NEURONTIN WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS & INFO / HELP WITH NATURAL NEURONTIN TAPER

NEURONTIN SIDE EFFECTS MAY INCLUDE: 

Blurry vision or double vision, dizziness, headache, uncontrollable shaking of a body part, rash, anxiety, memory problems, uncontrollable eye movements, fatigue, coordination problems, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dry mouth, heartburn, increased appetite and weight gain, fever, pain in the ears, back and joints, itchy, red dyes, flu-like symptoms, suicidal thoughts or behavior, acting on risky impulses, panic attacks, aggressive and violent behavior, mania (abnormally excited, frenzied mood)  

NEURONTIN ADVERSE REACTIONS MAY INCLUDE: per PDR   

Severe: suicidal ideation, teratogenesis, anaphylactoid reactions, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS, angioedema, erythema multiforme, rhabdomyolysis  

Moderate: ataxia, peripheral edema, nystagmus, hostility, blurred vision, constipation, amblyopia, impaired cognition, amnesia, dysarthria, peripheral vasodilation, dystonic reaction, conjunctivitis, hyperglycemia, withdrawal, tolerance, choreoathetosis, depression, involuntary movements, confusion, memory impairment, hepatitis, dyspnea, hypertension, dehydration, jaundice, hyponatremia, eosinophilia 

Mild: dizziness, drowsiness, headache,fatigue, asthenia, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, tremor, diarrhea, diplopia, weight gain, lethargy, libido decrease, back pain, irritability, vertigo, appetite stimulation, dyspepsia, anorexia, xerostomia, flatulence, cough, rhinitis, infection, pharyngitis, rash, emotional lability, restlessness, fever, skin irritation 

NEURONTIN CONTRAINDICATIONS: per PDR:    

Depression, suicidal ideation

In January 2008, the FDA alerted healthcare professionals of an increased risk of suicidal ideation and behavior in patients receiving anticonvulsants to treat epilepsy, psychiatric disorders, or other conditions (e.g., migraine, neuropathic pain). This alert followed an initial request by the FDA in March 2005 for manufacturers of marketed anticonvulsants to provide data from existing controlled clinical trials for analysis. Prior to this request, preliminary evidence had suggested a possible link between anticonvulsant use and suicidality. The primary analysis consisted of 199 placebo-controlled clinical studies with a total of 27,863 patients in drug treatment groups and 16,029 patients in placebo groups (>= 5 years of age). There were 4 completed suicides among patients in drug treatment groups versus none in the placebo groups. Patients receiving anticonvulsants had approximately twice the risk of suicidal behavior or ideation as patients receiving placebo (0.43% vs. 0.24%, respectively; RR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2—2.7). The relative risk for suicidality was higher in patients with epilepsy compared to those with other conditions; however, the absolute risk differences were similar in trials for epilepsy and psychiatric indications. Age was not a determining factor. The increased risk of suicidal ideation and behavior was observed between 1 and 24 weeks after therapy initiation. However, a longer duration of therapy should not preclude the possibility of an association to the drug since most studies included in the analysis did not continue beyond 24 weeks. Data were analyzed from drugs with adequately designed clinical trials including carbamazepine, felbamate, gabapentin, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, pregabalin, tiagabine, topiramate, valproate, and zonisamide. However, this is considered to be a class effect. All patients beginning treatment with anticonvulsants or currently receiving such treatment should be closely monitored for emerging or worsening depression or suicidal thoughts/behavior. Patients and caregivers should be informed of the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and should be advised to immediately report the emergence or worsening of depression, the emergence of suicidal thoughts or behavior, thoughts of self-harm, or other unusual changes in mood or behavior. Anticonvulsants should be prescribed in the smallest quantity consistent with good patient management in order to reduce the risk of overdose. 

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