![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by gloria on May 9, 2000, at 22:07:10
I am just starting Neurontin tonight,just 100mg, baby steps you know. A little uptight about it. Anybody have bad first side effects? Hope I don't have a panic attack as it has been months since I have had one. Just need a little reasurance. Gloria
Posted by Alan on May 10, 2000, at 8:19:57
In reply to First Dosage Of Neurontin, A Little Scared!, posted by gloria on May 9, 2000, at 22:07:10
>
> I am just starting Neurontin tonight,just 100mg, baby steps you know. A little uptight about it. Anybody have bad first side effects? Hope I don't have a panic attack as it has been months since I have had one. Just need a little reasurance. Gloria
****************************
Gloria,
I'm with you on this one....I always have some benzo on hand if I have a bad reaction. Neurontin for me did not give me the paniky feeling when I first started out with it. It is truly wonderful for me. I was just a little sleepy at first but 100mg is such a small (and good) dose to start. I take 200mg 3X's a day and it really is a good drug with it's claim to fame being a low side effect profile. I know that doesn't help much when you may be the one person that it effects adversely.
What is your diagnosis and what is intended to accomplish with your prescription anyway? I use neurontin to stabilise mood when I have to use benzos for social anxiety - it helps stabilise my mood with the benzo going in and out of my system. It helps with the depression a little too although my Celexa is doing most of that for me even at 5 - 10 MG.
Let me know what happens!
Alan
**********************************
Posted by Greg on May 10, 2000, at 8:42:03
In reply to Re: First Dosage Of Neurontin, A Little Scared!, posted by Alan on May 10, 2000, at 8:19:57
Gloria,
I have been taking Neurontin for about 3 months and haven't noticed any negative side effects. If anything, there have been some benefits. It takes the edge off my anxiety and helps me rest a little better at night. This has been my experience with it, others may have had negative results. The real bad thing about it is that if you are susceptible to seizures, stopping it abruptly can put you at high risk. I hope it works well for you. Let us know what happens.Greg
> >
> > I am just starting Neurontin tonight,just 100mg, baby steps you know. A little uptight about it. Anybody have bad first side effects? Hope I don't have a panic attack as it has been months since I have had one. Just need a little reasurance. Gloria
> ****************************
> Gloria,
> I'm with you on this one....I always have some benzo on hand if I have a bad reaction. Neurontin for me did not give me the paniky feeling when I first started out with it. It is truly wonderful for me. I was just a little sleepy at first but 100mg is such a small (and good) dose to start. I take 200mg 3X's a day and it really is a good drug with it's claim to fame being a low side effect profile. I know that doesn't help much when you may be the one person that it effects adversely.
> What is your diagnosis and what is intended to accomplish with your prescription anyway? I use neurontin to stabilise mood when I have to use benzos for social anxiety - it helps stabilise my mood with the benzo going in and out of my system. It helps with the depression a little too although my Celexa is doing most of that for me even at 5 - 10 MG.
> Let me know what happens!
> Alan
> **********************************
Posted by lizzie on May 10, 2000, at 9:21:00
In reply to First Dosage Of Neurontin, A Little Scared!, posted by gloria on May 9, 2000, at 22:07:10
100 mg won't do anything bad to you. i take
1500 a day and don't have any side effex.
Some folks get tired but not me. I still
need klono to help me sleep...PS--It's not making me fat either.
Posted by gloria on May 10, 2000, at 9:21:29
In reply to First Dosage Of Neurontin, A Little Scared!, posted by gloria on May 9, 2000, at 22:07:10
>
> I am just starting Neurontin tonight,just 100mg, baby steps you know. A little uptight about it. Anybody have bad first side effects? Hope I don't have a panic attack as it has been months since I have had one. Just need a little reasurance. Gloria
>I am taking this for panic attacks along with Buspar. Doc said it might help restless leg syndrome too! Went ok last night. Feel a little anxious today, but probalbly just the thought of starting a new med. Hope it lifts my mood a little also. Don't like SSRI's at all. I will stay on the 100mg for this week and then maybe up it to 200mg next week. You guys say it makes you sleepy, does this go away. Thanks Gloria
Posted by gloria on May 10, 2000, at 9:29:08
In reply to Re: First Dosage Of Neurontin, A Little Scared!, posted by lizzie on May 10, 2000, at 9:21:00
> 100 mg won't do anything bad to you. i take
> 1500 a day and don't have any side effex.
