Posted by tom2228 on December 4, 2015, at 14:11:22
I've been on low-dose (0.375mg/ day) Mirapex for 2 years as an adjunct for bipolar depression. It's definitely helped with some things, but I've always hated a certain way that it makes me feel -- sedated, kinda numb, cognitively constricted. Tried to quit several times but the depression always got worse. Managed to get down to half of the lowest possible dose (0.1875mg/ day) and felt better in some ways, yet severely depressed without the full dose.
Then Tuesday I started Neupro at half a 1mg patch cross-titrating with corners of the pramipexole pills to none today and a full 1mg patch the past two days.
I have never had such a quick and robust response to any other antidepressant. Yeah my Abilify was raised by 1mg and my Ativan very slightly a couple days before starting the patch, which helped, but is clearly significant and wonderful. I've been in a functional state yet severely depressed mood for quite a while now and this is the first thing that has truly brightened my mood and made me smile. I've been getting out of the house, calling and texting people, commenting on Facebook, writing this; I have avoidant personality disorder -- these aren't things I do, or at least enjoy doing. I asked someone on a date.
It's not perfect and I still believe my massive meds list needs some adjusting and I'm still signed up to get TMS. But I gotta say this Neupro is making a serious dent in my anhedonia and chronically depressed mood, and I've tried f*ck*ng everything (57 meds). I've actually been feeling somewhat excited about things.
Hopefully this gives some of you a lead or an option. And to anyone who's tried dopamine agonists before, in my experience Mirapex, Requip, and Neupro are 3 completely different animals, and I am pleasantly surprised with the patch as an antidepressant. For you geeks out there, it actually hits all the dopamine receptors instead of just D2,3,4 , and is a 5HT-1a partial agonist and alpha-2b antagonist as well.
Cheers,
Tom
poster:tom2228
thread:1084420
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20151119/msgs/1084420.html