Posted by OldSchool on February 23, 2002, at 19:32:49
In reply to You won't believe this! » OldSchool, posted by spike4848 on February 23, 2002, at 18:50:28
> Hey Old School,
>
> Yeah, we have talked about this before. The field of Psychiatry is wasting away, while Neurology is taking its place. The only way Psychiatrist can drum up business is convince patients that "medicines are bad and only covering up the problem" ..... basically making the public feel guilty about taking medications that are necessary for a *medical* disease-depression.Oh God, I just hate psychiatry. I despise it...I could vomit all over myself thinking about how screwed up it is.
>
> While I am going through my med trials to try and find something that doesn't have all the side effects of nardil, I have been seeing a social worker from the clinic I work at. After seeing and talking to me, he is convinced depression is a medical disease. He has asked me to speak, as a physician, to his group therapy patients about the *benefits* of meds. Can you believe that, a therapist is asking me to trash psychotherapy and plug meds. He has seen the light.Well maybe being the person you are (arent you an MD?) this person realized this stuff is medical. Maybe something you told them just convinced them you are right. I just cannot believe with the severe symptoms I have had that some people honestly believe that talking will make things better...I mean its just beyond my comprehension. I just dont understand where these talk therapy/psychology people come from...do these people REALLY believe that makes serious mental illness any better?
I guess I just feel that there is a lot of wasted energy in the mental health field. Its hard to articulate sometimes. As for the Nardil/MAOI thing I am not really qualified to talk about that as Ive never taken an MAOI except for very briefly and didnt give it a chance. Im scared to take the older irreversible MAOIs, I developed hypertension as a result of trying Parnate briefly. I had a very mild hypertensive crisis on Parnate and its just too much for me to handle. I do know MAOIs are the best antidepressants, useful for refractory depression. I have read all about it and I dont really think there are any antidepressants that come close to the efficacy of MAOIs.
The only thing that probably equals or surpasses the efficacy of MAOIs is ECT, but ECT doesnt usually last so I guess you come back to the MAOIs. As far as alternative meds, the only thing I can think of is possibly high dosage Effexor. have you ever tried that? Its quite effective. Like going to 375 mg Effexor. Some people have gone higher than that, even though you have to watch out of blood pressure probs at super high doses. Like combine high dose Effexor with high dosage Remeron...thats a potent combo Stephen Stahl dubbs "California Rocket Fuel" because its some potent stuff. And if that doesnt get you to remission try adding Lamictal to it.
Id say thats the closest modern class drug combo I have read about that is comparable to the MAOIs. High dose Effexor plus Remeron plus Lamictal. Some strong shit that would be.
Also, as long as you dont have an addiction history in your past, there is always plain old amphetamines. Ritalin, dexedrine, etc. Combining speed with Effexor or an SSRI is a useful combo for some.
Unfortunately while this polypharmacy stuff seems to work great for others, I have had major problems with polypharmacy and dont seem to be able to do that.
The one thing Im thinking about besides ECT is maybe ordering some moclobemide from overseas. But I know Im not supposed to talk about that on this board. I have read about moclo and feel comfortable taking that drug...it sounds pretty safe compared to the older MAOIs. Im also HOPING this selegiline MAOI patch will be FDA approved soon.
take care,
Old School
poster:OldSchool
thread:18721
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020223/msgs/18754.html