![[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 jimmygold70 on February 27, 2001, at 18:38:41
Dear group memebers,
I have been suffering from Social Phobia and other anxiety disorders accompanied by mild Borderline Personality Disorder. Nothing seemed to help me - I tried each and every possible AD - except for benzodiazepines. However, they make me very forgetful and make my affect extremely flat, which makes them useless for a student who has to memorize a lot of stuff ant show some affection to people around him (-:
So, I was wondering if gabapentin (Neurontin) is as effective as clonazepam and alprazolam for anxiety, or somewhat less, without the abovementioned side effects...
Thanks for the cooperation !
Jimmy
Posted by SalArmy4me on February 27, 2001, at 20:54:34
In reply to gabapentin as effecitve as clonazepam/alprazolam ?, posted by jimmygold70 on February 27, 2001, at 18:38:41
Gabapentin has been studied repeatedly and thorougly for many different disorders, mostly mood-stability, but it is well known for its prominent anti-anxiety component. Among the published reports proving gabapentin's effectiveness are:
Chouinard G, et al.
Gabapentin: long-term antianxiety and hypnotic effects in psychiatric
patients with comorbid anxiety-related disorders.
Can J Psychiatry. 1998, 43, 305.
Blinder BJ, et al.
Advances in mood stabilizing medications.
West J Med. 1998, 169, 39-40.
Cabras PL, et al.
Clinical experience with gabapentin in patients with bipolar or schizo-
affective disorder:
results of an open-label study.
J Clin Psychiatry. 1999, 60, 245-248.Cramer JA, et al.
New antiepileptic drugs: comparison of key clinical trials.
Epilepsia. 1999, 40, 590-600. Review.Dimond KR, et al.
Effect of gabapentin (Neurontin) [corrected] on mood and well-being in
patients with epilepsy.
Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1996, 20, 407-417.
Dodrill CB, et al.
Cognitive abilities and adjustment with gabapentin: results of a multisite
study.
Epilepsy Res. 1999, 35, 109-121.Dopheide JA, et al.
Gabapentin and lamotrigine in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
J Am Pharm Assoc (Wash). 1998, 38, 632-634.
Dunn RT, et al.
The efficacy and use of anticonvulsants in mood disorders.
Clin Neuropharmacol. 1998, 21, 215-235. Review.
Erfurth A, et al.
An open label study of gabapentin in the treatment of acute mania.
J Psychiatr Res. 1998, 32, 261-264.
Ferrier IN.
Lamotrigine and gabapentin. Alternative in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
Neuropsychobiology. 1998, 38, 192-197. Review.
Freeman MP, et al.
Mood stabilizer combinations: a review of safety and efficacy.
Am J Psychiatry. 1998, 155, 12-21. Review.
Frye MA, et al.
Gabapentin does not alter single-dose lithium pharmacokinetics.
J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1998, 18, 461-464.
Ghaemi SN, et al.
Gabapentin treatment of mood disorderss: A preliminary study.
J Clin Psychiatry. 1998, 59, 426-429.Grunze H, et al.
[Gabapentin in the treatment of mania].
Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr. 1999, 67, 256-260. German.Harden CL, et al.
A beneficial effect on mood in partial epilepsy patients treated with
gabapentin.
Epilepsia. 1999, 40, 1129-1134.
Hardoy MC, et al.
Gabapentin as a promising treatment for antipsychotic-induced movement
disorders in schizoaffective
and bipolar patients.
J Affect Disord. 1999, 54, 315-317.Hatzimanolis J, et al.
Gabapentin as monotherapy in the treatment of acute mania.
European Neuropsychopharmacology. 1999, 9, 257-258.Keck PE Jr, et al.
Anticonvulsants and antipsychotics in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 1998, 59 (Suppl 60),74-81; discussion 82. Review.
Ketter TA, et al.
Positive psychiatric effects of antiepileptic drugs in
patients with seizure disorders.
Neurology. 1999, 53 (5 Suppl 2), S53-67. Review.Ketter TA, et al.
Metabolism and excretion of mood stabilizers and new anticonvulsants.
Cell Mol Neurobiol. 1999, 19, 511-532. ReviewKnoll J, et al.
Clinical experience using gabapentin adjunctively in patients with a
history of mania or hypomania.
