Gabapentin is less toxic but also only studied as an
anti-epilepticand for cell-membrane stabilization in neuropathies... not to relieve
social anxiety, addiction etc. Scientifically, it's interesting that antiepileptic
membrane stabilization results in these effects, but in practice it's unwise
to take them, because
antiepileptics seem to have a long list of side effects
that are contrary to life extension goals (which this board is about:p).
Here's also a report that gabapentin abuse as social anxiety reliever is a known problem:
http://www.australia...zine/26/1/18/9/There are much much safer ways to get rid of habits & social anxiety,
some require effort but that's life. For really bad habits, even taking psychedelics
from lsd to ibogaine (once) seems safer than taking antiepileptics long-term,
although not that I generally recommend it.
E.g.
Phosphatidylcholine, Taurine, Ginkgo, Omega3's are natural membrane stabilizers similar to anti-epileptics.
If you're, e.g., addicted to anti-anxiety meds or won't stop till you had a 'quick-fix',
then consider higher than normal doses of lemon balm, GABA, theanine and
tryptophan. Especially going somewhere above a gram with tryptophan dose
gives you heavy sedation and anxiety/stress-relief (I don't know how safe
tryptophan megadose is, I just guess a lot more than antiepileptics).
My alarm bells sounded when I heard Dilantin, cause two years ago I was
researching nootropics and ordered it along with other things recommended
on the board (since it's quite cheap). Before I take stuff, I research it a lot
closer, and that's how I found how toxic and dangerous it is (even though I
totally believe it has benefits), and how I threw it in the trash can... don't
make it sound to people like anti-epileptics are a wise choice for a nootropic.