Gabapentin/Neurontin or Depakote?

[Paxiled]

Hey folks, I think the regulars here know my story.  I had a very odd reaction to stopping Paxil over three and a half years ago, and I've never gotten over what happened.  Basically, I was being treated for panic attacks, and ended up with constant anxiety, stifling depression, huge anticipatory anxiety, and worse phobia problems.  Because my then psychiatrist never told me about withdrawal and never did what he should have done, which was put me back on Paxil and taper even more slowly than the six week taper he used, I just was left to suffer and had to figure out what happened on the internet.  Anyway, after about a year of it not resolving, and not being able to use the natural medicine I'd intended to try because of the mounting side effects I was having with the Paxil because one of the effects I've had is paradoxical reactions, I agreed to go on Lexapro.  It helped a little -- I did get a few hours of sleep for the first time in a year -- but not nearly enough.  When the dose was raised to 30mg things got really weird, so my new psychiatrist took me off and switched me to Celexa.  I'm now on 30mg and getting headaches and gaining weight and having weird sleep, but that wasn't surprising, I've been on tricyclics and ssris and it seems the only ones that work are the ones that come with side effects.  I expected her to up the dose to 40mg, but she surprised me today on our monthly phone call by suggesting it was a failure, that ssris didn't seem to be working for me, and though she has no idea how to deal with my unusual situation, she was inclined to try either Neurontin/Gabapentin or Depakote.  I was pretty taken aback, and we ended with me going to 40mg of Celexa until I see her next month.  I've heard a lot that gabapentin and like meds often cause more anxiety, and I admit knowing nothing about Depakote because my issue has never called for an anti-psychotic.  So, folks, any thoughts here?  

[mcderma]

Hi I posted on ENT forum a few days ago to ask you if you ever got rid of your sphenoid sinusitis?  I've had an unrelenting headache since July 8, 2009 and have never gotten rid of it.  I wonder if you are any better.  Can you let me know-I'm about at the end of my rope.  Thanks Anna

[hmf099]

I've been on neurontin since I came of xanax 4 months ago, and I love it. It not only helped me through withdrawal from the xanax (I withdrew in rehab) but it helped with my panic attacks too. The other responses are right about the dose increases though, and lately it has been doing very little for my anxiety, I think it's time for another increase. I don't know much abou depakote though, I was on it briefly as a teen and that's it.

[mammo]

I can understand how your bad experience makes you fearful of these drugs. Some people have bad reactions with one, but do well on others.  When you've had a bad experience you have to be careful that you don't allow this fear to make things worse when starting a new drug......easier said than done. If you have complete faith in your psych then trust that she knows best, if not, get another opinion. Neurontin is mainly used as an anti-convulsant and to treat nerve pain, but has become widely used in many other off label areas.  There is much controversy over it's effectiveness in psychiatry, with some studies suggesting it's does little more than a placebo.  Others say it's effective for those resistant to the usual medications.  Good luck with this, I hope it works well for you.  Take care....

[Paxiled]

I starting switching to Celexa from Lexapro about two months ago.  We went very slowly for obvious reasons, so I've been on the 30mg Celexa for about three and a half weeks to maybe a month.  I'm starting to get side effects -- weight gain, you know, the usual -- but to me, that just means it's being metabolized, right?  Anyway, I start the 40mg today but I'm scared of those meds, but then, I've been so scared of everything since the Paxil debacle.  Thanx for answering, N.

[nursegirl6572]

How long have you been on the Celexa?  I just wonder if the doc gave it enough time?  I would want to personally exhaust that possibility first.

IN my honest opinion, if you are going to try one or the other, I would try the Neurontin first.  It may require several dosage increases before you notice any improvements, and generally speaking, when Neurontin is used for anxiety-type situations, it requires a much higher dose than when it is used to treat Neuralgia.

Any which way....please let us know how you're doing, buddy!