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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 30. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pat c. on November 23, 2001, at 13:49:15
I'm starting to believe that Neurontin has some serious
anti-depressant qualities.I've just gotton off Neurontin, and I've never felt depression like this before.
I'm probably going to get back on.
Any thoughts.
Thanks.
Pat
Posted by SLS on November 23, 2001, at 18:02:01
In reply to Neurontin and Depression , posted by pat c. on November 23, 2001, at 13:49:15
> I'm starting to believe that Neurontin has some serious
> anti-depressant qualities.
>
> I've just gotton off Neurontin, and I've never felt depression like this before.
>
> I'm probably going to get back on.
>
> Any thoughts.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Pat
Hi Pat.I would agree that Neurontin can have substantial antidepressant effects. I experienced a brief, but significant improvement in my bipolar depression during two separate trials.
- Scott
Posted by Chloe on November 25, 2001, at 18:08:23
In reply to Neurontin and Depression , posted by pat c. on November 23, 2001, at 13:49:15
Pat,
I have to agree. I am trying to totally stop neurontin b/c I am having problems with it and Lithium together.
But I just can't! I feel awful without the neurontin. My joints ache and I can't sleep but all I want to do is lie down. I could not feel more miserable.
I have a pdoc appt on Wed, so I am trying to hold off on increasing it again. But I am not sure I can.
I really didn't think the neurontin was doing much. But it's "calming" effect, must also have some energizing effect too.
I feel so awful and depressed and tired.
All I can do is complain :(How are you?
Chloe
Posted by pat c. on November 26, 2001, at 22:25:39
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression » pat c., posted by Chloe on November 25, 2001, at 18:08:23
Hi Chloe.
I felt much better immediately. I went back to
4800mg/day ASAP from 0, which probably is
dangerous, but I'm fine.It has only been five days, so its going to take a while for the 4800mg to take full effect.
So I am experiencing some depression (both typical and atypical), but the depression is not acute like I was when I was at 0. Without the Neurontin, I was in pure pain.Take care.
Pat
Posted by ivoovi on November 26, 2001, at 22:47:11
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression » Chloe, posted by pat c. on November 26, 2001, at 22:25:39
Has anyone heard of neurontin causing depression? It seems that when I take it...I get depressed! ARGH!
-Chris
Posted by Chloe on November 27, 2001, at 9:02:18
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression, posted by ivoovi on November 26, 2001, at 22:47:11
Chris,
I don't know why you take neurontin, but it tends to have a calming effect that can make one feel tired...hence depressed in your case??? Or Neurontin isn't working well for you???. As you will see, everyone reacts differently to these meds. Neurontin may not be a good fit or you need to add something to it, perhaps.Neurontin seems to be rarely used alone. It is often part of a "cocktail" to augment other agents like an AD or mood stabilizer.
Perhaps you need an antidepressant in your mix to have you feel less depressed but still get the added calming and stabilizing effects of N.
Just a thought. Hope you start feeling better
Chloe
> Has anyone heard of neurontin causing depression? It seems that when I take it...I get depressed! ARGH!
>
>
> -Chris
Posted by ivoovi on November 27, 2001, at 15:35:48
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression » ivoovi, posted by Chloe on November 27, 2001, at 9:02:18
Thank you for your response, Chloe. It makes me feel so special when someone responds to one of my posts.
Well, I've been on wellbutrin for 3 weeks, and alone it hasn't done very much...but, one hour after taking 300mg of neurontin....it's like a button -- my depression is mostly gone!!
My problem was that I wasn't taking the doses close enough together (only once a day), so I would take it, feel better for a short while, then that would fade away soon after (more than 8-12 hours)...anyway...I think it's a start....I still don't feel like my old self tho -- so how are you doing?-Chris
Posted by Twain on November 30, 2001, at 16:02:42
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression, posted by ivoovi on November 27, 2001, at 15:35:48
Hi,
I'm having the same success with Wellbutrin and Neurotin. I couldn't handle either of these alone but together it has been magical.