Journal of Affective Disorders.. 1998, 49, 229-233.
Letterman L, et al.
Gabapentin: a review of published experience in the treatment of bipolar
disorder and other psychiatric conditions.
Pharmacotherapy. 1999, 19, 565-572. Review.Lovell RW.
Mood stabilizer combinations for bipolar disorder.
American Journal of Psychiatry. 1999, 156, 980-981.McElroy SL, et al.
A pilot trial of adjunctive gabapentin in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
Annals of Clinical Psychiatry. 1997, 9, 99-103.
Magnus L.
Nonepileptic uses of gabapentin.
Epilepsia 1999, 40 (suppl 6) S66-S72.Martin R, et al.
Cognitive effects of topiramate, gabapentin, and lamotrigine in healthy
young adults.
Neurology. 1999, 52, 321-327.
Mortimore C, et al.
Effects of gabapentin on cognition and quality of life in patients with
epilepsy.
Seizure. 1998, 7, 359-364.Pande AC, Davidson JR, Jefferson JW, et al.
Treatment of social phobia with gabapentin: a placebo-controlled
study.
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 1999, 19, 341-348.Perugi G, et al.
Clinical experience using adjunctive gabapentin in treatment-resistant
bipolar mixed states.
Pharmacopsychiatry. 1999, 32, 136-141.Post RM, et al.
A history of the use of anticonvulsants as mood stabilizers in the last
two decades of the 20th century.
Neuropsychobiology. 1998,38, 152-166.
Post RM, et al.
Beyond lithium in the treatment of bipolar illness.
Neuropsychopharmacology. 1998, 19, 206-219. Review.
Post RM.
Comparative pharmacology of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Schizophr Res. 1999, 39, 153-158; discussion 163.Ryback RS, et al.
Gabapentin in bipolar disorder.
J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1997, 9, 301.
Saletu B, et al.
Evaluation of encephalotropic and psychotropic properties of gabapentin
in man by pharmaco-EEG and psychometry.
Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol. 1986, 24, 362-373.
Schaffer CB, et al.
Gabapentin in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
Am J Psychiatry. 1997, 154, 291-292.
Sheldon LJ, et al.
Gabapentin in geriatric psychiatry patients.
Can J Psychiatry. 1998, 43, 422-423.
Soutullo CA, et al.
Gabapentin in the treatment of adolescent mania: a case report.
J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 1998, 8, 81-85.
Stanton SP, et al.
Treatment of acute mania with gabapentin.
Am J Psychiatry. 1997, 154, 287.
Thijs RD, et al.
The outcome of prescribing novel anticonvulsants in an outpatient setting:
factors affecting response to medication.
Seizure. 1998, 7, 379-383.
Walden J, et al.
[Value of old and new anticonvulsants in treatment of psychiatric diseases].
Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr. 1995, 63, 320-335. Review. German.
Walden J, et al.
[Predictors of response to phase prophylactics (mood stabilizers) in
bipolar affective disorders].
Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr. 1999, 67, 75-80. Review. German.
Young LT, et al.
Acute treatment of bipolar depression with gabapentin.
Biol Psychiatry. 1997, 42, 851-853. .
Young LT, et al.
Gabapentin as an adjunctive treatment in bipolar disorder.
J Affect Disord. 1999, 55, 73-77
Posted by judy1 on February 27, 2001, at 22:51:14
In reply to Gabapentin is a very viable option for you » jimmygold70, posted by SalArmy4me on February 27, 2001, at 20:54:34
Well I was impressed with the list of papers Sal printed, however neurontin did nothing for me- bipolar or panic disorders. It did have somewhat of a calming effect, but nowhere near that of klonopin. BTW I take 6mg of klonopin a day with no sedation or flattening effect. Any memory problems I have occur during depression and I tend to think my mood is the cause. Best of luck, Judy
Posted by jimmygold70 on February 28, 2001, at 9:24:07
In reply to Gabapentin is a very viable option for you » jimmygold70, posted by SalArmy4me on February 27, 2001, at 20:54:34
Thanks Sal4Army, but it still doesn't answer my question - how do they compare ? 'promenient','marked','potent' are beutiful words to desciribe a drug effect, but still a comparison with a more established therapy is needed. I am not intested in its anticonvulsant effect, only in the antianxiety component.
