Gabapentin and depression?
 

I took my first dose of Gabapentin two nights ago. YEsterday I found myself feeling really down and I couldn't figure out why. I was on the verge of trears most of the day, very pessimistic, and really just unhappy/depressed... This is REALLY not like me.

DH told me last night that Pfieser has lawsuits against them associated with Gabapentin use (due to cancer, and due to suicide from depression)... I've decided not to take it today, and already I feel back to normal... If one day of Gabapentin made me depressed I cannot imagine what a week or a month of it would do.

Anyone else have these symptoms? Anyone else found they went away or, once I find I have the symptom should I just assume it'll be a side effect and stop?

Unfortunately, I have no experience with that medication, so I'm not sure.

However, I know with medications related to mental health, anytime it makes things worse (e.g. more depressed) you are to stop taking it and call your doc immediately.

I would talk to your doc and tell them you felt really depressed on it and that you don't want to feel worse than you already do. See if there is something else that can be prescribed without that side effect.

My best to you :)

Thanks... I did stop taking it, and it feels like night and day. Feeling MUCH improved today, no more depression or depressive thoughts... I wasn't suicidal, but I was very upset over some fertility issues that DH and I have been having... Which aren't new, and which till yesterday I was dealing with just fine. I spent most of the day fighting off tears, and just feeling really really down...

I had to stop take Gabapentin for the same reason you were experiencing. I was taking it for anxiety and pain, and it made me worse over time. Pain was relieved, but anxiety ended up getting worse. Combined with Cymbalta, I ended up in the hospital. ><

Holy smokes Consider! I have to say I am glad it was caught early on my end... I'll need to call my doc today and let him know, since I think they need to report this stuff... I do feel so much better than I did yesterday though... what a difference!

It turned out that my anxiety in the end was from the brain being depressed. I didn't feel sad, just felt numb with depersonalization. I feel much better now, I can smile and be my goofy self but just with more rest. Also, if you need a medicine for pain, Remeron and Amitripiyline seem to be good choices. Remeron is for sleep, and for pain from my Occipital Neuralgia.

I tried nortriptiline and I landed up with a horrible stomach ache from it (a common side effect)... I may ask to see my specialist to figure out if there is something else I can use. Mainly I needed the gabapentin to help increase my physical activity, since every time I try to add exercise back into my life, I land up back at square one.

Remeron will most likely work for you then, it contains an anti-nausea drug in it. It works great for mood disorders too, such as anxiety, OCD, or depression. It took 2 weeks for me to see results. :)

Thankfully I don't have much anxiety or depression... The OCD... possibly, as sometimes when I close my eyes, images flash by so quickly, and it's very difficult to make them stop. Mainly I have symptoms induced when I exercise, headaches (behind my right eye), dizziness, fog, and exhaustion. The hope was that the gabapentin would reduce these symptoms so I could start with a normal life again.... Not so much though I guess.

Something for everyone - links I use , something you can keep, and ask your docs to link and talk over the side effects, syndromes, interactions, and withdrawal syndromes when they talk about new meds to start - the things they should be discussing when using these 'big guns' anyway, since we have special needs and sensitive brains.

The third one is one I find, from a person who is not a Doctor, that gives alot of straightforward discussions about the medications we are exposed to; with his personal experiences, as well as what information he has gathered around the net, and many resources.

RXLIST

DRUGS.COM

CRAZYMEDS