Posted by Wendy B. on October 17, 2001, at 23:22:40
In reply to Re: Neurontin as a mood stabilizer-max. dose? » Wendy B., posted by Mitch on October 17, 2001, at 11:43:17
> > ** Would anyone recommend depakote or lithium over the constant pill-popping on the neurontin? (It looks like I'm going to have to get a new watch that I can set to beep an alarm every 3 hours...)
> > Anybody with info, or responses, or ideas?? I would appreciate hearing about anyone's experience with this topic...
> >
> > Thank you very much for input, in advance,
> >
> > Wendy
>
> Hi Wendy,
>
> I don't know if any of my experience is that applicable: I am BPII rapid cycling with atypical depression, etc. However, I have got a couple of ideas. I am on Neurontin as a sole mood stabilizer at just 400mg/day. The highest I went to was 1800mg/day. I understand what you mean about having to cart meds around with you all the time. I have found either Depakote or Lithium works well as an adjunct to the Neurontin. I don't understand why your pdoc doesn't want to allow the Depakote (i.e.) to be added on(?) Especially if it makes it easier for you to comply with your Neurontin dosage regimen (say 2x or 3x a day instead of 4+!) FWIW, I responded well in the past to 900mg Neurontin + 500mg Depakote per day in that ratio.
>
> Mitch
Thank you for responding, Mitch:I will keep on doing what the pdoc says, I guess, for a while. I wonder if she has ever popped 7 pills a day of the same med... Having to do it every 3 hours, means I took it today at 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, 10 pm, and I'll take 1 more at bedtime. God, it's weird. It may even have to be upped from the 4200.
I really feel like an invalid, sort of connected to this drug like it should be hooked up in an IV in a pouch on my hip! I wonder if the pdoc wants me to feel this? Like, it's part of the therapy, to admit that I *am* limited in what I can do? Or that I am really sick. (The pdoc is also the therapist).
I don't know, I feel so frustrated I want to cry. I envy you, that you only ever had to take it 2 or 3 times a day. I thought the pdoc would give me a positive response when I asked about depakote or Li. I hear Li isn't as hard on the body as it's made out to be. I take it you were never on it, Mitch?
I suppose she doesn't want me to have to suffer from the depakote side-effects, or the lithium blood tests... What else would it be? I have an appointment Friday, so I'll be sure to ask. I'm afraid I'm going to get angry with her.
I also wonder why Parke-Davis doesn't figure out how to pack an extended release into 1 or 2 pills a day. It makes me upset, why don't they care what the patient is going through?
Arrgh. You are a sweetie to talk to me about this. I hope others respond, too, so I can bounce some ideas off them, too, get the reality check.
Many many thanks,
Wendy
poster:Wendy B.
thread:56289
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011015/msgs/81553.html