![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by KaraS on November 22, 2004, at 19:33:46
I recently read a post about someone taking memantine to reduce chances of developing TD from Amisulpride. Why would that work? (or would it?)
Posted by SLS on November 23, 2004, at 9:34:47
In reply to Amisulpride and memantine?, posted by KaraS on November 22, 2004, at 19:33:46
> I recently read a post about someone taking memantine to reduce chances of developing TD from Amisulpride. Why would that work? (or would it?)
Hi Kara.
Off the top of my head, I can't see how it would work, but the combination is an excellent one for treating anergic depression and perhaps chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
- Scott
Posted by KaraS on November 23, 2004, at 15:00:15
In reply to Re: Amisulpride and memantine?, posted by SLS on November 23, 2004, at 9:34:47
> > I recently read a post about someone taking memantine to reduce chances of developing TD from Amisulpride. Why would that work? (or would it?)
>
> Hi Kara.
>
> Off the top of my head, I can't see how it would work, but the combination is an excellent one for treating anergic depression and perhaps chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
>
>
> - Scott
Scott,
What would memantine bring to it that would make it good for treating anergic depression or CFS?The original post I referred to was one that spoke about AndrewB taking the memantine along with Amisulpride for the purpose of TD prevention - so I'm guessing there was a good reason. I'll have to do some more digging in the archives on this one.
Kara
Posted by SLS on November 23, 2004, at 16:51:54
In reply to Re: Amisulpride and memantine? » SLS, posted by KaraS on November 23, 2004, at 15:00:15
Hi Kara.
The following abstract might be relevant to the notion that memantine could prevent tardive neuroleptic-induced dyskinesias.
- Scott
Posted by KaraS on November 23, 2004, at 23:32:59
In reply to Re: Amisulpride and memantine? » KaraS, posted by SLS on November 23, 2004, at 16:51:54
Posted by JackD on November 24, 2004, at 17:22:40
In reply to Re: Amisulpride and memantine?, posted by SLS on November 23, 2004, at 9:34:47
Just in case you guys are interested, I convinced my doctor to prescribe me Namenda (memantine HCL) 60mg a day in addition to my antidepressants and Lamictal. I've had treatment resistant/bipolar II depression for a LOOOOOOOONNNNNNNG time. Please take me seriously when I say that I have been able to find COMPLETE remission using memantine and I am even euthymic. Basically, I feel f'n great (this has been 3-4 months so far I think, so I haven't wanted to post; I've been disappointed one too many times) and am even able to take a heavy dose of antidepressants without experiencing either poopout or severe mood swings. I am also DEFINITELY not manic, just incredibly content that I've found this magic formula of meds. My doctor even called Forest labs and found out that they have had success with treating depression in trials using JUST Namenda at 40mg. They didn't want to give any further details for obvious reasons. I hope this post is informative, and if anyone wants to ask me exactly what I'm on, how I feel, etc etc, my email address is plush@optonline.net .
Posted by KaraS on November 25, 2004, at 2:15:30
In reply to Namenda, so far, so good, posted by JackD on November 24, 2004, at 17:22:40
> Just in case you guys are interested, I convinced my doctor to prescribe me Namenda (memantine HCL) 60mg a day in addition to my antidepressants and Lamictal. I've had treatment resistant/bipolar II depression for a LOOOOOOOONNNNNNNG time. Please take me seriously when I say that I have been able to find COMPLETE remission using memantine and I am even euthymic. Basically, I feel f'n great (this has been 3-4 months so far I think, so I haven't wanted to post; I've been disappointed one too many times) and am even able to take a heavy dose of antidepressants without experiencing either poopout or severe mood swings. I am also DEFINITELY not manic, just incredibly content that I've found this magic formula of meds. My doctor even called Forest labs and found out that they have had success with treating depression in trials using JUST Namenda at 40mg. They didn't want to give any further details for obvious reasons. I hope this post is informative, and if anyone wants to ask me exactly what I'm on, how I feel, etc etc, my email address is plush@optonline.net .
That's fabulous. What percentage of your depression was under control before the memantine?
Posted by SLS on November 25, 2004, at 8:37:10
In reply to Namenda, so far, so good, posted by JackD on November 24, 2004, at 17:22:40
Hi Jack.
> Just in case you guys are interested, I convinced my doctor to prescribe me Namenda (memantine HCL) 60mg a day in addition to my antidepressants and Lamictal.
How did you convince your doctor to use 60mg? I felt drunk at a dosage of 40mg. Did you experience anything like that in the beginning? I, too, am treatment-resistant bipolar depression. My manic episodes have been exclusively medication-induced.
Thanks.
Currently:
Lamictal 300mg
imipramine 300mg
Abilify 300mg
- Scott
Posted by SLS on November 25, 2004, at 8:59:06
In reply to Re: Namenda, so far, so good » JackD, posted by SLS on November 25, 2004, at 8:37:10
Oops.
I'm taking 10mg of Abilify, not 300mg!
- Scott
Posted by ed_uk on November 25, 2004, at 12:40:07
In reply to Re: Namenda, so far, so good » JackD, posted by SLS on November 25, 2004, at 8:37:10
Hi Scott!
No duloxetine anymore?
Do you find the high dose of imipramine more effective than the combination of imipramine and duloxetine or do you just prefer it because its cheaper?Ed
Posted by SLS on November 25, 2004, at 22:05:50
In reply to Re: Namenda, so far, so good » SLS, posted by ed_uk on November 25, 2004, at 12:40:07
Hi Ed.
> No duloxetine anymore?
