Boilerbob-
My neurologist put me on Neurontin and in the beginning i was worried about it as well. I've actually researched it for quite sometime now. I had asked 3 pharmacists about it- 1 went to a seminar for CEU and others read the leaflets enclosed on the bottles. They all said it was pretty safe and it isn't fat soluable. it metabolizes in the kidneys in minute amounts. There is off label use- i.e. pain relief as well as it being used as a mood elevator as well. I wouldn't worry too much about it. You can't get addicted to it and you are better off taking one neurontin for sleep than a benzo.

shows:

I didn't get offended :p I watch them occasionally because they are fun to watch. I usually bat .500 on House guessing the dz before the reveal, like the one about rabbies I actually got at the begining b/c the homeless lady lived in a box and bats flew out when they looked at it (in the US rabbies is transmitted by bats, usually splunkers aka cave divers, get it). House is fun medically because the diseases are so rare, Grays anatomy is fun for the soap opera effect.

Neurontin:

I haven't had pts complain of any significant side effects. They get tapered up to a good dose I beleive it is 300mg 3x a day but that is determined by the Dr and response to treatment.

Anti Depressants:

Peoples biochemistry is differentm we all have receptors for meds but in different quatities and qualities so you usually run down the most popular/cheapest first and try it for the 2-4 weeks that it takes to get a good serum level with SSRI's. Of it doesn't work or too many SE you try another simolar med. They are usually the same class, SSRI, but a more purified form or perhaps an isomer of the parent molecule. Eventually you move to the others that have more side effects like MAOI's and TCA's but usually of you stick it out there is a med that worls with your chemistry. Pts tend to get frustrated though b/c they think you should know what to put them on automatically. Unfortunately every one is different so you gotta run down the list of meds.

Update:

Day 5 was awsome. I still felt tired and droned out in the AM gradually over the day I started feeling better and better. At around 4PM I noticed I had energy and really felt good, I mean really good, better than I have felt in a long, long time. Every last word on here has been true to form, the anti histamines helped with the runny nose/eyes etc, the amodium kept diarrhea at bay, and even though I know scientifically less than 2% of the vitamins and St John wort gets absorbed, I took them and maybe it helped. I go either walking to play B ball or hand wash my car for the excersise, I must have washed my car at least 2x a day this week!

In any case, I think it's all working together, including the stress free month I scheduled, all the awsome words and encouragement on here, etc. to make this work.

I know what I am going through is a joke compared to the larger doses but I know going through this and at least imagining how much worse it can be will make me an empathetic physician. I can even understand the lying and manipulating to get more pills because the fear of WD's is so strong. I tried going CT a few months ago without the nutritional support, nyquil etc and it was hell compared to now.

I haven't taken anything today, no anti histamines, no imodium, nothing! It feels great not to be chained to any bottles for a change but I know temptation will come and I will stay on the board reading and posting as asked.

Thanks again for getting me through my first 5