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New on Neurontin, help!

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Eric

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Jun 3, 1999, 3:00:00 AM6/3/99
to
Greetings everybody,

I have rapid cyclings with sometimes mixed states. I never had any manic
episode. I never took any mood stabilizer in my life. I've been taking
antidepressants and anxiolytics for 10 years now with moderate results. And
i lost so many jobs...

So Neurontin is my first mood stabilizer. I've been taking Neurontin (100 mg
x 4 per day) for 2 weeks now. I also take Effexor XR 150 mg per day. My mood
is better. I'm not anymore angry and the anxiety is almost gone. My
concentration is improved too. It's great. I'm starting again to live after
a long nightmare.

However, i still have sometimes cyclings even if they are more rare and
lower in
intensity. What is the therapeutic range of Neurontin? I want to feel fine
but to be honest i'm afraid to be *zombified* by a too much high dose of
Neurontin. Suggestions?

Thanks in advance.


Eric

joan

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Jun 3, 1999, 3:00:00 AM6/3/99
to
The best thing to do, as I learned from my very good pdoc (13 yrs. on Nardil +- higher than recommended doses +- combining it with
other meds that were highly contraindicated) is - look at how you're feeling to judge the doses, rather than following the doses in
the books that are sometimes limited only to prevent malpractice lawsuits. So.... don't worry about 3 yrs from now+ADs- if it's working
and you can live with whatever side-effects, then that's the combo +ACY- dosage(s) you should be taking. That's my philosophy....
take care, joan


Ephraim Lessell

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Jun 3, 1999, 3:00:00 AM6/3/99
to
Neurontin has been extremely helpful to me as an anti-depressant, mood
stabilizer for me recently. I am a manic depressive. I'm nearly certain that the
therapeutic range is about 400 to 2500 mgs. I am taking 2000mgs or just simply
2gs. By the way, I don't feel "zombefied". On the contrary I feel very alert and
relatively up.
Good luck
Ephriam

Keith Hardwick

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Jun 4, 1999, 3:00:00 AM6/4/99
to
4800mg is considered high, and the therapeutic range seems to span all dosages,
at least for bipolar.

RachellleR

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Jun 4, 1999, 3:00:00 AM6/4/99
to
>However, i still have sometimes cyclings even if they are more rare and
>lower in
>intensity

Ask your doctor about adding Zyprexa. It works as a mood damper and can be
used successfully with Effexor and Neurontin.

Julez

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Jun 4, 1999, 3:00:00 AM6/4/99
to

Eric wrote:
>
> Greetings everybody,
>
> I have rapid cyclings with sometimes mixed states. I never had any manic
> episode. I never took any mood stabilizer in my life. I've been taking
> antidepressants and anxiolytics for 10 years now with moderate results. And
> i lost so many jobs...
>
> So Neurontin is my first mood stabilizer. I've been taking Neurontin (100 mg
> x 4 per day) for 2 weeks now. I also take Effexor XR 150 mg per day. My mood
> is better. I'm not anymore angry and the anxiety is almost gone. My
> concentration is improved too. It's great. I'm starting again to live after
> a long nightmare.
>

> However, i still have sometimes cyclings even if they are more rare and
> lower in

> intensity. What is the therapeutic range of Neurontin? I want to feel fine
> but to be honest i'm afraid to be *zombified* by a too much high dose of
> Neurontin. Suggestions?

You can use more than one mood stabilizer.

Neurontin should be taken every six hours. A good therapeutic dose for
me was 300 mgs 4 x per day until I added another mood stabilizer. Once
I had polytherapy I was able to lower my dose of Neurontin to 600 to 900
mgs per day.

Good luck to you.

Julie
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Eric

Eric

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Jun 4, 1999, 3:00:00 AM6/4/99
to
Ephraim Lessell <eles...@erols.com> a écrit dans le message :
37573CBA...@erols.com...

> Neurontin has been extremely helpful to me as an anti-depressant, mood
> stabilizer for me recently. I am a manic depressive. I'm nearly certain
that the
> therapeutic range is about 400 to 2500 mgs. I am taking 2000mgs or just
simply
> 2gs. By the way, I don't feel "zombefied". On the contrary I feel very
alert and
> relatively up.
> Good luck
> Ephriam


Do i still have to take Neurontin 4 times a day if i increase the dosage
from 400 to 600 or even 800 mg? What are the side effects of Neurontin at
this dosage? Thanks.

