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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Nickengland on April 15, 2005, at 14:32:08
Hello to anyone that can help : )
Im considering trying this drug for helping me with anxiety and as a mood stabiliser as im bipolar. (want to use it more for the anxiety as i am already on tegretol as main mood stabiliser)
The thing that concerns me, and what id like to find out about is, how much of neurontin/gabapentin works as an anti-depressant???
I really want to stay away from anything that can push my mood up or work in the same way as an anti depressant does - this just makes my overall condition worse.
I just want something a little extra to target my anixety - but if the neurontin works like an anti depressant too....then its a no no and I won't bother at all with it.
Many thanks to anyone who can advise me on their experiences of Neurontin/Gabapentin.
Ps. Benzo's aren't an option : ( I see the psychiatrist in 4 days to request drug changes...
Kind regards,
Nick
Posted by PM80 on April 15, 2005, at 14:51:34
In reply to Gabapentin/Neurontin Advice, posted by Nickengland on April 15, 2005, at 14:32:08
Ok, this is a bit different than what you asked, but Depakote (which I think is similar to Neurontin, but I'm not sure) has definitely worked as an antidepressant for me - seriously, a significant difference even at a low dose of 500mg/day. I also take Seroquel, which I was on first, to help with the highs(anxiety, hypomania), but it left all my lows. I now take 750mg/day Depakote and I love it. My doc said that she has found more patients on which it works as an antidepressant than as an anti-manic. It may have a typical mood-stabilizer label (although it works differently than lithium), but I would definitely recommend asking your doc about it as an AD.
Posted by banga on April 15, 2005, at 16:36:18
In reply to Re: Gabapentin/Neurontin Advice, posted by PM80 on April 15, 2005, at 14:51:34
I know someone who says she did quite well on neurontin. She is Bipolar I and spends most of her time (if not on meds) in the more "up" and anxious area than in depression. And she did not express problems feeling her hypomania being exascerbated by the neurontin. All in all, it is more of a calming agent.
Posted by Ritch on April 16, 2005, at 11:21:37
In reply to Gabapentin/Neurontin Advice, posted by Nickengland on April 15, 2005, at 14:32:08
> Hello to anyone that can help : )
>
> Im considering trying this drug for helping me with anxiety and as a mood stabiliser as im bipolar. (want to use it more for the anxiety as i am already on tegretol as main mood stabiliser)
>
> The thing that concerns me, and what id like to find out about is, how much of neurontin/gabapentin works as an anti-depressant???
>
> I really want to stay away from anything that can push my mood up or work in the same way as an anti depressant does - this just makes my overall condition worse.
>
> I just want something a little extra to target my anixety - but if the neurontin works like an anti depressant too....then its a no no and I won't bother at all with it.
>
> Many thanks to anyone who can advise me on their experiences of Neurontin/Gabapentin.
>
> Ps. Benzo's aren't an option : ( I see the psychiatrist in 4 days to request drug changes...
>
> Kind regards,
>
> NickHi, I think it is a good idea to try. When I go through seasonal bipolar depressions, sometimes I will restart Neurontin (with my Depakote) at a low dose for a few days and it really helps with the anxious depressive mix of symptoms. My pdoc generally wants to avoid it however, because it *does* tend to trigger some mild hypomania with me. But, I've never gotten dysphoric symptoms associated with that, and it's been a benign event overall. What it seems to work on the best during BP depression for me is the angst/despair/gloom-doom feelings. It especially seems to work well with Depakote. I tried it with Trileptal before and it worked rather well too, but T. made me too nauseous. I'm one of those folks that can't tolerate Trileptal unfortunately. I hope this helps some.--Mitch
Posted by Nickengland on April 16, 2005, at 12:22:46
In reply to Re: Gabapentin/Neurontin Advice, posted by PM80 on April 15, 2005, at 14:51:34
> Ok, this is a bit different than what you asked, but Depakote (which I think is similar to Neurontin, but I'm not sure) has definitely worked as an antidepressant for me - seriously, a significant difference even at a low dose of 500mg/day. I also take Seroquel, which I was on first, to help with the highs(anxiety, hypomania), but it left all my lows. I now take 750mg/day Depakote and I love it. My doc said that she has found more patients on which it works as an antidepressant than as an anti-manic. It may have a typical mood-stabilizer label (although it works differently than lithium), but I would definitely recommend asking your doc about it as an AD.
Hello there,Thanks for the reply and its good to see Depakote is working for you : )
Thats was the first mood stabiliser I took at a low dose too 400mg. Unfortunately I puffed like a ballon and I think i found it too strong to be honest. Although I was taking Mirtazepine too at that time (i no longer take any anti depressants now) I found I couldn't stick with the valproate.
Thanks for the advice anyway : )
Kind regards
Nick
Posted by Nickengland on April 16, 2005, at 12:32:06
In reply to Re: Gabapentin/Neurontin Advice, posted by banga on April 15, 2005, at 16:36:18
> I know someone who says she did quite well on neurontin. She is Bipolar I and spends most of her time (if not on meds) in the more "up" and anxious area than in depression. And she did not express problems feeling her hypomania being exascerbated by the neurontin. All in all, it is more of a calming agent.
