Tricyclic Antidepressants

Just started Neurontin….advice???

Question:

Damn James! LOL I just read your message after I posted mine.  You reiterated everything that I said and I hadn’t read your message yet!  I think we have a meeting of the minds here . You’re absolutely right.  Although I realize that the problems in the medical community aren’t just in my city, this doc is just the absolute mirror of the problem here. Another thing is that this doc is at the clinic that I reported to the main office in Washington DC for not answering their phones after 20 rings the day I was suicidal.  I was actually letting DC know about a social worker that was VERY helpful and I wanted to ensure she was recognized.  Unfortunately, and maybe I’m dreaming this up, but unfortunately that social worker hasn’t been at work since I reported to DC how good she was and no one knows when she’s coming back. Seems fishy to me… And at the same time the doctor is telling me I’m not depressed…well then why the hell am I on 300 mg a day of Wellbutrin? Duh! Anyway, I will contact you James separately.  Maybe there is something we can do together on this situation.

Response:

>Hi James, > Well, I didn’t get Zyprexa…but my family doc (who seems to know MUCH more > than my pdoc!!!) started me on Neurontin with my Effexor XR and clonazepam. > Now, I know all of the stuff about the drug in the medical literature and > stuff. BUT, I am curious, what is the starting dose for us BP’ers?

This varies james but I believe in the " start low, and go slow" and taking Neurontin every 6 hours as it’s half life is only 5-7 hours. >I know > that TOO high of a dose can actually send us spinning, and aggitate us. But, > he has me on 100mg tid to start. From looking at the doses in the med books, > this seems like a fine, and low, starting dose. If anybody else WHO IS on > the med could please pass their experiences on, it would be greatly > appreciated. Thanks!!!

I took Neurontin for over 1 year….and the frquency was  every six hours. The highest dose I was on was 2100 mg….for me it also had the added benefit of alleviating the neuropathic pain from my Multiple Sclerosis. I hope the med works well for you. Peace, — Lynda

Response:

031.remarq.com>, > Amen, James! That’s my pet-peeve, too. I

personally believe that – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> *anyone* prescribed AD’s, no matter what their history, should > be seen on a weekly basis for the first month – just in case > something goes wrong. > I count my blessings that I lucked out with my first entre into > the mental health system and got a first-rate pdoc. He prudently > put me on a mood stabilizer right away (along with Prozac and > other goodies), suspecting bipolar despite my lack of history > for any sort of depression or other mental problems. And he > turned out to be right on the mark, which

became very clear down > the road. Had I received a less-than-adequate pdoc, I may yet be > struggling with getting this illness under control, and surely > the condition would have deteriorated. > I do have another pet peeve, and that is pdoc’s who prescribe > anything other than lithium *OR* depakote on the first round. (I > don’t know your particular situation, James.) These first-line > meds help something like 70% of all bipolar

patients – therefore > it is prudent and wise to start with them *first* – not the > newer meds like Lamictal and Neurontin. Not that there’s > anything necessarily wrong with either of those – but they > really should be tried only when the others fail or cause > unreasonable side effects. Just my opinion. > jen > * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The

Internet’s Discussion Network * > The fastest and easiest way to search and

participate in Usenet – Free! > RE:Neurontin vs. Depakote

This is myfirst time so please bear with me. I took Depakote for 2 1/2yrs, it saved my life,but it quit working. Now I take 3600mgs of Neurontin,its a little trickier, have to remember to dose on the same schedule every day or i feel dizzy and tired. have to take  Zyprexa to sleep and the serazone for the lows. I sure would try the Depakote first, its a lot easier. I also had an immediate benefit from the Depakote, this is a little slower going. have been taking for 2 mos. woul appreciate hearing from anybody who’s been on it a little longer. clay Before you buy.

Response:

Amen, James! That’s my pet-peeve, too. I personally believe that *anyone* prescribed AD’s, no matter what their history, should be seen on a weekly basis for the first month – just in case something goes wrong. I count my blessings that I lucked out with my first entre into the mental health system and got a first-rate pdoc. He prudently put me on a mood stabilizer right away (along with Prozac and other goodies), suspecting bipolar despite my lack of history for any sort of depression or other mental problems. And he turned out to be right on the mark, which became very clear down the road. Had I received a less-than-adequate pdoc, I may yet be struggling with getting this illness under control, and surely the condition would have deteriorated. I do have another pet peeve, and that is pdoc’s who prescribe anything other than lithium *OR* depakote on the first round. (I don’t know your particular situation, James.) These first-line meds help something like 70% of all bipolar patients – therefore it is prudent and wise to start with them *first* – not the newer meds like Lamictal and Neurontin. Not that there’s anything necessarily wrong with either of those – but they really should be tried only when the others fail or cause unreasonable side effects. Just my opinion. jen * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hey folks: > Well, I didn’t get Zyprexa…but my family doc (who seems to know MUCH more > than my pdoc!!!) started me on Neurontin with my Effexor XR and clonazepam. > Now, I know all of the stuff about the drug in the medical literature and > stuff. BUT, I am curious, what is the starting dose for us BP’ers? I know > that TOO high of a dose can actually send us spinning, and aggitate us. But, > he has me on 100mg tid to start. From looking at the doses in the med books, > this seems like a fine, and low, starting dose. If anybody else WHO IS on > the med could please pass their experiences on, it would be greatly > appreciated. Thanks!!! > James MacLachlan:-)

Hey, you’re gettin’ some! Jim O – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

>weeks–sort of normal; next two weeks–really sleepy in the afternoons.  i >think i started on 900 mg and am now at 1500 daily.  best of luck, julie

I got started on 3 x 300 a day and with the coming off depakote (2000 mg a caused by the depakote are almost gone

Response:

>weeks–sort of normal; next two weeks–really sleepy in the afternoons. i >think i started on 900 mg and am now at 1500 daily.  best of luck, julie > I got started on 3 x 300 a day and with the coming off depakote (2000 mg a > caused by the depakote are almost gone

I found Depakote to probably be the most "stimulating", yet "dysphoric producing", out of all of the mood stabalizers. I might suggest holding your dose of Neurontin where it is at for atleast another week or so. IMHO..anyhow… Best.. James:-) — "Dying is only one thing to be sad over. Living unhappily is something else." Morrie Schwartz "Some day we will wave hello…and wish we’d never waved goodbye…"

Response:

   I experienced virtually no side effects, except for some weight gain, at the 2400 mg level. It did, however, agitate me. Right now my heart feels as though it will burst from my chest; I cannot sleep and I want to stop my medication in order to drink excessively and go manic. Gabriel * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

Hey folks: Well, I didn’t get Zyprexa…but my family doc (who seems to know MUCH more than my pdoc!!!) started me on Neurontin with my Effexor XR and clonazepam. Now, I know all of the stuff about the drug in the medical literature and stuff. BUT, I am curious, what is the starting dose for us BP’ers? I know that TOO high of a dose can actually send us spinning, and aggitate us. But, he has me on 100mg tid to start. From looking at the doses in the med books, this seems like a fine, and low, starting dose. If anybody else WHO IS on the med could please pass their experiences on, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!! James MacLachlan:-)

Response:

I started at 400TID and went to 400QID because I felt I was not getting "coverage" through the day. The short effective life of the drug (5-6 hours) had particular impact on me–but not others (YBMV, once again!). When I miss or am late for a dose, I get buzzy–when I tried an increase (to help alleviate some anxiety), it increased my slight depression. Ironically, though–right before that–when I reduced my dose to 400TID once again–I felt a dip. This makes me think that I am just at the right dose for me <G>. -Thumper

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