> Some folks get tired but not me. I still
> need klono to help me sleep...
>
> PS--It's not making me fat either.>Boy I should am glad to hear about not gaining weight for you. Although I know everyone is different and I may experience gaining weight, but hope not, still trying to lose the 25lbs I gained on Celexa. Keep your fingers crossed for me too! Gloria
Posted by Greg on May 10, 2000, at 9:46:13
In reply to Re: Neurontin, posted by gloria on May 10, 2000, at 9:21:29
> >
> > I am just starting Neurontin tonight,just 100mg, baby steps you know. A little uptight about it. Anybody have bad first side effects? Hope I don't have a panic attack as it has been months since I have had one. Just need a little reasurance. Gloria
> >I am taking this for panic attacks along with Buspar. Doc said it might help restless leg syndrome too! Went ok last night. Feel a little anxious today, but probalbly just the thought of starting a new med. Hope it lifts my mood a little also. Don't like SSRI's at all. I will stay on the 100mg for this week and then maybe up it to 200mg next week. You guys say it makes you sleepy, does this go away. Thanks GloriaGloria,
It doesn't make me sleepy, just helps me to relax, but I am an insomniac and that may be the reason why. I'm sure the Neurontin is like most drugs, the longer you take them the more tolerance you build up. What specifically did the doctor prescribe the Neurontin for? Was it for the panic attacks? I'm curious because I'd be surprised that a doc would prescribe a relatively mild drug like Neurontin for something as severe as PA's (at least mine are severe). I'm certainly not a doctor and am not questioning his/her decision, just curious. I'm still learning.... :0) Hope you don't mind me asking.
Greg
Posted by gloria on May 10, 2000, at 13:45:50
In reply to Re: Neurontin, posted by Greg on May 10, 2000, at 9:46:13
> > >
> > > I am just starting Neurontin tonight,just 100mg, baby steps you know. A little uptight about it. Anybody have bad first side effects? Hope I don't have a panic attack as it has been months since I have had one. Just need a little reasurance. Gloria
> > >I am taking this for panic attacks along with Buspar. Doc said it might help restless leg syndrome too! Went ok last night. Feel a little anxious today, but probalbly just the thought of starting a new med. Hope it lifts my mood a little also. Don't like SSRI's at all. I will stay on the 100mg for this week and then maybe up it to 200mg next week. You guys say it makes you sleepy, does this go away. Thanks Gloria
>
> Gloria,
>
> It doesn't make me sleepy, just helps me to relax, but I am an insomniac and that may be the reason why. I'm sure the Neurontin is like most drugs, the longer you take them the more tolerance you build up. What specifically did the doctor prescribe the Neurontin for? Was it for the panic attacks? I'm curious because I'd be surprised that a doc would prescribe a relatively mild drug like Neurontin for something as severe as PA's (at least mine are severe). I'm certainly not a doctor and am not questioning his/her decision, just curious. I'm still learning.... :0) Hope you don't mind me asking.