I'm borderline with PTSD, atypical depression and a few other personality disorders. I've been untreatable until now. After numerous hospitalizations in the early 90's, the VA docs wanted me to undergo ECT. I refused and for the last 9 years I've been bouncing between the community mental health clinic and the local health food store. I tried every anti-depressant and numerous therapies, health food supplements, meditation, and whatnot.
This combination of Wellbutrin and Neurotin has been magical. Like you said, it has pushed the right button. The neurotin takes the edge off the wellbutrin. About 300mgs of neurotin with 75mg of wellbutrin 3 times per day has worked for me.
I now walk into town (6 blocks) whereas before I was paralyzed with fear/anxiety about traffic and people. I walked into town like I belonged. This is great!
Posted by pat c. on November 30, 2001, at 20:39:08
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression » ivoovi, posted by Twain on November 30, 2001, at 16:02:42
I agree.
Today I'm having some sucess with the Neurontin and Wellbutrin combo with a dose of Klonopin.
The Wellbutrin has been giving me anxiety and
anxiety attacks.I heard this passes.
I hope so, but today wasn't as bad as yesterday,
and right now I feel great.Pat
Posted by Twain on November 30, 2001, at 22:20:31
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression » Twain, posted by pat c. on November 30, 2001, at 20:39:08
Hi,
I'm only taking 75mgs of Wellbutrin 3 times per day. Eventually I will start on the time release pills. Perhaps, you could take a lower dose.
I, too, have trouble with agitation or anxiety within the first couple hours after taking Wellbutrin. But the neurotin tames the wellbutrin and I can actually use the energy.
When I took neurotin by itself I was slurring my words with 300mgs and for some inexplicable reason I experienced sharp shooting pains in my hip which stopped when I discontinued the neurotin.
But when I added the wellbutrin to the neurotin, I was no longer slurring my speech and the weird hip/joint pain hasn't reoccured.
Sometimes I feel euphoric - a bit like really good acid (I took a bunch in the early 70's).
Sorry if this is disjointed. Sometimes I feel such detachment it's hard to put two words together. Again, alot like acid. Maybe the wellbutrin/neurotin tag team is wrestling with the residue.
This is great. But I don't recommend LSD for depression. Not many old acidheads that are still coherent. However, when I was young and in despair, good clean LSD gave me relief.
Sorry I got off the subject.
Hope the wellbutrin and neurotin work for you.
Posted by pat c. on December 1, 2001, at 8:08:51
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression » pat c., posted by Twain on November 30, 2001, at 22:20:31
The one thing I hate about Neurontin is that
you have to take it every 6 hrs.The half-like is so f...n short.
I did my share of tabs. A couple of dead
shows, you know. Obviously, that's way
in the past. My wiring is too screwed up
to play with that s..t anymore.Pat
Posted by Inod on August 7, 2004, at 17:57:31
In reply to Neurontin and Depression , posted by pat c. on November 23, 2001, at 13:49:15
Oh dear...I did a websearch for Neurontin and depression because I've been taking it about a week and I've had two SEVERE episodes of depression. I take Paxil...When my doc gave me the Neurontin for a cracked vertebra (nerve pain), it worked fabulously for the pain, but he told me there were reports it might cause depression...and to call him if that happened. Why does it do that to me, but not y'all? TG y'all are not experiencing it!!! But, what do I do, it's the first time in 3 years I haven't had the back pain...but the depression ....well I tried to commit suicide the other day and I haven't been that depressed since I started taking Paxil nearly 7 years ago. I'm skeered!
Posted by patc on August 8, 2004, at 1:02:17
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression, posted by Inod on August 7, 2004, at 17:57:31
Neurontin if anything should help your depression, IMO. It's a mood stabilizer. It definitely will calm you down. The pysch docs consider it primarily an anxiolitic.
