Posted by Chairman_MAO on February 25, 2004, at 18:53:18
In reply to NEURONTIN OR GABITRIL FOR GAD--EXPERIENCES??, posted by krybrahaha on February 25, 2004, at 18:24:04
Most people seem to think Neurontin is better for anxiety, but I strongly disagree. Gabitril is harder to tolerate in the beginning, but when I got up to 32mg/day (which seems to be way higher than most people take for psych reasons, but my doctor prescribed that dose), I got anxiety relief roughly equivalent to the benzos.
Clin Psychiatry. 2003 Oct;64(10):1245-9.
Tiagabine for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized, open-label, clinical trial with paroxetine as a positive control.
Rosenthal M.
BMR HealthQuest, 3625 Ruffin Road, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92123, USA. rosenthal@bmrhealthquest.com
BACKGROUND: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) plays a central role in the pathophysiology of anxiety. Tiagabine, a selective GABA reuptake inhibitor, enhances normal GABA tone. This 10-week, randomized, open-label trial evaluated tiagabine in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), with paroxetine serving as a positive control. METHOD: Adult patients with DSM-IV GAD were randomly assigned to receive either tiagabine or paroxetine. Tiagabine was initiated at 4 mg/day (2 mg morning and evening) during week 1. Between weeks 2 and 6, the dose was individually titrated in 2-mg increments (maximum increase of 4 mg/week) for optimal response to a maximum dose of 16 mg/day (8 mg morning and evening). During weeks 7 through 10, patients received the dosage determined during the titration period. Paroxetine was initiated at 20 mg nightly for the first week and similarly titrated in 10-mg increments to a maximum dose of 60 mg/day. Assessments included the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). RESULTS: Forty patients were enrolled (tiagabine, N = 20; paroxetine, N = 20). Mean final doses were tiagabine 10 mg/day (range, 4-16 mg/day) or paroxetine 27 mg/day (range, 20-40 mg/day). Tiagabine and paroxetine significantly reduced anxiety (HAM-A and HADS total and anxiety subscales). Although patients were not diagnosed with a mood disorder, both tiagabine and paroxetine reduced comorbid depressive symptoms (HAM-D total and HADS total and depressive subscale). Tiagabine and paroxetine significantly improved sleep quality (PSQI) and functioning (SDS). Both tiagabine and paroxetine were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: The selective GABA reuptake inhibitor tiagabine and the positive control paroxetine significantly reduced anxiety and comorbid depressive symptoms, improved sleep quality and functioning, and were well tolerated in patients with GAD. Tiagabine may be a therapeutic option for the treatment of anxiety disorders.
poster:Chairman_MAO
thread:317667
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040223/msgs/317674.html