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When I finally met the doctor who diagnosed my bipolar disorder, he prescribed gabapentin as a mood stabilizer, as well as a sleeping aid (Ambien), and Zoloft (the only antidepressant that ever worked for me). I have been on this regimen for almost 3 years now and I fully believe it has saved my life!" Neurontin is also referred to by its drug name, Gabapentin. Neurontin is an anticonvulsant, or drug that controls seizures. In cases of depression, Neurontin works as a mood stabilizer. How do I take it? Prescribing information states that Neurontin should be taken three times a day. Neurontin comes in tablet, capsule, and liquid solution forms. American Psychological Association: Gabapentin has been “largely discredited as a mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder.” Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: Gabapentin “was used frequently for treatment of bipolar disorder, but controlled studies found it was no more effective than a placebo.” The relatively low frequency of bipolar disorder diagnoses in the sample of off-label gabapentin visits suggests that use of gabapentin as a mood stabilizer has declined, which corresponds with more recent psychopharmacology literature concluding that gabapentin’s mood-stabilizing effects are minimal to negligible (13, 32). We found few Notably, pregabalin (SMD -0.55, 95% CI -0.92 to -0.18) and gabapentin (SMD -0.92, 95% CI -1.32 to -0.52) were more effective than placebo in reducing preoperative anxiety. RESULTS. Bipolar Disorder. The randomized controlled trials 19 –21 investigating gabapentin for treating bipolar disorder indicate it is likely to be ineffective. Data interpretation is difficult: dosing varies by trial, gabapentin is used as both monotherapy and adjunctive therapy, patients have heterogeneous diagnoses, and primary outcomes differ between studies. Gabapentin (Neurontin) is FDA approved to treat seizure disorder and nerve pain from shingles. But it’s also used off-label to treat many other conditions, including anxiety, nerve pain from diabetes, and hot flashes. Gabapentin may be effective for anxiety, but it’s usually not a first-choice medication for this use. Adjunctive therapy of gabapentin to stable doses of mood stabilizers or atypical antipsychotics, initiated at 300 mg at bedtime and increased by 300 mg every four nights until symptom relief or adverse effects were noted. Final GBP dose was clinically determined. Maximum dose 3600 mg per day in divided doses (range 600 mg to 3300 mg). Benefits of Gabapentin and mood stabilizer for chronic pain. Reduced pain intensity: Gabapentin can help alleviate chronic pain, making it more manageable for individuals. Improved functionality: By reducing pain, Gabapentin and mood stabilizers can improve an individual’s ability to perform daily tasks without discomfort. Currently, the most useful mood stabilizer combinations are the mixtures of anticonvulsants and lithium, particularly valproate plus lithium. Carbamazepine, lamotrigine, and gabapentin have also been added to lithium with apparent safety. Gabapentin may be a useful drug for the add-on treatment of bipolar patients with poor response to other mood stabilizers. Gabapentin may improve depressive residual symptoms such as irritability, social withdrawal or anxiety. These results should be confirmed in randomized clinical trials. Although gabapentin was traditionally used to treat seizures, it is now sometimes used as a mood stabilizer for depression and bipolar disorder because it calms neurons in the brain, and it may be effective for anxiety too. For 1 year, 13 patients received adjunctive gabapentin with standard mood stabilizers and 12 patients received adjunctive placebo. On the basis of the CGI-BP, gabapentin-treated patients showed significant improvement from baseline to month 12. Evidence supports gabapentin as a treatment for alcohol withdrawal and alcohol use disorder. There is sufficient evidence to consider gabapentin as a third-line treatment for social anxiety disorder and severe panic disorder. If used as a mood stabilizer or anti-depressant, the dose is usually between 900 and 2,000 mg a day. But, it may also be increased for better results. Some people see improvement in their A psychiatrist answers common questions about mood stabilizers for bipolar depression. Other medications, like topiramate (Topamax) or gabapentin (Neurontin), may be prescribed in some cases
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