Posted by Snowie on October 21, 2004, at 13:51:03
In reply to Re: NEURONTIN - sometimes » Snowie, posted by Barbaracat on October 20, 2004, at 17:52:08
BarbaraCat,
I saw my pdoc today and he doesn't think Neurontin is doing anything for anxiety. In fact, he said I'm his only patient who takes it for anxiety, which I find hard to believe because my sister takes it for anxiety but he disagreed as to its effect on her because she's bipolar. Heck, she was the one who got me to try Neurontin in the first place, and I'm not bipolar! I have only been taking Neurontin sparingly lately, and because I was super tense after my appointment, I broke open a capsule and poured about a third into a cup of Coke. It worked so well and quickly. My pdoc gave me a script for 100 mg. of Neurontin 4 x a day today which I will fill when my 400 mg. pills run out, and then I may just save them for when nothing else works. Strange how Neurontin seems to work better when you don't take it that often as opposed to when you take it on a regular basis, especially in mega doses.
I checked my stash of health food type pills at home and I didn't see Taurine there, so I'll get it today at my health food store on my way home from work and see what happens.
As for withdrawal from Neurontin, I've been taking 22.5 mgs. of Tranxene every morning but that still doesn't take the edge off, so the only thing I can think of is that my body is craving Neurontin. Around lunchtime, if I pour a portion of a 400 mg. pill of Neurontin into a liquid of some kind, the anxiety goes away immediately. So I don't know what to think, but my pdoc thinks it's all in my head and the effect is negligible.
As for scripts at my appointment with my pdoc, he wanted to give me an A/D (Lexapro) but I argued with him about that and won the fight but maybe not the war. I have never done well on A/D's and don't like the side effects for the most part. He also gave me a script for Klonopin (pretty much as much as I want) and a script for 2 mg. pills of Xanax XR for 30 days plus a refill. If my insurance will take the Xanax XR I'll fill that. If not, I'll get the Klonopin.
Sorry the election is causing you so much grief and, of course, this will soon pass. At least you have something that is working to take the edge off until then. Hope it continues to work for you whenever you need it. I wish Neurontin was consistently dependable so I could do without the benzos *sigh*.
Snowie
> That's interesting you took Neurontin today because so did I. I've been really pushing it hard lately, more than I have in 3 years. I'm very involved with the election and it's been asking way more of me than I think I can give. So I took 2 Neurontins and a valium and planned to take the day off to seek the solace of loose floppy limbs for a while. No such luck. Here I am working working and feeling loopy from the meds. The Neurontin once again kicked in so sweetly (I've been off it for about a month).
>
> Yes, I wish I could depend on it too. I've never had a withdrawal from it, at least I don't think so. What are you going through around withdrawal from it?
>
> To answer your question, sometimes I take either valium or oxazepam (similar to ativan) and they will take the edge off. When I'm really feeling tight like I just can't take the uncomfortable feeling I'll reach for wine. It immediately lifts my spirits, I feel great, but then I pay for it the next day. So that isn't the answer. I wish someone would develop a drug that is as effective as alcohol but without the pain.
>
> The answer for me just may be in my breathing. I definitely have a disordered breathing pattern, holding my breath, tightness in my rib muscles. I've done yoga for years and I still have this pattern, which I think comes from a armouring reflex from an abusive childhood. I'm working with some CDs and literature to deal with it.
>
> Thanks for the links. I haven't gotten to them but I definitely will. I did mean L-Taurine. Tyrosine is a precursor for norepinephrine and dopamine. Taurine works on the electric potential of cell membranes - a different approach. So it's similar in action to the mood stabilizers. It starts working like this at higher doses, like 2G a day. Fish oil also is really important. I notice a difference when I slack off.
>
> Oh, I think I'm going to chuck this day and go lie down and enjoy the comfort of neurontin as long as it's deciding to behave. - Barbara
poster:Snowie
thread:365024
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041018/msgs/405505.html