![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by inanimate peanut on January 1, 2010, at 21:19:53
So, I'm thinking of trying it but apparently it's no better than placebo at treating bipolar disorder. I think, though, there are a few people on here that are on it and doing well, right? Who all is on it? Do any of you know others who are on it? What are your experiences? How soon did it start working? What are some side effects?
Posted by willey on January 2, 2010, at 6:12:05
In reply to Gabapentin (Neurontin), posted by inanimate peanut on January 1, 2010, at 21:19:53
When gabpentin,the generic name,first came out it was all the rage.Then the company got in some trouble for stating its usefulness.
What i find about gabentin i like is,
-- its generic finaly so very cheap.
-- Very large doses can be taken at night and u wont wake up high or groggy,its so mild there is no lethal dose established to my knowledge
things to know about the drug,
--- It is highly recomended not to be used monotheraly,rather as a add on drug to either potentiate depression,help with anxiet,or more popular help with bipolar.
The fact that its mild is great because it lets u take large doses,and also has a synergy with many other gaba meds.
As too your statment,none of them except a few i.e lithium are actual mood stablizers as the term is technialy only officaly established recently.
Way before then they were called this,while the entire class of them are actualy anti epiletic drugs.
Yess they are mentioned much with succes,but really how many are?
And yess they are said to the milder of the class,however for me the stronger ones which are depakote,and the like which are powerful and what u get from that is what ur seeking,mood stablization,a flat mood.
For me nuerontion works best at high tablet doses at night,and have a synergy with benzos.Then a following dose of mymorning meds always work beeter.
Gbabentin is disclaimed by some,but many use it because of its strong anxiety benifit,its ability to take at high doses,and its for some anti depressant effect.But compared to power meds like depakote no it can not stand in coomparsion,but strong mood stablizers can be strong enough to even ruin med for depression
note -- one article mad me kinda get the big picture,the doc writing it states this,"aeds are not mood stablizers,they are instead anti epilectic medication,powerful anti seizure drugs,which are strong cns depressants,powerful so much that even patients on them not depressed in any way are forewarned that the drug for their seizures can cause depression and sucicdeal ideation."
Picking a aed is hard,u want a strong one but u dont want to be brain dead,u want one that offers some anti depressant effect,but they are too weak to be affective,its a rough job,esepcialy since u now have anti pyshotics joining in on the issue.Personaly klonopin for example is listed as a mood stablizer,and benzso due actualy stop my rage better then anything of yet,i just luckly have to meds,klonopin & gabentin that for me have some form of a synergy
Posted by bulldog2 on January 2, 2010, at 8:40:36
In reply to Gabapentin (Neurontin), posted by inanimate peanut on January 1, 2010, at 21:19:53
> So, I'm thinking of trying it but apparently it's no better than placebo at treating bipolar disorder. I think, though, there are a few people on here that are on it and doing well, right? Who all is on it? Do any of you know others who are on it? What are your experiences? How soon did it start working? What are some side effects?
I do not take it as a mood stabilizer. I use it for anxiety and depression. It also makes me more sociable as I am reclusive by nature.
Posted by mtdewcmu on January 2, 2010, at 12:38:47
In reply to Gabapentin (Neurontin), posted by inanimate peanut on January 1, 2010, at 21:19:53
I got my doctor to prescribe me some Neurontin for agitation caused by SSRIs. Its effects are pleasant, but so subtle that you can forget whether you took it and it's impossible to tell. It's not habit forming. I don't even think of taking it unless I am feeling bad. It seems pretty strong your first time taking it, but later the effects become much more subtle. It is so subtle, in fact, that it might be a complete waste of time. But it's cheap and easy to get prescribed, so there's not much reason not to try it.
Posted by Phillipa on January 2, 2010, at 12:39:34
In reply to Re: Gabapentin (Neurontin), posted by bulldog2 on January 2, 2010, at 8:40:36
Wouldn't benzos do that if not tolerant after many years use? Or CBT? Phillipa
Posted by bulldog2 on January 2, 2010, at 14:32:26
In reply to Re: Gabapentin (Neurontin), posted by mtdewcmu on January 2, 2010, at 12:38:47
> I got my doctor to prescribe me some Neurontin for agitation caused by SSRIs. Its effects are pleasant, but so subtle that you can forget whether you took it and it's impossible to tell. It's not habit forming. I don't even think of taking it unless I am feeling bad. It seems pretty strong your first time taking it, but later the effects become much more subtle. It is so subtle, in fact, that it might be a complete waste of time. But it's cheap and easy to get prescribed, so there's not much reason not to try it.
Yes subtle but I know if I haven't taken it. When I take it I enjoy talking to people without it I just don't enjoy things as much.
