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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SLS on November 5, 2004, at 8:19:53
A friend of mine has social anxiety disorder for which his doctor refuses to prescribe a benzodiazepine.
I was wondering if anyone has had good results using Neurontin.
Thanks much.
- Scott
Posted by jboud24 on November 5, 2004, at 19:16:15
In reply to Neurontin for social anxiety - How good is it?, posted by SLS on November 5, 2004, at 8:19:53
Hey Scott,
I used to augment my xanax with neurontin for social anxiety, and it worked low-moderately well. I did not notice any pro-social effects until single doses of 1800mg were ingested.
That's been my experience,
Justin
Posted by anxiety_free on November 6, 2004, at 3:49:02
In reply to Re: Neurontin for social anxiety - How good is it?, posted by jboud24 on November 5, 2004, at 19:16:15
I personally don't like neurontin. The whole off label RXng is a little shady, and it doesn't seem to work well. For me, Inderal (propanolol) with Klonopin was and is the way to go. Don't try beta blockers if you have asthma, though; results could be fatal.
Posted by slinky on November 6, 2004, at 22:34:10
In reply to Neurontin for social anxiety - How good is it?, posted by SLS on November 5, 2004, at 8:19:53
Yes..I have good results..dosage 600mg tab or 800mg tab twice a day ( usually it has to be taken 3 or 4 times a day )it hasn't made me more sociable but anxiety/nervousness has greatly reduced..makes life run more smoothly
BUT..I've never taken it alone always with an SSRI so as monotherapy I've no experience.
Posted by jujube on November 7, 2004, at 7:42:22
In reply to Neurontin for social anxiety - How good is it?, posted by SLS on November 5, 2004, at 8:19:53
Scott,
I know this is going to sound very simplistic, but some people are having results in treating anxiety disorders with niacinimide (B-3), at a dose of 500 mg, three times a day. I think I read somewhere that at that dose it can be as effective as a benzo for some people. Also, there is a natural product called "Picamilon" that apparently is effective for anxiety. It is GABA bound with niacinimide.
I hope your friend finds some relief soon.
Tamara
> A friend of mine has social anxiety disorder for which his doctor refuses to prescribe a benzodiazepine.
>
> I was wondering if anyone has had good results using Neurontin.
>
> Thanks much.
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by theo on November 7, 2004, at 8:06:32
In reply to Neurontin for social anxiety - How good is it?, posted by SLS on November 5, 2004, at 8:19:53
Neurontin made me less social, uncomfortable around people. Keppra for me is much better than Neurontin.
Posted by Iansf on November 7, 2004, at 13:05:58
In reply to Re: Neurontin for social anxiety - How good is it? » SLS, posted by theo on November 7, 2004, at 8:06:32
> Neurontin made me less social, uncomfortable around people. Keppra for me is much better than Neurontin.
Is Keppra actually helping you with social phobia, or do you simply mean that Neurontin made you less social than your normally social self and Keppra doesn't?
Posted by tsirch on November 8, 2004, at 3:29:27
In reply to Neurontin for social anxiety - How good is it?, posted by SLS on November 5, 2004, at 8:19:53
> A friend of mine has social anxiety disorder for which his doctor refuses to prescribe a benzodiazepine.
>
> I was wondering if anyone has had good results using Neurontin.
>
> Thanks much.
>
>
> - Scott
I have had great results with Neurontin for nine years. It works very well for anxiety, and mood. My proublem is Im an un able to stop taking it without experiencing horrible withdrawl worse than I experienced with xanax after running out due to a mix up years ago. It may depend on your personal body chemistry and how you taper off wheather you feel withdrawl or not but be carefull Scott, this stuff really screwed with
my system. Im taking 2100mg/day.
Posted by theo on November 8, 2004, at 7:04:04
In reply to Re: Neurontin for social anxiety - How good is it? » theo, posted by Iansf on November 7, 2004, at 13:05:58
I'm saying Keppra helps. It doesn't make me feel like a social butterfly but helps take the edge off, that gut wrentching feeling I get when I walk into a crowded area.