> Oh dear...I did a websearch for Neurontin and depression because I've been taking it about a week and I've had two SEVERE episodes of depression. I take Paxil...When my doc gave me the Neurontin for a cracked vertebra (nerve pain), it worked fabulously for the pain, but he told me there were reports it might cause depression...and to call him if that happened. Why does it do that to me, but not y'all? TG y'all are not experiencing it!!! But, what do I do, it's the first time in 3 years I haven't had the back pain...but the depression ....well I tried to commit suicide the other day and I haven't been that depressed since I started taking Paxil nearly 7 years ago. I'm skeered!
Posted by Inod on August 8, 2004, at 1:26:46
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression » Inod, posted by patc on August 8, 2004, at 1:02:17
> Neurontin if anything should help your depression, IMO. It's a mood stabilizer. It definitely will calm you down. The pysch docs consider it primarily an anxiolitic.
>
>
**This may explain it...Tonight when I picked up my 'script, the Pharmacist pulled out the manufacturer's sheet on it. We found an 'incidence' or significant factor for "emotional lability". That could very well explain it...Just a 'flux' of the emotions both ways...It truly was frightening, tho', since I had not felt that down ...as I mentioned, since before I began taking Paxil.Thank you so much for getting back to me! I realized after I posted that subject was from 2001! Was wondering if anyone would even see it.
Posted by platinumbride on August 11, 2004, at 0:25:34
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression, posted by Inod on August 8, 2004, at 1:26:46
I hope neurontin serves you well, as it has me. It definitely has antidepressant and anti anxiety properties for me.
Best of luck,
Diane
Posted by Inod on August 24, 2004, at 19:07:05
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression » Inod, posted by platinumbride on August 11, 2004, at 0:25:34
Thanx Diane...It seems to have gotten worse, but I'm still looking forward to it stabilizing!
Posted by platinumbride on August 26, 2004, at 4:21:01
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression, posted by Inod on August 24, 2004, at 19:07:05
Iod,
These things affect us all differenty.If it is making you depressed, maybe it is not the drug for you.
Have you and your doc talked it over? Mentioned changes in dosing?
You know, neurontin is normally great for anxiety issues but does nothing at all for any pain I might have! So GO FIGURE!!!!!!!
Take Care,Diane
> Thanx Diane...It seems to have gotten worse, but I'm still looking forward to it stabilizing!
Posted by platinumbride on August 26, 2004, at 4:25:24
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression » pat c., posted by Chloe on November 25, 2001, at 18:08:23
> Pat,
> I have to agree. I am trying to totally stop neurontin b/c I am having problems with it and Lithium together.
> But I just can't! I feel awful without the neurontin. My joints ache and I can't sleep but all I want to do is lie down. I could not feel more miserable.
> I have a pdoc appt on Wed, so I am trying to hold off on increasing it again. But I am not sure I can.
> I really didn't think the neurontin was doing much. But it's "calming" effect, must also have some energizing effect too.
> I feel so awful and depressed and tired.
> All I can do is complain :(
>
> How are you?
> Chloe************************************************************
Chloe,
If you are there (this is an old post!)What kinds of problems were/ are you having with neurontin and lithium?
I have only been on lithium a month and am noticing that I havent' been as responsive to neurontin, and am therefore having a lot more anxiety than I have in years, since I first started neurontin.
Thanks,
Diane
Posted by Inod on August 26, 2004, at 18:48:49
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression, posted by platinumbride on August 26, 2004, at 4:21:01
My mom told me to talk to the doc about it, as well...I haven't because I am so grateful for the pain relief from the Neurontin!
Ironically, I mentioned maybe I should try Lithium if the Neurontin is causing my emotions to shoot up and down so erratically!
Hmm! I'm glad this place is here with the support. I'm convinced it will get better...and I WILL talk to my doc about it. Tho' my next appt isn't 'til about Sept 23.
