Re: Re: Neurontin (New Drug)

[Guest guest]

I have been taking it for years. If your dose is too high, you may see

blue spots before your eyes , funny, but it happens. Make sure you do

not go off this medication suddenly as it is a seizure medication and

can cause seizures if it is stopped abruptly.

marla

mezuro wrote:

>

> Hi,

>

> I take Neurontin for HA. I've been on it for a couple of months. It

> takes a long time to work. It is beginning to decrease my HA. The only

> issue I have with it is that it makes me dopey if I take two at a time

> so I'm taking it 4 times a day, but sometimes I forget a dose.

> However, the return of my HA is a good reminder. I have been able to

> decrease the inderal I was taking to control my HA. Not sure if I'll

> stay on it or try something else at this point. Maybe Lyrica!

>

> Below is info from a doc and from a medication site about neurontin &

> Lyrica. They seem to be similar but different. Hope this is helpful.

> I'm a psychiatric nurse and I tried to cut the material down but some

> of it was over my head. I submit this as a fellow sufferer, not as a

> professional. Please look for further info on-line for the true &

> complete scoop.

>

> New Drug Approval for Treatment of Fibromyalgia

> http://www.revolutionhealth.com/blogs/stevepocetamd/new-drug-approval-for-5264

>

<http://www.revolutionhealth.com/blogs/stevepocetamd/new-drug-approval-for-5264>

> Posted on 08:59AM (EDT) on 2007-06-25

>

> Lyrica ...has been approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia ...

>

> Yes, you are reading SleepExpert blog, but fibromyalgia and Lyrica are

> two things I know a little about. Patients with fibromyalgia are

> famous for sleep problems, so I try to help with that. Lyrica has

> been around for a couple of years for the treatment of seizures and

> for the treatment of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy. I have

> used it with variable success in patients who have restless legs

> syndrome (RLS), as have others, and some of the talk on the RLS forums

> is about Lyrica.

>

> Lyrica works in a way similar to Neurontin, generic name gabapentin.

> Like Lyrica, Neurontin is also an anticonvulsant with pain modulating

> properties and is useful in RLS. One of the problems with Neurontin

> has been its erratic absorption from the gut, so predicting blood

> levels is difficult. Some people only need 100 or 200 mg, whereas

> others seem to need 4000 mg....

>

> These drugs are not analgesic ... but they are particularly good for

> " nerve generated " pain. They are known as " neuronal membrane

> stabilizing agents " and are useful for epilepsy, pain, migraine

> headaches, bipolar affective disorder, and anxiety. They seem to

> stabilize excessive neuronal firing but without sedation.

>

> Patients with fibromyalgia have non-restorative sleep and (probably)

> an abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG) during sleep.... The EEG shows

> increased alpha waves (faster, waking activity) during the delta

> (slower, sleeping) waves of normal deep sleep. Very few medicines can

> actually increase the depth of sleep or take away the " alpha-delta "

> sleep of fibromyalgia. But studies with Lyrica in fibromyalgia

> patients have shown that sleep quality is improved as well as the

> bodily pain. It will be useful for many patients with fibromyalgia.

>

> J. Poceta MD is a licensed practitioner of neurology and sleep

> disorders who has been engaged by Revolution Health. No information in

> this blog is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The opinions

> expressed here are Dr. Poceta's own and do not necessarily reflect

> those of Revolution Health.

>

> Neurontin® (gabapentin)

>

> Gabapentin is described as 1-(aminomethyl)cyclohexaneacetic acid

>

> USES:

>

> Approved

> Postherpetic Neuralgia

> Epilepsy

>

> Other Common Uses by MD's:

> Mood Stabilizer for Bipolar disorder & depression

> Pain related to nerves (back, HA, etc.)

>

> Take: with or without food.

> Tabs broken in half should be used within several days of

> breaking.

>

> Reduction or Discontinuation of Medicine: done gradually over a

> minimum of 1 week (a longer period may be needed at the

> discretion of the prescriber).

>

> Mechanism of Action:

>

> In Pain: unknown,but it seems to decrease pain related responses.

> Anticonvulsant action: unknown)

>

> Gabapentin is structurally related to the neurotransmitter GABA

> (gamma-aminobutyric acid) but does not modify GABA or become

> GABA, nor is it used by the body as GABA. Neither does

> gabapentin alter the cellular uptake of dopamine,

> noradrenaline, or serotonin.

>

> Rats have a gabapentin binding site in areas of the neocortex

> and hippocampus. There may be some connection with calcium

> channels in rats.

>

> Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism

> All pharmacological actions following gabapentin administration

> are due to the activity of the parent compound; gabapentin is not

> appreciably metabolized in humans.

>

> Lyrica

>

> pregabalin is a structural derivative of the inhibitory

> neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

> USES:

> Neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy

> Postherpetic neuralgia

> Adjunctive therapy (adults)for partial onset seizures

> Management of fibromyalgia

>

> Tips: take orally with or without food.

>

> Discontinuing: taper gradually over a minimum of 1 week.

>

> Mechanism of Action: Unknown, but Lyrica (prebalin) binds with high

> affinity to the alpha2-delta site (an auxiliary subunit of

> voltage-gated calcium channels) in central nervous system tissues.

> In vitro, pregabalin reduces the calcium-dependent release of several

> neurotransmitters, possibly by modulation of calcium channel function.

> In cultured neurons prolonged application of pregabalin increases the

> density of GABA transporter protein and increases the rate of

> functional GABA transport. It is inactive at serotonin and dopamine

> receptors and does not inhibit dopamine, serotonin, or noradrenaline

> reuptake.

>

>

>

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