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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sar on December 4, 2001, at 21:33:56
hello all,
i've been on neurontin for several months (titrated up to 1800 mgs). saw the pdoc today and he said that because i've continued to drink, and because "gabapentin has proved rather ineffective anyhow," he would not renew my scrip. i argued with him that this is a precarious (read: suicidal) time in my life and to take the neurontin away would be like pulling the rug out from under my feet. he suggested that i come to a meeting of pdocs and patients in which they discussed the chemistry and effectiveness of meds. he does not seem to have much hope in neurontin, so i can't figure out why he prescribed it in the first place.
this is a pdoc i see at a free city clinic so i'll not have an opportunity to see a different one for 2 months.
will i have any side-effects coming off neurontin? should i even finish off what i have right now, taper down, etc? i'm pretty upset that he's taking me off it, though i never felt any improvement with it. i am just afraid of ill withdrawal effects.
thanks,
sar
Posted by wendy b. on December 4, 2001, at 22:47:31
In reply to neurontin taken away, posted by sar on December 4, 2001, at 21:33:56
Sar,
I'm sorry, but jesus, what a f___ing idiot... You don't just merrily prescribe something as potent as Neurontin and then just off the cuff kind of take someone off it. Especially someone in your position, someone who is suicidal fairly frequently. Tell the jerk to learn more about a drug before he prescribes it. Free clinic be damned. Take printouts from the pages on depression central, or something. If Neurontin has been working for you, then he's doing you a major disservice and you have to go somewhere else. The only thing we know FOR SURE about reactions to psych-chemicals are the individual's reactions to them. If it relieves the symptom it's being prescribed for, then yeah, it's working. I know drinking on it isn't good, but they *don't know* about the pharmacological reactions Neurontin and alcohol can have on one another yet, and don't believe them if they say they do. For god's sake, they don't even know how Neurontin works on the brain to stabilize moods, how can they know what the efects of drinking are on it? My pdoc is saying this about weed, too. We had a thread going on here about it, Mitchell's posts were nice... he said it has more to do with the judgemental attitudes and conventional morality of the prescribing community, than their "Weird Science." The patronizing, "We're just doing this for your own good," was also said to Frances when she got her lobotomy. So go figure.
I'm still on a high dose of Neurontin (3600mg per day). When I went out of town in the summer and ran out, I was very nervous and shakey, the anxiety-reducing properties are real for me. But I was only out for about 2 days. I didn't like how I felt. You should not have to suffer needlessly... Go back and argue again, and let me know if you do and what happens.
much love,
W.
> hello all,
>
> i've been on neurontin for several months (titrated up to 1800 mgs). saw the pdoc today and he said that because i've continued to drink, and because "gabapentin has proved rather ineffective anyhow," he would not renew my scrip. i argued with him that this is a precarious (read: suicidal) time in my life and to take the neurontin away would be like pulling the rug out from under my feet. he suggested that i come to a meeting of pdocs and patients in which they discussed the chemistry and effectiveness of meds. he does not seem to have much hope in neurontin, so i can't figure out why he prescribed it in the first place.
>
> this is a pdoc i see at a free city clinic so i'll not have an opportunity to see a different one for 2 months.
>
> will i have any side-effects coming off neurontin? should i even finish off what i have right now, taper down, etc? i'm pretty upset that he's taking me off it, though i never felt any improvement with it. i am just afraid of ill withdrawal effects.
>
> thanks,
> sar
Posted by Twain on December 5, 2001, at 8:53:14
In reply to neurontin taken away, posted by sar on December 4, 2001, at 21:33:56
Hi,Since neurotin is an anit-convulsant, isn't there a seizure risk if it is withdrawn suddenly?
You might mention this concern to your doc.
I went through neurotin withdrawal and it wasn't fun. Fortunately it only lasted about 4-5 days and not as severe as benzo withdrawal - by a long shot.
This doc should be reported to the authorities - could be state-level. Can't remember what it's called. I had a pdoc prescribe herbal tea when I ran out of librium. I told another doc who reported it and the pdoc took alot of heat.
best wishes
Posted by Greg on December 5, 2001, at 9:06:51
In reply to neurontin taken away, posted by sar on December 4, 2001, at 21:33:56
hi sar,
Sorry your having this problem with your pdoc. If it helps, there was a thread here a few months back about Neurontin withdrawal. The poster got about a half dozen responses, including mine. All of us had stopped the Neu cold turkey with no WD symptoms. I was up to 1200 mgs, I believe someone else was as high as 2400 a day. You should probably go ahead and titrate down slowly just to be safe, but I don't think you'll have a problem.