Posted by bulldog2 on January 2, 2010, at 14:37:27
In reply to Re: Gabapentin (Neurontin) » bulldog2, posted by Phillipa on January 2, 2010, at 12:39:34
> Wouldn't benzos do that if not tolerant after many years use? Or CBT? Phillipa
Benzos work on anxiety but too much can also cause depression. CBT makes me feel better in therapy but doesn't last long.
For me gabapentin is a mood brightener and much different than a benzo. When my mood brightens anxiety is much less and depression is much less. Just a different kind of drug.
Posted by willey on January 2, 2010, at 15:58:39
In reply to Re: Gabapentin (Neurontin), posted by bulldog2 on January 2, 2010, at 8:40:36
I think you mentioned it,some things that i found synerdize with it all almost destroying anxiety is first and i saw u know this already,some klonopin,.....second im finding new scuccess with a med called camprel,look up its method of action not its reason for use,and last what i used to use that worked wonders in snyergy was ghb.
Because of gabpentins indirect effect of creating more gaba,light dopamine meds also work well in conjuction,meds like modfanil,liquid deprenyl for example and parnate non co comoment.
Posted by bulldog2 on January 2, 2010, at 17:08:01
In reply to Re: Gabapentin (Neurontin), posted by willey on January 2, 2010, at 15:58:39
> I think you mentioned it,some things that i found synerdize with it all almost destroying anxiety is first and i saw u know this already,some klonopin,.....second im finding new scuccess with a med called camprel,look up its method of action not its reason for use,and last what i used to use that worked wonders in snyergy was ghb.
>
> Because of gabpentins indirect effect of creating more gaba,light dopamine meds also work well in conjuction,meds like modfanil,liquid deprenyl for example and parnate non co comoment.
>
>Why parnate no comment? I found that taking parnate and high dose gabapentin (800 * 3) seemed to cancel the gabapentin out?
But gabapentin works well with deprenyl?
Posted by willey on January 2, 2010, at 22:58:53
In reply to Re: Gabapentin (Neurontin), posted by bulldog2 on January 2, 2010, at 17:08:01
No im just speaking with the understanding that most people wont have parnate as a option.
But yess liquid deprenyl,not the tabs seem to have a synergy,modfanil also as i stated also did.
LOL seems like we have a similiar social anxiety like issue,if it werent such a crappy thing to have id say cool!
Posted by Maxime on January 3, 2010, at 12:27:07
In reply to Gabapentin (Neurontin), posted by inanimate peanut on January 1, 2010, at 21:19:53
I hear it's good for anxiety. I was on it once and made me all floaty which was a weird feeling. I had to go off it because it have me very bad edema in my legs. But you should try it ... it may be for you!
Posted by inanimate peanut on January 3, 2010, at 13:08:07
In reply to Re: Gabapentin (Neurontin) » inanimate peanut, posted by Maxime on January 3, 2010, at 12:27:07
Anxiety isn't really an issue for me (luckily). I hope it would still work for the depression part.
Posted by AdamCanada2 on January 5, 2010, at 18:22:08
In reply to Gabapentin (Neurontin), posted by inanimate peanut on January 1, 2010, at 21:19:53
Gabapentin 200-300mg works remarkably well for me but if taken too often I notice it develops tolerance and almost feels like it dulls me out at that point. After a week break I started again and I was amazed at how social I became.That's how it has worked for me. Very quick effect within 30 mins I believe? I become a lot more social and helps with social anxiety etc. Also seems to help for drive and motivation to an extent.
Because of Gaba I rekindled an old friendship with a girl whom I haven't spoken to in a long time. Now after some days it doesn't have as much effect.
Could be great for people on an as-needed basis. Like if someone is depressed and unsure about going to a party or event I could see this really making them go and enjoy themselves.
> So, I'm thinking of trying it but apparently it's no better than placebo at treating bipolar disorder. I think, though, there are a few people on here that are on it and doing well, right? Who all is on it? Do any of you know others who are on it? What are your experiences? How soon did it start working? What are some side effects?
Posted by Sigismund on January 5, 2010, at 21:29:54
In reply to My Gabapentin Experience, posted by AdamCanada2 on January 5, 2010, at 18:22:08
How does it compare to Lyrica?
Posted by casse on January 7, 2010, at 11:01:30
In reply to Gabapentin or Lyrica?, posted by Sigismund on January 5, 2010, at 21:29:54
I've taken both gabapentin and Lyrica. They both caused me to feel really spacey at first.
I found that the gabapentin made me feel a lot better at first. I started out taking about 600 mg a day. But after 3 months it didn't seem to help anymore. By then I was up to 2400 mg a day. I stopped taking it regularly because I gained 20 lbs. in those 3 months.
I still take it occasionally if I am in a lot of pain ( nerve irritation )and can't sleep. From what I've read about it, it seems very safe. My Dr. was willing to prescribe up to 3600 mg a day.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.