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Notes On Medical Uses of Gabapentin
Anonymous
Nov 2002
Some people like the effects, others hate them and can get dizzy or feel dulled. It can help people with bipolar conditions better as an adjunct rather than as monotherapy. It is sometimes used as monotherapy for bipolar and sometimes helpful. The doses are usually > 2400 mg per day (800 or 900 mg TID), but it's inconsistent for that indication. It can be a fine behavioral stabilizer, sometimes a nice adjunct for depression. It is particularly useful for social anxiety, sometimes for social phobias and panic in those who don't find the side effects bothersome.

Some people feel they can't drive safely on it. It may cause blurred or double vision. Side effects can be idiosyncratic and often tend to increase with higher doses. Case reports and some experience suggest benefit in treating migraines and RLS. Some people can't read on it, others feel almost nothing in terms of unwanted side effects. Infrequently it has to be be stopped because of complaints of water retention leading to serious edema.

It's sometimes utililzed to treat ETOH withdrawal or Benzodiazepine detox.

It presents no liver load, doesn't interact with P-4 isoenzymes, and generally has a fairly low interaction profile.

If one has interest in Neurontin they should learn about Gabitril. It may be more effective in certain situations and for certain problems and seems to generally have fewer side effects. It's easier to prescribe and take, only thing is that is sometimes causes idiosyncratic seizures.

Both gabatril and neurontin are useful tools to improve impulse control among difficult populations, like for people with prediagnosed behavioral instability, for instance those who end up in an institution and are having trouble controlling themselves. They're generally appreciated by patients for this purpose.