Posted by Wendy B. on October 19, 2001, at 22:22:21
In reply to Re: Neurontin as a mood stabilizer-max. dose? » Wendy B., posted by Mitch on October 17, 2001, at 23:59:42
Hi Mitch,
I went to therapy today, we had a good talk. She understands my need to not feel like a lab rat. Of course, as a good therapist, she wants me to feel the opposite - well enough, *because* of the meds, that I will go out into the world now with a little more bravery. Since last spring's major manic/depressive episode I have been a little reclusive, underachieving as usual, don't have a good, secure job. My bills pile up and I can't pay them. I dread it, but I have to bring up the issue of appropriate child support money with my ex-husband, and I'm avoiding filling out the paperwork on it. I can't seem to even fill out the insurance papers to get my refund back for therapy sessions. The therp said she'd help me out with that. She is out-of-network, so it's partly her job to do this. Anyway, the point is, I feel limited and insecure...
About the 4200 mg dose: I think we're doing a little dance around a 'Who's-In-Control-of-the-Meds' situation. I told her what the last few days have been like: just reciting the number of times I've had to dose the Neurontin per day is exhausting: 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, 10pm, & 1 at bedtime. She did wince a little when I performed this recitation.
I made a 'freudian' slip at one point during the session, and called the Neurontin 'lithium.' She smiled and said she'd been thinking about lithium for me. I had mentioned it to her Monday night after group, I reminded her. She just told me that I would have to have blood levels taken on a regular basis on lithium. I asked her if/when my dose stabilized, couldn't the blood tests eventually stop? And she was adamant that blood levels would have to be taken regularly, the entire time I might be on lithium. So I guess if I feel like an invalid now with the pill-popping, I might feel just as much, or more, of one when going in for tests and blood-letting. She said it's expensive, and it's a pain in the ass.
We didn't talk about depakote or about using it as adjunct to the Neurontin, I'll mention it next week.
Thanks again for listening, Mitch.
Wendy
poster:Wendy B.
thread:56289
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011015/msgs/81722.html