Posted by SLS on March 24, 2001, at 8:32:30
In reply to Success Stories, posted by ChrisK on March 24, 2001, at 5:07:28
Hi Chris.
I am sorry if this post has drifted too far from the thread, but I wanted to seize the opportunity to ask you a few questions that you are an ideal person to ask.
> After battling through seemingly endless trials of SSRI's, Effexor, Remeron,, etc I wanted to try TCA's since my father (also depressive) reacted to amitriptyline. I started on Nortriptyline and did better than any other trials. Biggest problem was that I still had a lot of suicidal thoughts.
I started taking nortriptyline about three weeks ago. I have been taking 100mg. My blood level was tested at 123 ng/ml. How much nortriptyline are you taking and what is your blood level? Have you ever lost the antidepressant effect from taking to high a dosage?
> The best med change I ever made was to start Zyprexa. I t alleviated almost all of my negative thinking and obsession with death. I still wasn't completely out of the depression but I was almost functional again. I still wasn't working and really lacked emotions but I wasn't wanting to kill myself.
I have tried both Risperdal and Zyprexa. Each produced an unexpected mild improvement of depression at 1.0mg and 2.5mg respectively. However, when it seemed necessary to raise the dosages to 1.5mg and 5.0mg, I experienced some sort of cognitive disturbance that includes a further impairment of both memory and the abilility to learn new things. I also felt somehow "spacy" or "foggy" and distant and numb from everything around me. There was even some blunting of affect. These effects lasted for over a week with both drugs, and my doctor suggested that if they hadn't subsided after a week, then it was unlikely that they would.
Have you experienced anything like this? Do you think that such effects would disappear with time?
> During this time I got well enough to take on a part time job. The big change though came this year. On January 2nd I started taking Mirapex. After a lot of internet research I convinced my pdoc that it was worth a try and now I'm glad he agreed. I finally have emotions back. I can enjoy simple things.
I was looking forward to adding Mirapex to either Risperdal or Zyprexa. From looking at the PB board, it seems that robust, long-lasting improvements have occurred in people who have added Mirapex to either one of these APs. I will try Mirapex anyway at some point. Although I might go on to try Geodon (ziprasidone), I am pessimistic that it will produce the same adverse cognitive effects as did Risperdal and Zyprexa.
I am so glad that your story qualified for inclusion in the "success" column.
Thanks, Chris.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:57143
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010319/msgs/57364.html