Posted by Compucat on July 4, 2007, at 18:11:23
I need your knowledge/help with something I experienced a couple of weeks ago. I'll go through it 3 more times, so I'd like to know what is happening.
I am getting facial laser treatments (Fraxel) for acne scarring. Up until this past February, I was on an extensive list of meds, some at fairly high doses. I'm Bipolar II and have anxiety. I was on 2700 mg. daily of Gabapentin (Neurontin) as one mood stabilizer. I no longer take it. At my first laser treatment, they applied a numbing gel on my face AND gave me 1 Ativan and 2 Percocet. I never take anything strong for pain, just Tylenol, and I rarely take Ativan - just for the odd panic attack. When the laser first started on my face I thought I would hit the roof and pass out! I am someone who in the past has been able to put up with phenomenal amounts of pain, but despite the numbing gel and the 2 Percocets, I wound up writhing, legs moving up and toes curling throughout the procedure. When the doctor supervised esthetician told me we had to do another 'pass' over my face, I told her to get the doctor because what was described as a light snapping feeling felt like human torture.
Okay, so to my question. Gabapentin is also used for pain management. But is there any information anywhere/your experiences/your knowledge that indicates that once you stop taking Gabapentin it can leave your pain receptors screwed up? I wonder if mine have somehow been thrown into a state of hyper-sensitivity. Could they no longer be working correctly? I also have a surgery booked for late this fall, and am a little concerned as to how the pain will affect me. Surgical pain has been a breeze in the past. Thank you so much for your comments.
The meds I am currently taking are:
- Cipralex 20 mg. (decreased from 30 mg.)
- Effexor 300 mg.
- Topamax 300 mg. (decreased from 600 mg.)
- Zopiclone 7.5 mg. (decreased from 15 mg.)
- Trazodone 100 mg.
- Lamotrigine 75 mg. (decreased from 150 mg.)
poster:Compucat
thread:767670
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070630/msgs/767670.html