Eric

Julez

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Jun 4, 1999, 3:00:00 AM6/4/99
to
> Do i still have to take Neurontin 4 times a day if i increase the dosage
> from 400 to 600 or even 800 mg? What are the side effects of Neurontin at
> this dosage? Thanks.

Eric:

The Neurontin is excreted every six hours. Eight if you have a slow
renal excretion rate.

The six hours apart is crucial if it is your only mood stabilizer. Even
if you have increased the dosage.

I learned that the hard way and ended up ultra rapidly cycling till I
joined the ranks of the James Milton Philosophy ;)

It had it's drawbacks, like setting my alarm for three am just to take a
pill. I did get used to it and it was effective. I also got tired of
it and now take 2 mood stabilizers and only take Neurontin 2x per day.

Good Luck!

Julie
> Eric

LKou

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Jun 5, 1999, 3:00:00 AM6/5/99
to
I take Neurontin for anxiety, I am not bipolar. I take 2400 mg a day 400 3
times a day and 1200 at bedtime. No problems, except this drug is quite
expensive.

Jaycondon

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Jun 5, 1999, 3:00:00 AM6/5/99
to
1800-2000 is therapeutic dosage. I'm fairly new on the drug, but stopped my
antidepressant, so don't think my experience will help you at this time.
The neurology relaxes me & takes away body pain I have, Good Luck

Cindy

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Jun 6, 1999, 3:00:00 AM6/6/99
to
I am on 2400mg and still cycle....I just have lower lows and lower highs. I
don't feel clearer in thinking...but compared to lithium..whew! This is
MUCH better. Just wish it would help more with the depressions.

--
ooo cah...@teleport.com
O ooo Cindy
O


Ephraim Lessell wrote in message <37573CBA...@erols.com>...


>Neurontin has been extremely helpful to me as an anti-depressant, mood
>stabilizer for me recently. I am a manic depressive. I'm nearly certain
that the
>therapeutic range is about 400 to 2500 mgs. I am taking 2000mgs or just
simply
>2gs. By the way, I don't feel "zombefied". On the contrary I feel very
alert and
>relatively up.
>Good luck
>Ephriam
>

>Eric wrote:
>
>> Greetings everybody,
>>
>> I have rapid cyclings with sometimes mixed states. I never had any manic
>> episode. I never took any mood stabilizer in my life. I've been taking
>> antidepressants and anxiolytics for 10 years now with moderate results.
And
>> i lost so many jobs...
>>
>> So Neurontin is my first mood stabilizer. I've been taking Neurontin (100
mg
>> x 4 per day) for 2 weeks now. I also take Effexor XR 150 mg per day. My
mood
>> is better. I'm not anymore angry and the anxiety is almost gone. My
>> concentration is improved too. It's great. I'm starting again to live
after
>> a long nightmare.
>>
>> However, i still have sometimes cyclings even if they are more rare and
>> lower in
>> intensity. What is the therapeutic range of Neurontin? I want to feel
fine
>> but to be honest i'm afraid to be *zombified* by a too much high dose of
>> Neurontin. Suggestions?
>>

>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> Eric
>

Cindy

unread,
Jun 6, 1999, 3:00:00 AM6/6/99
to
Which mood stabizer did you use along with neurontin?

--
ooo cah...@teleport.com
O ooo Cindy
O


Julez wrote in message <7j7ld0$mcu$1...@208.236.239.20>...


>
>
>Eric wrote:
>>
>> Greetings everybody,
>>
>> I have rapid cyclings with sometimes mixed states. I never had any manic
>> episode. I never took any mood stabilizer in my life. I've been taking
>> antidepressants and anxiolytics for 10 years now with moderate results.
And
>> i lost so many jobs...
>>
>> So Neurontin is my first mood stabilizer. I've been taking Neurontin (100
mg
>> x 4 per day) for 2 weeks now. I also take Effexor XR 150 mg per day. My
mood
>> is better. I'm not anymore angry and the anxiety is almost gone. My
>> concentration is improved too. It's great. I'm starting again to live
after
>> a long nightmare.
>>
>> However, i still have sometimes cyclings even if they are more rare and
>> lower in
>> intensity. What is the therapeutic range of Neurontin? I want to feel
fine
>> but to be honest i'm afraid to be *zombified* by a too much high dose of
>> Neurontin. Suggestions?
>

