Posted by pseudoname on November 18, 2006, at 11:57:40
In reply to HELP! Need Documentation on opiates depression, posted by liliths on November 16, 2006, at 14:04:45
buprenorphine for depression: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/psycho-babble-tips/links/buprenorphine_for_de_001146748536/
You may want to look at this Babble Tips page of links I put together about buprenorphine (Subutex®, Buprenex®), an opioid used in the U.S. mostly to treat people in opioid addiction recovery programs. There are links to copies of 4 studies using buprenorphine to treat depressives in non-addicts. I have taken buprenorphine since November of last year, and it saved my life. (Google ‘buprenorphine psychobabble’ for threads about my experience and some others'.)
It is not a perfect fix for me, and now, a year later, either my life is getting worse (my theory) or bupe is pooping out (also possible), and I am looking for additional help. But I would not have survived the last year without it, or, ironically, have had the energy and willpower to pursue other treatments.
Buprenorphine does not make me high. I have never had an opioid buzz from it (or anything else). It just takes away my depression, especially the worst, most painful troughs. Exactly 90 minutes after taking bupe, suicidal thoughts suddenly go away, and I think, "Why on earth did I want to kill myself?!"
I have experienced intermittent mild physical dependency (sweats when I go without it for 2 days, e.g.), but I do not get cravings for it. I have gone off of it three times in the last year for periods of at least 10 days; withdrawal symptoms were minimal to none. I can confidently assert that withdrawal from it is not as bad as Effexor or many other ADs.
Some people have not found buprenorphine effective, and some have reported poop-out. It also carries with it, at the very least initially, typical opioid side-effects and should be started with care. Constipation was the biggest problem for me. Despite its limits in my own case, I strongly recommend that treatment-resistant depressives who are interested in it inform themselves & their doctors about buprenorphine and consider it.
Babble's famous Elizabeth(our psychopharmacological goddess, as Declan has called her), finally found relief from depression in bupe. I would certainly give bupe a try before doing VNS or even ECT (which I am also currently considering).
poster:pseudoname
thread:704289
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061117/msgs/704870.html