>
> Greg>Hi Greg, well I had quite a lengthy post written but somewhere in trying to post it I lost connection so will have to go with a short version. Yes my panic attacks were severe. I was having them maybe twice a day and was becoming house bound from them. They started about 3 yrs ago, one day when I was just outside with my dog. It lasted for about 2 hrs and I ended up in emergency room and they ran all the EKG's and stuff and diagnosed it panic attacks. Put on Lanoxin for about a year (I know, why that but I was just beginning and stupid, I didn't know anything about panic attacks)after a year Lanoxin seemed to be causing more anxiety so was put on beta blocker which really stopped the cycle of the attacks for several months. I did not care for beta blockers as they slowed down my metabolism to much and I was trying to do some excersing to help keep weight dowm and just was not working out. Then I went to several SSRI's and all their side effects and decided no more of them either. But they did help to control panic attacks. Pdoc then put me on BuSpar since it had been several months without an attack and he didn't really know what else to try at that time. I like the BuSpar but I don't think or maybe I am just afraid it won't hold out or be strong enough. Now I went to see my regular doc the other day and laid it on the line that I could not afford a pdoc anymore and would she be willing to let me try some different meds within reason. After some searching and asking I wanted to start with Neurontin. I have a friend who has very good results with this for panic attacks and now just hoping I have the same luck. You said this seems a mild drug to you. I guess I felt just the opposite, I was scared to death to try it. Well that's it. Hope to hear from you again. Would like to hear your story. Gloria
Posted by Alan on May 10, 2000, at 19:44:52
In reply to Re: To Greg Neurontin, posted by gloria on May 10, 2000, at 13:45:50
> > > >
> > > > I am just starting Neurontin tonight,just 100mg, baby steps you know. A little uptight about it. Anybody have bad first side effects? Hope I don't have a panic attack as it has been months since I have had one. Just need a little reasurance. Gloria
> > > >I am taking this for panic attacks along with Buspar. Doc said it might help restless leg syndrome too! Went ok last night. Feel a little anxious today, but probalbly just the thought of starting a new med. Hope it lifts my mood a little also. Don't like SSRI's at all. I will stay on the 100mg for this week and then maybe up it to 200mg next week. You guys say it makes you sleepy, does this go away. Thanks Gloria
> >
> > Gloria,
> >
> > It doesn't make me sleepy, just helps me to relax, but I am an insomniac and that may be the reason why. I'm sure the Neurontin is like most drugs, the longer you take them the more tolerance you build up. What specifically did the doctor prescribe the Neurontin for? Was it for the panic attacks? I'm curious because I'd be surprised that a doc would prescribe a relatively mild drug like Neurontin for something as severe as PA's (at least mine are severe). I'm certainly not a doctor and am not questioning his/her decision, just curious. I'm still learning.... :0) Hope you don't mind me asking.
> >
> > Greg
>
> >Hi Greg, well I had quite a lengthy post written but somewhere in trying to post it I lost connection so will have to go with a short version. Yes my panic attacks were severe. I was having them maybe twice a day and was becoming house bound from them. They started about 3 yrs ago, one day when I was just outside with my dog. It lasted for about 2 hrs and I ended up in emergency room and they ran all the EKG's and stuff and diagnosed it panic attacks. Put on Lanoxin for about a year (I know, why that but I was just beginning and stupid, I didn't know anything about panic attacks)after a year Lanoxin seemed to be causing more anxiety so was put on beta blocker which really stopped the cycle of the attacks for several months. I did not care for beta blockers as they slowed down my metabolism to much and I was trying to do some excersing to help keep weight dowm and just was not working out. Then I went to several SSRI's and all their side effects and decided no more of them either. But they did help to control panic attacks. Pdoc then put me on BuSpar since it had been several months without an attack and he didn't really know what else to try at that time. I like the BuSpar but I don't think or maybe I am just afraid it won't hold out or be strong enough. Now I went to see my regular doc the other day and laid it on the line that I could not afford a pdoc anymore and would she be willing to let me try some different meds within reason. After some searching and asking I wanted to start with Neurontin. I have a friend who has very good results with this for panic attacks and now just hoping I have the same luck. You said this seems a mild drug to you. I guess I felt just the opposite, I was scared to death to try it. Well that's it. Hope to hear from you again. Would like to hear your story. Gloria
***********************************
Sorry to poke my nose into this but I have an anxiety disorder and have always thought that an anxiolytic like a benzo such as klonopin or shorter acting Ativan was just the thing for chronic anxiety disorders. Have you experienced these meds at all? Would like to know your experience if any with them. I use a combo of ativan and neurontin and they compliment each other very well - the neurontin stabilizing any temporary fluctuations of mood due to the benzo. fluctuating slightly in and out of my system.
