Re: Grandaughter Diagnosed

[Guest guest]

Donna,

Did the doc say * WHY * he wanted to prescribe Neurontin for your grandaughter?

If she's not in pain and she is happy, this seems odd. Neurontin has a mild

anti-depressant effect, but that's because it take away pain for some and works

on brain chemicals - which can sometimes work on other areas of the body, like

balance, but this is a longshot. I would seriously question this doc on this.

Ask WHY the Neurontin? What does he 'expect' to achieve. Is this doc a pediatric

neurologist or psychiatrist? Was this a 'hospital doc' who knows CMT? If not, I

would get a 2nd opinion on the use of Neurontin.

Falling, stair climbing - perhaps AFOs or PT; Balance - yes to PT( good to get

her in a pool or even riding a horse too)

Read below for Pediatric Use of Neurontin Effects.

Gretchen

Pediatric Patients 3-12 years of age

Gabapentin use in pediatric patients with epilepsy 3–12 years of age is

associated with the occurrence of central nervous system related adverse events.

The most significant of these can be classified into the following categories:

1) emotional lability (primarily behavioral problems), 2) hostility, including

aggressive behaviors, 3) thought disorder, including concentration problems and

change in school performance, and 4) hyperkinesia (primarily restlessness and

hyperactivity). Among the gabapentin-treated patients, most of the events were

mild to moderate in intensity.

In controlled trials in pediatric patients 3–12 years of age the incidence of

these adverse events was: emotional lability 6% (gabapentin-treated patients) vs

1.3% (placebo-treated patients); hostility 5.2% vs 1.3%; hyperkinesia 4.7% vs

2.9%; and thought disorder 1.7% vs 0%. One of these events, a report of

hostility, was considered serious. Discontinuation of gabapentin treatment

occurred in 1.3% of patients reporting emotional lability and hyperkinesia and

0.9% of gabapentin-treated patients reporting hostility and thought disorder.

One placebo-treated patient (0.4%) withdrew due to emotional lability.

http://www.rxlist.com/neurontin-drug.htm