![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Snell on March 29, 2014, at 17:32:49
There is some support in the scientific literature about gabapentin (Neurontin) for anxiety. Two threads here (one in 2008 and one in 2011) have discussed it. I wonder what people think about it now. Do people still think it's addicting, or poops out, or is brand-name dependent, or is not as good as Lyrica? Has anyone with Bipolar II (my d/o) had good experience with it as a long-term solution? Any particular *type* of anxiety especially?
Posted by Guy on March 30, 2014, at 10:06:13
In reply to gabapentin for anxiety -- as of 2014?, posted by Snell on March 29, 2014, at 17:32:49
Gabapentin helped my anxiety only a little bit and only for a short while. But then my anxiety is severe. Some people take absurdly high doses and do get some relief. It's hard to say how you will react as everyone is so different. If your insurance doesn't cover this med I think it is quite expensive.
Posted by Snell on March 30, 2014, at 10:41:39
In reply to Re: gabapentin for anxiety -- as of 2014?, posted by Guy on March 30, 2014, at 10:06:13
Thank you. Yes, I do understand that it is quite variable, person to person. My insurance does cover the medication--I am lucky in that respect. I appreciate your post. Thank you!
Posted by phidippus on March 31, 2014, at 12:56:29
In reply to gabapentin for anxiety -- as of 2014?, posted by Snell on March 29, 2014, at 17:32:49
I took Neurontin for anxiety many years ago. I have OCD and found Neurontin lowered the level of anxiety I had over intrusive thoughts.
Eric
Posted by b2chica on March 31, 2014, at 16:46:02
In reply to gabapentin for anxiety -- as of 2014?, posted by Snell on March 29, 2014, at 17:32:49
works well for low lying anxiety. when anxiety really gets severe i need to augment.
Posted by Snell on March 31, 2014, at 16:50:51
In reply to Re: gabapentin for anxiety -- as of 2014?, posted by b2chica on March 31, 2014, at 16:46:02
Okay, thanks. And that is a wonderful, lovely couplet in your signature. What poem is that Roethke quotation from?
> works well for low lying anxiety. when anxiety really gets severe i need to augment.
>
Posted by jpa on April 1, 2014, at 6:57:49
In reply to gabapentin for anxiety -- as of 2014?, posted by Snell on March 29, 2014, at 17:32:49
You may want to consider lyrics, which is essentially a stronger version of gabapentine...I think. I have GAD and lyrics provides some relief.
Posted by jpa on April 1, 2014, at 7:01:59
In reply to Re: gabapentin for anxiety -- as of 2014?, posted by Snell on March 31, 2014, at 16:50:51
That would be lyrics.
Posted by Snell on April 1, 2014, at 7:18:52
In reply to Re: gabapentin for anxiety -- as of 2014?, posted by jpa on April 1, 2014, at 7:01:59
> That would be lyrics.
Song lyrics?
Published lyrics?
Spirited lyrics?:-)
Posted by Phillipa on April 1, 2014, at 9:46:56
In reply to Re: gabapentin for anxiety -- as of 2014?, posted by Snell on April 1, 2014, at 7:18:52
Lyrica!! Phillipa
Posted by b2chica on April 1, 2014, at 12:09:08
In reply to Re: gabapentin for anxiety -- as of 2014?, posted by Snell on March 31, 2014, at 16:50:51
Posted by LouisianaSportsman on April 4, 2014, at 20:07:18
In reply to gabapentin for anxiety -- as of 2014?, posted by Snell on March 29, 2014, at 17:32:49
Gabapentin and its cousin Lyrica are almost as effective for anxiety as benzodiazepines.
I have a personal issue with Lyrica and I no longer take 300mg. x 2/day, but when I did-- it was better than clonazepam EVER was for relieving my symptoms-- especially social anxiety.
I am now prescribed a low dose of gabapentin, a measly 1,200mg./day, out of a good faith from my trusted PDOC.
I would also venture to say that it is the MOST EFFECTIVE mood stabilizer for my BP2.
Posted by Snell on April 5, 2014, at 8:21:27
In reply to Re: gabapentin for anxiety -- as of 2014?, posted by LouisianaSportsman on April 4, 2014, at 20:07:18
> Gabapentin and its cousin Lyrica are almost as effective for anxiety as benzodiazepines.
In *your* experience, I think. I don't think you can state this as a truism.
>
> I have a personal issue with Lyrica and I no longer take 300mg. x 2/day, but when I did-- it was better than clonazepam EVER was for relieving my symptoms-- especially social anxiety.I won't ask about your personal issue but you are one of a number of people recommending Lyrica.
>
> I am now prescribed a low dose of gabapentin, a measly 1,200mg./day, out of a good faith from my trusted PDOC.Why is it "out of a good faith"? Doesn't your pdoc want to give you what works?
>
> I would also venture to say that it is the MOST EFFECTIVE mood stabilizer for my BP2.Thank you for contributing. Your experience seems to be in the minority. I am finding that gabapentin is hardly worth the gel its capsules are made of--but it's great that it works so well for some people. I will ask my pdoc about Lyrica, since several people have mentioned it.
Posted by LouisianaSportsman on April 5, 2014, at 9:11:55
In reply to Re: gabapentin for anxiety -- as of 2014?, posted by Snell on April 5, 2014, at 8:21:27
> > Gabapentin and its cousin Lyrica are almost as effective for anxiety as benzodiazepines.
>
> In *your* experience, I think. I don't think you can state this as a truism.
> >
> > I have a personal issue with Lyrica and I no longer take 300mg. x 2/day, but when I did-- it was better than clonazepam EVER was for relieving my symptoms-- especially social anxiety.
>
> I won't ask about your personal issue but you are one of a number of people recommending Lyrica.
>
> >
> > I am now prescribed a low dose of gabapentin, a measly 1,200mg./day, out of a good faith from my trusted PDOC.
>
> Why is it "out of a good faith"? Doesn't your pdoc want to give you what works?
>
> >
> > I would also venture to say that it is the MOST EFFECTIVE mood stabilizer for my BP2.
>
> Thank you for contributing. Your experience seems to be in the minority. I am finding that gabapentin is hardly worth the gel its capsules are made of--but it's great that it works so well for some people. I will ask my pdoc about Lyrica, since several people have mentioned it.
>
>I accidentally say a lot of truisms when I mean for them to be my opinions.
My PDOC gives it to me out of good faith due to my personal issue with pregabalin.
Gabapentin, according to research, has been shown to not to be an effective mood stabilizer, but in my opinion is can be beneficial for a lot of patients-- if not the BEST thing for a lot of patients.
Lyrica is an amazing medication, but the 600mg. limit restricts a lot of therapeutic value since some patients may require more. But doctors may prescribe more than that.
Gabapentin may not be as an effective mood stabilizer as Lyrica for some patients due to the way it is metabolized. Higher doses reduce bioavailibility unless you take Gralise which is the enacarbil form. This is not the case with Lyrica.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | 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.