Posted by Ritch on January 28, 2003, at 11:29:45
In reply to Neurontin: solution or problem?, posted by not exactly on January 28, 2003, at 6:42:51
> You will laugh when I tell you my standard dosage. I saved this detail 'til the end because I figured I would get ZERO sympathy. I take 100 mg T.I.D. Yes, friends, that's not a typo - a mere 300 mg per day! If I take more, I get too sedated, apathetic, and just plain "drunk". If I take less, the anxiety drives me up the wall.
>
> Has anyone experienced or heard of anything like this? Or am I just another deluded placebo victim? I really need some help here...
>
> - Bob
>
I'm bipolar and I was on Neurontin at that dosage you mention for over a year (with no other mood stabilizer) with .5mg of Klonopin and a little Celexa (about 1.25-2.5mg), and it had a stabilizing effect for me and I slept better than I do now with Depakote. In my case, anxiety (esp. GAD) seems to fuel the bipolar as much as the reverse. Neurontin didn't help much with temper spells (dysphoric hypomania) that Depakote works well for, however. I want to add back 100mg at bedtime or 100mg bid of Neurontin for improved sleep cycles and the benefits that you mention, but leave in the Depakote for the hypomania. As far as Neurontin dosages go, I think for psych probs. it will work at lower dosages (if it is going to), and as you ramp up the dose the returns diminish rapidly. In my case I didn't notice any added benefits whatsoever above 900mg/day, just more adverse effects.
poster:Ritch
thread:136541
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030125/msgs/137937.html