Posted by Ame Sans Vie on September 17, 2003, at 20:55:25
In reply to Neurontin superior to Klonopin?, posted by JaneB on September 16, 2003, at 20:18:53
> Does anyone know the benefit of taking it and weaning off clonazepam?
It could be extremely beneficial, it could make the withdrawal worse, or it could be somewhere in between these two extremes. You really never know until you try.
All the following are potentially good adjuncts for discontinuing benzodiazepines, as well as benzodiazepine substitutes. Picamilon, valerian root, and niacinamide are available over the counter:
picamilon (GABA bonded molecularly to niacin)
niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3 [niacin] which has an effect similar to a mild benzodiazepine)
valerian root (may bind to benzodiazepine receptors; especially great combined with passion flower)
Gabitril (a GABA-b reuptake inhibitor)
Tegretol/Trileptal (variations of the same drug which bind to benzodiazepine receptors somewhat [Trileptal is less troublesome])
Depakote (increases the actions of GABA in many ways)
Xyrem (sodium oxybate/GHB/gamma-hydroxybutanoate -- "the date rape drug"; best sleep aid available; makes you feel much more motivated and energetic during the day even if only taken at night; metabolizes in the brain to GABA, GHC [gamma-hydroxycrotonate], and possibly other important neurochemicals)Other OTC items which are calming to the brain and may be helpful are l-theanine (Suntheanine brand is by far the most potent; often people try an inferior brand [which are often misrepresented as l-theanine when they are in fact simple green tea extract] and then decide it doesn't work for them -- don't write it off till you try Suntheanine), l-taurine, pyridoxal-5-phosphate/P5P (vitamin B6; the P5P form is better than the pyridoxine HCl form), thiamine (vitamin B1), calcium, magnesium, l-tryptophan, kava kava (only high-grade fresh root ordered from Oceania or Hawai'i -- the stuff sold in stores here on the mainland is essentially worthless), California poppy, ashwagandha, reishi fungus, gamma-Amino-beta-oxybate (GABOB -- ingredient in the product Gamalate B6), gamma-Pentanolide/gamma-Valerolactone (GVL -- a mild, legal alternative to GHB in the product Tranquili-G), trans-Gamma-hydroxycrotonic acid (T-HCA -- another GHB-like substance), trans-Gamma-4-o-chlorophenylcrotonic acid (T-HCCA -- yet another GHB-receptor agonist; about 16% more potent than GHB), trans-Gamma-hydroxy-gamma-p-nitrophenylcrotonic acid (T-HNCA -- yet ANOTHER GHB-receptor agonist, also more potent than GHB) and many others I'm sure I've forgotten.
> Any side effects I should be aware of?
For me personally, the two main side effects were extreme dry mouth and early afternoon drowsiness (lasted about two hours) at a dose of 400mg four times daily. Oddly enough, I experienced no side effects when I tried it again months later at 1,800mg four times daily! Other S/Es are, of course, possible.
>How can the dosing range be so wide--100 mg-1800 mg?
Eh, different strokes for different folks. (Or on PB, maybe that should be 'different dose for different posts'? lol... okay, that was cheesy)
Like I said, I've taken 5,400mg/day, and I've seen up to 5,600mg/day used in studies.
> I hear it is used for pain. Anyone use it for sleep?
I've used it for fibromyalgia pain... never tried it for sleep, though as I mentioned above, it would make me overwhelmingly tired for a couple hours each day.
And just to respond to the question in the thread's topic, "Neurontin superior to Klonopin?" I'd have to guess that most here would answer that with a resounding "NOT EVEN CLOSE!!" :-)
poster:Ame Sans Vie
thread:260803
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030917/msgs/261166.html