gabapentin and bipolar disorder

I have bipolar disorder. I take gabapentin though it was prescribed by my neurologist for neuropathy. I don't feel like the gabapentin helps my neuropathy and have wanted to stop taking it. However, my pdoc says to stay on the gabapentin that it helps bipolar?

How is gabapentin supposed to help with bipolar disorder?

Hi @Blueberrybook. I am inclined to trust the pdoc unless there are sideaffects that are disruptive. People here are graet peer support, but the kind of question you ask requires a professional opinion like a pdoc or pharmacist.

If you want to read what is on the web about your question try links like this one I found, but professionals can give you a more reliable answer.

Gabapentin and pregabalin in bipolar disorder, anxiety states, and insomnia: Systematic review, meta-analysis, and rationale - PMC

CANDC

[If you want me to see your reply to this post please include @CANDC in your message - not in requoting my message]

Ooo interesting question. My pdoc put me on a small dose of gabapentin to help me stay asleep. It does seem to help me stay asleep once I fall asleep but he’s never that talkative and hasn’t said anything about it helping the bipolar in general

@Nammu
My pdoc has the opposite problem; he's plenty talkative but he talks SO fast. I quit trying to keep up taking notes on what med adjustments he makes and just asking at the front desk before I go out for a printed list of them.

Oooo that would drive me nuts. I’m deaf and read lips but had to use an interpreter during covid days. I trust interpreters but it’s awkward to have three in a room. But the point I wanted to make was that an interpreter would have forced a fast talker to slow down. He really needs to be sure you know what he’s prescribing! Except for a small increase in my latuda and the gabapentin my meds have hardly changed in ten years. Unfortunately that’s not true for my regular doctor. I’m on 4 meds for my stomach and still I have problems.

I think Gabapentin has low evidence for bipolar at best. I take it because it is effective in ameliorating EPS to my bipolar meds but not as a bipolar med per se. I also think it helps with sleep although I still need Seroquel for that.

There is evidence that Gabapentin improves sleep architecture.

What have you and your peoc decided since you posted? Stay on it or not?

I'm still on the gabapentin for what it's worth. Pdoc says stay on it even if it is not helping my peripheral neuropathy, it may be helping in other ways (not quite sure how, sleep maybe or slowing me down so I don't get too hypomanic?) Not sure.

I see you are on Seroquel. For me, Gabapentin ameliorates side effects of Seroquel. But I am unusual in that in most people Seroquel does not cause EPS but in me it very much does.

I have some EPS from Seroquel, not sure if the gabapentin helps with that or not. Mostly, it's just my tongue constantly in motion in my mouth and minor lip twitches every few minutes. Nothing really noticeable unless you know to look for it, and I can live with it. It's never gotten worse, and I have taken Seroquel most of the past 30 years. Every time I've stopped it, the EPS goes away, but on the other hand, absolutely NOTHING works as well for sleep for me than Seroquel. I don't gain weight on it, luckily, but I am active, exercise 5-7 days a week.

When I added vitamin B6 to ameliorates EPS, it helped. My psychiatrist read literature and recommended it. I take 250 mg of B6 plus B complex which contains B6. This is for the total of 350 mg B6. This is a large dose but not so large as to be toxic. That plus Gabapentin reduced my EPS significantly.

I think Seroquel is the best med for sleep, too .

I have not tried to find out how to unlock this link but this is an authoritative compilation of review of evidence as of 5 years ago. It could be a good start. Of course, in the intervening 5 years there might have been new findings.

Cochrane Library

Gabapentin was heralded as a wonder drug when it came out and was supposed to help everything from migraines to manic depression. It doesn't do anything! I took it for migraines, insomnia, anxiety and did nothing! Drugs are a huge scam!! Don't believe anything you hear!

I didn't realize Gabapentin could work for migraines, although some other anticonvulsants do work as migraine preventative meds in some people.

I moved Gabapentin from at bedtime to one hour before bed and it works better for sleep. I still take Seroquel at bedtime for sleep and then sometimes again to go back to sleep in the middle of the night

When Gabapentin was first prescribed in 2017, I was told to take it one hour before bedtime but it was simpler for me to take everything at bedtime. But now I see that timing does matter.

Nurtec works well for me for chronic migraine. I take it every other day and have no side effects.