Can discontinuing Neurontin cause anxiety/depression?

[Guest guest]

I had to quit taking Neurontin about a week ago when I found out that I was

pregnant. Since then, I have had extreme weakness in my legs. Worse than that, I

have experienced EXTREME anxiety and insomnia.

My doctor felt that since I hadn't slept in almost a week, he needed to give me

Xanax for a short period of time. I noticed on the literature that the pharamcy

gave me that Xanax works on your CNS, but also boosts the " GABA " in your brain,

which is the chemical that gives you a " normal " feeling.

I wondered if the Neurontin had changed the chemical makeup in my brain somehow,

and discontinuing it suddenly, really messed my head up.

Any thoughts?

Amy Hodge

[Guest guest]

Amy:

The insomnia can be explained as gapapentin (Neurontin) makes on extremely

drowsy.In fact I could never take the dose prescribed because I would fall

asleep while driving!

As to discontinuing the drug, you should taper off over a number of

says. When I started taking Lyrica I tapered the dose of gabapentin

over 5 days while ramping up the Lyrica dosage.

Going " cold turkey " may have caused some of your symptoms.

-- Larry