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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by zotzo on November 12, 2011, at 10:50:11
Hello. I'm currently taking 150mg of Welbutrion and 1800mg (600mg 3x/day) of Gabapentin/Neurotin for ADD, Depression and Anxiety.
I recently moved and began seeing a new therapist. Before I was taking Vyvanse which was very effective for ADD but it only revved up my anxiety to a point where my wife wanted a divorce and I wanted to kill myself.
My new therapist and I made the following changes:
1. Replace Vyvanse with 150mg Welbutrion
2. We began doing cognetive worksheets
3. I began a running regiment
4. I began taking Neurotin and am at 1800mg/dayI'm three months into this and results and my marriage and my life are both happier. Welbutrion is effective but not as good at handling my ADD as Vyvanse. My depression is much better (I don't get as hopeless as I once did).
My anxiety is better but I don't think it's as good as can be. I'm really wondering if any positive outcomes of my anxiety are due to the excercises and welbutrion and not due to the neurotin.
For instance, some days I forget to take my afternoon dose of neurotin and I don't really seem to notice its abscence. There will be times when I am up on my dose and will still feel the panics and anxiety.
What really brought this into focus was on Halloween. I was feeling a lot of anxiety meeting my new neighbors and really noticed myself being panicky and nervous. So I started popping extra doses. In all I took 3 600mg pills over the course of an hour and felt a little better but, of course by then trick or treating was over.
These thoughts are making me think that Neurotin is not really helping me or not helping me as much as I would like.
Thank you for reading my thoughts. I would be eager to hear your thoughts and experiences with Neurotin or other anxiety drugs that you use.
Posted by floatingbridge on November 12, 2011, at 15:28:08
In reply to Neurontin Gabepentin Effectiveness for Anxiety, posted by zotzo on November 12, 2011, at 10:50:11
Gabapentin helps my anxiety. Of course I do not know your anxiety level. I currently take more than you, but not much more. If you are not feeling it cover your anxiety, you could request a bump up in dosage.
How do you take your doses?
You are doing cbt worksheets?
By the way, I cannot explain it in any coherent fashion, but Wikipedia on gabapentin can. Basically the more gabapentin one takes at once, the less your body actually absorbs. The body will excrete more all in one pass. More or less. So taking 1800mg on Halloween in about an hour does not equal taking the same amount spaced out across a day.
Posted by Phillipa on November 12, 2011, at 18:16:33
In reply to Re: Neurontin Gabepentin Effectiveness for Anxiety » zotzo, posted by floatingbridge on November 12, 2011, at 15:28:08
FB that sounds like calcium as example as body can only absorb so much at a time. Phillipa
Posted by zotzo on November 13, 2011, at 16:39:12
In reply to Re: Neurontin Gabepentin Effectiveness for Anxiety » zotzo, posted by floatingbridge on November 12, 2011, at 15:28:08
Thanks for your message. I clearly had no idea how gabapentin worked--I just assumed more = better. Your message gives me a helpful perspective.
I take a 600mg pill three times a day (morning, afternoon, bedtime).
I started doing the the Cbt sheets when I started therapy and stopped mostly due to a mix of forgetfulness and laziness. Recently after a panic attack last week.
Posted by floatingbridge on November 13, 2011, at 17:19:17
In reply to Re: Neurontin Gabepentin Effectiveness for Anxiety, posted by zotzo on November 13, 2011, at 16:39:12
Hi. Glad the info was helpful. I was thinking to add that gabapentin is not great for panic, at least in those acute stages. It's good for me for a daily base maintenance. I still carry Xanax just in case, but haven't had to use it since increasing my gabapentin to 2400mg, dosed at 600mg 4x daily.
I found the sheets difficult to do. They were helpful, though. Panic just stinks IMO.
Posted by willyee23 on November 14, 2011, at 14:00:22
In reply to Neurontin Gabepentin Effectiveness for Anxiety, posted by zotzo on November 12, 2011, at 10:50:11
Gabpentin is unique.Alone is seems useless.However in combo with a benzo,mainly klonopin for me it has a synergy that really seems to help hyper activity and anxiety.
For some reason i seem to only respond to A. the tablet form of it which comes only as the 600 mg dose or 800,i take a bite off it,as well as i dont seem to like nuerontin but rather the genric GABPENITN ONLY.
Posted by rjlockhart04-08 on November 14, 2011, at 23:54:15
In reply to Neurontin Gabepentin Effectiveness for Anxiety, posted by zotzo on November 12, 2011, at 10:50:11
Nuerontin acts like a nuerotransmitter very similar to GABA. I mean if you look at it "gabapentin". It does have antianxiety effects. I rerember taking it and it would calm me down. It doesnt have the same effects as benzos like xanax but it does increase the mood at times. I was on 2400mg at one time and then I went to Lyrica. You should try Lyrica. It has alot of antianxiety effects sometimes that are better than Nuerontin. It's a more potent form of Nuerontin, look it up all the medical websites say its linked to gabapentin but its more potent.
Posted by Phidippus on November 15, 2011, at 20:22:52
In reply to Neurontin Gabepentin Effectiveness for Anxiety, posted by zotzo on November 12, 2011, at 10:50:11
Wellbutrin is not considered an effective anxiolytic. It can help through its reuptake of norepinephrine, but that neurotransmitter is not the only implicated in anxiety. Seratonin levels are of more import, which makes me wonder why you're not on an SSRI or some other antidepressant that exerts effects on seratonin. Just a small note-Gabapentin has been shown to be very effective when ccombined with an SSRI.
The possibility exists that Gabapentin may not be effective for you.
Eric
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