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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dave Farquar on November 26, 2001, at 10:58:49
Greetings to all,
I have been on lofepramine for a few months now with great results but I am moving to Canada (Quebec) in January and I understand that it is not available there. I reacted badly to the SSRI's I took and found they caused me more harm than good so was wondering what TCA might be an adequate substitute?
The second part of my question is, what will I need to take with me regarding my (mental) health. Should I get a letter from my pdoc stating what meds I'm on and what for etc.
Many thanks in advance
Dave
Posted by SLS on November 27, 2001, at 13:49:16
In reply to Lofepramine Substitute in Canada, posted by Dave Farquar on November 26, 2001, at 10:58:49
> Greetings to all,
>
> I have been on lofepramine for a few months now with great results but I am moving to Canada (Quebec) in January and I understand that it is not available there. I reacted badly to the SSRI's I took and found they caused me more harm than good so was wondering what TCA might be an adequate substitute?
>
> The second part of my question is, what will I need to take with me regarding my (mental) health. Should I get a letter from my pdoc stating what meds I'm on and what for etc.
Hi Dave.I can't help you out. Sorry. However, Cam W., who often posts here, is a pharmacist in Canada. I'm sure he'll have all the answers. Perhaps you can arrange for importations from the UK if necessary.
I had a few questions regarding lofepramine.
How would you characterize lofepramine? Is it sedating or activating? What side-effects do you experience? How would you describe your illness? Which antidepressants have you tried in the past.
I might be interested in trying lofepramine myself. I have a chronic and severe bipolar depression that has left me unable to work.
I would say that imipramine is the tricyclic that makes the best substitute for lofepramine for efficacy. However, of the tricyclics, it might make sense to try either desipramine or nortriptyline first. These two drugs are generally better tolerated with respect to side effects. I am currently taking nortriptyline, but I receive from it only minor relief.
Good luck.
- Scott
Posted by Dave Farquar on November 27, 2001, at 15:04:43
In reply to Re: Lofepramine Substitute in Canada, posted by SLS on November 27, 2001, at 13:49:16
< snip >
> Hi Dave.
>
> I can't help you out. Sorry. However, Cam W., who often posts here, is a pharmacist in Canada. I'm sure he'll have all the answers. Perhaps you can arrange for importations from the UK if necessary.
>
> I had a few questions regarding lofepramine.
>
> How would you characterize lofepramine? Is it sedating or activating? What side-effects do you experience? How would you describe your illness? Which antidepressants have you tried in the past.
>
> I might be interested in trying lofepramine myself. I have a chronic and severe bipolar depression that has left me unable to work.
>
> I would say that imipramine is the tricyclic that makes the best substitute for lofepramine for efficacy. However, of the tricyclics, it might make sense to try either desipramine or nortriptyline first. These two drugs are generally better tolerated with respect to side effects. I am currently taking nortriptyline, but I receive from it only minor relief.
>
> Good luck.
>
>
> - ScottHi there Scott,
My dx was for severe (unipolar) depression so I can't talk from a standpoint on how it might affect a bipolar personality but I can tell you how it helped me.
I found that it lifted the fatigue part of my depression so much that I can only say I found it activating but I think with it's relationship to amitryptaline that officially it would be classed as sedating but only mildly.
I personally don't experience any side affects from it, and generally don't think many people do but I believe the most common are constipation and a dry mouth.
I found fatigue one of the biggest parts of my illness which as I mentioned has lifted, my suicidal thoughts and self harm thoughts (only activated when I started taking venlafaxine) have also gone. I also was completely unable to work but although I have not started, I have started to look and I have also started to excercise (which there was no chance of before). If you gave me a list of the symptoms of depression a few months ago I would have ticked just about all of them except sad (didn't feel sad just didn't feel anything) but now things are really beginning to look up.
I have only good things to say about it, I never thought anything could help free me of the symptoms, and now that it has I just need to work on my mindset.
I hope that it will be a suitable drug for you but I do realise as I'm sure you do that your miles may vary.
Regards Dave
Posted by skills on March 22, 2002, at 13:17:37
In reply to Re: Lofepramine Substitute in Canada, posted by Dave Farquar on November 27, 2001, at 15:04:43
hi,
i have been on lofepramine for 1.5 months and have rrspondeed extremely well to it. When it first started to work i asked my doctor if i was on too high a dose because i felt high. What is the maximum dose. I know maximum is said to be 210 mg per day but as with many drugs know this may not be the case for maximum effeciency in some individuals. Does any body know of any cases of a higher than recomended doseages being used. Thanks
Posted by SLS on March 25, 2002, at 11:25:16
In reply to Re: Lofepramine dosage, posted by skills on March 22, 2002, at 13:17:37
> hi,
> i have been on lofepramine for 1.5 months and have rrspondeed extremely well to it. When it first started to work i asked my doctor if i was on too high a dose because i felt high. What is the maximum dose. I know maximum is said to be 210 mg per day but as with many drugs know this may not be the case for maximum effeciency in some individuals. Does any body know of any cases of a higher than recomended doseages being used. Thanks
Hi Skills.I have bipolar depression that has thus far been resistent to treatment. I have responded partially to tricyclics and MAO-inhibitors. Many times, I have experienced a dramatic response, but only lasts for a few days two weeks into treatment.
If you don't mind my asking a few questions:
What is your diagnosis? How would describe your depression?
What drugs have you tried in the past?
Which drugs have you responded to, even if only partially?
Many thanks in advance.
- Scott
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