Posted by AndrewB on July 9, 2000, at 11:13:49
In reply to Re: And how was the lamictal alone scott » AndrewB, posted by SLS on July 8, 2000, at 14:30:48
> Where do you find this stuff? I could use some additional resources. I am not familiar with ketamine or memantine. What do they do? Are they available in the U.S.? What research has been done specifically regarding depression?The info. on NMDA receptors and drugs is scattered. Usual sources- medscape, search engines. You should look at Dr Goldstein's site: http://www.drjgoldstein.com/frames/05artbook.html. He uses NMDA antagonists and occasionally agonists (either direct or indirect) to treat CFIDs pain and cognitive dysfunction (and energy?) in the main but also has noted mood improvements.
Ketamine was recently made a schedule three drug in the US due to its abuse on the streets. Note that street abuse of the drug creates disassociative states not unlike schizophrenia, which are quite distinct from the effect of ketamine at low doses. Used mainly as an anethsthetic.
Memantine available only in Germany. I ordered some recently but have yet to do a trial with it. Main uses are for dementia, glucauma, neuropathic pain, and hearing loss(?). The common thread in its effectiveness for these diverse conditions is its ability to prevent neuronal die off due to excess glutamate (via the NMDA receptors) activity.
A simple medscape search will reveal the research done on nimodipine and ketamine concerning mood and depression. Little research is out there. It has yet to be established in what way the NMDA receptors may be involved with mood.
>
> Does nimodipine do things other than block L-type calcium channels? I saw one person report success with it on the board before it turned over. I don't recall what his/her diagnosis was. Expensive stuff. I think its only indication is for post-stroke application to help prevent necrosis.
>
Nimodipine, at least according to Goldstein, is indirectly involved with NMDAand dopamine receptors. Nimodipine is expensive here but can be purchased inexpensively from overseas. Though nimodipine's only indicated usage may be for post-stroke prevention of neuronal death, its off label uses are, I believe, significant.AndrewB
poster:AndrewB
thread:39627
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000708/msgs/39879.html