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MedHelp Member's Question

tapering

by PING, Apr 18, 2003 12:00AM
does anyone know anything about the med neurontin? my dr says to give it a try, i am tapering off of oxycontin, thanks to anyone that can help.

                               lee.
Member Comments (37)

by ColdInVT, Apr 18, 2003 12:00AM
Hi - it looks like a medication that is commonly prescribed for epilepsy(sp?)and other neurological issues - not sure how this correlates to getting off from Oxy...



Good luck :)

by hippy, Apr 18, 2003 12:00AM
my father takes neurontin for leg spasams

and poor circulation in his feet.

he has per-riferal  nur-rop-athy.

it has allowed him to walk agian ,without



dibiltateing pain. he is 80 years old.



my mother inlaw had taken  neurotin for

severe leg cramps/ restless leg.

she got swithched to bac-la -fin.



peace!!!!!!!!!hippy

sorry for the weird spelling/ i am bad with spelling.

by PING, Apr 18, 2003 12:00AM
thanks to all, hippy, i am 72, and i do have leg cramps like your father. so thanks again.

                             lee.

by mrmichael67, Apr 19, 2003 12:00AM
Neurontin is used in pain management for nerve pain.  That is one of its side effects.  I have used it for neuropathic pain from my spinal fusions.  I get a nasty pain that shoots down my leg starting at my buttock and ending at my foot.  It has helped many people.  But, it has also not helped many people, me being one of them.

by Percalot, Apr 20, 2003 12:00AM
I first neurontin last year when I was going to mental health to see if there was something that I could take to ease the pain of withdrawals.  To mt surprise, they actaully helped.  Up until that point I had lost hope in all psychotropics and thought that this wa just another b*llsh*t drug.  It also helped to stabilize my moods an calm my nerves.  Of course there is no magic cure for opiate withdrawal, but as far as any non-controlled substance goes that would be the first that I would recomend.  Of course eveeryones' body chemistry is different and what may work on one may not necessarily work on another.  I support it-almost resembles the effects of valium.  I did use it whene I was tapering come to think about it.  Good Luck with it,

                                                  Cheers,

                                                        percalot

by bmac, Apr 20, 2003 12:00AM
To: sfcplt
Hey Lee. How ya been friend? I will have to email you and keep you up to date. I used that med once and it did help the pain alittle. Don't know if detoxing with it will help.

                   Bill

by AmberHunter, Apr 21, 2003 12:00AM
i don't know about neurontin and detoxing but i do know about taking it for sleep.



i take 800 mg. of neurontin and 50 mg. of seroquel for sleep. it works great and neither drug get me high so they are safe to take!~



there are alot of off label indications for neurontin so it doesn't suprise me at all that a doc would try it for detox... don't know if it works but it is interesting to hear!



i do know that it is terribly expensive if you don't have insurance! i plan to keep taking it and have finally found a way to sleep that didn't involve taking hypnotics! (ambien etc...)



amber

by Lostgirl, Apr 23, 2003 12:00AM
I have enough Hydro to taper off but need some advice on whether this wilt work with the least amount of side affects.  And how much WDs will I still have?  8,7,6,5 for 3 days then 4&3 for 4 days then 2& 1 for a week.  Does this sound good or should I adjust it?  I have the xanax and clonadine.  Do I need to take them while I am tapering?  I know that every one feels you should go to your Dr. but I agree with the one person who said they were worried about their medical records.  I am self insured and it was hard enough to get coverage with taking Deression Meds.  I actually got turned down by BC/BS becuase I was taking it.  They say they have to offer everyone insurance and they do but they make it so expense that you wont get it or wont be able to afford it.  



I went CT last time and obviously I was miserable and it took weeks to get back to work.  I dont have that option this time.  



Just not sure what to do, but I can't keep falling of the wagon and letting the wagon train continue to run over me.

by percsnomas, Apr 23, 2003 12:00AM
To: Lostgirl
I like your tapering schedule!!!

You will dramatically reduce your misery following that routine!!!  Remember, it still won't be painless, but keep reminding yourself what the reward will be!!!

As far as the other meds, I'd save them(or use very sparingly)till you get to the end of the taper.

It is worth pointing out, that your schedule will last just over a month, so i definately wouldn't want to be taking xanax during the entire time, as you would certainly risk being hooked to a med with a much nastier(and lengthy) withdrawal.



It sounds like you are prepared, and have all the tools; so the very best luck to you in the execution!!!!



percs

by Lostgirl, Apr 23, 2003 12:00AM
To: PercsNoMas
Thanks for the encourangement.  I just took my first two for the day and it is already 6pm here.  One biggest thing I worry about is the pain will surface once I am done.  I do Have a legit reason to take them and we did try all the NSAIDS to no avail.  Hards part is the pain in my hands makes it very hard to work.  But like I read some else say "I like myself better on Drugs".  Last time I went off Tabs, everyone wanted to know what was wrong with me, why wasn't I talking and telling jokes like I always do?  It just was a great courage in a pill for me.  Obviously I know the psycho dynamics that "that person already exists in me"  but it sure was easier to leave the house and talk to people when I was high and not hurting.  It is hard to be hurting at 41.  Kids are used to me doing anything with them.  



