Posted by Ritch on April 16, 2005, at 13:51:45
In reply to Re: Gabapentin/Neurontin Advice, posted by Nickengland on April 16, 2005, at 12:57:08
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> > Hi, I think it is a good idea to try. When I go through seasonal bipolar depressions, sometimes I will restart Neurontin (with my Depakote) at a low dose for a few days and it really helps with the anxious depressive mix of symptoms. My pdoc generally wants to avoid it however, because it *does* tend to trigger some mild hypomania with me. But, I've never gotten dysphoric symptoms associated with that, and it's been a benign event overall. What it seems to work on the best during BP depression for me is the angst/despair/gloom-doom feelings. It especially seems to work well with Depakote. I tried it with Trileptal before and it worked rather well too, but T. made me too nauseous. I'm one of those folks that can't tolerate Trileptal unfortunately. I hope this helps some.--Mitch
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> Hi there Mitch,
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> Many thanks for the reply. I can see our symmtoms maybe somewhat similar with regards to bipolar seasonal depressions. I get hit with the seasons too.
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> Also, especially the anxious depressive mix of symtoms you mention - that is the one thing I really hate with a passion....Ive had that 5 times in the past 5 years. I have had that really intense lasting about 4-6weeks at a time, that really gets the suicidal thoughts going.
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> Im quite stable now though and have been on mood stabilisers since last september. This is my first time with the added back up of mood stabilisers to prevent the next epsisode...which if that did happen it would be in about 4-6 months time.
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> Im sure some symtoms will return...but I like what you say about how the gabapentin helps. I think and hopefully i'll get the psychiatrist to agree, that i can have this as a back up medication for when things may turn bad, rather than use it 365 days a year...
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> That was very helpful information Mitch, restored some much needed confidence in the use of drugs! : )
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> Kind regards
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> Nick
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> Ps Are you on anything else besides the Depakote and Neurontin?Nick, I'm not on Neurontin right now. The last time I was on Neurontin was just 100mg/day back in December when I was depressed. My pdoc wanted me off of it in January, and I stopped. I felt kind of crappy for a week or so, but it passed. I went off a little bit of Celexa I was also taking several weeks ago and am getting more stable without the Celexa. So now I'm just taking Depakote 250mg ER and clonazepam .5mg/day (with fishoil). I've really found out that getting off AD's has helped (during the high time of the year at least). I also get 3 week rapid cycles in addition to the seasonal depressions (2 a year). The rapid cycle part is still there, but it is MUCH more subtle now and I don't notice it as much. My seasonal depressions also don't last really very long either, the "core" of the depression where it is really nasty is just about 4-6 weeks, but I'm in a depressive "phase" for something like 10 weeks or so in the late Fall/early Winter and early-mid Summer. -- Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:484731
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050413/msgs/485087.html