Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 64752

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Neurontin replacing other medication/side effects

Posted by nike on May 30, 2001, at 13:46:43

Hello!

I wonder if you could give me some tips about and experiences of medication.I´m a swedish 34-year old woman. Anorexia-bulimia since age of 18. Got rid of this behaviour through 2 years of psychotherapy which I started 7 years ago. Instead of the eating disorder I insted got obsessive thoughts about blood- and sex transferred diseases. Mostly about HIV, but also about hepatitis. (Not very strange. At the time working in an infection ward and still with the very strong need of control.) Still I also had a quite impulsive behaviour and my mood was very instable.
4 years ago I had a manic psychosis mainly triggererd by a separation. I got diagnosed as a "cycloid psychoses" due to the character of the psychosis. My doctor, at that time, treated me with Fluanxol, benzodiazepines (Sobril), Lithium and Zoloft (to decrease my obsessive thougts). I haven´t had more than this single psychosis, but my obsessive thoughts was very strong and affected my life very negatively. 2 years ago I (not satisfied with the diagnosis ("cycloid psychosis”) went to another psychiatrist that now is my doctor. He prescribed cognintive therapy, put away the Litium, the Zoloft and changed benzodiazepines (Sobril) to Xanax. I have had a very good effect from this cognintive therapy. My problems with obsessive thoughts are now much more manageable. I´ve also got much better control of my impulsivity. For two years now I´ve been on 1 mg Fluanxol, 6 mg Xanax and 10 mg Stilnoct and cognitive therapy, and have been doing fairly well. I´ve now been diagnosed as a person with a slight borderline personality, rapid cycler, GAD and extereme sensitiveness.

At the moment I´m separating from my husband and I´m under very much pressure. My doctor 3 months ago added 25 mg Zoloft, to normalize my stress tolerance. That worked quite well for a while. Now I´ve had sleeping problems, restlessness and hypomania for three weeks. He now (probably because he he want´s to avoid a new psychosis) increased Zoloft to 50 mg and ordered 800 mg of Neurontin. He told me that he had in view that Neurotonin in the future may be able to replace all other medications.

Now, to my main problem. Zoloft has always caused me anorgasm. I also read, somewhere on this site, that there are two reports written on anorgasm due to Neurontin. What is your experience from this side effect from Neurontin? Is anorgasm (or any other sexually related side effects common during treatment with Neurontin). Since I now use both preparates it´s difficult to tell which of them causes anorgasm (I personally think that it´s caused by Zoloft), or maybe it´s both. I really would like to quit with Zoloft to try it out. Mayby this situation with so much psychologigal stress is not a good time to do it. But on the other hand anorgasm effects me extremely negatively. It makes me sorry, depressed and anxious. I also need the relaxing effect of the orgasm when i masturbate. Neurotonin also causes me a slight incontinenece.

What would you suggest? As far as I know all SSRI preparates have this side effect, more or less. Is ther any other preparate that might be good (and not causing anorgasm) to use in combination with Neurontin in this very trying situation, or do you think I might do well without Zoloft after all?

What side effects have you experienced due to Neurontin? My psychiatrist told me that the side effects will stop after a few weeks, when the body gets used to the substance gabapentin. What are your experiences?

I would be very grateful for answers.

/nike

 

Re: Neurontin replacing other medication/side effects » nike

Posted by SalArmy4me on June 1, 2001, at 11:42:06

In reply to Neurontin replacing other medication/side effects, posted by nike on May 30, 2001, at 13:46:43

Your gabapentin is being used all over to treat chronic pain, restless legs syndrome, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders (1). It may even be enough to cover for the Zoloft. The side-effects are minimal, and you will develop a tolerance quickly.
Gabapentin has no known abuse potential, has few side effects, does not require blood monitoring, and does not affect liver metabolism or the excretion of other medications (2). The mechanism of action for gabapentin is unknown. It may influence the synthesis of GABA and glutamate. These systems are known to modulate anxiety, arousal, and sleep. Gabapentin may also increase deep sleep(stages 3 and 4) by increasing serotonin levels.

Pollack MH, Matthews J, Scott EL: Gabapentin as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders. Am J Psychiatry 1998; 155:992-993
Beydoun A, Uthman BM, Sackellares JC: Gabapentin: pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety. Clin Neuropharmacol 1995; 18:469-481

 

Re: Neurontin replacing other medication/side effects » nike

Posted by vince on June 4, 2001, at 23:46:42

In reply to Neurontin replacing other medication/side effects, posted by nike on May 30, 2001, at 13:46:43

Nike, I was on Neurontin until just recently. I didn't have any sexual dysfunction problems until I added in prozac.

Now I've dropped neurontin. I was starting to here noises that weren't there, a sound like flies buzzing around the room. I knew that it wasn't real but it was annoying. My pdoc said It was an indication of hypomania or mixed state like in bipolar II. I was having real bad suicidal lows and then the low would let up. I wouldn't get manic I'ld just feel some relief from the terrible low phase but I would still feel immotionally flat. I've been having ruminating or obsessive thoughts that drive me crazy also. The Neurontin nor the Prozac helped all that much.

I started on Geodon (Ziprasidone) a few days ago, but unfortunatly my pdoc wanted me to stay on the Prozac for a while. So no sex for me, and my wife isn't too happy either. I'm only on 40 mg bid right now, but already I've quit having sucidal desires and the obsessive thoughts have started to deminish. My pdoc thinks Geodon is a great new drug for bipolar II / rapid cycling / mixed states kind of symptoms. There are also some recent posts here that talk about how good Geodon/Ziprasidone is for bipolar and rapid cycling.
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010522/msgs/64267.html

Best wishes in finding the meds that help you the most.

Vince


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