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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Scott L. Schofield on March 17, 2000, at 13:27:26
> This nomifensin (Merital) you mention: Have you tried it? Is it available in the US?
> I did several searches today and didn't come up with much, as it was mostly in German.
Hi Karen.
* Nomifensine (Merital) was available briefly in the mid 1980’s for the indication of depression. It was marketed in many countries, including the U.S. Nomifensine strongly inhibits the reuptake of both dopamine and norepinephrine, and promotes the release of dopamine as well. When reports of hemolytic anemia (exploding red blood-cells) associated with its use began to show up, the drug manufacturer (Hoescht-Roussel) withdrew it from market. It is still used today as a biological tool in the study of the central nervous system.When I tried Nomifensine, I began to respond to it at about the two-week mark. The antidepressant effect, although robust, only lasted for about three days. Amineptine is another drug that potently inhibits the reuptake of dopamine. I am very interested to know if anyone has tried both drugs, and how they reacted to each of them.
I am very angry and frustrated that amineptine has been bullied out of the world market. It was a first-line treatment in French psychiatry for twenty years with little question of its efficacy. It was at the top of my list of things to try until it was withdrawn just this past year. It seems to be the best antidepressant match for my illness profile – a retarded depression.
* Two spellings, “nomifensine” and “nomifensin” are used in medical literature, with the former being the more common.
- Scott
----------------------------------------
Acta Psychiatr Scand 1991 Dec;84(6):552-4
Dopaminergic hypothesis for retarded depression: a symptom profile for predicting therapeutical responses.
Rampello L, Nicoletti G, Raffaele R
Institute of Neurology, University of Catania, Italy.
We assessed the therapeutical efficacy of various antidepressants (amineptine, minaprine and clomipramine) in patients affected by retarded depression. All patients exhibited symptoms of retardation, including hypokinesia, anergia, reduction of speech, increased salivation, hypersomnia, Parinaud's syndrome, reduced sexual activity, slowness, hypomimia, orthostatic hypotension, dysphagia and drowsiness. Antidepressant drugs were administered for a 6-week period in a randomized double-blind vs placebo design. The rank order of clinical effectiveness (amineptine much gre
Posted by Scott L. Schofield on March 17, 2000, at 23:57:01
In reply to Re: Scott - Nomifensin, posted by Scott L. Schofield on March 17, 2000, at 13:27:26
> > This nomifensin (Merital) you mention: Have you tried it? Is it available in the US?
> > I did several searches today and didn't come up with much, as it was mostly in German.
>
>
> Hi Karen.
>
>
> * Nomifensine (Merital) was available briefly in the mid 1980’s for the indication of depression. It was marketed in many countries, including the U.S. Nomifensine strongly inhibits the reuptake of both dopamine and norepinephrine, and promotes the release of dopamine as well. When reports of hemolytic anemia (exploding red blood-cells) associated with its use began to show up, the drug manufacturer (Hoescht-Roussel) withdrew it from market. It is still used today as a biological tool in the study of the central nervous system.
>
> When I tried Nomifensine, I began to respond to it at about the two-week mark. The antidepressant effect, although robust, only lasted for about three days. Amineptine is another drug that potently inhibits the reuptake of dopamine. I am very interested to know if anyone has tried both drugs, and how they reacted to each of them.
>
> I am very angry and frustrated that amineptine has been bullied out of the world market. It was a first-line treatment in French psychiatry for twenty years with little question of its efficacy. It was at the top of my list of things to try until it was withdrawn just this past year. It seems to be the best antidepressant match for my illness profile – a retarded depression.
>
> * Two spellings, “nomifensine” and “nomifensin” are used in medical literature, with the former being the more common.
>
>
> - Scott
>
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
>Acta Psychiatr Scand 1991 Dec;84(6):552-4
Dopaminergic hypothesis for retarded depression: a symptom profile for predicting therapeutical responses.
Rampello L, Nicoletti G, Raffaele R
Institute of Neurology, University of Catania, Italy.
