Re: Nuerontin/Sleep Disturbance

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Has anyone on Neurontin had trouble sleeping? I've posted on this before,

but thought I'd try again. Seems like I'm the only one I know. I can't sleep

through the night; it blocks Stage 4 deep sleep.

I've tried most every sedating medication and herb and other natural

supplements, but nothing keeps me asleep past 5 or 6 hours, so I take a

cocktail of a drugs to get back to sleep, which has me on way too many drugs

and sleeping much too late and the drugs don't always work. The irony is

that, unlike most PWCs, I had no sleep problem before I began Neurontin.

Also, any ideas about Neurontin's mechanism of action that might cause a

sleep disturbance. I know that in most people it helps sleep. If I knew its

mechanism of action I might figure out a way around it. Needless to say I

have to take it, as it controls my severe food intolerances.

thanks,

mike

[Guest guest]

Mike,

Check out:

http://www.geocities.com/hotsprings/6028/nfaq.htm

That's the FAQ for Neurontin, from there you can access the package insert,

research and other Neurontin info.

I took Neurontin for a couple of years. The only thing that I can think of

relative to the trouble you are having sleeping is that your blood level of

Neurontin is dipping and that is what wakes you up. I was taking 3200

mg/day. I had to take 800 mg every six hours around the clock or I got very

uncomfortable, almost felt like I was going to jump out of my skin, also

nausea. If I slept through my 6 am dose I woke up sick, sick sick by 7am.

From the experiences of other people taking high doses of Neurontin, others

reported having to take it every six hours or else too. The body doesn't

metabolize Neurontin, after about seven hours enough Neurontin is excreted

via the kidneys (doesn't get processed in the liver at all) so that your body

needs more. For a while I had to set my alarm, later on I was able to wake

up on my own and then go right back to sleep after taking it. I kept it at

my bedside with a covered glass of water (after an unpleasant spider in my

water incident!).

There is a Neurontin users email group that deals with the ins, outs, ups and

downs of taking Neurontin. to join send an email to:

neurontin-L-request@...

If you are already taking a midnight dose of Neurontin, it would be

worthwhile asking the Neurontin users email group for other ideas.

You are right, gotta get those zzz's.

Barb

> Also, any ideas about Neurontin's mechanism of action that might cause a

> sleep disturbance.

[Guest guest]

Mike,

I'll let you know. I am not sure if it is making me sleep lighter or not,

but my suspiscion is that it might be. It's weird, really. I lie in bed

and think I will never fall asleep, and the next second I am asleep. But I

am not sure of the quality. I have been getting up at about 5- 6 hours but

then go back to sleep after awhile.

I think on Marilyn Ks site she mentions that if a person wakes up at night

on Neurontin they may actually need to take more then. This kind of makes

sense to me since it does not stay in the system...?

This is only week two, and I am on 100 mg 5 - 6 times a day. 200 mg made me

feel horrible.

> Has anyone on Neurontin had trouble sleeping? I've posted on this

before,

> but thought I'd try again. Seems like I'm the only one I know. I can't

sleep

> through the night; it blocks Stage 4 deep sleep.

>