Posted by Speed on August 27, 2004, at 2:13:11
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression, posted by platinumbride on August 26, 2004, at 4:21:01
I have been on 800mg of Neurontin for about 3 years. They say it isn't addictive, well what is the definition of addictive????????????? All I know is if I forget to take it at night when I go to bed, I wake up in a few hours with depression and anxiety, once I take it I'm ok in a short time.
Thanks, Ron
Posted by patc on August 27, 2004, at 7:30:03
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression, posted by Speed on August 27, 2004, at 2:13:11
It sure feels addictive to me. I've been on it for three years and have tried to get off it multiple times without success.
Pat
> I have been on 800mg of Neurontin for about 3 years. They say it isn't addictive, well what is the definition of addictive????????????? All I know is if I forget to take it at night when I go to bed, I wake up in a few hours with depression and anxiety, once I take it I'm ok in a short time.
> Thanks, Ron
Posted by owensmar on August 27, 2004, at 17:10:48
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression, posted by patc on August 27, 2004, at 7:30:03
I had a very weird experience with Neurontin last week. I am on Effexor for depression - it doesn't work very well but I can tolerate the side effects at my low dose. My doctor had prescribed Neurontin for anxiety and chronic neck pain (disk problems) but I hadn't been taking it for a while.
Anyway, I had been feeling more anxious than usual for a while so I got my Neurontin Rx refilled. I took 300 mg at about 9:30pm. I didn't feel anything so about 11:30 I took another 300mg. At about 12:45 -my depression went away. Completely. No depression, no anxiety. I felt normal. I mean for the first time in years, I felt like a normal person. I stayed up until almost 3 am just to enjoy feeling good. When I went to bed, I lay there and enjoyed the feeling of being able to enjoy my bed feeling nice. It was like a miracle.
So then I took 300mg the next morning and what I felt was speedy. I had energy but felt wired. I kept taking the N for another couple days trying to get the normal feeling to come back but it didn't. Just speedy for a couple days, then nothing much at all.
Weird. But I sure enjoyed feeling human for that 2 hour period.
Marsha
Posted by Inod on August 27, 2004, at 18:06:27
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression, posted by Speed on August 27, 2004, at 2:13:11
I hear ya, Speed and Pat! Sometimes I think the medical community needs to revise the definition for what is "addictive"....Like you say, not only does stopping Neurontin abruptly (or Paxil, either, in my case) start messing with your mental stability, it can cause all kinds of dangerous physical withdrawals.
Both Neurontin, and my Paxil, are purported to be extremely safe...but everyone who has ever taken either knows....you don't mess with that stuff!
I get so AGGRAVATED with my doc's office if I run out of Paxil or Neuro.....They KNOW how dangerous it can be to stop taking either, abruptly. Yet, they are the only one's who can PREVENT that, and sometimes they choose to let me suffer for insurance, or whatever reason that has nothing to do with whether I drop dead from a nervous breakdown, or not! Ya know?
Posted by theo on August 27, 2004, at 18:10:55
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression, posted by platinumbride on August 26, 2004, at 4:21:01
Keppra works great for me for anxiety and Neurontin was a failure. Ask your doc about trying Keppra.
Posted by Inod on August 27, 2004, at 18:56:00
In reply to Re: Neurontin and Depression, posted by owensmar on August 27, 2004, at 17:10:48
Wow! That is SO interesting. I had the SAME exact experience, but with my chronic pain! In the past 5 years NOTHING made me feel as pain free as the first night I took 300 mgs of Neurontin! I was scared initially, because it made me shake uncontrollably. I attributed that to the'anti-convulsant' qualities....That was also the first time my emotions did the zip up and zip down like I hadn't felt since I began Paxil about 5 years ago....So, the next day, and since then, my pain is MUCH less intense, but it has not disappeared the way it did that first night...I did the same thing....LOL Stayed up all night because I was enjoying feeling pain free for the first time in SO MANY YEARS!
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