Posted by SLS on November 8, 2004, at 7:12:17
In reply to Re: Neurontin for social anxiety - How good is it?, posted by tsirch on November 8, 2004, at 3:29:27
> I have had great results with Neurontin for nine years. It works very well for anxiety, and mood. My proublem is Im an un able to stop taking it without experiencing horrible withdrawl worse than I experienced with xanax after running out due to a mix up years ago. It may depend on your personal body chemistry and how you taper off wheather you feel withdrawl or not but be carefull Scott, this stuff really screwed with
> my system. Im taking 2100mg/day.
>
Wow! We were just talking about withdrawal syndromes produced by Neurontin in another thread about pregabalin. I didn't think it was as severe as for the benzodiazepines.Can you describe some of the things you experienced as the withdrawal syndrome? Did you taper your dosage or discontinue it abruptly? If you did taper, do you recall at what dosage the withdrawal symptoms appeared?
Thanks for your input.
- Scott
Posted by dove on November 8, 2004, at 8:39:19
In reply to Re: Neurontin for social anxiety - How good is it? » tsirch, posted by SLS on November 8, 2004, at 7:12:17
Hey there Scott!
It took 2,400 mgs of Neurontin just to feel it slightly smoothing the rough edges. I took it for over a year and a half and never had any withdrawal symptoms, whether I suddenly ran out, or forgot my pills and was stranded a 3 day week-end without them.
While I was taking Neurontin, I was also taking a few other meds in combo, including: Amitriptyline, Serzone (Nefazadone), Prozac, Wellbutrin, Klonopin, Adderall, Remeron and Trazadone.
Which is a hearty combo of chemicals that might have caused the Neurontin to affect me less than if I had been taking it with one or two other meds.
dove
Posted by tsirch on November 8, 2004, at 12:50:00
In reply to Re: Neurontin for social anxiety - How good is it? » tsirch, posted by SLS on November 8, 2004, at 7:12:17
> > I have had great results with Neurontin for nine years. It works very well for anxiety, and mood. My proublem is Im an un able to stop taking it without experiencing horrible withdrawl worse than I experienced with xanax after running out due to a mix up years ago. It may depend on your personal body chemistry and how you taper off wheather you feel withdrawl or not but be carefull Scott, this stuff really screwed with
> > my system. Im taking 2100mg/day.
> >
>
>
> Wow! We were just talking about withdrawal syndromes produced by Neurontin in another thread about pregabalin. I didn't think it was as severe as for the benzodiazepines.
>
> Can you describe some of the things you experienced as the withdrawal syndrome? Did you taper your dosage or discontinue it abruptly? If you did taper, do you recall at what dosage the withdrawal symptoms appeared?
>
> Thanks for your input.
>
>
> - Scott
>Hey Scott. I tapered my dose,but it was too hasty and sloppy. Im on 7/300mg caps a day. I tapered a cap a day, and was off in a week.Its hard to say at what dose withdrawl started, but three days after being completely off was when I got very sick, unable to sleep, and knew I was in trouble. I took a 300mg/cap hoping for relief, and the withdrawl pain and paranoia grew
much more severe, as though the medication itself aggravated my nervous system before it could work. So Instead of going to the emergencyroom, the next day I got a script for valium, which really helped, yet I could still feel the neurontin withdrawl after being off it completely for two full weeks. Not knowing how long the neurontin wthdrawl would last, and fearing it would get worse when the valium 10mg/day, ran out of my system, I tapered myself up quickly while still having a few Valium left. Im back on 2100mg/day again, for a week now and Im feeling ok. It scared the shit out of me so bad, the next time I attempt to taper off this med. I will reduce it by one 300mg/cap a month, and also I will have some benzodiazepines on hand. Some withdrawl symptoms were nervepain, like there was acid in my nervous system, like my nervous system was on fire. Paranoia to the point of terror(before I got the valium), feelings of doom, depression. No vomiting or sweating or siezures. Like I said it may depend on the person, but be carefull!
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