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Gabapentin for anxiety

Posted , 5 users are following.

karen41245
karen41245

Dr. Just started me on Gabapentin. I'm taking it for anxiety.  I'm very sensitive to meds so he started me on 100 mg 3xday.  Depending on how I feel, he will up dosage in 2 wks.  Will I feel anything on this low dose?

1 like, 18 replies

18 Replies

  • brian75916
    brian75916 karen41245

    Posted

    Hello Karen,

    Yes, it helped me. I am very sensitive as well. I started feeling calmer almost immediately at 200 mg a day. I ramped up to 300 a day a felt much better. I only got into trouble last week. I take it for GAD and hypochondria. I have had a sore throat all summer, I went back to the ENT and she gave me a serious look and said she needed to biopsy it.  I freaked and went home and started popping the gabapentin like crazy for 2 days. Probably like 2400 mg a day. I was able to cope with the anxiety, but it was a bad idea. I swelled up like a balloon, face stomache and feet. . Biopsy was negative. It seeems to be post nasal drip and acid reflux. 

    The Doc had told me this was one of the safest drugs out there, so I made a mistake and took advatage of it.

    Good luck

    • karen41245
      karen41245 brian75916

      Posted

      When you take the 300 mg daily....do you take it in divided doses or all at once? Thanks for responding.
    • brian75916
      brian75916 karen41245

      Posted

      I took one ot two in the morning and then 1 after lunch. Strangely, they kind of keep me awake. I am going back to that. I just hope the edema goes down soon!
    • fsrvival
      fsrvival brian75916

      Posted

      Yup.  It's an anti-convulsant. You can't fool around with sudden increases or decreases.
    • brian75916
      brian75916 fsrvival

      Posted

      I know, but I always shut down. I can not do that again and kkep my job. I will never take that much again though.
  • fsrvival
    fsrvival karen41245

    Posted

    I was started exactly the same way, and experienced no ill effects.

     

    • karen41245
      karen41245 fsrvival

      Posted

      Are you still taking Gabapentin and if so what are you taking it for?  I have high anxiety and essential tremors so my doctor think it will help both. 
  • karen41245
    karen41245

    Posted

    When taking Gabapentin for anxiety....what dosages are you all taking? At present I'm taking 400mg 2x daily.  My dr wants me to go up to 400mg 3x a day.  Is anyone else taking this dosage?

  • RVF
    RVF karen41245

    Posted

    Apparently LyricA IS LICENSED for anxiety but GAB is not....I'm very sensitive to drugs too so try to get along with herbs and no stimulants....Drugs do not help at low dose and I still end up with side effects.   Do think about the pros and cons.. good luck

  • jesika28180
    jesika28180 karen41245

    Posted

    My doc put me on 100my once a day 3 weeks ago for neck pain and told me it would work for anxiety......I felt it working for the pain.

    .but all of a sudden it wasnt..so she told me to up to 200mg a day and that's where I'm at now..but I'm constantly on edge with anxiety....aND my neck pain is still there....will it work??

    • karen41245
      karen41245 jesika28180

      Posted

      I've been on 400mg 3x day for 1 month and it hasn't helped with anxiety at all.  Also, I'm soooo tired all day.

    • jesika28180
      jesika28180

      Posted

      I feel sluggish, almost as if my legs are like jellow, on edge with anxiety? will this either go away or the meds not work?
    • karen41245
      karen41245 jesika28180

      Posted

      That's how I feel....dopey and sluggish, heavy legs.  It's been 6wks since I first started meds and I think if the Gabapentin was going to work it would have done so by now.

    • jesika28180
      jesika28180 karen41245

      Posted

      Have you asked your doctor? Yeah they say 4 weeks to feel full effect.
    • jesika28180
      jesika28180

      Posted

      I wouldnt mind just feeling like that..but I feel jumpy...nervous..full of anxiety!
    • karen41245
      karen41245 jesika28180

      Posted

      I do feel like that to some extent.  My friends say I'm quite chatty and excitable....but it's not in a good way to me.  Feel too excitable, too worked up.  It's like I'm tired but wired kind of a thing!

    • jesika28180
      jesika28180 karen41245

      Posted

      I'm jumpy...nervous....not liking it cuz I feel worried..like somethings going to happen.

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