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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 19 to 43 of 43. Go back in thread:
Posted by linkadge on June 17, 2005, at 18:19:43
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill? » SLS, posted by linkadge on June 17, 2005, at 18:06:08
The real magic pills are things like lithium. Of course nobody who takes them will admit they are magic but they are more magic than antidepressants in my oppinion.
I think that the brain works incredably hard to maintain a homeostasis. I read somewhere that the more pleasure you experience, then the more your brain becomes sensitive to pain, and the more pain you experience, the more your brain becomes sensitive to pleasure. It cannot be escaped, the brain is always one step higher than the mind.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on June 17, 2005, at 18:30:34
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill?, posted by linkadge on June 17, 2005, at 18:19:43
I have also found that the newer AD's like the SSRi's (**for me**) always seemed to activate my HPA axis. This always created a very quick short term fix, as the cortisol boost gave me a bit of a high, but I think that in the long term the HPA axis dysregulation caused more problems.
Please note, that all of these are just my experiences. I don't want to propose that everybody will react the same way as I have, but on the same hand I believe my account is important in order to get a complete picture.
Linkadge
Posted by ed_uk on June 17, 2005, at 18:35:58
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill? » SLS, posted by linkadge on June 17, 2005, at 18:06:08
>If I want to hang myself there is nobody to take away my belt.
Oh Link, I wish there was some way I could help you.
~Ed
Posted by Phillipa on June 17, 2005, at 18:45:59
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill? » linkadge, posted by ed_uk on June 17, 2005, at 18:35:58
Most of you are right. There is no magic pill. The responses that hit home the most were the ones about working on your personal life. That's hard work with a lot of sacrifices. And the potential to really feel upset. And then most people won't understand why you did what you did. Well they're not in my shoes. A lot of thinking needs to go on. Fondly, phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on June 17, 2005, at 21:31:59
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill?, posted by Phillipa on June 17, 2005, at 18:45:59
Since there was such a great response to my Thread I think I'll post another one. Thinking about what to post now. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by paul_d_234 on June 17, 2005, at 22:02:41
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill?, posted by Phillipa on June 17, 2005, at 18:45:59
The magic pill(s) is the one(s) that work for you.
Posted by Declan on June 17, 2005, at 22:16:38
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill?, posted by RetiredYoung on June 17, 2005, at 12:24:02
Minaprine would have been worth a look at, at least for me.
Posted by 4WD on June 17, 2005, at 22:24:09
In reply to Is There A Magic Pill?, posted by Phillipa on June 16, 2005, at 21:28:48
> I would love to wake up in the morning like the lady in the lunesta comercial and smile and begin to sing "Oh What A Beautiful Morning, Oh What A Beautiful Day," etc. Is there a magic pill for this. I can dream can't I? Fondly, Phillipa
Hi PHillipa
There's no pill I know of that can make me wake up that way. There is a pill, though that can make me feel that way in about 30 minutes. Unfortunately it's a prescription pain pill and I abuse it. Or at least I used to abuse it. Oh well.
Marsha
Posted by Declan on June 17, 2005, at 22:30:25
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill? » SLS, posted by linkadge on June 17, 2005, at 18:06:08
Yeah Linkadge, that's what happens to me. And when I'm there it's true enough, as long as it doesn't go badly. Maybe I just like to please and if the appointment goes OK then I feel OK. And then at other times..... Is that what being reactive is? Atypical depression/reactive depression?
And I'm sure that doctors have trouble getting accurate feedback. When my mother had ECT they thought it worked because they thought it would. Took them a couple of hundred years, was it?, to stop using mercury.
Declan
Posted by linkadge on June 18, 2005, at 4:00:54
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill?, posted by Declan on June 17, 2005, at 22:30:25
I have gotten to the point where In many ways I don't care. It seems that there is no way of communicating my state fully to the doctors.
You get a little bit of intuition about how your brain works and how you respond to the drugs.
I can't really describe how most antidepressants make me so akathesic that I want to kill myself.
