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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sarah T. on March 13, 2005, at 0:59:05
I'm thinking of taking a very small amount of Neurontin to help me sleep. Can anyone tell me how Neurontin makes them feel? Does it help you fall asleep and stay asleep? How do you feel when you wake up? Refreshed? Groggy? Do you think that Neurontin might worsen my depression? Thanks for any help.
Posted by krybrahaha78 on March 13, 2005, at 3:32:47
In reply to Neurontin, posted by Sarah T. on March 13, 2005, at 0:59:05
I took Neurontin once for anxiety--my pdoc started me out on 100 mgs nightly, and i noticed it did help me sleep better, but after i increased the dose---it become more activating. But at small doses, it seemed to work good.
Posted by cubbybear on March 13, 2005, at 8:27:42
In reply to Neurontin, posted by Sarah T. on March 13, 2005, at 0:59:05
> I'm thinking of taking a very small amount of Neurontin to help me sleep. Can anyone tell me how Neurontin makes them feel? Does it help you fall asleep and stay asleep? How do you feel when you wake up? Refreshed? Groggy? Do you think that Neurontin might worsen my depression? Thanks for any help.
I've been doing just this lately in an effort to try something different from my usual as-needed use of Klonopin or Xanax for insomnia.Last year, while taking Neurontin for neuropathic pain, I discovered the great advantage of this drug as a sleep aid. It's not a hypnotic med but the side-effect of somnolence and drowsiness is enough to get me to sleep and keep me asleep pretty well. If I'm not too wired up, I can sleep decently with only 100-200 mg. of Neurontin. A 300 mg. capsule would be better for worse insomnia. The downside is that I feel very groggy when I get up the next morning, but this fades within the first hour.
I have no idea if this drug could worsen depression.
Posted by SLS on March 13, 2005, at 8:49:16
In reply to Re: Neurontin » Sarah T., posted by cubbybear on March 13, 2005, at 8:27:42
> I have no idea if this drug could worsen depression.
My experience as a bipolar patient is that Neurontin can destabilize me and make my depression much worse. One of my doctors explained to me that this can sometimes happen when one anticonvulsant changes the function of the system in a direction that works against already established mood-stabilizers.
With Neurontin, I experienced an antidepressant and anxiolytic effect when I first started taking it. Then things became nasty and stormy. It seems that there are many people for whom this worsening does not occur.
- Scott
Posted by Ritch on March 13, 2005, at 17:48:30
In reply to Neurontin, posted by Sarah T. on March 13, 2005, at 0:59:05
> I'm thinking of taking a very small amount of Neurontin to help me sleep. Can anyone tell me how Neurontin makes them feel? Does it help you fall asleep and stay asleep? How do you feel when you wake up? Refreshed? Groggy? Do you think that Neurontin might worsen my depression? Thanks for any help.
It doesn't create the same kind of sedative feel that benzos or antihistamines, or even antipsychotics do. It's unique in that sense (for me) anyhow. I always found it helpful for anxious depressive states. You might get some memory problems or feel sleepy if you take it in the daytime though.
Posted by Ritch on March 13, 2005, at 17:51:41
In reply to Re: Neurontin » Sarah T., posted by SLS on March 13, 2005, at 8:49:16
> > I have no idea if this drug could worsen depression.
>
> My experience as a bipolar patient is that Neurontin can destabilize me and make my depression much worse. One of my doctors explained to me that this can sometimes happen when one anticonvulsant changes the function of the system in a direction that works against already established mood-stabilizers.
>
> With Neurontin, I experienced an antidepressant and anxiolytic effect when I first started taking it. Then things became nasty and stormy. It seems that there are many people for whom this worsening does not occur.
>
>
> - Scott
>
My pdoc took me off a small dose (100mg) at bedtime because it tends to induce a mild hypomania (despite it working rather well for sleep issues). However, I still feel that combined with Depakote it worked quite well for my depression and was more benign than most antidepressants that I've taken...
