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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by utopizen on January 21, 2003, at 22:42:23
Well, although I was prescribed 2mg taken two times a day, I wasn't getting any help from this for my social anxiety, so after having toughed out Neurontin at high doses and benefited quite well later on, I decided to experiment with Gabitril.
Okay, bad mistake. 24 mg and 1 1/2 hours later, I was dizzy, couldn't walk straight, things felt blurry. But I got excited, remembering this is how I felt the first time I took 1000mg of Neurontin, and now I can take 1600mg of Neurontin and feel great. Well, at some point after this, I went to bed, although I don't remember doing so. Then I woke up, 4 hours later, and had paranoia.
My memory was lapsing in and out, compounding my paranoia. I felt like I was trapped in the movie Momento- every 30 seconds, I would forget what just happened, or remember just bits and pieces, and have to ask my roommate what I just did. I paniced, started shaking. Oh, thanks to my pathetically low prn of Klonopin (15 .5mg every 2 years as needed) I was out of that, so I had to wait it out until a few hours later.
Moral of story: Gabitril is not safe to experiment high doses with. Stick to Neurontin, which is great stuff.
Posted by Ritch on January 22, 2003, at 0:07:34
In reply to Paranoia/loss of memory on Gabitril, posted by utopizen on January 21, 2003, at 22:42:23
> Well, although I was prescribed 2mg taken two times a day, I wasn't getting any help from this for my social anxiety, so after having toughed out Neurontin at high doses and benefited quite well later on, I decided to experiment with Gabitril.
>
> Okay, bad mistake. 24 mg and 1 1/2 hours later, I was dizzy, couldn't walk straight, things felt blurry. But I got excited, remembering this is how I felt the first time I took 1000mg of Neurontin, and now I can take 1600mg of Neurontin and feel great. Well, at some point after this, I went to bed, although I don't remember doing so. Then I woke up, 4 hours later, and had paranoia.
>
> My memory was lapsing in and out, compounding my paranoia. I felt like I was trapped in the movie Momento- every 30 seconds, I would forget what just happened, or remember just bits and pieces, and have to ask my roommate what I just did. I paniced, started shaking. Oh, thanks to my pathetically low prn of Klonopin (15 .5mg every 2 years as needed) I was out of that, so I had to wait it out until a few hours later.
>
> Moral of story: Gabitril is not safe to experiment high doses with. Stick to Neurontin, which is great stuff.
It took me about two months to *slowly* titrate from 4mg/day to 24mg/day of Gabitril. The derealization experience didn't happen until I crossed that "threshold" of 16mg/day. I flipped out too, but I panicked only in my head-my entire body was numb and detached-very weird.
Posted by jay on January 22, 2003, at 2:07:47
In reply to Paranoia/loss of memory on Gabitril, posted by utopizen on January 21, 2003, at 22:42:23
Have you not thought about getting a different doctor..one who isn't so benzophobic? I think you owe it to yourself, because giving 15 pills a year PRN is just plain *absurd*...even unethical.
Many folks on here have even described the benefit of *two* benzos, also, at once. If anxiety, panic, and fear are major symtoms..these are the best way to treat them...with a good benzo dose.
What do you think?
Jay
Posted by utopizen on January 22, 2003, at 9:33:27
In reply to Re: Paranoia/loss of memory on Gabitril » utopizen, posted by jay on January 22, 2003, at 2:07:47
> Have you not thought about getting a different doctor..one who isn't so benzophobic? I think you owe it to yourself, because giving 15 pills a year PRN is just plain *absurd*...even unethical.
>
> Many folks on here have even described the benefit of *two* benzos, also, at once. If anxiety, panic, and fear are major symtoms..these are the best way to treat them...with a good benzo dose.
>
> What do you think?
> Jaynot to worry, I am seeing a psychopharmacologist at Beth Isreal here in Boston. One of the best departments in the world. He's of course in the same circle with my current psychopharmacologist, who I see in his private practice. My current psychopharmacologist is rather prominent, so I really can't mention him to anyone without people going, "oh, that guy. wow. he's super good"
I think some of these guys think they're failures if they "resort" to benzos, as if they somehow have a great alternative to them. Which they don't. Sure, I'm sure some people resolve their social anxiety with SSRIs, but they're not a case for saying to the people who don't, "tough luck, you don't respond to the SSRIs, so live with it."
Posted by Ritch on January 22, 2003, at 13:30:32
In reply to Re: Paranoia/loss of memory on Gabitril, posted by utopizen on January 22, 2003, at 9:33:27
> > Have you not thought about getting a different doctor..one who isn't so benzophobic? I think you owe it to yourself, because giving 15 pills a year PRN is just plain *absurd*...even unethical.
> >
> > Many folks on here have even described the benefit of *two* benzos, also, at once. If anxiety, panic, and fear are major symtoms..these are the best way to treat them...with a good benzo dose.
> >
> > What do you think?
> > Jay
>
> not to worry, I am seeing a psychopharmacologist at Beth Isreal here in Boston. One of the best departments in the world. He's of course in the same circle with my current psychopharmacologist, who I see in his private practice. My current psychopharmacologist is rather prominent, so I really can't mention him to anyone without people going, "oh, that guy. wow. he's super good"
>
> I think some of these guys think they're failures if they "resort" to benzos, as if they somehow have a great alternative to them. Which they don't. Sure, I'm sure some people resolve their social anxiety with SSRIs, but they're not a case for saying to the people who don't, "tough luck, you don't respond to the SSRIs, so live with it."
>
>For some reason, this reminds me of the movie "Slingblade" where Karl goes to work at the lawn mower repair place and the other guy that works there has all sorts of fits trying to get the lawn mower to work, and Karl walks over and unscrews the gas cap: "There's no gas in it". Maybe you need to look for a pdoc with Karl's type of skills? (uh, use obvious medication to treat something that will work and doesn't cost a fortune) ;)
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