Posted by Anna Laura on December 19, 2002, at 7:28:25
In reply to Re: next steps - Anna Laura, posted by Pfinstegg on December 17, 2002, at 9:03:53
> Hi.. It sounds like trying to raise the dopamine and nor-epinephrine is what you've been correctly focussing on; are there any new drugs, or promising drug trials that you can enter in Italy?
>
> Even if you have normal, or even low normal TSH, T4 and T3, you can still benefit from very low doses of synthroid and Cytomel. I have always had normal readings, but have been helped a lot by these two drugs- mostly in having much more energy to get going in the mornings. I have a TSH every six months to be sure that it does not get too low- it is at the very bottom of the normal range, but never gets too low. Giving synthroid and Cytomel to depressed patients with normal TSH who are AD-resistant is becoming quite common in the US- in my own experience, it is very effective as an add-on to other medications. Are your doctors just checking your TSH, T3 and T4 and telling you they are normal? They can do much more than that!
>
> Just to mention the fish oil again- have you read the threads on that in PB over the last couple of months? Reading that information conv inced me to take it in high doses- it took about a month before I thought they were helping, but I feel sure they are: I feel more alive and interested in my surroundings, and note that my problem-solving ability is better and quicker.
>
> I know you really need an AD which works properly for you, but, while you are searching for that, you could safely add Synthroid, Cytomel and fish oil. Be sure to give them all at least a month's trial before you decide they aren't working!
>
> PfinsteggHi Pfinstegg
sorry for answering late; i tried fish oil but those doses were too low probably and i didn't stick long enough also; i'll try them again. They won't prescribe me thyroid meds as Cytomel or Synthroyd; it could take months and longer tests to get to that point; the only knowledgeable pdoc who knows about thyroid, treatment resistant depression and bipolar II is A university clinic pdoc from my town who's tied with the psychoanalytical lobby which is very potent here in Italy; they'll be attaching you a personality disorder dx no matter what, just because you're depressed; they don't care if you succeded in obtaining long standing satisfying relationships and you're not self-centered; they don't care if you don't have anger fits, irritability or erratic behaviour; they'll be talking about subconscious feelings you're not aware of, self-sabotage and denial just because you're too sick to work; It's like the Inquisition; you'll have to go through amounts of pain, humiliation and lenghty medical tests just to get there; not to mention the fact they often prescribe high-dose Depakote and AP's as a baseline treatment and Cytomel and Syntroyd would just be an add on; how could i stand High doses of Depakote if 400 mg. of Tegretol, a "gentler" med, made me depressed? Atypical AP's make me depressed as well; I was thinking about going back to Effexor but i'm supposed to stay med-free 'cause i'll have to undergo a mood stabilizers' trial in another University Clinic far away (this one is psychoanalisis-free, thanks god).So I'm med-free at the moment and winter blues plus Tegretol and Mirapex induced depression are hitting hard. My next appointment with the University Clinic of Cagliari is due in late January; they can't do anything for me before that time; they're far away (gotta catch a plane) and they can't prescribe meds on the thelephone because of medical-ethical reasons. Benzos don't work.
Any advice on possible medication is welcome.sorry for ranting
poster:Anna Laura
thread:33204
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20021218/msgs/33627.html