Jimmy
> Gabapentin has been studied repeatedly and thorougly for many different disorders, mostly mood-stability, but it is well known for its prominent anti-anxiety component. Among the published reports proving gabapentin's effectiveness are:
Posted by jimmygold70 on February 28, 2001, at 9:29:00
In reply to Re: Gabapentin is a very viable option for you, posted by judy1 on February 27, 2001, at 22:51:14
Its a pity that gabapentin doesn't compare to clonazepam in its antianxiety effect. I'll have to try it, tough. I have taken high doses of clonazepam, evcerything was all right except that it made me a 90-years old senile (-:
Hey, what about Zyprexa + Neurontin ? How can it compare in antianxiety effect with Benzodiazepines ?
> Well I was impressed with the list of papers Sal printed, however neurontin did nothing for me- bipolar or panic disorders. It did have somewhat of a calming effect, but nowhere near that of klonopin. BTW I take 6mg of klonopin a day with no sedation or flattening effect. Any memory problems I have occur during depression and I tend to think my mood is the cause. Best of luck, Judy
Posted by lois on February 28, 2001, at 18:48:34
In reply to gabapentin as effecitve as clonazepam/alprazolam ?, posted by jimmygold70 on February 27, 2001, at 18:38:41
> Jimmy,
I like gabapentin(neurontin), it helped me concentrate. After awhile it helped me go off ALL benzos!
It didn't help me with depression but did with phobia/anxiety,went off due to excessive sweating(not a common S.E.,I don't think).Now I am on Lamictal and need clonipin twice a day again and more sleep meds again.
Lois
Posted by jimmygold70 on March 1, 2001, at 8:32:57
In reply to Re: gabapentin as effecitve as clonazepam/alprazolam ?, posted by lois on February 28, 2001, at 18:48:34
How much did you take from Neurontin ? And what dose of benzodiazepines did it help you to get off from ? Which BDZ ?
Anyway, for which diagnosis did you take it ? Social Phobia ?
Jimmy
> > Jimmy,
> I like gabapentin(neurontin), it helped me concentrate. After awhile it helped me go off ALL benzos!
> It didn't help me with depression but did with phobia/anxiety,went off due to excessive sweating(not a common S.E.,I don't think).Now I am on Lamictal and need clonipin twice a day again and more sleep meds again.
> Lois
Posted by lois on March 1, 2001, at 9:25:06
In reply to Re: gabapentin as effecitve as clonazepam/alprazolam ? » lois, posted by jimmygold70 on March 1, 2001, at 8:32:57
>
> Anyway, for which diagnosis did you take it ? Social Phobia ?I think I was up to 900 mgs, and 1mg clonipin at sleep and 1mg at day, Helped with social, but I was tired.It took awhile to get off clonipin,I don't remember how long. I also am bipolar. Also took ativan as needed for panic attacks; about 0.25 mg melted under tongue worked more rapidly for panic, but didn't have to do this often,not a good habit to get in to, but didn't need ativan at all after a while.As I said though I needed AD's also.Paxil seemed to be more gentle as far as nervousness along with the neurontin.But I was tired,helped with sleep, Hope this helps.
Lois
Posted by bissie66 on March 1, 2001, at 14:11:36
In reply to gabapentin as effecitve as clonazepam/alprazolam ?, posted by jimmygold70 on February 27, 2001, at 18:38:41
> Dear group memebers,
>
> I have been suffering from Social Phobia and other anxiety disorders accompanied by mild Borderline Personality Disorder. Nothing seemed to help me - I tried each and every possible AD - except for benzodiazepines. However, they make me very forgetful and make my affect extremely flat, which makes them useless for a student who has to memorize a lot of stuff ant show some affection to people around him (-:
>
> So, I was wondering if gabapentin (Neurontin) is as effective as clonazepam and alprazolam for anxiety, or somewhat less, without the abovementioned side effects...
>
> Thanks for the cooperation !
> Jimmy
I take Neurontin 1200 mg. (300 mg. 4x a day). I also take Celexa 30 mg. My diagnosis is depression. My doctor prescribed it for my anxiety (a symptom of my depression), sleep problems (ditto), and mood swings (ditto). I like it very much. It has a very nice calming effect. I feel confident in social situations that used to make me very nervous.
