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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by camiri on February 27, 2005, at 1:00:41
I am trying to get off of Neurontin (and several other meds) but want to ensure that I do it in the least risky way possible.
I'm currently on 1500mg/day, and plan on tapering at the rate of 100mg/day decrease at approximate 1 week intervals.
Anyone have any suggestions or comments on this? If so, please post.
Thank,
Camiri
Posted by SLS on February 27, 2005, at 9:22:26
In reply to Neurontin Tapering anyone?, posted by camiri on February 27, 2005, at 1:00:41
Hi Camiri.
> I am trying to get off of Neurontin (and several other meds) but want to ensure that I do it in the least risky way possible.
What are you being treated for?
What medications are you taking?
Which medications are you discontinuing? How are you going to go about it?
> I'm currently on 1500mg/day, and plan on tapering at the rate of 100mg/day decrease at approximate 1 week intervals.
>
> Anyone have any suggestions or comments on this? If so, please post.I have been on and off Neurontin several times. I think it is important not to discontinue Neurontin abruptly "cold-turkey". Doing so might carry the risk of inducing a seizure, even in people who don't have a seizure disorder.
I was able to discontinue 1800mg of Neurontin over the course of two weeks without experiencing any side-effects. However, I don't have a seizure disorder and I wasn't planning to discontinue any other drugs at the same time.
Without knowing more about your circumstances, I would not want to offer any comments on your plan for tapering Neurontin. It certainly seems gradual enough to avoid any complications. Are you interested in tapering any more rapidly? What recommendations has your doctor offered?
- Scott
Posted by bruin on February 27, 2005, at 10:49:44
In reply to Neurontin Tapering anyone?, posted by camiri on February 27, 2005, at 1:00:41
You need to get out of your head the notion of one week intervals. Your body will let you know how to proceed. Cut and wait to stabilize. If that is a couple of days, a week, or a month then don't quibble and just proceed that way. That is the best and only way instead of adhering to a timetable.
IN the meantime, I would flood the body with nutrients that it will need to heal from the damage done by the drug. I posted suggestions above and it applies on a general basis. Good luck
> I am trying to get off of Neurontin (and several other meds) but want to ensure that I do it in the least risky way possible.
>
> I'm currently on 1500mg/day, and plan on tapering at the rate of 100mg/day decrease at approximate 1 week intervals.
>
> Anyone have any suggestions or comments on this? If so, please post.
>
> Thank,
> Camiri
Posted by SLS on February 27, 2005, at 13:24:02
In reply to Re: Neurontin Tapering anyone?, posted by bruin on February 27, 2005, at 10:49:44
> You need to get out of your head the notion of one week intervals. Your body will let you know how to proceed. Cut and wait to stabilize. If that is a couple of days, a week, or a month then don't quibble and just proceed that way. That is the best and only way instead of adhering to a timetable.
I think establishing a schedule for tapering an anticovulsant makes sense. The last thing that one would want is for the first sign of withdrawal to be a seizure.
A flexible dosing schedule might make more sense for the SRI antidepressants and possibly the benzodiazepines. However, the early phases of tapering might be better implemented as a fixed schedule. That's my thinking at the moment, anyway.
- Scott
Posted by bruin on February 27, 2005, at 15:18:36
In reply to Re: Neurontin Tapering anyone?, posted by SLS on February 27, 2005, at 13:24:02
"The last thing that one would want is for the first sign of withdrawal to be a seizure."
There is no way of knowing how someone will react. Everyone's biochemistry is different. Odds are better that there won't be the same kind of withdrawal from a anti-convulsant. Nonetheless, a fixed schedule, in my opinion, runs contrary to proper healing regardless of what psychotropic medication you are coming off of. I'm not exactly sure what you mean by the statement above. Take care
> > You need to get out of your head the notion of one week intervals. Your body will let you know how to proceed. Cut and wait to stabilize. If that is a couple of days, a week, or a month then don't quibble and just proceed that way. That is the best and only way instead of adhering to a timetable.
>
> I think establishing a schedule for tapering an anticovulsant makes sense. The last thing that one would want is for the first sign of withdrawal to be a seizure.
>
> A flexible dosing schedule might make more sense for the SRI antidepressants and possibly the benzodiazepines. However, the early phases of tapering might be better implemented as a fixed schedule. That's my thinking at the moment, anyway.
>
>
> - Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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