Alan
************************
Posted by tina on May 10, 2000, at 22:25:52
In reply to Re: To Greg Neurontin, posted by Alan on May 10, 2000, at 19:44:52
> > > > >
> > > > > I am just starting Neurontin tonight,just 100mg, baby steps you know. A little uptight about it. Anybody have bad first side effects? Hope I don't have a panic attack as it has been months since I have had one. Just need a little reasurance. Gloria
> > > > >I am taking this for panic attacks along with Buspar. Doc said it might help restless leg syndrome too! Went ok last night. Feel a little anxious today, but probalbly just the thought of starting a new med. Hope it lifts my mood a little also. Don't like SSRI's at all. I will stay on the 100mg for this week and then maybe up it to 200mg next week. You guys say it makes you sleepy, does this go away. Thanks Gloria
> > >
> > > Gloria,
> > >
> > > It doesn't make me sleepy, just helps me to relax, but I am an insomniac and that may be the reason why. I'm sure the Neurontin is like most drugs, the longer you take them the more tolerance you build up. What specifically did the doctor prescribe the Neurontin for? Was it for the panic attacks? I'm curious because I'd be surprised that a doc would prescribe a relatively mild drug like Neurontin for something as severe as PA's (at least mine are severe). I'm certainly not a doctor and am not questioning his/her decision, just curious. I'm still learning.... :0) Hope you don't mind me asking.
> > >
> > > Greg
> >
> > >Hi Greg, well I had quite a lengthy post written but somewhere in trying to post it I lost connection so will have to go with a short version. Yes my panic attacks were severe. I was having them maybe twice a day and was becoming house bound from them. They started about 3 yrs ago, one day when I was just outside with my dog. It lasted for about 2 hrs and I ended up in emergency room and they ran all the EKG's and stuff and diagnosed it panic attacks. Put on Lanoxin for about a year (I know, why that but I was just beginning and stupid, I didn't know anything about panic attacks)after a year Lanoxin seemed to be causing more anxiety so was put on beta blocker which really stopped the cycle of the attacks for several months. I did not care for beta blockers as they slowed down my metabolism to much and I was trying to do some excersing to help keep weight dowm and just was not working out. Then I went to several SSRI's and all their side effects and decided no more of them either. But they did help to control panic attacks. Pdoc then put me on BuSpar since it had been several months without an attack and he didn't really know what else to try at that time. I like the BuSpar but I don't think or maybe I am just afraid it won't hold out or be strong enough. Now I went to see my regular doc the other day and laid it on the line that I could not afford a pdoc anymore and would she be willing to let me try some different meds within reason. After some searching and asking I wanted to start with Neurontin. I have a friend who has very good results with this for panic attacks and now just hoping I have the same luck. You said this seems a mild drug to you. I guess I felt just the opposite, I was scared to death to try it. Well that's it. Hope to hear from you again. Would like to hear your story. Gloria
> ***********************************
> Sorry to poke my nose into this but I have an anxiety disorder and have always thought that an anxiolytic like a benzo such as klonopin or shorter acting Ativan was just the thing for chronic anxiety disorders. Have you experienced these meds at all? Would like to know your experience if any with them. I use a combo of ativan and neurontin and they compliment each other very well - the neurontin stabilizing any temporary fluctuations of mood due to the benzo. fluctuating slightly in and out of my system.
> Alan
> ************************So you've had great success with benzo's for panic? What bensos have you taken besides Ativan if any? cus I haven't had any success at all with them. I'm interested in your experience with the neurontin too. I am in dire straights here suffering from panic attacks frequently but also have depression. Love your input!! Thanks--Tina
Posted by Alan on May 10, 2000, at 23:32:25
In reply to re:Neurontin To ALAN, posted by tina on May 10, 2000, at 22:25:52
> > ***********************************
> > Sorry to poke my nose into this but I have an anxiety disorder and have always thought that an anxiolytic like a benzo such as klonopin or shorter acting Ativan was just the thing for chronic anxiety disorders. Have you experienced these meds at all? Would like to know your experience if any with them. I use a combo of ativan and neurontin and they compliment each other very well - the neurontin stabilizing any temporary fluctuations of mood due to the benzo. fluctuating slightly in and out of my system.