Keith Hardwick

unread,
Jun 6, 1999, 3:00:00 AM6/6/99
to
On Sun, 6 Jun 1999 02:41:16 -0700, "Cindy" <cah...@teleport.com>
wrote:

>I am on 2400mg and still cycle....I just have lower lows and lower highs. I
>don't feel clearer in thinking...but compared to lithium..whew! This is
>MUCH better. Just wish it would help more with the depressions.

There appears to be no known therapeutic blood serum level for
gabapentin used in bipolar. Each person will need a different amount.
You could go as high as your doctor would allow, but money would be a
limiting factor.

Betsy Ach

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Jun 7, 1999, 3:00:00 AM6/7/99
to
In article <37642f45...@news.mindspring.com>,
Lord_T...@mindspring.REMOVE_THIScom (Keith Hardwick) wrote:

> 4800mg is considered high, and the therapeutic range seems to span all
dosages,
> at least for bipolar.
>

> On Thu, 3 Jun 1999 19:58:39 -0400, "Eric" <eric...@videotron.ca> wrote:
>
> >Greetings everybody,
> >
> >I have rapid cyclings with sometimes mixed states. I never had any manic
> >episode. I never took any mood stabilizer in my life. I've been taking
> >antidepressants and anxiolytics for 10 years now with moderate results. And
> >i lost so many jobs...
> >
> >So Neurontin is my first mood stabilizer. I've been taking Neurontin (100 mg
> >x 4 per day) for 2 weeks now. I also take Effexor XR 150 mg per day. My mood
> >is better. I'm not anymore angry and the anxiety is almost gone. My
> >concentration is improved too. It's great. I'm starting again to live after
> >a long nightmare.
> >
> >However, i still have sometimes cyclings even if they are more rare and
> >lower in
> >intensity. What is the therapeutic range of Neurontin? I want to feel fine
> >but to be honest i'm afraid to be *zombified* by a too much high dose of
> >Neurontin. Suggestions?
> >

> >Thanks in advance.
> >
> >
> >Eric
> >
Eric when I was on this drug, which was way back when it first came out on
the market. I was one of the test people for the drug. I took 3600mgs.
So higher doseages can be tolerated for this drug. I was on it at least 3
different times for different reasons. I was taken off 2 times and put
back on it 2 other times to make it a total of 3 times. The other mood
stabilizer I was on it with I think was either Depakote or Lithium. I am
almost quite sure it was Depakote.

Betsy

tig...@iglou.com

Cindy

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Jun 7, 1999, 3:00:00 AM6/7/99
to
Do you think going higher in dosage would help? James suggests taking it
every 6 hours would help. I have a hard enough time remembering it twice a
day. At work it is chaos at times and remembering to take the medication
would be very difficult. So far I see no adverse reactions. I can go
higher. It is costing me 300 a month but I would pay 500 or even 1000
dollars a month if I could enjoy life on a daily basis. It took away my
high highs... now I am left with really some bad bad lows. But I do cycle
out for a few short hours... but mornings are hell. I take the meds at noon
and in the evening. That isn't spaced out right though. Should take the
evening dose later but the morning dose wears off. I don't know if raising
the wellbutrin would help. Maybe I need to ask for Lamictal. So tired of
this. Life was so much easier years ago.

--
ooo cah...@teleport.com
O ooo Cindy
O


Keith Hardwick wrote in message <375bd06a...@news.mindspring.com>...

Keith Hardwick

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Jun 7, 1999, 3:00:00 AM6/7/99
to
Twice a day won't work with Neurontin unless you are worried about
seizures. It wears off! If you can't do at least 3x a day I am afraid
you may be wasting your money. On 4x a day maybe you could take less.

I don't think Wellbutrin is the AD for you. I suggest something in the
Celexa line, or if you could use help getting to sleep, Remeron. Just
have your pharmacist give me a call.

Keith

On Mon, 7 Jun 1999 00:14:09 -0700, "Cindy" <cah...@teleport.com>
wrote:

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