Posted by Jim on April 15, 1999, at 7:52:33
In reply to Re: Refractory depression--naltrexone theories?, posted by Elizabeth on April 14, 1999, at 18:01:47
Elizabeth,
You might be interested to hear that I've recently started to try low-dose naltrexone augmentation myself (atop the imipramine I've taken seemingly forever). I DID have some scary nightmares at the start and promptly quit, but was persuaded to try again at a still lower dose along with a bit of klonopin. The results this time (though still way too early to be conclusive) have been extremely encouraging, I'd even say unlike anything I've tried before. (Paradoxically, it's weird to just feel normal!) Naltrexone is clearly a very interesting med with complex opioid-mediated effects on both impulse and mood. Though I still can't be sure how it will work out with me (fingers are crossed), I reckon at least that it has some kind of future in helping to treat depression--especially in cases where some kind of opioid involvement is suspected (cravings, addictions, trauma history, etc.).
--JimElizabeth wrote:
> A researcher I've spoken to who has some experience using opioids of various sorts for depression says that naltrexone by itself often causes dysphoria. It might be that naltrexone works specifically in the type of cases you list (impulse-control type disorders). (I won't presume to guess why it would cause relief sometimes and dysphoria other times, since I imagine I'd just be proved wrong. :-})
poster:Jim
thread:4588
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990501/msgs/4910.html