> > Alan
> > ************************
>
> So you've had great success with benzo's for panic? What bensos have you taken besides Ativan if any? cus I haven't had any success at all with them. I'm interested in your experience with the neurontin too. I am in dire straights here suffering from panic attacks frequently but also have depression. Love your input!! Thanks--Tina
*************************************
Well if Ativan didn't work for panic I'd love to know why - or what others that have worked for me haven't for you. They are the first line of treatment for panic.
Sometimes imiprimine + Xanax or Ativan works well too - in other words an AD + Anxiolytic.I tried xanax up to 2MG - too sedating.
Valium up to 2MG - too sedating
Klonopin up to 3 MG - too clumsy.Ativan at 3 - 5 MG daily is terrific but has to be learned to be managed. The Neuontin helps as I stated before, even a little for the depression. Throw celexa in at 5 -10 Mg and this seems to be the best so far.
My anxiety disorder CAUSES my depression - not the other way around so I have experimented alot first with the benzos . Tell me more about your experience with what benzos and at what dosages.
Thanks for sharing in advance..Alan
**********************************
Posted by tina on May 11, 2000, at 7:49:07
In reply to Re: re:Neurontin To ALAN, posted by Alan on May 10, 2000, at 23:32:25
Hey alan::: I've been on anti-depressants for a while but the panic always comes after the depression starts so my docs always work on the depression first. I have tried Xanax, Klonopin and Rivotril. I used Lorazepam for a while but it wasn't anywhere near strong enough. That's what I find with the benzos. I take Xanax at bedtime, 2-3mgs but I still wake up in the middle of the night with panic attacks. I seem to be better equipped to deal with the panic during the day--oh it still gets me crazy but my coping skills are much better than at night. I find the pm attacks ten times harder to deal with. Sometimes the 2-3mgs of Xanax doesn't even make me drowsy so sleep isn't something I get alot of. The Rivotril simply didn't work and the Lorazepam knocked me right out but according to my husband I still behaved like I was "freaking out" when asleep. I'm getting more depressed by the day because of this. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for caring--Tina
> > > ***********************************
> > > Sorry to poke my nose into this but I have an anxiety disorder and have always thought that an anxiolytic like a benzo such as klonopin or shorter acting Ativan was just the thing for chronic anxiety disorders. Have you experienced these meds at all? Would like to know your experience if any with them. I use a combo of ativan and neurontin and they compliment each other very well - the neurontin stabilizing any temporary fluctuations of mood due to the benzo. fluctuating slightly in and out of my system.
> > > Alan
> > > ************************
> >
> > So you've had great success with benzo's for panic? What bensos have you taken besides Ativan if any? cus I haven't had any success at all with them. I'm interested in your experience with the neurontin too. I am in dire straights here suffering from panic attacks frequently but also have depression. Love your input!! Thanks--Tina
> *************************************
> Well if Ativan didn't work for panic I'd love to know why - or what others that have worked for me haven't for you. They are the first line of treatment for panic.
> Sometimes imiprimine + Xanax or Ativan works well too - in other words an AD + Anxiolytic.
>
> I tried xanax up to 2MG - too sedating.
> Valium up to 2MG - too sedating
> Klonopin up to 3 MG - too clumsy.
>
> Ativan at 3 - 5 MG daily is terrific but has to be learned to be managed. The Neuontin helps as I stated before, even a little for the depression. Throw celexa in at 5 -10 Mg and this seems to be the best so far.
>
> My anxiety disorder CAUSES my depression - not the other way around so I have experimented alot first with the benzos . Tell me more about your experience with what benzos and at what dosages.
> Thanks for sharing in advance..
>
> Alan
> **********************************
Posted by Greg on May 11, 2000, at 9:39:41
In reply to Re: To Greg Neurontin, posted by gloria on May 10, 2000, at 13:45:50
Gloria,
Sorry to take so long in responding, I needed to take some time to think about what my story is.I was in an abusive situation as a child, both mentally and physically. Three days after I was born my Mother gave me to my Grandparents to raise, she said " I just don't have time to raise another child", real nice huh? In the times she would keep me for a day or two, she would always take me to the bars with her (she was an alcoholic). She would introduce me to her bar buddies as her 8-year mistake. I was the result of a one-night stand and there is an 8-year difference between myself and my youngest sister. As you can guess my Mom and I were never close.
