Posted by JadeKelly on March 16, 2009, at 15:42:26
In reply to Re: Treatment for emotional numbness???, posted by X_ander on March 16, 2009, at 5:54:06
Hello X_ander,
My final ideas:
Forget about the age bracket thing, you're on the outside of that anyway. Were all in an age bracket for something. You are not psychotic and your not headed that way either. Btw-I used to repeat myself too, my cognitive abilities were way off, still working on that. If you are repeating, forgetful, cognitively "slower", YOU feel slow, these are all classic symtoms of MDD. In addition, I've read there can be ZERO reason for a person to become MDD. In other words, I had significant traumas in my life that I couldn't deal with. I also have some history in my family. I was at great risk. You may have nothing, or somthing like a breakup or a move could have triggered it. You and I would be treated as both having MDD. Doesn't much matter why.In addition, I reread some posts and it seems you do have some experience with ritalin. Something else I became aware of, if dopamine is your problem, and you respond partially to ritalin and/or you've tried desipramine-Tca , and responded even partialy to that, it is likely you will respond to Parnate. Its good you don't have social phobia, I don't either but I've heard people say Parnate alone is not a great SA med.
>
> Also, I did an rEEG test a while back.**(Do you mean an EEG test? by a neurologist?)** It's supposed to tell you what meds you'll respond to. I'm not sure how much faith I have in it. But it said bupropion, venlafaxine are the ones i'd respond to. Tried bupropion, nothing. And that I'd be unresponsive to MAOIs, stimulants, lamictal, lithium, neurontin. Semi-responsive to SSRIs and TCAs. Anti-psychotics weren't on the list hypothetical list it had to choose from.But you were/are semi responsive to ritalin (stim) and I'd be interested to know if you would be partially responsive to desipramine. Not as a one and only med to remedy your depression, but to see how you'd react. I've never taken it so I don't know how long, s/e's, etc.
I have ZERO faith in the test telling you if, and how badly, you are depressed, nor what meds will work. I have faith in EEG's for my son, he has Epilepsy. If that test was really telling you anything, it was ruling out things like Epilepsy, not diagnosing you. Unless they found something of significant medical value, forget it. Sorry.
>
> Not sure if you guys think those things are reliable at all. But yeah I thought I'd mention it.X, who prescribed that test? If they were REALLY testing, they would have used a pet scan or something. Not an EEG. Whole thing sounds fishy.
I have no idea how they can come up with a list like that. If they were saying, okay, you always respond to SSRI's well, then maybe a list to pick from makes sense. The way I see it, that list leaves all doors OPEN as far as neuros, except rules out the anti psych's which I totally agree with.
>
> I'd have thought MAOI too but the test says otherwise. Antipsychotics won't help with it...anhedonia and dopamine receptor antagonism in the mesolimbic region are like partners in crime.Forget that test. Forget antipsychs please. I've seen them in action and you simply are not a cadidate, your the opposite of a candidate, unless there are things we don't know. Remember, everything you say here is all we have to go on.
X_ander, I believe you are suffering from MDD. I think its been too long and you need to get back to your life. I'll tell you what I would do if I was in your place, to bring you out of depression, and soon. When I was with my first PDoc, he would leave me at low levels of Parnate for too long. I was on 30mg for 6 weeks with no to little response. Finally I got up to 40mg or 50mg, it was around Christmas time, and I was responding but not enough and I was dead tired ALL the time. My PDoc wouldnt augment so I went to my GP and got one month supply of ritalin with the stipulation that I had to find a PDoc who used that combination, fast. I would not get a refill. The first day I took 1 pill, 5mg, nothing. The second day, I took 5mg again in the morning. Later that day, I was suddenly in complete remission. 100%. I figured the Parnate had finally kicked in all the way. I had energy galore, I was myself again. It lasted 10 days then left. I never credited the ritalin, and I was scared to take more than 5mg. I got rid of them.
I then found a new PDoc that specializes in MAOI's and is comfortable and experienced in using them with augments. GET ONE. I asked him how I got that ten days and he said the ritalin. What? lol. He rapidly titrated the ritalin and the Parnate to adequate doses, and voila, couple weeks later 100% remission. They work synergistically in amazing ways from what I've experienced. Dopamine ;-)
> I've been like this for almost 2 years. No change, no worsening, no improvement either.Not acceptable! My new Doc was appalled when he heard how long I was in deep depression. If for some reason you can't take the Parnate and Ritalin, or don't want to, my next geuss, and thats what it is, would be Desipramine, augmented with Ritalin if thats not contraindicated. 30mg of Ritalin all a once is a different effect than say, 5mg, 3-4 times a day, spread apart. Don't know what dose would work best with Desaprimine.
Finally, whatever you do, the most important thing I learned through all of this is to get the BEST possible PDoc you can. Sell your car, lol. Look at how much $$ is wasted on all these trials. My PDoc, given an exact history (meds and reactions too) would have most patients symptom free, or close to it, in a very short time. You have to do exactly as he says tho. Fine by me.It will be the best investment you will ever make. This is my first episode as I think it is yours. We are now at around 50% risk of a second, and then it gets higher. I don't know about you, but I want to be ready if it hits again. GO NOW, RUN DON'T WALK, find the BEST Pdoc you can. Whatever the cost. Use a credit card if you have to. Your worth it.
>Cheers to all, Xander.Cheers to you as well ;-)
~Jade **Sorry so long, I wish I had gotten this message when I came here. While I got lots of help, this would have saved me so much aggravation and time I can't get back-hope it helps you**
>
poster:JadeKelly
thread:865523
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090313/msgs/885645.html