Posted by Chris A. on May 10, 2001, at 12:39:46
My consultant recommended Tamoxifen as a mood stabilizer. It is the estrogen
antagonist prominent in breast cancer treatment. I haven't started it, as I have been
taking high dose estrogen for it's much touted neuro-protective effects. He says the
evidence that estrogen is neuro-protective is very weak and has been over publicized.
At 48 I have just gone off of my estrogen to see where I'm at, and as a possible
intermediate step towards Tamoxifen. In reading Dr. Manji's research results, I'm
feeling that this is a tentative treatment with a lot of risks. It's supposed to be a PKC
inhibitor like depakote and lithium. It is also aimed at refractory mania. Since my
experience is 95% depressive in nature I am concerned that it might leave me flattened
out at the bottom at best, like Nimodipione did. I am diagnosed mixed bipolar and the
only mood stabilizer that I've tolerated is Lamictal. Ziprasidone caused really bad
akithisia, so I don't want to go back on it with a beta blocker (another pill to take and
opay for, not to mention dealing with more side effects - aaarrrgghh!) It would be nice
not to be so internally restless that I can't sit through my daughter's graduation. At least
there is another milestone that it is important to stay alive for. If it weren't for milestones
I wouldn't have survived thus far.If anyone has had experience with Tamoxifen I would like to hear about your
experience.Thanks in advance,
Chris A.
poster:Chris A.
thread:62381
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010507/msgs/62381.html