Hi all -

Just about to start on Nal next week, but my TSM doc recommended Gabapentin along with it and said I could start that right away. It works with alcohol and with Naltrexone. It increases time in slow wave sleep. Here's a study done with Nal and Gabapentin:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21454917

Here's one on the sleep benefits of Gabapentin:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20124884

Subjectively, I feel better using Gabapentin. I take it about 1/2 hour before bed and wake up more refreshed, less hungover and I'm sleeping longer.

Your doc will know if it's ok for you to take it, probably best not to get it from overseas and just start tossing it down your throat.

It's pretty reasonably priced, about $12 for 90 300mg in my area using GoodRx. Might be helpful for those with continuing sleep issues from taking Nal.

Edit***

BTW, I didn't really notice it making me drowsier, though I don't have much trouble falling asleep anyway. I guess I expected some such effect, I took 300 mg an hour before bed, didn't really notice anything so took another 300 and still didn't feel anything. I've just been sticking with 600 mg, but may drop back down to 300 to see if it makes a difference.

Also see:

Gabapentin improves sleep in the presence of alcohol

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17566190

Joe - I tried Gabapentin too but it wiped me out - so I do use it but for sleep now - I cannot stay awake after I take it - and feel great the next day! Are you noticing any difference re your AL intake by using the Gaba too? You are very lucky that your doc is so on board with you re this! Good news!

Hugs, Maggie

Hi Joe and others,
I started taking Gabapentin about 6 weeks ago in addition to doing TSM (which I started April '15). It was also at the recommendation of my TSM doc, who suggested it may be helpful in reducing cravings as it targets a different part of the brain from Nal. I'm currently taking 1200 mg a day, 600 in the morning and 600 in the evening.

It hasn't been long enough to be able to say for sure if it has helped or not, but I think it may have had some craving-reducing effect. But that's not meant to be a strong or definitive statement. I've had cravings come up a handful of times in the last couple of weeks so it definitely hasn't knocked them out altogether. But my drinking numbers have been very low since I started it, although the time that I started Gaba also coincided with my decision to make a strong, conscious effort to limit myself to a single drink a day. As time goes on I'll report back on all of this. And I will also say that it hasn't improved my sleep any; I still struggle with waking up too early in the morning.

Gosh Je - I am amazed that it doesn't make you sleepy - if I took one in the a.m. I would be asleep by 10.00 - I certainly could not drive. And even though I take one at night I still wake very early - but get up each day at 5.00, so if I wake earlier I just get up ...I go to bed early so it doesn't really matter - sorry it doesn't help you more.

Hugs, Maggie

Maggie, I guess the side effects can vary a lot from person to person. But I'm primarily taking it for craving reduction not sleep improvement so I'm happy to not have any drowsy side effects.

je3625 -

You may want to look into some of the GABA compounds that have B6 and L-Theanine in them. Some of them have other stuff like 5-HTP, I wouldn't bother with that myself. Perhaps do a bit of research and bounce the idea off your Doc.

It's said that GABA is too large a molecule to get across the blood-brain barrier, but people seem to get some benefit from it anyway. L-Theanine is a GABA precursor that does cross the barrier. Taking some before bed might help you sleep better, maybe worth checking some reviews, etc.