that kind of schedule.
I hate having to start over with a new doc anyway. Going over my history and symptoms just brings anxiety. When I was seeing a social worker a few times this year I almost dreaded appointments. And during them I'd mostly sit there and bite my nails.
Posted by Angelique on July 28, 2001, at 18:06:55
In reply to Re: new to neurontin » Angelique, posted by KarenB on July 28, 2001, at 11:55:56
The problem with taking bedtime doses early is I forget. I've been taking meds right before I go to bed for 12 years now. I used to take another med around late afternoon/dinner time and always forgot so just stopped it altogether.
My doc promised me a low dose. I had problems with side effects on paxil, and with only 20mg of prozac, and drowsiness on .2mg of catapres.
The morning dose is just too much for me (100mg). It makes me tired all day. This morning I didn't take it for 2 hours and felt better until then. I used to take .05mg? catapres in the morning and stopped because it made me too drowsy.
I feel a tiny bit betrayed by the doc for not being totally up front about side effects and just passed me on to the pharmacist, assuring me she'd had succes with young kids on this thing. She wasn't 100% upfront about weight gain in my opinion, or about drowsiness. I feel foggy brained and worry if I can function at my best like this during the school year. My grades have been affected by medication in the past.
Posted by KarenB on July 29, 2001, at 19:16:03
In reply to Re: new to neurontin, posted by Angelique on July 28, 2001, at 18:06:55
> >I feel foggy brained and worry if I can function at my best like this during the school year. My grades have been affected by medication in the past.
I'd be willing to bet that your grades (and life) have been affected by your illness itself, perhaps more than you are aware. I know this trialing of different meds is very hard at best - torment at worst BUT thank God (if you do), that you are getting help NOW rather than 20 years from now when much of your life has been stolen by an untreated illness. Sometimes, it takes quite a while to find the right med mix, the right doctor and even a correct diagnoses.
Change docs, see a true specialist in mood disorders, do whatever you have to do to get well. It will be worth the fight, even if right now you don't much feel like fighting.
Hang in there, girl. It CAN get better but you must see your illness for the dragon that it is.
Don't give up, because there is always hope. You are stronger than you think.
KarenB - still standing
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.