We assessed the therapeutical efficacy of various antidepressants (amineptine, minaprine and clomipramine) in patients affected by retarded depression. All patients exhibited symptoms of retardation, including hypokinesia, anergia, reduction of speech, increased salivation, hypersomnia, Parinaud's syndrome, reduced sexual activity, slowness, hypomimia, orthostatic hypotension, dysphagia and drowsiness. Antidepressant drugs were administered for a 6-week period in a randomized double-blind vs placebo design. The rank order of clinical effectiveness (amineptine much greater than minaprine greater than clomipramine greater than placebo) paralleled the specificity of antidepressants as dopaminomimetic agents. These results support the view that a reduced dopaminergic transmission contributes to the pathophysiology of retarded depression.
Posted by Cass on March 18, 2000, at 1:11:08
In reply to I don't know how this got here., posted by Scott L. Schofield on March 17, 2000, at 23:57:01
I tried Merital in the mid 80s with astounding results. It was incredibly disappointing when it was suddenly pulled off the market. I understand it had an MAOI like effect, though it was not an MAOI drug. It's interesting to learn more about it. Thanks Scott.
Posted by CarolAnn on March 18, 2000, at 9:49:50
In reply to Re: Scott - Nomifensin, posted by Scott L. Schofield on March 17, 2000, at 13:27:26
Scott, forgive my ignorance, could you explain why your illness would be considered "retarded depression"? There's no way that someone as articulate as you could be mentally retarded. So, I assume that the word is being used in a different context. Would you mind outlining your basic symptoms, I'm wondering if they are similar to mine. Thank you! CarolAnn
Posted by Scott L. Schofield on March 18, 2000, at 11:02:37
In reply to Re: Scott - retarded depression???, posted by CarolAnn on March 18, 2000, at 9:49:50
> Scott, forgive my ignorance, could you explain why your illness would be considered "retarded depression"? There's no way that someone as articulate as you could be mentally retarded.
I've got you fooled too. Flattery will get you everywhere.
> So, I assume that the word is being used in a different context. Would you mind outlining your basic symptoms, I'm wondering if they are similar to mine. Thank you! CarolAnn
------------------------------------
Dear CarolAnn,The term "retarded" is used here to mean "slowed" or "without energy". Atypical unipolar depression, and especially bipolar depression, tend to be of this type. Some of the features of a retarded-type depression include psychomotor retardation (not having enough energy to want to move - a tendency to move slowly or remain motionless), slow reaction-time, slowed speech, hypersomnia (sleeping too much), loss of libido, and anhedonia (reduction in the ability to experience pleasure). The degree of retardation is a good indicator of the severity of depression.
I have all of the above.
Wellbutrin, Effexor, Parnate, desipramine (Norpramin), and the psychostimulants are some of the drugs that are often chosen to treat depressions that display this symptom cluster. Lamictal is often helpful in bipolar disorder.
Do you experience any of these symptoms?
I'll try to help out in any way I can.
Sincerely,
Scott
Posted by CarolAnn on March 18, 2000, at 16:05:42
In reply to Re: Scott - retarded depression???, posted by Scott L. Schofield on March 18, 2000, at 11:02:37
Scott, I have ALL those symptoms! Although, my speech can get pretty speedy if i'm worked up about something.
I guess this goes under "you learn something new everyday".
I'm on 400 mgs. Wellbutrin (200mgs.2xday), 20 mgs. Celexa, and 30 mgs. Adderall(in three spread out doses). Not getting much help from the ADs, and the Adderall is not working as well as at the beginning. Been on this mix for almost 6 weeks now. Any suggestions??? The extreme lack of energy is the real killer! Thank you so much for responding...CarolAnn
>
> The term "retarded" is used here to mean "slowed" or "without energy". Atypical unipolar depression, and especially bipolar depression, tend to be of this type. Some of the features of a retarded-type depression include psychomotor retardation (not having enough energy to want to move - a tendency to move slowly or remain motionless), slow reaction-time, slowed speech, hypersomnia (sleeping too much), loss of libido, and anhedonia (reduction in the ability to experience pleasure). The degree of retardation is a good indicator of the severity of depression.
>
> I have all of the above.
>
> Wellbutrin, Effexor, Parnate, desipramine (Norpramin), and the psychostimulants are some of the drugs that are often chosen to treat depressions that display this symptom cluster. Lamictal is often helpful in bipolar disorder.
>
> Do you experience any of these symptoms?
>
> I'll try to help out in any way I can.
>
>
> Sincerely,
> Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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