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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phillipa on February 10, 2007, at 11:52:33
I heard low dose lyrica helps with anxiety anyone know? I googled it and all it talked about was nerve pain. Thanks Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on February 10, 2007, at 22:00:14
In reply to How does low Lyrica work for Anxiety?, posted by Phillipa on February 10, 2007, at 11:52:33
> I heard low dose lyrica helps with anxiety anyone know? I googled it and all it talked about was nerve pain. Thanks Phillipa
It is unknown exactly, just as Neurontin, but it binds to certain subunits of the voltage-dependent channels of calcium in the CNS, which are involved in neurotransmitter release. Other subunits of calcium channels are involved in heart agents (calcium channel blockers).Some anti-epileptics are sodium channel modulators.
Posted by Phillipa on February 10, 2007, at 22:14:14
In reply to Re: How does low Lyrica work for Anxiety? » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on February 10, 2007, at 22:00:14
Jay is that good or bad for someone my age would it replace benzos? Love Jan
Posted by yxibow on February 11, 2007, at 3:27:10
In reply to Re: How does low Lyrica work for Anxiety? » yxibow, posted by Phillipa on February 10, 2007, at 22:14:14
> Jay is that good or bad for someone my age would it replace benzos? Love Jan
Neurontin is not terribly burdensome on the system, it primarily is excreted through the kidneys and any dose over about 900mg at a time simply is eliminated regardless. It is somewhat sedating -- it is better when first started though than when on a steady state, at least for myself, at any rate. When I first started it, it was heavily sedating, and there were signs of speech slurring, although I was compos mentis. I would say at this point it is an adjunctive to the benzodiazepine I take but not a primary agent.
But as they say, your miles may vary. You could also try Lyrica if you wanted to; remembering that about 10% of people who try it like myself do get blurry vision. But from the responses on the board here, a number of people have gotten some relief from Lyrica so you could try that as well.
But benzodiazepines I thought had worked for you for years; there was some talk of either a washout or adding a smidgen more to your dose, I don't think either would be horrendous, but a washout does require some determination and that may not be something you are ready to do at the moment or may not be necessary.
In my opinion it is hard to replace a benzodiazepine that really works for you, and at the dose range you are taking, it isn't really a concern I would say to add on a bit if you had to. This of course would be something you would discuss with your doctor.
It remains a chief class of psychotropics for fairly immediate anxiolytic relief which has not been trumped yet by other new agents, at any rate, in a significant manner.
There is BuSpar (buspirone) -- although the response rate varies depending on what kind of anxiety disorder you have. Gepirone, a related agent, if the NDA is approved by the FDA this quarter, will probably replace it by the end of this year as it has a stronger action at 5HT1a.
-- Jay
Posted by Phillipa on February 11, 2007, at 17:36:29
In reply to Re: How does low Lyrica work for Anxiety? » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on February 11, 2007, at 3:27:10
Jay is it true that most of the meds cause blurry vision? Love Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on February 12, 2007, at 0:34:36
In reply to Re: How does low Lyrica work for Anxiety? » yxibow, posted by Phillipa on February 11, 2007, at 17:36:29
> Jay is it true that most of the meds cause blurry vision? Love Phillipa
If you read the PDR or PI of any medication I'm sure you can find a "rare" reaction to anything, but Lyrica does have a significant amount, close to 10% if I recall the prescribing information.
Anticholinergics have a tendency to blur or brighten vision (dilate pupils) to an extent as well.
But I'm talking about going from 20/20 to 20/40 -- again, that's just my reaction, everyone is different.
Posted by Crazy Horse on February 12, 2007, at 13:30:37
In reply to How does low Lyrica work for Anxiety?, posted by Phillipa on February 10, 2007, at 11:52:33
> I heard low dose lyrica helps with anxiety anyone know? I googled it and all it talked about was nerve pain. Thanks Phillipa
Yes low dose lyrica in the 150 tid range works wekk for anxiety. The only way i can explain it is that lyrica mimics GABA. This would be a kind of like starting something that works for you like benzos did 30 years ago Jan.
-Monte
Posted by Phillipa on February 12, 2007, at 18:26:27
In reply to Re: How does low Lyrica work for Anxiety?, posted by Crazy Horse on February 12, 2007, at 13:30:37
Thanks Monte you're a doll!!!!Love Phillipa
Posted by Cairo on February 13, 2007, at 19:28:03
In reply to Re: How does low Lyrica work for Anxiety? » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on February 12, 2007, at 0:34:36
Compared to Klonopin, Lyrica has only a mild antianxiety effect in me. I remember that both Neurontin and Lyrica seemed to "brighten" colors when I first started them. That may be because of the lower doses, but blurry vision definitely occured at higher doses. Of all the things I've tried, the Klonopin/Inderal combo seemed to work the best. I like Lyrica added to low dose doxepin for sleep, however. And Klonopin was depressogenic above 0.5mg. Good luck.
Cairo
> > Jay is it true that most of the meds cause blurry vision? Love Phillipa
>
> If you read the PDR or PI of any medication I'm sure you can find a "rare" reaction to anything, but Lyrica does have a significant amount, close to 10% if I recall the prescribing information.
>
> Anticholinergics have a tendency to blur or brighten vision (dilate pupils) to an extent as well.
>
> But I'm talking about going from 20/20 to 20/40 -- again, that's just my reaction, everyone is different.
This is the end of the thread.
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