Hi, me again. Still trying to navgate the site so i'm posting my extended post here...... I stopped drinking on 6/16, went to detox for 6 days where i only had 2 episodes of panic. They took me off ativan and gave me gabepentin, and it worked ok. Since i've been home my anxiety has been bad. the gab. doesnt work very well. Not sure why this is happening, as i figured being sober would make me feel better. Why might i be feeling so bad these days? And are there other non benzos that work better?

I would be interested to hear also, how gabapentin works for people.

I have heard it makes you super tired/sleepy/dizzy?

The other anti anxiety medications are the SSRIs. Such as Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, etc. They are meant to be taken daily and could take 4-6 weeks to start working. But they are a long term treatment.

I take paxil as well. gaba doesnt give me any major side effects but im only taking 300mg twice a day.

I would think the Gaba would work. You could ask your doctor about it, maybe they will adjust the dose or something.

How much Paxil do you take? I have been told the recommended dose is around 60 mgs a day.

The gabapentin works to reduce the muscle sensations associated with anxiety episodes.

Staying hydrated during the change is important.

I take 45 mg paxil. I may need to go higher.

Hello dancing fisherman. Welcome to DS. I'm a river rat who dances with fisher folk at every opportunity. Gotta wonder if we've ever danced. Whether we have, or knot, it makes a tasty daydream. These days I'm trapped in the Dust Bowl of North Americas without a navigable river in sight. Needs my daydreams.

I'm clueless on the meds, but I have considerable experience with how losing a coping mechanism (e.g. drinking) can unmask underlying issues. Do you have a plan to help deal with that heightened awareness?

Just wondering. . . Mostly wanted to welcome you aboard.

Hi arfie, i guess being newly sober does play a role in the anxiety. Getting back to work helps. I also plan to go to na/aa meetings as they re-open.

I'm on the Alanon side of the AA family and miss that network more than I can say. Prayers in progress that the maskites allow the reopenings. My doubts are growing by the hour. The next flu season is around the corner with weakened immune systems culture wide.

Yes, being newly sober does play a role. I use a holistic approach for my own family's health care and keep whiskey on hand for it's anesthesia and antiseptic value. Code 2 medicine when used wisely. It's likely that when you first started drinking, it was an effective medication. What a pain that there is no solution so wise that it won't eventually grow into a problem.

Sorry, I started a thread before scrolling down... Haven't used a forum in about 20 years, so forgive my ignorance. Anyway, yes I'm on Gabapentin! I just started 2 weeks ago and the first day was amazing! I felt so calm and happy, when normally, I'm overly emotional and full of anxiety. The doc has me on 300mg 1x a day, which is quite low, but I'm on a bunch of other meds so I understand her reluctance. Now that I'm used to the dosage, my anxiety is back and I've been crying a lot again. So I am going to request her to up the dosage. I think it's fantastic and works better than my other antidepressants.

You should notice that your pain starts to improve over one to two weeks after starting gabapentin, but it may take longer in some people. However, some feel benefit straight away. Your treatment will be reviewed when you next see the doctor or nurse.