Hi Banga,
Thanks for the reply, thats pretty interesting what your saying there, although my symptoms are somewhat different, I am beginning to think this gabapentin could be of some use to me.
I would be described as bipolar 2 (here in england they just call you bipolar) I have never had true mania, just hypomania.
Thats great what you said there, thanks for that information : )
Kind Regards
Nick
Posted by Nickengland on April 16, 2005, at 12:57:08
In reply to Re: Gabapentin/Neurontin Advice » Nickengland, posted by Ritch on April 16, 2005, at 11:21:37
> Hi, I think it is a good idea to try. When I go through seasonal bipolar depressions, sometimes I will restart Neurontin (with my Depakote) at a low dose for a few days and it really helps with the anxious depressive mix of symptoms. My pdoc generally wants to avoid it however, because it *does* tend to trigger some mild hypomania with me. But, I've never gotten dysphoric symptoms associated with that, and it's been a benign event overall. What it seems to work on the best during BP depression for me is the angst/despair/gloom-doom feelings. It especially seems to work well with Depakote. I tried it with Trileptal before and it worked rather well too, but T. made me too nauseous. I'm one of those folks that can't tolerate Trileptal unfortunately. I hope this helps some.--MitchHi there Mitch,
Many thanks for the reply. I can see our symmtoms maybe somewhat similar with regards to bipolar seasonal depressions. I get hit with the seasons too.
Also, especially the anxious depressive mix of symtoms you mention - that is the one thing I really hate with a passion....Ive had that 5 times in the past 5 years. I have had that really intense lasting about 4-6weeks at a time, that really gets the suicidal thoughts going.
Im quite stable now though and have been on mood stabilisers since last september. This is my first time with the added back up of mood stabilisers to prevent the next epsisode...which if that did happen it would be in about 4-6 months time.
Im sure some symtoms will return...but I like what you say about how the gabapentin helps. I think and hopefully i'll get the psychiatrist to agree, that i can have this as a back up medication for when things may turn bad, rather than use it 365 days a year...
That was very helpful information Mitch, restored some much needed confidence in the use of drugs! : )
Kind regards
Nick
Ps Are you on anything else besides the Depakote and Neurontin?
Posted by Nickengland on April 16, 2005, at 12:58:53
In reply to Re: Gabapentin/Neurontin Advice, posted by Nickengland on April 16, 2005, at 12:57:08
LOL
Posted by Ritch on April 16, 2005, at 13:51:45
In reply to Re: Gabapentin/Neurontin Advice, posted by Nickengland on April 16, 2005, at 12:57:08
>
> > Hi, I think it is a good idea to try. When I go through seasonal bipolar depressions, sometimes I will restart Neurontin (with my Depakote) at a low dose for a few days and it really helps with the anxious depressive mix of symptoms. My pdoc generally wants to avoid it however, because it *does* tend to trigger some mild hypomania with me. But, I've never gotten dysphoric symptoms associated with that, and it's been a benign event overall. What it seems to work on the best during BP depression for me is the angst/despair/gloom-doom feelings. It especially seems to work well with Depakote. I tried it with Trileptal before and it worked rather well too, but T. made me too nauseous. I'm one of those folks that can't tolerate Trileptal unfortunately. I hope this helps some.--Mitch
>
> Hi there Mitch,
>
> Many thanks for the reply. I can see our symmtoms maybe somewhat similar with regards to bipolar seasonal depressions. I get hit with the seasons too.
>
> Also, especially the anxious depressive mix of symtoms you mention - that is the one thing I really hate with a passion....Ive had that 5 times in the past 5 years. I have had that really intense lasting about 4-6weeks at a time, that really gets the suicidal thoughts going.
>
> Im quite stable now though and have been on mood stabilisers since last september. This is my first time with the added back up of mood stabilisers to prevent the next epsisode...which if that did happen it would be in about 4-6 months time.
>
> Im sure some symtoms will return...but I like what you say about how the gabapentin helps. I think and hopefully i'll get the psychiatrist to agree, that i can have this as a back up medication for when things may turn bad, rather than use it 365 days a year...
>
> That was very helpful information Mitch, restored some much needed confidence in the use of drugs! : )
>
> Kind regards
>
> Nick
>
> Ps Are you on anything else besides the Depakote and Neurontin?Nick, I'm not on Neurontin right now. The last time I was on Neurontin was just 100mg/day back in December when I was depressed. My pdoc wanted me off of it in January, and I stopped. I felt kind of crappy for a week or so, but it passed. I went off a little bit of Celexa I was also taking several weeks ago and am getting more stable without the Celexa. So now I'm just taking Depakote 250mg ER and clonazepam .5mg/day (with fishoil). I've really found out that getting off AD's has helped (during the high time of the year at least). I also get 3 week rapid cycles in addition to the seasonal depressions (2 a year). The rapid cycle part is still there, but it is MUCH more subtle now and I don't notice it as much. My seasonal depressions also don't last really very long either, the "core" of the depression where it is really nasty is just about 4-6 weeks, but I'm in a depressive "phase" for something like 10 weeks or so in the late Fall/early Winter and early-mid Summer. -- Mitch
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