Posted by Nora Wolski on August 8, 2001, at 11:39:17
In reply to Re: Neurontin, posted by 16# on August 8, 2001, at 1:33:56
I am currently only on "ONE" med now and it is Topamax. It's been 6 weeks now and I take 50mg once in the morning (otherwise it interferes with my sleep) and I can't tell you how "GREAT" I feel. In between me getting off the Effexor, Neurontin, etc, my doctor put me on Celexa only then added Neurontin and that did not work. Finally, I was going through a manic episode and that's when he decided to try me on Topamax. Much to his disbelief he said I was doing to good to soon but he wasn't going to rock the boat at this point in time. So far, I have been stable in moods, clarity in thought, loads of energy and have lost some weight. When I first started taking this med I was very manic and for the next 2-3 weeks following I was very manic but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. After that period I could start to feel the pressure lift from me and for the first time in almost 4 years I feel like old self. I'm not sure if this will last, but at least I know my doctor is on the right track.
> Nora--What do you now take for your BPII?
>
> > Annabelle: I took Neurontin for 1 1/2 years at 2400mg a day along with Effexor 300mg plus some additional sleep and aniexty meds (only when needed) and believe me the Neurontin really works. I took this medication as I'm Bipolar II with a Manic Depressive Disorder. When I first started taking the Neurontin I could definetly tell the difference. At first, I felt a little dizzy/fuzzy headed, couldn't always think clearly, sometimes touble remembering, tired (but I had insomia for that whole period of time) but within a short period of time things changed. I could feel the meds were leveling my moods out and they weren't jumping all over the place(up/down/up/down) and most of the other symptoms pretty much went away..but never all gone. My doctor said this med had to be taken twice daily, 1200mg in the morning and 1200mg at night in order to get the balanced affect of it. It sounds like you have been through a tough ordeal and I can understand your reluctance to starting a new medicine. Annabelle, it really did work for me and when I think back on it, it was probably the easiest med for me to get used too with the least amount of side effects. Sometimes we just have to try it and see how it enteracts with our systems and hope for the best. Remember there are many different medications out there and one of them will work for you.
> >
> >
> > > I just got a prescription for Neurontin today to treat post-cancer treatment nerve and muscle damage that has tortured me for five years. Frankly, I'm scared to try to the drug, and considering what I went through in chemo, it takes a lot to shake me up where meds are concerned.
> > >
> > > I'm supposed to start at 600 mgs once a day and work up to three times that dose in the next three weeks.
> > >
> > > My biggest fears are of "brainfog" or increased problems with my lifelong depression and panic disorders. I also can't handle any weight gain or grogginess. If I get any stranger than I am when just being driven mad by pain, everything in my life will fall apart and I don't have any more ideas where to turn for help.
> > >
> > > Has anyone used Neurontin with good results and minimal or no side effects, especially for pain? I can't step into another black hole of ignorance about medications. Cancer treatment gave me enough chances to do that!
> > > >
> > > > Zo, Wow, that is a high dose. The pain just stinks doesn't it? And you suffered with it for 18 years???.... I am only on 600 in the a.m. and 600 in the p.m. So I might try all at once at night and see if that works. Everything was working for a while, but with age and more wear and tear on the crooked old neck no wonder it is getting worse.
> > > > Thanks for all your help... I really appreciate your input to this 'babble'.
> > > > Annie
poster:Nora Wolski
thread:1356
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010804/msgs/74146.html