Posted by Emme on June 6, 2004, at 7:57:47
In reply to Re: SLS, how are you?, posted by SLS on June 5, 2004, at 15:05:05
I'm sorry you're feeling cruddy. Gray and rainy definitely sums it up. I hope you get some relief from the duloxetine when you start it. I didn't realize it could be gotten ahead of final approval. I was hoping Zoloft would help you. Are you on just Lamictal now?
I've been: wildly anxious and really tired and unmotivated and hopeless and ragingly furious. But, better than 6 months ago I think. Scary. I'm waiting on an answer from a job interview. I want the job badly and I have a sneaky feeling I didn't interview well enough for it. I'm afraid my mood control will slide out of control when I get the rejection.
I'curious now and I'll read up on the Riluzole. For the moment, though, I've really lost faith in prescription meds, except Xanax. I'm debating whether I want to go to my pdoc (or any pdoc) anymore. I haven't thrown out my meds yet, but I'm starting to work my way through the alternatives. I'm curently trying SJW and SAM-e. If they don't work, then at least I'll know.
I'll post on social if by some miracle I get the job. I'll post on alternative if SJW ever kicks in or if I like the outrageously priced SAM-e.
Emme
> Hi Emme.
>
> Thanks for asking.
>
> I am not doing very well. Memantine stopped working completely, but I am continuing with it at 20mg. I stopped taking Zoloft. I am trying to tweak the dosage of Lamictal to reduce the cognitive impairments I suspect that it is causing. It is possible that the effects that I am blaming Lamictal for are actually features of the depression itself. I really am not sure because I have been taking 300mg for so long. I would like to find out for sure before moving on to Cymbalta (duloxetine). My doctor says that he will be getting an advanced supply of Cymbalta from Eli Lilly prior to its final approval, expected later this summer. I should be starting it in about a month.
>
> The other two drugs that I am looking at are riluzole and mifepristone (RU-486). Riluzole is an antiglutamatergic drug (as are Lamictal and memantine). It is currently available for the treatment of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Mifepristone blocks cortisol receptors, and might work in part by resetting the HPA axis. I don't know how easily obtainable it is. It is currently approved by the FDA only as an abortifacient, and is administered as a single dose. However, it is also an effective treatment for Cushing's Syndrome. The NIMH is conducting clinical trials of both drugs as treatments for bipolar depression.
>
> How have you been doing?
>
> It's a gray, rainy day. That's exactly how I feel.
>
>
> - Scott
poster:Emme
thread:354022
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040602/msgs/354226.html