HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Is Gabapentin making me depressed?

Support Forums
>
Fibromyalgia
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/3/2013 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

I have been taking 300 gabapentin at night since last week and I think it's causing me to be depressed. Or, less capacity for adversity. Full disclosure that I also started takin pitocin shots and am currently having my cycle. Now before you all jump that its AF, you should also know that AF doesn't make me depressed, just angry. Also, as soon as AF shows up I retun to normal in the same day - it's the PMS that makes me emotionally turbulent. I am on day 3 of AF and I can't stop crying at absolutely everything that I deem irritating. Like birds chirping, traffic, a fly flying too close to my face, finding typos while I write this, etc. seriously, EVERYTHING is affecting me. Also, I accidentally flaked on a friend today and I was inconsolable. This is very abnormal for me.

I should also mention that thus far Gapapentin has done nothing for my pain, only helped me sleep - caveat that I always have a little sleepy hangover when I wake up despite taking it 3 hours before bed and getting 8 hours of sleep.

So far not seeing the benefits. Has Gabapentin made you depressed? Is this normal and does it go away after a couple of weeks?

Post Edited (AnnaBananna) : 8/3/2013 3:36:01 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/3/2013 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Anna,

I've wondered, too, whether Gabapentin is bringing my general mood down. I've been on it for over a year, but on a much higher dose. No doubt that my memory is even worse than it was (and that's saying something.) But it helps with my nerve pain, so for now, I'll just deal. As to how long it took to help with pain, I'd say within a week...all I cared about at the time was getting that down to a livable level.

What is AF?

I'm also confused about the Pitocin. They gave me that during my first labor, to make the contractions stronger, but I've never heard of it being used outside of that....

Debbie
Posted 8/3/2013 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Debbie. :)

AF = Aunt Flow (didn't want to totally gross out any male fibro patients. Haha)

Pitocin = that's exactly what it is!! The RA/fibro specialist community is now prescribing fibro shots for pain reduction. I get mine from a compounding pharmacy ($160 a month - ouch!). The theory is that fibro patients have markedly decreased oxytocin production and the supplements helps both pain and muscle healing through oxytocins role in dilating vessels. It also helps with brain fog and eyesight for the same reason. My RA gives every new patient a shot during the first visit, after the pain point physical exam. After the shot he does it again to test if it made any improvement. If so, then you start taking it three times a week. My total time in their office for the first visit was 3.5 hours. I have never been with a physican who spent that much one on one time with a patient. I can't recommend their office enough. Also, while I was running around getting my extensive labwork done, I received stellar feedback from the phlebotomists - they are very well regarded in the community for finding the cause of their patients flares and then individualizing the treatment for each patients situation.

I have been very impressed with my RAs office. They spend a lot of time and money researching lupus and fibro with universities around the country. Let me know if you want more info on their office. The first hour of the visit is JUST info on the most recent advancement in fibro research. It's pretty amazing. Did you know that fibro is basically the body's way of hibernating?

Post Edited (AnnaBananna) : 8/3/2013 4:28:06 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/3/2013 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
Oh and I learned the hard way - dont take the pitocin shots during PMS/AF. Most painful period I have ever had.
Posted 8/3/2013 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, that's really interesting!

I'm so heartened to hear about all that research. I mean, it's good to know that they really are trying to get to the bottom of what's making our lives so - limited.

How long have you been getting these shots, and are they really helping?

Debbie
Posted 8/3/2013 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
I noticed about a 25-30% decrease in my pain and a very noticeable increase in brain clarity. It seemed to calm my thoughts so they were one at a time versus the normal circus in my head and my mood appeared to elevate within ten minutes. The fact that its just from increased blood blow is simply incredible. I am also taking pain medication and am very excited that in a few months I can stop taking it and have adequate pain coverage just with pitocin. I actually asked my RA if I could just stop then because I was so excited but he said no, that I needed to remain medically stable for the first part of my treatment. But soon - yay!! )

I am also curious about HGH being used to treat fibro. I just read up on it myself and that 30% of fibro patients are severely lacking the hormone. When I read the symptoms of low HGH I was shocked to find that I had every single one and they were some of my biggest complaints besides my tactile alydonia and muscle pain. I would definitely discuss it with your RA. If you live in Northern California, I have a referral for you!! ;)

Post Edited (AnnaBananna) : 8/3/2013 5:44:45 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/3/2013 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
Oh and as for the hibernation part - they have done a bunch if cross research with bears and hibernating primates and not only do we sleep like them (never reaching stage 3), but we release the same enzymes that they do and our temperature drops as well. While bears drop their temperature pretty significantly, primates drop but not nearly as much and the pattern of their temperature drop can be linked to our temp changes. I don't have exact numbers. For fun, we will say bears are 30 deg, primates are 10 deg and we are 3 deg. It's in the beginning stage of its research but it is an interesting link.

The reason behind the hibernation is while animals have winter, we have a depleted immune system. What I found fascinating was that my RAs theory went against all of the typical MO for pain specialists which is to fight against it. Work out even when you're in pain/tired. My RA says absolutely not - save your energy so your body can fight what is suppressing your system. (I love him - he gets me out of doing yard work so often. Teehee!)
Posted 8/4/2013 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
Correction: it's stage 4 we don't reach.
Posted 8/4/2013 12:03 PM (GMT 0)
The Gabapentin in itself has a lot of side effects among them weakness and tiredness, too many actually to to list so I will post a side effects page. http://www.pharmacydrugguide.com/Gabapentin_Side_Effects
I think I have read some place else too that they didn't get any pain relief but found they did sleep better.

I read the Generic name is Oxytocin for Pitocin. Is it possible to get the generic to help cut costs?
Posted 8/4/2013 12:14 PM (GMT 0)
Also, I forgot to mention while i was reading it, that if someone is thinking of trying Gabapentin there maybe some coupons available for it by brand names. I always see if I can get samples from my drs when I am going on something new if they are available
Here's what I was reading on coupons. http://www.pharmacydrugguide.com/Gabapentin_Coupons
Posted 8/4/2013 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
I get gabapentin cheap at Walmart Generic list.
Posted 8/5/2013 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
I would be surprised if the Gabapentin had any effect on your mood at such a low dose after such a short time period. Most people who take Gabapentin for pain take 1200-1800mg and build up to it. It does carry a warning about mood changes but usually that is only after an extended period of use. Gabapentin aka neurontin is from the same class of drugs as Lyrica aka pregabalin, which is the stronger, "more efficient" version of Gabapentin. Having taken both, I found Gabapentin did little for my pain, but I was on a relatively low dose (600mg).
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply