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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 floatingbridge on September 26, 2011, at 15:59:44
Honestly, I am typing with my right hand while my left hand's first two fingers are crossed. No jinxes!
But this is what has shaken out and stuck to date.
Emsam 9mg (may go to 12mg because I take it off for sleep and to help with pain and fatigue.)
Risperidone .5mg nightly for a few months.
Xanax XR maybe only .5 mg nightly. I asked about reducing it today, so he is helping (not pushing :) ) me. Nothing like feeling a full-on Xanax withdrawal to motivate one to get the heck off.
Gabapentin 600mg nightly. (The gabapentin may increase as the benzos go down and also for pain. It really takes such an edge off pain. I am beginning to feel more human.)
Tenazapam nightly as needed. I take as little as possible.
We may go to ambien and gabapentin soon, because sleep onset is still an issues. However, so far, (oooops. had to recross fingers) I have been with a few exceptions, staying asleep.
Right now, that's enough changes. I see him in about ten days.
The gabapentin seems to just make everything fall into place and might be the help I need in reducing my benzo usage,
something I have wanted to personally accomplish for a long time.It is all always pending....
Posted by zonked on September 26, 2011, at 16:08:40
In reply to My meds might be in place, posted by floatingbridge on September 26, 2011, at 15:59:44
Phew, it's about time!
> Honestly, I am typing with my right hand while my left hand's first two fingers are crossed. No jinxes!
>
> But this is what has shaken out and stuck to date.
>
> Emsam 9mg (may go to 12mg because I take it off for sleep and to help with pain and fatigue.)
>
> Risperidone .5mg nightly for a few months.
>
> Xanax XR maybe only .5 mg nightly. I asked about reducing it today, so he is helping (not pushing :) ) me. Nothing like feeling a full-on Xanax withdrawal to motivate one to get the heck off.
>
> Gabapentin 600mg nightly. (The gabapentin may increase as the benzos go down and also for pain. It really takes such an edge off pain. I am beginning to feel more human.)
>
> Tenazapam nightly as needed. I take as little as possible.
>
> We may go to ambien and gabapentin soon, because sleep onset is still an issues. However, so far, (oooops. had to recross fingers) I have been with a few exceptions, staying asleep.
>
> Right now, that's enough changes. I see him in about ten days.
>
> The gabapentin seems to just make everything fall into place and might be the help I need in reducing my benzo usage,
> something I have wanted to personally accomplish for a long time.
>
> It is all always pending....
Posted by sigismund on September 26, 2011, at 17:03:50
In reply to My meds might be in place, posted by floatingbridge on September 26, 2011, at 15:59:44
Gabapentin is better than benzos for pain and sleep, but has dependency issues of its own I suppose.
If you are only taking 600mg for sleep, that should be OK.
Posted by floatingbridge on September 26, 2011, at 17:15:12
In reply to Re: My meds might be in place, posted by sigismund on September 26, 2011, at 17:03:50
> Gabapentin is better than benzos for pain and sleep, but has dependency issues of its own I suppose.
>
> If you are only taking 600mg for sleep, that should be OK.Well, I figured if it felt good, something was bound to be problematic.
However, and please, someone tell me that gabapentin withdrawal is not the hell of Xanax withdrawal.
Posted by sigismund on September 26, 2011, at 17:26:43
In reply to Re: My meds might be in place, posted by floatingbridge on September 26, 2011, at 17:15:12
Well, I dunno, they have labels which say not to stop it quickly.
I am uncomfortable when I see people taking thousands of milligrams of it every day.
That would have to be hard to stop.
But I have taken 600mg a day for extended periods and didn't feel horribly hooked or anything.
Posted by Phillipa on September 26, 2011, at 17:51:40
In reply to Re: My meds might be in place, posted by sigismund on September 26, 2011, at 17:26:43
Congrats sounds like you have struck gold. Hummm heard neurotin is great for anxiety didn't know about it helping pain. Fabulous. Think the pain is decreasing as the depression is being dealt with and also the sleep? Love Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on September 26, 2011, at 17:51:57
In reply to Re: My meds might be in place, posted by sigismund on September 26, 2011, at 17:26:43
My personal cognition could not survive thousands per day.
The doc mentioned in passing about taking a bit during the day. Umm. No. Not at this point.
But I feel it pain-wise flat out wear off by the early evening. That's very ouchy.
What is wonderful was how I went from 1mg Xanax XR every twelve hours to 1mg at night so comfortably. Before the
gabapentin, I had decreased through sheer grit. I would try not to watch the clock from about 3:00 p.m. onwards until my evening dose. Now I have only been taking my nightly 1mg because I was afraid of invoking some dependence thing.I'll see how the .5mg works out. I am scripted .5 twice daily just in case needed.
Posted by floatingbridge on September 26, 2011, at 17:57:29
In reply to Re: My meds might be in place, posted by Phillipa on September 26, 2011, at 17:51:40
> Congrats sounds like you have struck gold. Hummm heard neurotin is great for anxiety didn't know about it helping pain. Fabulous. Think the pain is decreasing as the depression is being dealt with and also the sleep? Love Phillipa
Phillipa, I read it helps about one out of three with pain. That was just one source somewhere. But, oddly, lyrica did not help pain. But I was on too many meds then.
It's great for my anxiety. I think that's off label usage. Not sure. Doesn't work for everyone, nor, I think at my current dose.
I am hoping I don't experience too much tolerance.
Posted by Dinah on September 26, 2011, at 19:25:58
In reply to My meds might be in place, posted by floatingbridge on September 26, 2011, at 15:59:44
Posted by emmanuel98 on September 26, 2011, at 20:51:31
In reply to My meds might be in place, posted by floatingbridge on September 26, 2011, at 15:59:44
This is such great news, fb. Keep on trucking!
Posted by floatingbridge on September 26, 2011, at 21:49:48
In reply to My meds might be in place, posted by floatingbridge on September 26, 2011, at 15:59:44
Posted by FrustratedMama on September 26, 2011, at 23:53:52
In reply to Re: My meds might be in place, posted by floatingbridge on September 26, 2011, at 17:15:12
I withdrew from gabapentin without too much difficulty- :)
Posted by mellow on September 28, 2011, at 21:37:15
In reply to My meds might be in place, posted by floatingbridge on September 26, 2011, at 15:59:44
really happy for you!
Posted by floatingbridge on September 28, 2011, at 21:44:47
In reply to Re: My meds might be in place » floatingbridge, posted by mellow on September 28, 2011, at 21:37:15
Hey mellow, thanks. Nice to see you :-)
This is the end of the thread.
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