Off of which drug first?

December 21, 2003

Since this subject has come up, y'all reminded me that I have a

similar question:

I'm in the middle of what looks to be a protracted withdrawal from

Parnate, an MAOI I have taken for 18 years

For over 18 months I have been taking Neurontin (600 mg bid) off

label for peripheral neurologic pain originally diagnosed as an

impinged nerve though now I am starting to doubt this diagnosis-

just don't know... (It works for the nerve pain though it's supposed

to be pretty poor as an anti seizure med.) It sure is better that

the two months I spent on MS Contin; I couldn't function at all.

This was just as I started the Parnate withdrawal. There's alot I

have learned about this whole condition and reasons for it and now I

doubt the initial diagnosis. The pain is real enough though.

Anyhooo, the Integrative p-doc wants me to get off of the Neurontin.

I guess I don't trust any MD enough to take their advice with out

checking it out. The prescribing doc gave ne some suggestions for

reducing the dosage, e.g. alternating dosage days.

I take it I shouldn't reduce both at once, eh? What about

stabilizing on the current level of Parnate then starting the

gradual withdrawal of Neorontin? By the way, even though it is

similar to GABA, the monograph says it doesn't act on the brain as

GABA does but then what do they *really* know about it?

On Dec 7th I reduced from 12 to 11 mg of Parnate. I felt OK until

Friday but didn't identify what was going on until today. My period

started and I started crying. Fortunately I had a co-counseling

session lined up and got lots of loving and caring attention as I

felt miserable. Discharging the emotion in this way let me enjoy a

Hanukkah Party this evening.

This is hard time to set up counseling sessions- holidays, people

aren't available- I really want to set up lots of support in the

co-counseling community for this time when the withdrawal is

hardest.

It it OK if I try to rely on this list a little more at these times?

-Diana

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