Posted by cybercafe on September 24, 2002, at 21:49:17
In reply to Re: Dilantin: measles-like rash, posted by utopizen on September 23, 2002, at 12:49:10
.... i had an anxiety provoking event at 2 pm so i took 1200 mg at 6 am and 1200 mg at 12:30 but i was still quite anxious at 2 pm and had to resort to clonazepam ....... i don't know how gabapentin works... causes the release of GABA? ...
valporate also didn't work for me, anyone know how that works? how about dilantin?i would like to try a GABA transaminase inhibitor (vagabatrin?) or an uptake inhibitor (tiagabine?)
> The anticonvulsant Neurontin worked well in high, varied dosing for me... my only regret is not taking it consistently (it leaves the body within 5-6 hours) and not timing it early enough (it takes 2-3 hours to peak).
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> You'd think I would learn by now, after several months of using it... I still haven't. But when I do use it, I am highly socialable and congnitively functioning at at least my usual point... there's a novel-like feel I receive from it that is rather "soothing," and perhaps this tells my nervous system everything's going to be all right while Mother Neurontin is here...
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> If it doesn't work, keep trying with dosing. It's side effect profile is ridiculiously low for me... I get dry mouth and dry throat, but I get that with any med. I take Salagen, and it cancels out. Of course, talk with your doctor... it's taken by millions for various reasons, but any drug can cause an allergic reaction.
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> Dilantin is known to cause the skin rash you describe, but it's still not so prevalent enough as to disuade millions from taking it (assuming they don't get a rash).
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> I'm combining Effexor XR treatment at 150mg. I've been on it for a month, and crossing my fingers for the 6-8 week period.
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> On Neurontin Dosing: Start with 100mg to ensure you don't get reactions to it. Then gradually titirate your dosing. Do not, as I mistakenly did, take your first trial dose at the time you need to do something important. It's common to loose coordination the first week or so while you are on it, so you may appear drunk to others... Take it at night time if this happens, so your body has a chance to feel use to it. I may take as much as 2000mg at a time, but never go above 2400mg total/day if you have seizures or 3600mg total/day if you don't have seizures. I think I'm starting to find taking 400mg every few hours is more balanced and effective...
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> Best of luck!
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> > Hello all...
> > The "try anything" approach a couple of years back, in attempts to treat depression and anxiety, led me to the Dreyfus book and a brief stint with Dilantin. I took 100mg a day for several days and stopped when a horrid rash enveloped my body. I stopped...it went away.
> > Thursday night, i had a really bad anxiety situation that caused intense throat closing and chest pressure and lasted that hole night, dissipating only somewhat the next day. I remembered the dilantin and thought if i could take just a 50mg dose one time, maybe that would help. Well, i did and it did. Inside of an hour i felt the racing loop of thoughts disappear, the throat and chest relax. Several hours later i checked my chest and, sure enough, i was covered by silver-dollar to quarter-sized red blotches all over. They didn't itch but it wasn't pretty. They are only somewhat subdued this morning. Anybody know of any other anti-siezure meds. with a lower profile for side-effects? I have heard the amino acid Taurine can help ammeliorate excess firing and potentiation of brain cells. Anybody?...thanks, john
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poster:cybercafe
thread:120708
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020922/msgs/120991.html