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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by banga on July 23, 2004, at 10:40:32
Hi, just joined the board. I have treatment-resistant depression (as well as anxiety) and have tried all types of med combinations. I want to write a longer post RE: possible combos but right now want to address the newest addition to my meds-Im taking lexapro, geodon and still have lethargy and amotivation. I wanted to try Provigil but insurance didnt approve it. My psychiatrist prescribed Symmetrel instead (to combat fatigue and amotivation and sexual side effects). It's becoming clearer and clearer that a problem lies in the dopaminergic system so Im willing to try...ANYWAY does someone know what the response time is for Symmetrel? A matter of days or weeks? Thanks!
Posted by SLS on July 23, 2004, at 12:19:22
In reply to Symmetrel and depression, posted by banga on July 23, 2004, at 10:40:32
> Hi, just joined the board. I have treatment-resistant depression (as well as anxiety) and have tried all types of med combinations. I want to write a longer post RE: possible combos but right now want to address the newest addition to my meds-Im taking lexapro, geodon and still have lethargy and amotivation. I wanted to try Provigil but insurance didnt approve it. My psychiatrist prescribed Symmetrel instead (to combat fatigue and amotivation and sexual side effects). It's becoming clearer and clearer that a problem lies in the dopaminergic system so Im willing to try...ANYWAY does someone know what the response time is for Symmetrel? A matter of days or weeks? Thanks!
I can't really offer you information about Symmetrel, but I can describe my experience with Namenda (memantine), its sister drug. I added Namenda to the combination I had been taking of imipramine, Lamictal, and Abilify. I experienced a transient improvement after 1 week at 10mg, and again at 2 weeks at a dosage of 20mg. I am very treatment resistant. I don't know if the transiency of my reponse to Namenda can be generalized, or if it is something atypical and idiosyncratic to me only.I think with Symmetrel, you are going to have to treat it for what it is - a drug for which there is little if any experience with its use as an antidepressant. You might want to assume that there is the same sort of latency of 2-3 weeks minimum that there is with standard antidepressants before declaring it a treatment failure.
Sorry I couldn't give you a definitive answer. Good luck with it. If your insurance will go along with it, and you are still interested in trying NMDA antagonists, give Namenda a try. There are strong hints to its efficacy in depression:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00040261
- Scott
Posted by Questionmark on July 23, 2004, at 19:51:08
In reply to Symmetrel and depression, posted by banga on July 23, 2004, at 10:40:32
> Hi, just joined the board. I have treatment-resistant depression (as well as anxiety) and have tried all types of med combinations. I want to write a longer post RE: possible combos but right now want to address the newest addition to my meds-Im taking lexapro, geodon and still have lethargy and amotivation. I wanted to try Provigil but insurance didnt approve it. My psychiatrist prescribed Symmetrel instead (to combat fatigue and amotivation and sexual side effects). It's becoming clearer and clearer that a problem lies in the dopaminergic system so Im willing to try...ANYWAY does someone know what the response time is for Symmetrel? A matter of days or weeks? Thanks!
Hello. i just finished trying amantadine (Symmetrel) for my anorgasmia from Nardil (primarily)-- first here and there/ once in awhile (100-200mg/day) and then daily for about 3 weeks. i personally did not notice much difference at all between taking it once here and there versus taking it every day. i also failed to experience any significant benefit. i did, however, experience fatigue, an increase in depressive symptoms, and apathy (a kind of zombified don't-feel-like-talking-or-doing-much-of-anything feeling). This does not mean that you will not benefit from it, of course. My depression also became much worse, for the most part, on Parnate (a highly dopaminergic MAO inhibitor), and many other people have said that nothing or virtually nothing has relieved their depression like this drug (Parnate) has.
i just hope that i did not happen to quit taking the Symmetrel a little too early-- though i seriously doubt it. Of course, that would actually be a good thing too.
Anyway, good luck to you. i hope the amantadine helps you a lot.
Posted by TJO on July 24, 2004, at 6:50:15
In reply to Re: Symmetrel and depression, posted by SLS on July 23, 2004, at 12:19:22
> > Hi, just joined the board. I have treatment-resistant depression (as well as anxiety) and have tried all types of med combinations. I want to write a longer post RE: possible combos but right now want to address the newest addition to my meds-Im taking lexapro, geodon and still have lethargy and amotivation. I wanted to try Provigil but insurance didnt approve it. My psychiatrist prescribed Symmetrel instead (to combat fatigue and amotivation and sexual side effects). It's becoming clearer and clearer that a problem lies in the dopaminergic system so Im willing to try...ANYWAY does someone know what the response time is for Symmetrel? A matter of days or weeks? Thanks!
>
>
> I can't really offer you information about Symmetrel, but I can describe my experience with Namenda (memantine), its sister drug. I added Namenda to the combination I had been taking of imipramine, Lamictal, and Abilify. I experienced a transient improvement after 1 week at 10mg, and again at 2 weeks at a dosage of 20mg. I am very treatment resistant. I don't know if the transiency of my reponse to Namenda can be generalized, or if it is something atypical and idiosyncratic to me only.
>
> I think with Symmetrel, you are going to have to treat it for what it is - a drug for which there is little if any experience with its use as an antidepressant. You might want to assume that there is the same sort of latency of 2-3 weeks minimum that there is with standard antidepressants before declaring it a treatment failure.
>
> Sorry I couldn't give you a definitive answer. Good luck with it. If your insurance will go along with it, and you are still interested in trying NMDA antagonists, give Namenda a try. There are strong hints to its efficacy in depression:
>
> http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00040261
>
>
> - Scott
>
>
> Hi,
I was on Symmetrel for 4 weeks to combat the side effects of Risperdal making my joints stiff. It helped with that but I didn't notice any change in my depression (I have bipolar disorder). Good LuckTammy
>
This is the end of the thread.
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