Posted by Maxime on March 13, 2005, at 21:01:45
In reply to Neurontin, posted by Sarah T. on March 13, 2005, at 0:59:05
Neurontin made me feel like I was walking on air. I could have walked through a busy intersection and it wouldn't have made me the least bit worried. I was too "floaty" on it and dulled my cognitive abilities. It didn't help me sleep. It also gave me bad edema and I couldn't wear any of my shoes!!!
Maxime
> I'm thinking of taking a very small amount of Neurontin to help me sleep. Can anyone tell me how Neurontin makes them feel? Does it help you fall asleep and stay asleep? How do you feel when you wake up? Refreshed? Groggy? Do you think that Neurontin might worsen my depression? Thanks for any help.
Posted by Sarah T. on March 13, 2005, at 23:43:29
In reply to Re: Neurontin, posted by Maxime on March 13, 2005, at 21:01:45
Thanks to all of you for your replies. I guess I will give it a try as long as I can use the liquid form and start with a micro-dose. There's no way I'd start with 100mg capsules! Ritch, you spoke of some memory problems. I know that benzos can impair memory and learning. Would memory problems with Neurontin be caused by a similar mechanism?
Posted by Sarah T. on March 13, 2005, at 23:45:31
In reply to Re: Neurontin » Sarah T., posted by SLS on March 13, 2005, at 8:49:16
Hi Scott. Do you remember what dose you were on when the problems with Neurontin began, and do you remember how long it took for things to go from bad to worse? Were you on another mood stabilizer at the time?
Posted by SLS on March 14, 2005, at 0:31:09
In reply to Re: Neurontin » SLS, posted by Sarah T. on March 13, 2005, at 23:45:31
> Hi Scott. Do you remember what dose you were on when the problems with Neurontin began, and do you remember how long it took for things to go from bad to worse? Were you on another mood stabilizer at the time?
I was taking Lamictal at the time.
I think a worsening of depression while taking Neurontin is time-dependent rather than dosage-dependent. I have had it happen at dosages of 900mg and 1800mg. I wish I had taken better notice of the time involved, but it was a matter of weeks rather than days or months.
The NIMH was experimenting with the combination of Lamictal + Neurontin 5 years ago with some success reported anecdotally in treating bipolar depression. I don't know if they took it upon themselves to produce a controlled study or not.
- Scott
Posted by Sarah T. on March 14, 2005, at 0:55:59
In reply to Re: Neurontin » Sarah T., posted by SLS on March 14, 2005, at 0:31:09
Hi Scott. What are you doing, prowling around at this ungodly hour? (just kidding)
Thanks very much for your reply. I think I will get the liquid form of Neurontin and try a tiny dose. After many years of trial and error (mostly error), I've found that I'm extremely sensitive to almost all medicines. Unfortunately, this problem seems to be getting worse as I get older. I'm terrified of taking anything that will exacerbate my current depression, but if the Neurontin might help me get a good night's sleep, then maybe I'd feel less depressed.
Posted by SLS on March 14, 2005, at 6:32:14
In reply to Re: Neurontin » SLS, posted by Sarah T. on March 14, 2005, at 0:55:59
> Hi Scott. What are you doing, prowling around at this ungodly hour? (just kidding)
Took Parnate too late in the day...
> Thanks very much for your reply. I think I will get the liquid form of Neurontin and try a tiny dose. After many years of trial and error (mostly error), I've found that I'm extremely sensitive to almost all medicines. Unfortunately, this problem seems to be getting worse as I get older. I'm terrified of taking anything that will exacerbate my current depression, but if the Neurontin might help me get a good night's sleep, then maybe I'd feel less depressed.
It's funny how the pendulum swings. Not even two years ago, doctors were passing out Neurontin like candy. People diagnosed with bipolar disorder were prescribed amounts as high as 3600 a day or more. It was considered a magic mood stabilizer. Now, doctors don't even bother with the drug anymore. They feel it is nothing more than an expensive placebo. I think the truth lies somewhere in between. I would have to say that the description of Neurontin exacerbating depression has been infrequent, if not rare. Perhaps people haven't made the association of a worsening of depression with their taking of Neurontin. My guess is that the average person will not react badly to this drug. As I said, it was able to produce an acute antidepressant and anxiolytic for me. The drug must be good for something.
