Neurotin

Neurotin is an anticonvulsant medication used to treat epilepsy and nerve pain. Though Neurotin is only approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of those conditions, the drug has been marketed for other uses including bipolar disorder. Many physicians prescribed Neurotin for depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. The Neurotin generic form as the chemical name is gabapentin.

It's not uncommon for anticonvulsants to be used to treat bipolar disorder. Some of the most common medications used to treat bipolar disorder such as Depakote and Lithium are anticonvulsant medication. However, Pfizer got into some legal trouble for promoting Neurotin uses for which the drug did not receive FDA approval. Technically, Pfizer may not have been at fault. The marketing of Neurotin for psychiatric use was apparently done by Warner-Lambert before Pfizer acquired it.

Physicians can prescribe medications for conditions for which the medications have not been approved by the FDA. According to some user reviews, the Neurotin medicine seemed to work well in treating anxiety and depression. Some users claimed that Neurotin depression anxiety treatment was like taking both a mood stabilizer and anti-anxiety medication with just one medication. Of course with any medication prescribed for a condition, people respond differently. Two people can be on the same dosage of the same medication for the same health condition and have drastically different results.

The common side effects of Neurotin are drowsiness, dizziness, involuntary trembling, changes in vision, headaches, heartburn, and red, itchy eyes. Unsteadiness, weakness, memory impairment, and unusual thoughts can be Neurotin side effects. Other side effects of Neurotin can include joint pain, swelling, weight gain, dry mouth, and ear pain. Some Neurotin adverse effects resemble the flu or a cold such as runny nose, cough, diarrhea, vomiting, sneezing, sore throat, and nausea.

Signs of a serious adverse reaction to Neurotin are rash, hoarseness, seizures, itchiness, difficulty breathing or swallowing, and swelling of the face or throat. If someone taking Neurotin develops any of those signs of a dangerous side effect, the person should notify the physician immediately or seek emergency medical attention. Another dangerous Neurotin side effect is suicidal thoughts. Suicidal thoughts or increased symptoms of depression should be reported to the physician.

People should not take antacids within two hours prior to taking Neurotin. As with any medication, people should inform the doctor of any prescription or over-the-counter medication that they are taking.

I'd be interested in hearing people's experiences taking Neurotin for depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. Please feel free to share a comment about your experience.