My 22 year old son has been diagnosed schizophrenic. One drug he is on is Gabapentin, 600mg. With his doctors ok, he is taking 11/ day. Yes, 11. His mood started off fine, calm, focused, and actually began college 3 weeks ago. 1.5 weeks ago he be again showing signs of irritability, and mood swings. Some of these mood changes are probably related to the schizophrenia , but can Gabapentin in high doses cause this as well?
what is the total dose he is on then ? soory I was a bit confused when you said 600mg, and 11 a day ....
6,600/day. Way too much I think!
I didn't know that Gaberpentin was used for Schizophrenia. That does seem a high dose, I would check with the GP tomorrow. I take 900 mgs a day for nerve pain.
I have only ever taken gabapentin for nerve pain, and I was on what the drs decided was the highest effective dose for nerve pain without excalation of side effects. I took at total of 1800mg a day - this was 600mg taken three times a day. I know the dose can go up to 3600mg, but I was told for nerve pain anyway that there was little documented evidence to say worth going above 1800mg a day, as not much increase in pain relief but there is a huge increase in side effects. Hope this helps.
I have just had a look in a BNF I still have - not most current volume, but still relevant - Gabapentin was initially an anti seizure medication for epilepsy, an adjunctive therpay when seizures not controlled on other epileptics alone. Then came the licence for neuropathic pain. Please note that you must not suddenly withrdraw this medication, need to taper off slowly when you stop this, ask dr in what increments, although I did it even slower than they said because I take other meds too and didn't want to put my body through hell. !! Under CAUTIONS are Psychotic Illness.....I don't know the full psychiatric history but it may be worth checking if you are concerned
Neither did I ?? must be Rx'ed for something else....it's primary licence is for adjunctive treatment for epilepsy, and then it got a secondary license for treating neuropathic pain.
Gabapentin isn't normally used to treat schizophrenia
I thought the US had bad healthcare... Wow...
I'm really sorry. They should not have put him on that.
Not to mention it is an excessively high dosage.
The only thing(s) Gabapentin should be prescribed for is aid to an anticonvulsant and nerve pain.
I was prescribed for a severe back injury as an alternative to opiods, but I don't take the Gabapentin either because of its risks.
CBD (not THC hemp oil) is legal in the US state I live in. In higher doses it can treat pain but it is used as a much more effective anticonvulsant than substances like Gabapentin.
I would do nothing as regards this drug until you have spoken with your GP as Holly says one as to be very careful with regards to the dosage or coming off the drugs, these are very strong so please get expert advice.
To be honest, it doesn't nothing for my back injury. Nerves are involved in every type of pain. No way was I going to increase my dosage. I stopped taking it after a few days and reading the risks.
Heating pads and hot baths do more.
Way too much please consult a psychiatrist center or new doctor!
That's if he is willing to.
Thanks for all the advice. Going to talk with Dr. This week and get a new game plan.
You're welcome.
I think in the US they are much more strict with amounts they're willing to prescribed. This probably caused my initial shock. He may need to go to a psychiatric facility only to ween off under supervision. Explain to him it is all normal. I wonder if his schizophrenia was simply psychosis? I know some able to ween off medications after years because they no longer have schizophrenia their body has regulated itself.
Hi Jeff.....Please call dr....side effects can include mood swings suicidal thoughts etc....and remember your son must been weaned off....you cant just stop taking it...........
My understanding of Gabapentin is it can be taken safely in doses up to 4,000mg. However, it must be titrated up in increments so the body can tolorate it. I'm surprised a pharmacy would fill a prescription for a dose of 6,600mg. Especially if it was started at that dose. It dose need to be brought down by tapering. The higher the dose, the greater the taper can be tolerated. Once you are below 1500mg, the slower you need to taper. You might consider getting a second opinion for a dose for your son. Also, speak to a pharmacist about the safety of this high dose. Going above 4,000mg seems dangerous since this medication has a maximum allowance for humans. I have not seen a dosage given for more than 3600mg. This medication can cause a lot of undesirable side effects, especially at high levels... including mood changes. Report all side effects you are noticing to your doctor. RxList and Drugs websites will give you a list of possible side effects.
Be sure that you do not taper down without a doctors supervision or he could have very serious and dangerous reactions. This is very important.
I seriously would have to advise anyone going over 1800mg a day of gabapentin to check with their dr, and even a second opinion.....I have been told by more than one doctor that efficacy does not massively increase beyong 1800mg a day, but side effects do.....so whilst it may be licensed to a higher dose it is rarely worth it due to inc. side effects vs benefits. Seriously, this is not a drug to be messed around with....I have so far permanent side effects ( 12 months post stopping it ) on my short term memory and speech ( cognitive and language part of brain ) after circa 5 years of being on it at 1800mg, then dropped to 1500mg....then I decided after watching film ''Still Alice'' about EAD enough was enough, and that if I got increased pain for a couple of months, which I did, as I dropped the dose down each time, then so be it. I have not got Alzheimer's, and I was sick of feeling and being seen as if I did. DO NOT what ever you do though either escalate this drug too fast when starting, or drop down too quickly, you are playing with fire. Make sure your dr is competent in this area and get their advice asap.
I was taking opiods ( still do , slow release morphine , only thing that works now for pain ) - not nerve pain though !.....and gabapentin, and diazepam at 2mg x3 daily.....I am pretty good regarding resistance to side effects usually....but I wasn't prepared for how much my pain clinic in UK kept encouraging me to stick with gabapentin despite the side effects I have mentioned....people should be told.....I'm guessing CBD is a form of cannabis, I can say I have never been offered that here in the UK !! I know some people over here use similar for MS
It caused me to have suicidal thoughts at a time in my life when things were never better. Schizophrenia runs in my family. My brother is fortunate enough to only need lithium. I've been on several meds for anxiety/depression. I am also a mental health therapist. Gabapentin is as bad as benzodiazepines in my personal and professional opinion. My mom has been on new and old anti psychotics for schizophrenia. The new ones have fewer side effects and I can have more of a conversation with her. She still gets a lot of side effects (ie, restlessness, constant urge to use the bathroom, sleepy). In their cases PROS and cons must be weighed. I suggest joining a local NAMI support group.