They say, oh thats just the depression talking. But I *know* what I know, its like I just feel it is impossable to get anywhere with the doctors so I just give up.Last summer I was *really* intent on getting better. I wanted so much to enter the next school year not suicidal. I complained and compained about how the celexa was making things worse, but they couldn't see how that was, so I ended up trippling my celexa, which did nothing but make me a zombie who slept 24/7 and didn't care about anything he used to enjoy. And I am not the type of person who is going to say "I told you so" I'd rather just give up.
The psychiatric community, which is supposed to improve the state of learned helplessness, does a good job at making it much worse for me.
I feel I have had psychiatry do to me what Michael Jackson's plastic surgeons have done to him.
I need some doctor who is going to throw away his patient records and give me a fresh assesment.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on June 18, 2005, at 4:05:06
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill?, posted by linkadge on June 18, 2005, at 4:00:54
I know I do a lot of complaining. But it takes a heck of a lot of exercise and will power just to come hear and compain. Most of the time I think it is worthless to even bother trying to communicate my feelings. So I hope it doesn't bother this board, but it is a step for me.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on June 18, 2005, at 4:34:50
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill? » linkadge, posted by ed_uk on June 17, 2005, at 18:35:58
I don't really want people to hurt because I am hurting, I really just need to let people know how things are going or not going.
But, hey if anyones got any ideas I'm always all ears.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on June 18, 2005, at 4:36:09
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill?, posted by linkadge on June 18, 2005, at 4:34:50
Posted by ed_uk on June 18, 2005, at 9:50:56
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill?, posted by linkadge on June 18, 2005, at 4:34:50
Hi Link,
>I really just need to let people know how things are going or not going.
That's ok, we're here to listen
~Ed
Posted by SLS on June 18, 2005, at 10:29:53
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill? » linkadge, posted by ed_uk on June 18, 2005, at 9:50:56
> Hi Link,
>
> >I really just need to let people know how things are going or not going.
>
> That's ok, we're here to listen
Even me.:-)
I am very frustrated that you have not found a resolution to your condition. I wish I could contribute something that would help. It is difficult to watch someone try so hard and gain so little.
Three things that grab my attention are:
1. Pervasive thoughts of suicide. They seem to be mood-incongruent.
2. Mood lability.
3. Lack of candor with your doctor.
Resolving #3 might help with #1 and #2. I don't think you necessarily need medication to resolve #1 or #2. #1 and #2 might be an indicator of an Axis II condition that can be helped through psychotherapy. However, I would not overlook the possibility that #2 is an indicator of an ultra-rapid cycling bipolar disorder. You might want to treat #2 as if you were bipolar even though you might not be. It is time efficient. I notice not only a difference in your outlook when you feel bad, but also a deterioration of cognitive power. #2 can certainly be a manifestation of an Axis II condition, but the difference in cognition I see leads me to think there is something biological going on there.
The only thing I can really suggest is that something has to change or else nothing will change.
- Scott
Posted by ed_uk on June 18, 2005, at 11:18:25
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill?, posted by SLS on June 18, 2005, at 10:29:53
Although Link's tried many drugs (including Depakote), AFAIK he still hasn't tried Lamictal. I think it might be worth a try. I think he still wants to try Nardil but it's proved difficult to get a prescription for.
~Ed
Posted by 4WD on June 18, 2005, at 15:32:12
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill?, posted by linkadge on June 18, 2005, at 4:05:06
> I know I do a lot of complaining. But it takes a heck of a lot of exercise and will power just to come hear and compain. Most of the time I think it is worthless to even bother trying to communicate my feelings. So I hope it doesn't bother this board, but it is a step for me.
>
>
>
>
> Linkadge
That's part of what this board is for. A sounding board and a place to vent. And for me it's a place to beg for info that I can't get from my pdoc because he DOESN'T KNOW or UNDERSTAND what this stuff feels like. To them (the docs) it's theoretical. To us it's real. So don't worry about venting here. You've earned your place. We've all earned our places by our pain.
