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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 kpbos on May 20, 2008, at 11:24:22
Hi, new here, long-time anxiety sufferer as well as chronic pain. I was reading about some recent studies regarding d-cycloserine and it seems to have some positive effects for anxiety. Anybody here tried it or on it?
Posted by SLS on May 20, 2008, at 12:04:32
In reply to Newbie + cycloserine, posted by kpbos on May 20, 2008, at 11:24:22
> Hi, new here, long-time anxiety sufferer as well as chronic pain. I was reading about some recent studies regarding d-cycloserine and it seems to have some positive effects for anxiety. Anybody here tried it or on it?
I don't know that l-cycloserine works by itself to reduce anxiety. It might. The theory behind this drug is that it helps to facilitate the extinction of the fears that cause anxiety. In other words, cycloserine makes desensitization and psychotherapy more effective. Without psychotherapy, cycloserine does nothing.
That's the theory. That's what has been observed. Unless you have found documentation that suggests that cycloserine is anxiolytic without needing concomitant behavioral therapy, I would try combining it with desensitization or other behavioral therapy that is geared towards the extinction of specific fears.
- Scott
Posted by Maria3667 on May 20, 2008, at 12:59:55
In reply to Re: Newbie + cycloserine, posted by SLS on May 20, 2008, at 12:04:32
That's the theory I also seem to stumble upon. Often it is mentioned as an ADJUNCT to already existing AD's or such...
But if you have information disproving the latter, I'd be very interested!
Take care,
Maria> > Hi, new here, long-time anxiety sufferer as well as chronic pain. I was reading about some recent studies regarding d-cycloserine and it seems to have some positive effects for anxiety. Anybody here tried it or on it?
>
> I don't know that l-cycloserine works by itself to reduce anxiety. It might. The theory behind this drug is that it helps to facilitate the extinction of the fears that cause anxiety. In other words, cycloserine makes desensitization and psychotherapy more effective. Without psychotherapy, cycloserine does nothing.
>
> That's the theory. That's what has been observed. Unless you have found documentation that suggests that cycloserine is anxiolytic without needing concomitant behavioral therapy, I would try combining it with desensitization or other behavioral therapy that is geared towards the extinction of specific fears.
>
>
> - Scott
>
>
>
Posted by SLS on May 20, 2008, at 13:15:35
In reply to Re: Newbie + cycloserine » SLS, posted by Maria3667 on May 20, 2008, at 12:59:55
Here's one I found. There is very little, if any, study of cycloserine in depression. It is used for an adjunct to treatment of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
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1: J Affect Disord. 2006 Jul;93(1-3):239-43. Epub 2006 May 4.Click here to read Links
Controlled trial of D-cycloserine adjuvant therapy for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder.
Heresco-Levy U, Javitt DC, Gelfin Y, Gorelik E, Bar M, Blanaru M, Kremer I.Ezrath Nashim-Herzog Memorial Hospital and Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical School, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. heresco@md.huji.ac.il
BACKGROUND: Compounds that reduce N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) function, including NMDAR antagonists and partial agonists at the NMDAR-associated glycine (GLY) site, may act as antidepressants. The antibiotic drug d-cycloserine (DCS) acts as a partial agonist at the NMDAR-GLY site. Preclinical and clinical data suggest that at dosages >or=100 mg/day DCS acts as a functional NMDAR antagonist and may have antidepressant effects. METHODS: Twenty-two treatment resistant major depression patients participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled 6-week crossover trial with 250 mg/day DCS added to their ongoing antidepressant medications. RESULTS: DCS treatment was well tolerated and resulted in symptom reductions. However, biweekly-performed clinical assessments, including the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale did not reveal statistically significant therapeutic advantages of DCS vs. placebo adjuvant treatment. LIMITATIONS: Small sample, uneven treatment resistance criteria across subjects. The exposure to DCS (dose/length of treatment) may not have been sufficient. CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory study represents the first attempt to assess the effects of a NMDAR-GLY site partial agonist in depression treatment. The findings and limitations of this study should be taken into account in the planning of future clinical trials with NMDAR modulators in depression.
PMID: 16677714 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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