![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tony P on September 18, 2006, at 19:55:56
I am on my 4th day clean from my DrugOfChoice, Robaxin, after almost a one-year run that got WAY out of hand last Spring. Now I'm looking at all the other pharmaceuticals I consume, prescribed or not.
I have a legit. Rx for Neurontin, originally for insomnia, especially when I got hypo-manic late at night (didn't work very well). Recently been suffering some pain from a nerve pinch in my hip and discovered the Neurontin often helped. (I do have a appt to review the whole situation with my GP). However, I was taking much larger quantities than the 2x300 mg originally prescribed - as much as 2,400 mg/day. I also found myself "experimenting" with taking 6x300 mg at once to see if it produced a pleasant high (not THAT interesting, but definitely mellow).
Now I realize that "addictive" is a word open to several interpretations, but what I'm really asking for any input/experience on is: should I ask my GP about prescribing it specifically for the nerve pain in the dose he considers appropriate, OR as an addict in very early recovery (once again-- sigh!) should I stay away from this med like the plague? Or somewhere in between?
Tony P
Posted by AuntieMel on September 19, 2006, at 10:18:22
In reply to Is Gabapentin/Neurontin addictive?, posted by Tony P on September 18, 2006, at 19:55:56
No, but being an anti-seizure med it shouldn't be stopped abruptly.
Posted by AuntieMel on September 19, 2006, at 10:19:33
In reply to Is Gabapentin/Neurontin addictive?, posted by Tony P on September 18, 2006, at 19:55:56
If you find yourself taking more to look for a "high" you might want to look at your patterns.
Posted by Tony P on September 19, 2006, at 17:16:51
In reply to Re: On the other hand » Tony P, posted by AuntieMel on September 19, 2006, at 10:19:33
> If you find yourself taking more to look for a "high" you might want to look at your patterns.
You hit the nail on the head. I can (and do, when I'm not in good recovery) take almost anything in excess or abusively, if there's even a hint of a high (or a nice relaxing low). While I've been weaning off my drug of choice I've been binging from time to time on several other things - not necessarily addictive as such, but psychoactive or mind-altering. Taking 6 gabapentin at once "just as an experiment" fits that pattern.
Even with 4 days free of my DOC, I sense that I'm already starting to see my drug use in better perspective, and have less desire to mess with my mind and feelings.
My family Dr is familiar with my history - I'll let him know where I'm at & let him make the call. By the time I see him Friday I should have a week clean, GW & WP, and a couple of weeks since I took the heavy dose of the gabapentin, so he & I will have a better idea whether I was just experimenting or if I have to add gabapentin to the list of meds I can't take safely.
Thanks for your input.
Tony P
Posted by Declan on September 20, 2006, at 2:54:54
In reply to Is Gabapentin/Neurontin addictive?, posted by Tony P on September 18, 2006, at 19:55:56
'an addict in very early recovery (once again-- sigh!)'
Thankyou for that. But does it help for nerve pain, and if so, how much?
Posted by Tony P on September 21, 2006, at 15:05:21
In reply to Is Gabapentin/Neurontin addictive? » Tony P, posted by Declan on September 20, 2006, at 2:54:54
>> 'an addict in very early recovery (once again-- sigh!)'
>
> Thankyou for that. But does it help for nerve pain, and if so, how much?For the nerve pinch I'm getting in my low back/hip/groin, it helps a lot - more, say, than ibuprofen. It was originally recommended for pain from shingles. I suspect it's one of those "try it and see" ones. My pharmacist says he's seeing Rxs these days the most for nerve pain, next for mood stabilization & insomnia, and least for anti-seizure.
300 mg works for me (there are quite a few dosage forms available, 300's just happen to be what I have on hand). My guess from the official monograph on RxList is that 300 mg every 4-6 hr is OK, i.e. no more than 1,800 mg/day. I'll hopefully know more after seeing my GP tomorrow. Or should that be "my PCP", these days? Could have unfortunate associations for some of us <G>!
Tony
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Substance Use | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.