Posted by dove on January 3, 2002, at 9:13:05
In reply to Re: Lost the ability to sleep, withdwl from neurontin? » allisonf, posted by Mitch on January 2, 2002, at 10:42:06
From the psycho-babble and other grapevines, I've heard, seen, and read that Neurontin seems to help certain people dxed with a bipolar spectrum disorder. I take Neurontin and it does seem to soothe my anxiety, curbs my mood-swings, and lessens my depression. And I definitely sleep better since I started taking it, even though I don't take it at bedtime.
I strongly agree with Mitch's advice. If you're going to freeze out the Neurontin, do a taper while ramping up on the Depakote.
Talk to your Doc as soon as possible, as losing sleep--night after night--can and will lead to more problems, of which you could do without! Especially considering the havoc insomnia or sleep deprivation can inflict upon the bipolar or mood-cycling depression disorders!
One sleep aid I have used when cutting down on my bedtime dose of Amitriptyline is 1.5 mgs of sublingual Melatonin. I have never found relief with the larger amounts that are taken orally (swallowed in tablet or pill form and processed in the stomach.). The sublingual (you let it melt under your tongue) Melatonin (and it tastes very pleasant) has been my emergency insomnia back-up for *many* years.
However, my problem isn't waking up too early, or waking from sleep being unable to fall back to sleep. I use the Melatonin to shutdown my mind, thoughts, and mental energy; and it seems to do just that, enabling me to fall asleep at a halfway decent hour.
dove
poster:dove
thread:88509
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020103/msgs/88612.html