What kind of WDs will I have if I taper off?  And I definately wont take the Xanax for a month!  I have so much of it!  They just kept giving it to me and I tried to take even the lowest dosage and it would knock me out for 12-14 hours.  So obviously that wasn't what I wanted.  I took them last time when I CT but there was no way I was going to sleep with out them.



Are you from the SW?  Hence the No Mas

by Lostgirl, Apr 23, 2003 12:00AM
The other thing that I dont' understand is everyone keeps talking about how much energy they got from taking Hydro or Tabs and how they got so much done.  Over the past year I have sunk in a whole.  The only thing I get done is watching tv and reading.  I can't sit still long enough to accomplish anything and my mind just wanders off to the new subject.  I feel absolutely worthless. I work for a family business and I am so far behind.  I just try to get the minimum done and just lie about the rest.  The guilt is enormous!!!!  I am months behind, I do the books for the business and payroll and stuff.  I get the payroll out and make the necessary stuff.  But the last two months I didn't even get the bills out.  Pretty pathetic Huh?  then to make matters worse I started to smoke again.  While that might not stop to many people from working It does me!  I have this self imposed rule that I can only smoke out side or by the fire place.  Needless to say neither of these places are in my office!  I Just stay up until all hours in the AM watching shows I have taped and chain smoking. By the time I go to of bed it is 2-3 in the morning and then of course I don't get out bed until 10-11 and then I have to go and take a nap in the afternoon.  Does anyone else zonk out like that? or just want to sit around? It is like I don't want to leave this coccoon.  I am well aware that opiates cause depression and I already have that prob that was really under control before, but I guess it is now.  I am starting to freak out becuase my Boss is going to call and talk about the situation here shortyly.  She said she is well aware that things are not right and something needs to be done.  The Boss=Mom ! Scary right!  She said that she was planning on a leave of absence and have someone take over for me.  That would just kill me.  I really wouldn't have anything left for me If I didn't atleast have my job, regardless of the fact tthat I am not getting everything done.  It would just make me feel more of a failure.  I don't think I will ever live up to what she wants me to be.  I know that I shouldn't worry about what she wants me to be, but I feel that I should have something of her approval at this time in my life.  I really dont' want to loose my job either.  I could never start over working anywhere else. I wouldn't have the time with my kids. One is in HS and the other in Middle school, and my oldest has been shipped off to Baghdad in the morning.  Does anyone else have the prob of forgetting things constantly while they are taking?  So I really don't have too much to worry about!    I guess that I should stop rambling.  Have company coming.  Just what I need now!!  But that is me never say no!

by oxic, Apr 23, 2003 12:00AM
To: LostGirl
I'm at home now.

Actually i live in Canada, but did take spanish in university eons ago.  I'm also 41.



You want me to tell you what your withdrawals will be like; as i mentioned, if you follow that tapering plan, you will definately reduce the symptoms......you know the usual flu-like feeling, runs, sneezing, restless legs/arms, depression, etc.  Several other factors will dictate how they play out----like how long you've used, how many times you've quit, etc.  All i know is tapering lets your body(and mind) down easier.....and if you are only on your 1st and 2nd of the day, you are well on the way. For me, the most intense days were the first 2 after i got to zero percs....BUT TOTALLY MANAGEABLE.



As far as the pain goes, that is something you have to be totally honest with yourself about.  I've had 2 back surgeries, and required some narcs, but nowhere near the quantity and duration that i did.  I talked myself into all kinds of "extra" pain, and therefore justifying my useage.  Again, noone but yourself can measure that one!!



I definately get that feeling that your hydro romance is getting close to an end, when you talk about having no motivation, etc.  It is ironic, in that it all starts out kind of warm and fuzzy, and the energy buzz; but as useage builds with tolerance, they actually start sucking the life right out of a person.

There are gagillions(hows that for a word)of reasons that cause people to quit, and i'm not sure which will be the drivers for you......perhaps simply the sick and tired of being sick and tired feeling ; i guess as long as you acccomplish reclaiming your life, thats what matters!



I always tell people(myself included) to shed the guilt; after all, we're only human.



I hope you keep us posted , and know I"M PULLING FOR YOU!!!



percs(no more)

by Lostgirl, Apr 23, 2003 12:00AM
To: Oxic
Thanks for the respond.  I love the forum, but I feel so lost when it takes forever to hear from someone.  My basic intant gratification thing again.  This is the second time.  I am back up to 10-12 a day 10s.  Sometimes I just don't keep track. Late at night I just sit her at the fireplace and chain smoke and keep taking them.  Waiting for that high. It hasbeen a year since I quit last time.  



I do have pain, but you are right about judging it.  I do get to the point that it is really bad, especially my hands and lower back (broke tail bone).  Once without taking any meds it got so bad that by the time I got to the docs my blood pressure and temp were up just from the pain.  They actually said that I needed to take something to ease the pain.  But of course that just sent me back on the old path.  I was good at