Remember this is just my experience and what I've read here and you should contact your doc with any concerns that you have to be safe. I'm definitely no expert.
Good luck,
Greg> hello all,
>
> i've been on neurontin for several months (titrated up to 1800 mgs). saw the pdoc today and he said that because i've continued to drink, and because "gabapentin has proved rather ineffective anyhow," he would not renew my scrip. i argued with him that this is a precarious (read: suicidal) time in my life and to take the neurontin away would be like pulling the rug out from under my feet. he suggested that i come to a meeting of pdocs and patients in which they discussed the chemistry and effectiveness of meds. he does not seem to have much hope in neurontin, so i can't figure out why he prescribed it in the first place.
>
> this is a pdoc i see at a free city clinic so i'll not have an opportunity to see a different one for 2 months.
>
> will i have any side-effects coming off neurontin? should i even finish off what i have right now, taper down, etc? i'm pretty upset that he's taking me off it, though i never felt any improvement with it. i am just afraid of ill withdrawal effects.
>
> thanks,
> sar
Posted by leonard60 on December 5, 2001, at 10:18:16
In reply to Re: neurontin taken away » sar, posted by Greg on December 5, 2001, at 9:06:51
I stoped taking neurontin (2100 mg) cold turkey
and did not have any problem. if it does not work'
for you I dont see any reason you still
want to take it any way.
Posted by JohnDoenut on December 5, 2001, at 10:30:22
In reply to neurontin taken away, posted by leonard60 on December 5, 2001, at 10:18:16
There were two discussions about this in last weeks posting period.
I think you should titrate down slowly if possible. Better.
Also as far as my own experience goes, Neurontin accentuates the affect of alcohol. YMMV.
Sorry to hear all this.
Report the bastid!
Posted by ivoovi on December 5, 2001, at 12:49:34
In reply to Re: neurontin taken away, posted by JohnDoenut on December 5, 2001, at 10:30:22
What does YMMV mean, JohnDoeNut?
Posted by Neal on December 6, 2001, at 1:05:29
In reply to Re: neurontin taken away JohnDoeNut, posted by ivoovi on December 5, 2001, at 12:49:34
.
Posted by wendy b. on December 8, 2001, at 10:49:41
In reply to neurontin taken away, posted by sar on December 4, 2001, at 21:33:56
Sar,
Any news about this? Sorry about the previous post on this thread, I was so mad... It's one of my 'issues.' You understand... I'm on the Neurontin, as you know, and feel protective where you're concerned. I hope you haven't had to stop, especially if it was helping you...
love,
W.
Posted by sar on December 10, 2001, at 12:34:47
In reply to Re: neurontin taken away » sar, posted by wendy b. on December 8, 2001, at 10:49:41
> Sar,
>
> Any news about this? Sorry about the previous post on this thread, I was so mad... It's one of my 'issues.' You understand... I'm on the Neurontin, as you know, and feel protective where you're concerned. I hope you haven't had to stop, especially if it was helping you...
>
Wendy (and everyone else who responded),thanks for the input. sorry to reply a little late, but my internet-access time has been limited in the past couple of weeks (computer is in married couple's bedroom). i still have a fair amount of neurontin left, along with one refill. i did complain to the clinic about this doctor...i don't think much will happen. i suspect that these free docs are allowed to get away with much more b*llsh*t than the others.
the doc said he had done me a "favor" by prescribing neurontin but he doesn't really believe in it and has taken 30 or 40 people off of it. i was really taken aback by his shortness; he told me to get out of the room, he had other things to do, and my histrionicism kicked in, tears fell, and i said "i hope you remember this." then i went and saw his supervisor, who turned out to be a very good guy and said that i could switch docs.
*however,* i am moving in less than a week, the'll have to transfer mt case to a new city, so i'll be getting a new pdoc no matter what. :)
p.s. he did increase my lamictal, and it's a good feeling.
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