Bipolar disorder is further subdivided as bipolar I, bipolar II, cyclothymia, and different other types according to the specific characteristics and severity experienced by the patient. Disruption of day to day normal activities, suicidal tendencies, and general feelings of distress are the usual symptoms associated with bipolar disorder. Environmental triggers as well as genetic factors are linked with the condition of bipolar disorder. Medications specially created for mood stabilization, different other psychiatric drugs, as well as psychotherapy are the common treatment methods followed in dealing with bipolar disorder.

Neurontin is the brand name for Gabapentin. It was earlier created for treating epileptic conditions. Currently Neurontin is frequently used for relieving pain, specifically neuropathic pain, and migraine headaches. Lately Neurontin has also been identified as having certain mood stabilizing effects. Great deals of investigations are on regarding the effectiveness of Neurontin in treating bipolar disorders.

Gabapentin or Neurontin is mainly different from other categories of mood stabilizing medications in two primary ways. Firstly Neurontin has been found to be effectively working in some patients who have otherwise not responded to other mood stabilizers or antidepressants. Secondly Neurontin;s comparatively benign side effects have encouraged mental health experts to prescribe the drug for treating bipolar disorder.

Neurontin has successfully controlled mixed bipolar disorder condition as well as rapid cycling in those patients who have not adequately responded to carbamazepine or valproate. Neurontin is supposed to contain significantly higher antiagitation and antianxiety properties than valproate and carbamazepine. Although there are very small numbers of reports available relating to gabapentin’s efficacy in psychiatry, it has been seen that certain few patients with difficult to treat bipolar disorder conditions have been treated effectively.

When Neurontin is used for treating bipolar disorder or as a mood stabilizer, generally 900 to 2000 mg per day is the prescribed dosage. However individuals with extreme conditions may respond only with a high dose of 4,800 mg per day. The response of different patients with bipolar disorder to Neurontin varies. Sometimes antidepressant and antimanic effects start in a week or two. In other cases, the positive effects of Neurontin may show up in a month’s time.

Neurontin is generally well tolerated. There has been lower number of cases of weight gain or hair loss compared to lithium and Depakote. In contrast to Lamictal, Neurontin works better in reducing mania more than depression. The main feature of bipolar disorder as we all know is mania. There are no negative reports relating to Nerontin reacting adversely with MAOIs, lithium, Depakote, and Tegretol. Some of the rare side effects of the use of Neurontin include sleepiness, dizziness, fatigue, tremor, nystagmus and double vision. These side effects usually occur in the initial few days of increasing the drug dosage and generally fade with time.

One disadvantage with this drug is that it needs to be divided into a number of doses – may be four times in a day. Just like any other antidepressant, Neurontin may even induce mania in a few patients with bipolar disorder. The FDA has not given approval for use of Neurontin in young children. Medical studies have proved that children may experience extreme psychiatric side effects like thought disorders or hostility. Neurontin should be used cautiously in patients suffering from renal impairment on account of the probability of accumulation leading to toxicity. An experiment with Neurontin on rats showed development of adenocarcinomas. However, clinical importance of such studies has not been established.

Neurontin must not be abruptly discontinued after a prolonged use. Sudden discontinuity of the drug may induce withdrawal symptoms akin to alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal. Steady reduction extending over a few weeks and months have been known to prevent or lower the syndromes of withdrawal.

In the 1990s, Neurontin came as a breakthrough drug with an array of psychological and physiological benefits. Pfizer made the claim of the drug being absolutely effective in controlling bipolar manias, psychosis, and mental agitations. However investigations down the years have proved Neurontin’s efficacy as an anticonvulsant drug more than in the treatment for bipolar disorder. FDA has officially approved Neurontin as an effective anticonvulsant. Neurontin is thus used as an off-label drug in U.S.A for treating bipolar disorder.