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Scared to take Gabapentin for anxiety and sleep; help?

Just put on it by my neurologist. I have anxiety (have since I was 15; now I'm 32). Been on Prozac and Xanax for that long.
Just recently (w/in past month) developed a "sensitivity" to sound and sometimes lights. It would send a weird sort of tickly feeling down my back, to my stomach and chest. Psychiatrist thinks its anxiety but I don't know. I did get anxious BECAUSE of this however.
Now my Prozac was upped from 30 to 40 mg; Xanax upped to half of a .25 tab to half of a .25 tab 3x/day; I'm now on Seroquel (low dose) at night (to help w/sleep) and Deplin (a folate supplement). I've added extra magnesium supp b/c I read it can help w/dizziness I believe.
The weird sensations have lessened (still have sound sensitivity;cancelled concerts; don't listen to radio); Also muscles feel "tense"-like they're never relaxed. You can't tell by looking at me but I feel it all over. Never felt like this w/anxiety.
Heard some bad (and good) things bout Gabapenten. Anyone else take it for anxiety?

Posted 3 months ago

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KittyChanel

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ME ME ME!
I submitted a question about this before!
used to take klonopin then he took me off it and replaced it with gaba..its an odd drug..im sorry you're having the tinglesounds...i take 200mg three times a day...it doesnt make me sleep at all..does make me tired but not enough to sleep...i think the xanax would take care of your anxiety alone...let me know how it goes with you!

Posted 3 months ago

Other 12 Answers to Scared to take Gabapentin for anxiety and sleep; help?

Mystic44	Posted Jun 6th, 2009 at 3:44AM I took gabapentin for about 5-6 months, It is great for not only treating nerve issues and pain, anxiety etc., it also helps heal them, so it is not so much a bandaide like many other meds. I would recommend this medication. There are many doses, the first answer here say they are on 200 mg. 3 times a day, which is a very low dose, it can be rasied as high as 900 mg 3 times a day. It brings your mood up incredibly but has to be stopped slowly if you discontinue use. It can not be stopped suddenly. I hope this helps and you can message me with any other questioons regarding this medication, I am an experienced med tech. Rated: +2Vote for this!
sinnamon76	Posted Jun 6th, 2009 at 3:44AM Yes, Gabapentin, generic for Nuerontin is generally safe and mild. It is used for many things, epileptic seizures, back pain, anxiety, mood disorders, Bi polar, ect.... But you know your body better than any doc, be sure to really press them if you feel it is causing adverse reactions. There is no completely safe drug out there.... Rated: +2Vote for this!
gerrynchappster	Posted Jun 22nd, 2009 at 8:49PM Just wondering if you could possibly be having a bad reaction to one of the meds you have been on for awhile. These meds you already take could really cause additional problems for you and the longer you are on them the worse the problems can get. Something to consider. I took Lexapro for depression, I started getting all sorts of health problems and never put two and two together until I got a new physician that took my off of Lexapro very slowly and all my health problems cleared up....including sensitivity to light and sound... Rated: +2Vote for this!
demilieu	Posted Jun 2nd, 2009 at 12:36PM gabapentin doesn't have bad side effects. it may make your feet a little puffy (not much, maybe you'd see it only if you are already very skinny), and it tends to make you a bit light headed...and relaxed, which is what the doctor is aiming for. it also may make you sort of constipated. the side efects increase as you up the dose, so if you start on 300mg at night and same when you wake up, you shouldn't have too much trouble. it's considered a very safe med, as psych drugs go. it's much safer than lamitrogane - lamactil -a nd other benzos, buspar...neuoleptics, atypical antipsychotics (abilitfy, serequel)...um, for me it doesn't make me drowsy right away, so i wonder how good it is as a sleep aide, but maybe it will help you. i'm not as smart as a neurologist or psychiatrist so i can only ofer my expereince with this drug. i've taken as much as 1800 mg in 24 hours an still been okay to work and stuff. Rated: +1Vote for this!
MISTRESSROXY	Posted Jun 22nd, 2009 at 8:48PM Ask your doc about either melatonin or a glass of red wind before bed. Sometimes you cant mix the meds with either. Rated: +1Vote for this!
SophieAnne	Posted Jul 11th, 2009 at 8:16AM I was given this drug for back pain when I broke my back a few years back. I was on a lot of other drugs too but it seemed to have no effect at all. Certainly did not help me sleep one bit. Rated: +1Vote for this!
Oddi	Posted Jun 12th, 2009 at 8:56AM If I have trouble sleeping I generally try drinking chocolate with Johnny Jameson. Usually does the trick. Very occasionally I take half a Temazepam. That does it straight away. Rated: +1Vote for this!
sugarnspicey	Posted Jun 26th, 2009 at 3:16PM I've never taken that med, but your story sounds all too familiar! I too felt the same sensations when I was taking all my meds for anxiety&depression(I have a story in the "I battle with Depression & Anxiety group). It's like your body has a super sensitive sensory, for me it was being over medicated!! There's an over the counter med called "Calms Forte", (can find at CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens ect.), for sleeplessness and anxiety, hope this helped!:-) Rated: +1Vote for this!
leah761	Posted Jun 28th, 2009 at 5:28PM I take it but not for anxiety. I take it for migraine prevention. I started taking 200 mgs three times a day and I could braley keep my eyes open. I couldnt do my job right bc I was soooooo tired so I started taking two 200 mgs at 7pm at night. It is fine, I have not noticed any weird side effects. Rated: +1Vote for this!
bethlehem69	Posted Jul 2nd, 2009 at 12:47PM I was on it but not for anxiety... was used for nerve pain-600 4x a day!!! when on it the only real side effect I noticed was walking into walls, doors, you name it. My equilibrium was gone.. was a little funny I suppose but it helped with my problem. Rated: +1Vote for this!
Duparc	Posted Jul 21st, 2009 at 1:31PM A particularly good medication that effectively controls anxiety is Phenytoin. Regretfully it is an off-label use which most clinicians are unaware of. It's side effects are almost nil. Rated: +1Vote for this!
TheGoldenBear	Posted Jul 22nd, 2009 at 6:03PM Don't listen to the person who said to take chocolate and alcohol. Chocolate is full of caffeine and sugar...so is alcohol (sugar). That will keep you up. Rated: +1Vote for this!

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