Posted by Ritch on July 5, 2002, at 10:11:13
In reply to Is Neurontin really a mood stabilizer?? , posted by MomO3 on July 3, 2002, at 23:38:56
> I have been taking neurontin for several months and I am trying to figure out why???
>
> I am somewhere between ADD and rapid cycling or mixed-states BP. I have tapered up to 2400mg (4/4 pills per day) - and I definitely don't feel stable. The pdoc had me stop the SSRIs completely and when I asked him what I should do when depressed - he said to trust that the mood stabilizer would do it's job.
>
> I know something is not right, because suddenly chopping my regular daily dosage of ritalin seems like a good idea. Intellectually I know it is stupid, but I just feel BAD and I want a quick UP>
>
> My friend diagnosed BP is taking 1500mg Neurontin + Effexor. She claims that if you take a mood stabilizer without an AD it will cause depression.
>
> I don't know... anyone please share your thoughts.Hi,
I think Neurontin has "mood-stabilizing" qualities about it, but it often doesn't address many fundmental "core" symtpoms of mania (at least not very well). The thing it helped me with the most was the agitation that accompanied mild mixed-states. I still had hypomanic spells with anger outbursts. I guess, to sum it up-it worked the best on the mixed anxious/depressive symptoms that accompanied hypomania or mixed states, but not as well on cycling, and anger (as depakote or lithium does).
"Mood stabilizers" are really antimanic agents. Most of them have little or no antidepressant effects. If anxiety is driving your depression, then they might be useful indirectly as an antidepressant. They can make you "flat" and "tired" at higher doses. Sometimes just taking *less* antimanic agent (to combate fatigue or flatness) and avoiding (or reducing dosages) of meds that can aggravate mania works better than escalating doses of everything up and up.
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:111356
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020628/msgs/111465.html