Posted by Ktemene on October 12, 2005, at 8:49:26
In reply to Re: Selegiline DLPA update, posted by Optimist on October 8, 2005, at 12:19:55
Hi Brian,
I’ve had some of the same reactions to meds that you have had. For me also Vitex is the herb that helps the most. (And caffine has always been a life-saver for me.) I have been taking 5mg selegiline for about 18 months, and I think it is very helpful, but it does not resolve my depression altogether. A few months ago my pdoc and I decided to add Wellbutrin at a low dose (because selegiline can cause Wellbutrin to become more concentrated in the blood). For me the combination of 150mg Wellbutrin + 5 mg selegiline is better than selegiline alone. Like you, I had tried Wellbutrin some time ago, and increased the dose to the maximum, 450mg a day. At that very high dosage level I began to have side effects, e.g. neck aches, memory problems. And so my pdoc took me off Wellbutrin. But at a low dose with selegiline it is working pretty well. I used to take DLPA with selegiline but I have backed off that recently because of the anxiety and proneness to anger it seems to exacerbate. A couple of herbs that have helped me with anxiety and anger are Holy Basil and Kava Kava. (Someone recommended to me the New Chapter Supercritical Holy Basil, and that is what I use. Maybe other brands are good, I just haven’t tried them.) There is some evidence that both Holy Basil and Kava Kava have some dopamine related activity. Most of the meds and herbs that have helped me affect the dopamine system. Taurine is another supplement that seemed to help keep me stable, and fish oil has helped in the same way. Most recently the thing that has helped me the most with motivation and energy is SAM-e (the butanedisulfonate form). I started taking 1600mg SAM-e in August and noticed an increase in energy and motivation within a couple of weeks. The effect is so noticeable now that I am decreasing the dosage of SAM-e because I am so energetic that it is fueling my anger. (To augment the SAM-e I also take B vitamins (esp. folate, B6 & B12), 750mg TMG and 1000mg methionine.) But I am hopeful that the right SAM-e dosage is what is needed for selegiline and Wellbutrin to have their full effect and put my depression into full remission. I have been waiting to find out whether the selegiline patch will ever make it to market. If it does, I will certainly try that. But if it does not, and the oral selegiline/Wellbutrin/SAM-e combination poops out, I am going to try Parnate.
Have you ever tried SAM-e? How about Remeron? (If antihistamines work for you, Remeron might be a good candidate. Remeron has a huge antihistamine effect.) I’d be interested in hearing about your experiences with other supplements and meds.
Ktemene
poster:Ktemene
thread:555597
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050924/msgs/565996.html