Marsha
Posted by 4WD on June 18, 2005, at 15:33:37
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill?, posted by linkadge on June 18, 2005, at 4:34:50
> I don't really want people to hurt because I am hurting, I really just need to let people know how things are going or not going.
>
> But, hey if anyones got any ideas I'm always all ears.
>
> LinkadgeLinkadge, have you ever tried imipramine?
Posted by linkadge on June 18, 2005, at 17:43:32
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill?, posted by 4WD on June 18, 2005, at 15:33:37
**I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO**
I've just had so many bad experiences with doctors that I am frightened to even try reaching out for help.
Most here know that I waited a very long time for this doctor, and now I'm back at home and he's 2 hours away, so I can't just pop in every day.
Quite frankly I think the clomipramine made me psychotic. I called him up (when I was still taking clomipramine) I told him I was having intense visual hallucinations on it (which by the way completely ceased after discontinuation) he said it was anxiety, and called in a prescription for lorazepam, and more clomipramine.
How long must I play their game ?? How long?? It's great for me to sit here and play doctor with myself, and sure it gives me a little hope. But in the end it doesn't do a darned thing becuase I am not the one making the decisons.
Linkadge
Posted by 4WD on June 18, 2005, at 22:14:16
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill?, posted by linkadge on June 18, 2005, at 17:43:32
> **I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO**
>
> I've just had so many bad experiences with doctors that I am frightened to even try reaching out for help.
>
> Most here know that I waited a very long time for this doctor, and now I'm back at home and he's 2 hours away, so I can't just pop in every day.
>
> Quite frankly I think the clomipramine made me psychotic. I called him up (when I was still taking clomipramine) I told him I was having intense visual hallucinations on it (which by the way completely ceased after discontinuation) he said it was anxiety, and called in a prescription for lorazepam, and more clomipramine.
>
> How long must I play their game ?? How long?? It's great for me to sit here and play doctor with myself, and sure it gives me a little hope. But in the end it doesn't do a darned thing becuase I am not the one making the decisons.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Linkadge
>
>Linkadge,
What if you made a decision based on your own research and intuition and then went to a GP and told him/her what you wanted to try and why? Most of the GPs I know are only too happy to prescribe ADs like candy.
Marsha
>
>
Posted by linkadge on June 18, 2005, at 23:07:00
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill?, posted by 4WD on June 18, 2005, at 22:14:16
"Most of the GPs I know are only too happy to prescribe ADs like candy."
Mine have all seemed to be a bit more conservative.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on June 19, 2005, at 20:10:29
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill?, posted by linkadge on June 18, 2005, at 23:07:00
"Prozac Backlash" must have been a required reading for some of my doctors to graduate.
Linkadge
Posted by alohashirt on June 19, 2005, at 21:36:12
In reply to Is There A Magic Pill?, posted by Phillipa on June 16, 2005, at 21:28:48
Absolutely there is. I knew a guy called Dave who found out about MDMA, a chemical patented by Merck. Daved began buying these pills from some former Soviet Union factory and sold these in nightclubs in the North of England. He went to jail and then died so I guess the magic was only temporary. ;-(Seriously though some psychotherapists began doing research about empathy inducing effects which must have halted once FDA moved to ban this medication. There was some research suggesting it created holes in the brain buit the research later turned out to be faulty.
Exercise helps but I think art is even better. Where in the world do you live, Philippa?
> I would love to wake up in the morning like the lady in the lunesta comercial and smile and begin to sing "Oh What A Beautiful Morning, Oh What A Beautiful Day," etc. Is there a magic pill for this. I can dream can't I? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on June 19, 2005, at 21:49:00
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill? » Phillipa, posted by alohashirt on June 19, 2005, at 21:36:12
North Carolina, but I want to live in Babbleland! I mean if Michael can live in Neverland why can't I live here where I am the Queen! Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on June 20, 2005, at 6:45:42
In reply to Re: Is There A Magic Pill? » alohashirt, posted by Phillipa on June 19, 2005, at 21:49:00
Meth creates holes in the brain. Anyone see the Oprah episode on meth abuse ??
Linkadge
This is the end of the thread.
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