What to do for attention issues while on Gabapentin?

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

First of all, both medications cause sedation, so you need to withdraw Gabapentin by decreasing the dose by 25 mg every three days, because Gabapentin is not suitable for your case, and take Vraylar (Cariprazine) before sleeping. Moreover, the duration of action of Vraylar is long, so you do not need to take another drug with it. Second, you should consider CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), because the medical treatment alone is not enough, and CBT can teach you how to deal with stressful and difficult situations in your life.

Third, you should consider a healthy diet which contains vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids such as fish oil, besides avoiding junk food. Fourth, every three months, you should do some investigations, such as fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, measuring blood pressure, and CBC (complete blood count), to avoid serious side effects of the medication. Fifth, you should take amantadine to avoid movement disorder caused by the antipsychotic. Finally, sports activities and exercise can help you be fit and happy.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

First of all, Vraylar (Cariprazine) is an antipsychotic, and Gabapentin is an antiepileptic, so they are not suitable medications for insomnia, unless you have a psychiatric disorder. Second, insomnia has many causes, such as depression, anxiety, endocrine disorders such as hyperthyroidism, increasing cortisol due to severe and chronic stress, premenopause, and premenstrual tension. So, you need to treat the cause, not take medications, which can harm your health.

The treatment for insomnia is for the short term to avoid dependency. You can take Eszopiclone 3 mg one tablet before sleeping for three days, then stop the drug for four days, then take it again for three days, and stop it again. A healthy lifestyle can help you sleep. For example, vitamin B6 can help you sleep, and a Melatonin supplement can also help you. Fourth, CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) can help you overcome severe stress and learn you how to be calm in difficult situations, resulting in having a normal sleep cycle. You can also do some investigations with your doctor to ensure that you do not have an organic disorder, such as a thyroid gland function test, besides asking a gynaecologist if you have a problem with your menstrual cycle.

I hope this information is helpful to you.

Thanks.