Posted by Soljah on September 6, 2003, at 1:11:11
Aloha,
I have been using buprenex for about 2 months to treat refractory depression in combination with Paxil CR. The Paxil had been working great on its own for about 8 months until it just "pooped out." The addition of buprenex as an augmentor has been a real lifesaver. I haven't felt this "normal" in many many years.
Recently, I moved out to Hawaii and have not been able to find a single pdoc (or any doctor) who is willing to prescribe buprenex or has even heard that it can be used for off-label things like depression (they are adament that it cannot be used for depression). This is even after they have my medical records showing that that is exactly what I have been using it for. Really, really frustrating and scary at the same time because I am almost out of my meds (paxil is fine).
What is shocking to me is that a couple of pdocs have volunteered to prescribe me Stadol which isn't regulated as much as buph from what I understand. I have never heard of Stadol until recently and it seems like it is WAY more addictive than buph??? And I really haven't found any info saying it helps with depression or has even been used in clinical studies for it.
I am really getting concerned with my depression coming back hardcore if I stop the buph and am also very leary of Stadol. Can anyone give me some advice on this. I can't believe that these doctor's are willing to try and fix what isn't broken by not prescribing me buprenex and offering Stadol.
I'm sorry for such a long post, but I haven't been sleeping at night worrying so much about this. When the Paxil started to lose its effectivness for me, I fell into that deep abysmal depression that is totally incapacitating. I would be very grateful if anyone with any experience or knowledge could give me some advice. Again, I have been on just about every SSRI, Tricyclic (can't to MAOI's), and a host of other augmentors like lamictal, depakote, lithium, neurontin, topamax and some that I can't even remember.
Please let me know what you think. A big mahalo for the help!!!
poster:Soljah
thread:257504
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030902/msgs/257504.html