Being raised my my Grandparents was good and bad. My Grandma was the most loving and caring person I've ever met, and I've missed her so much since she died. My Grandpa however was VERY old-fashioned and took no crap from anyone. If I did anything that he perceived to be out of line, I got a beating. A yardstick, a belt, his hand, whatever suited him at the moment. My sisters, on the other hand, could do no wrong in his eyes. As you can imagine, I carry around a lot of baggage about all of this.
What got me to where I am now... I believe I've had depression for many years but never identified it. I suppressed my feelings because I was raised to believe that boys don't cry, and you NEVER discuss your feelings. What a load of crap, huh? I had lower back surgery (2 disks removed and a fusion done) in September of 1998. I've never been able to tolerate pain well and was in severe pain following the surgery for about a year. I was initialy (sp?) prescribed Vicodin and Soma, then was changed to Norco (Vicodin in its pure form) and Soma and eventually put on the Fentanyl patch (synthetic Morphine) along with the Norco and Soma. All of these being narcotics, It wasn't long before I was very addicted to them. After a year of this my health became so bad that I finally realized I was killing myself. I was so depressed that I lost the ability to function, I really just wanted to die. I had myself committed to a Detox facility where, thankfully, I was able to kick the narcotics. But after leaving Detox the depression was even worse than before, I was so fatigued that my wife would have to help me shower, I would go all day without eating as I didn't have the strength to cook for myself. I basically layed around all day doing absolutely nothing. Finally I was sent to a pdoc who initially dianosed me with clinical depression, although I've recently been "upgraded" to generalized depression, anxiety and mild panic disorder.
I currently take Wellbutrin, Xanax, Ambien, Neurontin (which I take for pain but has other medicinal effects) and Ribaxin. I tried Effexor but had severe memory loss with it and had to be taken off. My "med cocktail" (God, I love that expression) seems to be handling my depression, but my anxiety has been running rampant lately. The Xanax calms me down, but I'm really concerned about becoming addicted to it so I'm going to talk to my doc about some other options the next time I see him. I still get depressed some days, but its nothing like it was before. As you may have read from other posts, I am a recovering alcohlic (12 years sober). I'm still not sure whether I believe that alcohlism breeds depression, or vise-versa. But somehow I believe their connected, maybe the need to avoid dealing with life by self-medicating?
Well, thats basically it in a nutshell, I apologize for talking you ear off but once I get rolling I just ramble on. How is the Neurontin working out for you? I really hope its helping, but if not, remember that there are a lot of things out there to try and you WILL find something that works.
Probably much more than you wanted to know, huh?
Hugs,
Greg> >Hi Greg, well I had quite a lengthy post written but somewhere in trying to post it I lost connection so will have to go with a short version. Yes my panic attacks were severe. I was having them maybe twice a day and was becoming house bound from them. They started about 3 yrs ago, one day when I was just outside with my dog. It lasted for about 2 hrs and I ended up in emergency room and they ran all the EKG's and stuff and diagnosed it panic attacks. Put on Lanoxin for about a year (I know, why that but I was just beginning and stupid, I didn't know anything about panic attacks)after a year Lanoxin seemed to be causing more anxiety so was put on beta blocker which really stopped the cycle of the attacks for several months. I did not care for beta blockers as they slowed down my metabolism to much and I was trying to do some excersing to help keep weight dowm and just was not working out. Then I went to several SSRI's and all their side effects and decided no more of them either. But they did help to control panic attacks. Pdoc then put me on BuSpar since it had been several months without an attack and he didn't really know what else to try at that time. I like the BuSpar but I don't think or maybe I am just afraid it won't hold out or be strong enough. Now I went to see my regular doc the other day and laid it on the line that I could not afford a pdoc anymore and would she be willing to let me try some different meds within reason. After some searching and asking I wanted to start with Neurontin. I have a friend who has very good results with this for panic attacks and now just hoping I have the same luck. You said this seems a mild drug to you. I guess I felt just the opposite, I was scared to death to try it. Well that's it. Hope to hear from you again. Would like to hear your story. Gloria
