[Gez]

Hi

I asked this question some time back and no-one seemed to be able or qualified to give me any advice or information about this particular drug.

This drug is relatively new so information on the web about side effects and addiction is kind of vague. I am hoping that someone has some in depth knowledge about this drug and can tell me about side effects and withdrawal symptoms.

I know someone who is taking Neurontin and his personality seems to be changing. Amongst others, he gets very agitated at times, lacks motivation and becomes forgetful. When he tried to stop taking the drug he became extremely volatile. I'd be grateful if someone can give me more information about the drug and how to withdraw from it safely.

Thanks

Gez

[PlanningtoLive]

hi Gez,

I am on Neurontin and have been for the last several months. I have to take it for my leg, so that I can walk. I take 600 mg. 3x per day.

The only thing that happens when I don't take mine on time is extreme leg/back pain which prevents me from moving/walking.

I have had zero side effects from it. I'm sorry about your friend. How much is he taking?

Mary Alice

[(JD)]

Gez, you can get wonderful information on Neurontin at the Multiple sclerosis website... www.nmss.org (Ntl MS Society) since it was developed for that purpose. It isn't a cure all and from those I talk to, either it works or it doesn't and there are precautions. Just thought you'd wanna know.

[CamW]

Gez - I have had quite a bit of clinical experience with Neurontin™ (gabapentin). Most people have no problem stopping the drug, and the only people that I have seen have problems with withdrawl are those taking very high doses for a long period of time (eg. 2400 mg to 3600 mg daily for more than six months).

For what reason is this person taking the Neurontin (eg. anticonvulsant? mood stabilizer? migraines? neuropathic pain?). What disorder has his doctor diagnosed him as having? What is his current daily dosage and how does he divvide it up? How long has he been taking the drug? Has he had problems with memory, agitation and motivation prior to taking the Neurontin? Is he taking any other medication, and if so what are the dosages and when does he take them?

If I know the answers to these questions I should be able to give you a fairly detailed response. - Cam

[Gez]

Mary Alice, SkyBdark,

Thanks for replying. I really appreciate the information you've given.

Cam- I'll get all the information you requested and get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you so much for helping me out with this.



Thanks

Gez

[Gez]

Cam,

Thank you for your patience with this. I have some information for you below:

1)The Neurontin was prescribed for anxiety.
2) He is taking 1 per day (300mg)
3)Hes been taking it for at least 10 months
4)He took Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium and Ativan) for a number of years (for anxiety) hes been benzo free for 4 years. He came off them quickly (very fast detox).
5) He never suffered with depression or anger or loss of motivation before taking these drugs.
6) He was doing well until he went through a divorce and started the Neurontin to help him cope.
7) Hes not taking any other medication.

The last 2 weeks he seems to have deteriorated. He's become confused. He has to write everything down so he doesnt forget to do things. Hes put items away where they aren't supposed to be. Hes ;locked doors and forgot that hes locked them. He can't remember or re-call things that we've talked about. I have no idea why suddenly he's become worse over the last few days. I've been trying to support him the best way I can but its very confusing for me and sometimes overwhelming. Hes always been an anxious person but never like this. Yesterday he went for a doctors appointment who is perplexed as to what is happening but he is doing tests anyway. Thats all I can tell you for now.

I'm hoping my post makes sense Cam. Its early here in England and I'm not quite awake.

Gez

[CamW]

Gez - This is probably too late, but here goes.

Neurontin (gabapentin) is a medication that was originally used as an anticonvulsant. Now it has been used successfully in treating various, seemingly unrelated disorders, such as social anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, migraines, peripheral neuropathies, phantom limb pain, generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks (though I haven't seen it do much good in panic disorder). It is one of those medications that either works or it doesn't. There doesn't seem to be any middle ground.

The half-life of Neurontin is only about 6 hours, so technically it needs to be taken 3 or 4 times daily for full effect (at least when used as an anticonvulsant). In many of the disorders above, many people can get away with taking the drug once or twice a day. This suggests to me that the Neurontin is affecting some neuronal pathway in the brain, acting as sort of a switch or block (I really dunno); this would be a slightly different mechanism of action from that when used in epilepsy.

As for your friend, I'd say that there is something going on that is possibly not related to the Neurotnin. A doc would have to rule out a number of different causes for his cognition problems. This could be something stressful in his life, a major depressive episode, recreational drug use, too many wobbly pops (barley sandwiches; ales), a miny stroke, or some other medical condition. I do not think that the Neurontin is to blame for this, although it can cause some cognition problems when first starting the medication. This usually only lasts until one's body becomes adjusted to the drug.

Some other interesting notes about gabapentin. It is not metabolised, but is excreted in the urine unchanged. There are very few clinically significant drug-drug interactions with Neurontin; I do think it affects the levels of some other anticonvulsants, but which those are eludes me right now.

Also, Neurontin is absorbed from the intestinal tract by an active transport mechanism. This is different from most substances that are absorbed into the body via osmosis or diffusion. This active transport mechanism can become saturated rather quickly. The system is supposed to be saturated at doses of 600mg; anything more is not absorbed (yes, I know that there is an 800mg tablet ... go figure). This can really become a pain if one is taking 4800mg a day. That would mean that to get full effect of the 4.8g a day, one would have to take 600mg eight times a day. I learned this from the noted pharmacologist, Larry Ereshefsky, out of Texas (I believe).

Anyway, let us know what they figure out is going on. They should have resolved the problem, or at least ruled out several potential causes for the cognition problems.

Sorry, that's all I got. - Cam

[Gez]

Cam,
You've given me a very detailed account regarding Neurontin and I appreciate it. I think youre correct with your assumption that the Neurontin isn't causing my friends problem. I'll let you know what happens.

Thanks and take care,

By the way-I'm not sure what a wobbly pop is. Still trying to figure that one out.

Gez

[CamW]

Gez - A wobbly-pop was our hockey team's code word for beer. - Cam