I decided to discontinue duloxetine yesterday after taking it for 3 months. It wasn't helping the depression, and I found myself getting less and less done around the house because of the amotivation I attribute to the drug. Imipramine 300mg + Lamictal 300mg produce a mild improvement. It is noteworthy that duloxetine seems to act as a substitute for imipramine in the combination, but the amotivation it produces makes it less attractive to me.
Are you thinking of trying imipramine?
- Scott
Posted by ed_uk on November 26, 2004, at 4:05:01
In reply to Re: Namenda, so far, so good » ed_uk, posted by SLS on November 25, 2004, at 22:05:50
Hi Scott :-)
No, I'm not thinking of trying imipramine. Just wondered how you were doing!
Ed.
Posted by SLS on November 26, 2004, at 7:57:38
In reply to Re: Namenda, so far, so good » SLS, posted by ed_uk on November 26, 2004, at 4:05:01
Posted by Ktemene on November 26, 2004, at 15:14:57
In reply to Namenda, so far, so good, posted by JackD on November 24, 2004, at 17:22:40
> Just in case you guys are interested, I convinced my doctor to prescribe me Namenda (memantine HCL) 60mg a day in addition to my antidepressants and Lamictal. I've had treatment resistant/bipolar II depression for a LOOOOOOOONNNNNNNG time. Please take me seriously when I say that I have been able to find COMPLETE remission using memantine and I am even euthymic. Basically, I feel f'n great (this has been 3-4 months so far I think, so I haven't wanted to post; I've been disappointed one too many times) and am even able to take a heavy dose of antidepressants without experiencing either poopout or severe mood swings. I am also DEFINITELY not manic, just incredibly content that I've found this magic formula of meds. My doctor even called Forest labs and found out that they have had success with treating depression in trials using JUST Namenda at 40mg. They didn't want to give any further details for obvious reasons. I hope this post is informative, and if anyone wants to ask me exactly what I'm on, how I feel, etc etc, my email address is plush@optonline.net .
Hi Jack,
It is terrific that you have found something that works so well for you, especially since you were treatment resistant for so long. I came across a reference to memantine that I thought would interest you, and I copied it below.
Ktemene
“Psychobiological Mechanisms of Resilience and Vulnerability: Inplications for Successful Adaptation to Extreme Stress” by Dennis S. Charney (Am J Pschiatry 161:195-216, February 2004
Subjects with major depression are hyperresponsive to amphetamine such that the severity of depression in major depression was highly correlated with the rewarding effects of amphetamine. The mechanism may be depletion of synaptic dopamine with up-regulation of dopamine receptors (154, 155). Increasing dopamine function in the nucleus accumbens, the orbital frontal cortex, and the ventral tegmental area and NMDA receptor blockade in the nucleus accumbens and the medial prefrontal cortex may enhance sensitivity to reward. Therefore, psychostimulants, dopamine reuptake inhibitors, monoxamine oxidase-B inhibitors (selegiline), the dopamine receptor agonists (pramipexole), and NMDA receptor antagonists (memantine) may be useful for treating anhedonia and hopelessness resulting from traumatic stress exposure.
Posted by Iansf on November 26, 2004, at 17:22:16
In reply to Re: Namenda, so far, so good » ed_uk, posted by SLS on November 25, 2004, at 22:05:50
> I decided to discontinue duloxetine yesterday after taking it for 3 months. It wasn't helping the depression, and I found myself getting less and less done around the house because of the amotivation I attribute to the drug. Imipramine 300mg + Lamictal 300mg produce a mild improvement. It is noteworthy that duloxetine seems to act as a substitute for imipramine in the combination, but the amotivation it produces makes it less attractive to me.
>
>
In another of the long annals of contradictory responses to the same drug, I find Cymbalta quite effective in terms of motivation and focus. I also find it beneficial, in combination with Wellbutrin, for depression - though not optimally so. On the other hand, it's only the tiniest bit helpful for social phobia, and I find the side effects, especially constipation, a real nuisance.John Mc
Posted by JackD on November 26, 2004, at 19:40:57
In reply to Re: Namenda, so far, so good, posted by Ktemene on November 26, 2004, at 15:14:57
Great post Ketamine. Memantine does open up some interesting possibilities. I'm currently on 300mg Effexor, 30mg Remeron, 200mg Lamictal and a dash (60mg) of Namenda. Like SLS, my manic episodes have only been triggered by medication, and it suggested to me there whas been some underlying mechanism very different from classic bipolar disorder. It suggested a continual hyper-response to the brain's ultimate "feel-good" neurotransmitters released by the proper antidepressants followed by a drastic desensitization. I've been going through years of incredibly powerful responses to [certain] medications followed by equally devastating lows during which medication and recreational drugs seem ineffective. It's only after discontinuing all medication in those lows that antidepressant response can again be achieved (only to trigger another cycle). I'm a bit tired so I don't know if I'm articulating myself well but I'm sure you get the jist. I've been on so many medications for so many years now and experienced such a spectrum of emotional states that it's difficult to know just what category I would have fit under. Also I've progressed and gotten to know myself much better along the way in terms of knowing and "feeling" exactly just what's wrong. Major depression with comorbid anxiety disorders and attention deficit seems to be the most fitting description of my original condition all things considered. OH and it's likely that it's an endogenous major depression in case that makes a difference (my family has a history of severe depression and alcoholism/OCD/anxiety disorders). I really really hope I'm not getting people TOO excited for nothing just yet, because I'm not finished fine-tuning and experimenting. I am confident however in saying that I am DEFINITELY on to something here...
Posted by ravenstorm on November 26, 2004, at 20:13:29
In reply to MEMANTINE HCL, posted by JackD on November 26, 2004, at 19:40:57
What exactly is NMDA? How does this drug work? Would it be likely to help or exasperate anxiety? (ie would it affect anxiety more like an SSRI or more like a WB or selegeline?)
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.