Posted by laurai01 on May 19, 2001, at 12:59:20
In reply to Re: To Greg Neurontin, posted by Alan on May 10, 2000, at 19:44:52
> > > > >
> > > > > I am just starting Neurontin tonight,just 100mg, baby steps you know. A little uptight about it. Anybody have bad first side effects? Hope I don't have a panic attack as it has been months since I have had one. Just need a little reasurance. Gloria
> > > > >I am taking this for panic attacks along with Buspar. Doc said it might help restless leg syndrome too! Went ok last night. Feel a little anxious today, but probalbly just the thought of starting a new med. Hope it lifts my mood a little also. Don't like SSRI's at all. I will stay on the 100mg for this week and then maybe up it to 200mg next week. You guys say it makes you sleepy, does this go away. Thanks Gloria
> > >
> > > Gloria,
> > >
> > > It doesn't make me sleepy, just helps me to relax, but I am an insomniac and that may be the reason why. I'm sure the Neurontin is like most drugs, the longer you take them the more tolerance you build up. What specifically did the doctor prescribe the Neurontin for? Was it for the panic attacks? I'm curious because I'd be surprised that a doc would prescribe a relatively mild drug like Neurontin for something as severe as PA's (at least mine are severe). I'm certainly not a doctor and am not questioning his/her decision, just curious. I'm still learning.... :0) Hope you don't mind me asking.
> > >
> > > Greg
> >
> > >Hi Greg, well I had quite a lengthy post written but somewhere in trying to post it I lost connection so will have to go with a short version. Yes my panic attacks were severe. I was having them maybe twice a day and was becoming house bound from them. They started about 3 yrs ago, one day when I was just outside with my dog. It lasted for about 2 hrs and I ended up in emergency room and they ran all the EKG's and stuff and diagnosed it panic attacks. Put on Lanoxin for about a year (I know, why that but I was just beginning and stupid, I didn't know anything about panic attacks)after a year Lanoxin seemed to be causing more anxiety so was put on beta blocker which really stopped the cycle of the attacks for several months. I did not care for beta blockers as they slowed down my metabolism to much and I was trying to do some excersing to help keep weight dowm and just was not working out. Then I went to several SSRI's and all their side effects and decided no more of them either. But they did help to control panic attacks. Pdoc then put me on BuSpar since it had been several months without an attack and he didn't really know what else to try at that time. I like the BuSpar but I don't think or maybe I am just afraid it won't hold out or be strong enough. Now I went to see my regular doc the other day and laid it on the line that I could not afford a pdoc anymore and would she be willing to let me try some different meds within reason. After some searching and asking I wanted to start with Neurontin. I have a friend who has very good results with this for panic attacks and now just hoping I have the same luck. You said this seems a mild drug to you. I guess I felt just the opposite, I was scared to death to try it. Well that's it. Hope to hear from you again. Would like to hear your story. Gloria
> ***********************************
> Sorry to poke my nose into this but I have an anxiety disorder and have always thought that an anxiolytic like a benzo such as klonopin or shorter acting Ativan was just the thing for chronic anxiety disorders. Have you experienced these meds at all? Would like to know your experience if any with them. I use a combo of ativan and neurontin and they compliment each other very well - the neurontin stabilizing any temporary fluctuations of mood due to the benzo. fluctuating slightly in and out of my system.
> Alan
> ************************Greg,
For me, Neurontin has had terrible side effects.
I started out taking 300mg at night and the next day
i felt really depressed and lethargic. Also, all
the muscles in my head and neck were extremely
tensed and i was super-sensitive to sound. In all
my research I've never heard anyone talk about such
side effects so I think I am some kind of biochemical
freak. My cousin takes a lot more and she feels
NO side effects.It helped the anxiety and insomnia somewhat. I
am hoping it become a little more effective
over time.Good luck,
laura
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