- Scott
Posted by Ritch on March 14, 2005, at 9:48:52
In reply to Re: Neurontin, posted by Sarah T. on March 13, 2005, at 23:43:29
> Thanks to all of you for your replies. I guess I will give it a try as long as I can use the liquid form and start with a micro-dose. There's no way I'd start with 100mg capsules! Ritch, you spoke of some memory problems. I know that benzos can impair memory and learning. Would memory problems with Neurontin be caused by a similar mechanism?
A 100mg bedtime only dose isn't quite the ton of bricks you might expect. It doesn't last long in your body, and I only would feel its effects very lightly when I woke up, unlike trazodone, antihistamines, etc. When I first tried it I started off taking 300mg 3x daily.. now that *did* seem like a ton of bricks to me. As far as "mechanism" goes.. that's not often helpful, it's better to just take it and see what happens. Some people find it activating and alerting, others find it makes them dumber than benzos do.
Posted by Bill LL on March 14, 2005, at 10:04:31
In reply to Neurontin, posted by Sarah T. on March 13, 2005, at 0:59:05
Sarah- I'm not familiar with your condition. If you want something that only helps you sleep, I would suggest a sleeping pill such as Ambien or Lunesta.
Lunesta just became available in pharmacies last week. Target has it now, but some other pharmacies are not yet able to order it.
Lunesta is approved for long term use and supposedly had mood improving effects in clinical trials.
> I'm thinking of taking a very small amount of Neurontin to help me sleep. Can anyone tell me how Neurontin makes them feel? Does it help you fall asleep and stay asleep? How do you feel when you wake up? Refreshed? Groggy? Do you think that Neurontin might worsen my depression? Thanks for any help.
Posted by Bill LL on March 14, 2005, at 11:25:18
In reply to Re: Neurontin - Ambien or Lunesta, posted by Bill LL on March 14, 2005, at 10:04:31
Friday- Target told me that it was available. Doc wrote script. then today, Target called and said that manufacturere said Lunesta not available until the end of this month. Sorry about that.
Posted by Sarah T. on March 14, 2005, at 23:58:51
In reply to Re: Neurontin » Sarah T., posted by SLS on March 14, 2005, at 6:32:14
Hi Scott. Now that you mention it, I do remember hearing some doctors raving about Neurontin in the late 1990's. I think their enthusiam might have had more to do with the "seminars" (expensive dinners at fancy restaurants) sponsored by the makers of Neurontin.
A couple of friends took it for pain (fibromyalgia) and I think they found it somewhat helpful. Another friend had peripheral neuropathy and was prescribed Pamelor and Neurontin. She said that she felt better, but she didn't know which of the drugs was providing the relief.
Posted by Sarah T. on March 15, 2005, at 0:01:01
In reply to Re: Neurontin » Sarah T., posted by Ritch on March 14, 2005, at 9:48:52
Hi Ritch. Thank you again for your help. I'm surprised to hear that some people find Neurontin activating and alerting. I would have never expected that.
Posted by Sarah T. on March 15, 2005, at 0:07:57
In reply to Re: Neurontin - Ambien or Lunesta, posted by Bill LL on March 14, 2005, at 10:04:31
Hi Bill. I tried Ambien a long time ago. I think it was OK, but don't remember much about it. I think I had to take more than what I'd expected. I don't remember the pill strengths. Maybe I was initially rx'd 5mg, but I had to take 10 to go to sleep, or something like that. I'm interested to hear about Lunesta. I will read up on it. To which class of drugs does it belong (benzo or something else)? Did you ever take Halcyon? I took it years ago. I was in school then, and I didn't remember anything I studied. A few years later, I read that it was notorious for causing amnesia.
This is the end of the thread.
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