Posted by katekite on May 17, 2002, at 15:34:05
In reply to neurontin, posted by e503 on May 16, 2002, at 22:04:21
I'm not sure which Ben this is, so if he's bipolar already, previous diagnosis to his reaction to neurontin, then I don't know if my anecdote will help. My comment is on my own non-bipolar response to neurontin which looked hypomanic to some but not in any way manic.
I had been very depressed and anxious, and was suicidal. I went into a hospital and was given celexa, neurontin and klonopin at the same time.
I didn't sleep for a couple days that was so stimulating. I started refusing the celexa which was a very good idea, and stayed only on neurontin and klonopin.
After taking neurontin I felt so good so fast (from suicidal to happy over two days only) that they thought I was hypomanic. I am ADD (although that was not diagnosed then), so I tend to flash from thought to thought and tend to have a lot of energy for odd things. But only when not depressed or anxious. Which means that I look "pretty normal" when I'm anxious and depressed, though I feel like shit. When I take an effective anti-anxiety agent like neurontin that also has antidepressant properties (at least for me) then I'm suddenly "like a new person".
With neurontin, I was sooooo relieved to just be me, and feel ok, that I started doing everything I'd wanted to do. I had lived in one place for a year and hadn't made friends, on neurontin I went out and started being friendly. Not insanely so, just uncharacteristic for me for the previous year. I was joyful, happy, hopeful.
Followup appointment with shrink, I sat there saying I didn't have time to see him, that everything was actually really good now. Plus I started to realize that he'd been completely oblivious of my suicidality, that he wasn't a particularly good shrink, and I was pretty angry at him and unfortunately told him so.
Presto he said I was bipolar, and I spent the next 2 months with awful experiences on additional mood stabilizers.
Neurontin and klonopin both can be "disinhibiting" especially for someone with poor impulse control. So if someone was impulsive before, they may be doubly so on neurontin. (For me, ADD = impulsivity = I did look impulsive). Eventually I will most likely take ritalin (to control ADD) and only add in neurontin if I end up needing an anti-anxiety agent.
My husband, all other people etc, say I was not talking much faster, not doing any other bipolar things, not spending, etc. In retrospect with undiagnosed ADD I understand what happened.
The difference between happy and bipolar hypomanic is that after a week goes by someone who is not hypomanic will find some sort of balance, will decide what they want to do and start it, will still get a reasonable amount of sleep and will remember to take their meds.
I don't know if my story applies whatsoever. I guess I can say that the disinhibition of neurontin made me less easy to live with.
So perhaps even if ben is truly manic and is bipolar, you are seeing disinhibition.
I'm curious what would happen with something like clonidine or tenex. I wonder if they've ever been tried for manic behavior. As they are used for the overarousal that little kids with ADD have, when they need for them to sleep. That wound up scattered nutsy needs sleep but can't go to bed thing.
is this the pharmacist ben or a different ben?
kate
poster:katekite
thread:106729
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020517/msgs/106796.html