Posted by jimmygold70 on March 1, 2001, at 19:49:35
In reply to Re: gabapentin as effecitve as clonazepam/alprazolam ?, posted by bissie66 on March 1, 2001, at 14:11:36
Did you try any benzodiazepine before that ?
I mean, can you tell if mianserin works as good as a BDZ or any stronger/weaker ?
Well, Celexa makes some people more confident (not me). Are you sure that confidence is coming from Neurontin ?Thanx,
Jimmy> I take Neurontin 1200 mg. (300 mg. 4x a day). I also take Celexa 30 mg. My diagnosis is depression. My doctor prescribed it for my anxiety (a symptom of my depression), sleep problems (ditto), and mood swings (ditto). I like it very much. It has a very nice calming effect. I feel confident in social situations that used to make me very nervous.
Posted by bissie66 on March 6, 2001, at 12:48:37
In reply to Re: gabapentin as effecitve as clonazepam/alprazolam ? » bissie66, posted by jimmygold70 on March 1, 2001, at 19:49:35
No, I never tried a benzo before Neurontin. I'm sure the Celexa is helping *somewhat* with confidence and social ease, but I was on Celexa alone for months and still felt anxiety -- then, with Neurontin, I just felt a new sense of calm and ease. And yes, confidence -- I remember sitting in a staff meeting and realizing I wasn't suffering from the usual anxiety that I was going to "get in trouble" at work. I had always felt I was doing something wrong and would get found out -- that I wasn't performing up to par. This time I noticed my attitude was, "i know I'm doing a grea job. I have nothing to fear. If they don't like me for some reason screw them; i can find another job". If you know what I mean.
> Did you try any benzodiazepine before that ?
> I mean, can you tell if mianserin works as good as a BDZ or any stronger/weaker ?
> Well, Celexa makes some people more confident (not me). Are you sure that confidence is coming from Neurontin ?
>
> Thanx,
> Jimmy
>
> > I take Neurontin 1200 mg. (300 mg. 4x a day). I also take Celexa 30 mg. My diagnosis is depression. My doctor prescribed it for my anxiety (a symptom of my depression), sleep problems (ditto), and mood swings (ditto). I like it very much. It has a very nice calming effect. I feel confident in social situations that used to make me very nervous.
Posted by jb on March 10, 2001, at 1:18:33
In reply to Re: gabapentin as effecitve as clonazepam/alprazolam ?, posted by bissie66 on March 6, 2001, at 12:48:37
Hi. I'm sure most of you are aware, by now, that Pfizer has given up on further testing of Gabapentin for social phobia. It is my understanding that only the higher dosages had some efficacy, but only a certain amount of Gabapentin could be absorbed by your body within 24 hours. Ergo, the reason for the tremendous push of Pregabalin. Pregablin is supposed to structurally very similar to Gabapentin, though much stronger. Extensive trials were underway for treating social phobia with Pregabalin. I understand, also, that it is being fast-tracked through Pfizer. My psychdoc felt that my body could not absorb sufficient quantity of Gabapentin, given its lower strength and relatively fast clearance, even at 3900 to 4800 mg/day.
John
Posted by jb on March 10, 2001, at 1:55:24
In reply to Still, how does gabapentin compare to BDZ ?, posted by jimmygold70 on February 28, 2001, at 9:24:07
For severe social phobia, I found Klonopin to be about a 9, on a 1 to 10 scale, with ten being most helpful. However, I, too, suffered from its side effects on cognition and memory. In fact, I felt it to be stupifying. I tried high dose Gabapentin for about 5 weeks, around 3900 mg/day. Didn't find that sufficent to treat my social phobia. I'd say it was about a 3 on a 1 to 10 scale.
JB
Posted by GreenP on July 5, 2010, at 16:37:16
In reply to Gabapentin is a very viable option for you » jimmygold70, posted by SalArmy4me on February 27, 2001, at 20:54:34
There is one benzo that works while you study, it's called Ativan. It worked really well for me, I could concentrate really easily, I wasn't tired or forgetful at all. The problem is that it is a benzo, so it's addictive and dangerous to take over long periods of time. Just thought I'd let you know.
P
Posted by iforgotmypassword on July 6, 2010, at 15:48:56
In reply to Re: Gabapentin is a very viable option for you, posted by GreenP on July 5, 2010, at 16:37:16
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.