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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Chaos on November 26, 1998, at 23:25:02
Dr Bob,
My psychiatrist want to start me on a new
med for bipolar disorder, ReVia, in place of Lithium
and Depakote. I have read up on this drug and the only
information i can find indicates use for Alcohol and
Opiat dependance... Have you heard of this use for the
drug and ands its specific effects on this disorder?
Any info you can give me on the use of this drug for
Bipolar disorder would be greatly appreciated.
matthew
Posted by Dr. Bob on November 30, 1998, at 22:37:05
In reply to Dr Bob, Please help... Revia to treat Bipolar , posted by Chaos on November 26, 1998, at 23:25:02
> My psychiatrist want to start me on a new
> med for bipolar disorder, ReVia, in place of Lithium
> and Depakote. I have read up on this drug and the only
> information i can find indicates use for Alcohol and
> Opiat dependance... Have you heard of this use for the
> drug and ands its specific effects on this disorder?I've heard of adding Revia to an antidepressant to
help with depression. For example, see:http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Patients-who-lose-response.html
http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Aug-antidep-with-naltrex.htmlBut I haven't heard of using it by itself for
bipolar disorder. Can your psychiatrist give you
some references?Bob
Posted by Donna on April 18, 1999, at 11:00:21
In reply to Revia to treat Bipolar Disorder?, posted by Dr. Bob on November 30, 1998, at 22:37:05
> I've heard of adding Revia to an antidepressant to
> help with depression. For example, see:
> http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Patients-who-lose-response.html
> http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Aug-antidep-with-naltrex.html
> But I haven't heard of using it by itself for
> bipolar disorder. Can your psychiatrist give you
> some references?
> BobDear Bob,
I currently take Depakote for Bipolar and Revia for alcoholism. I now understand that being bipolar contributed to the my alcohol abuse along with other issues. When first starting the Revia, aprox. 2 years ago, at 50 mg per day, it eliminated my desire for alcohol completely. However, I found that when I went off the Revia, for short/long periods of time, my desire for alcohol returned. The combination of Depakote and Revia tends to greatly decrease my desire for alcohol. Or, when I do drink, I drink much less. I am now considering increasing my dosage to 100 mg per day to eliminate the desire for alcohol all together. According the the package insert, this should be safe - however, I will need to consult my doctor. I'm going to try it (100 mg) for the next couple of days to see what happens.
Posted by nowrist on April 23, 1999, at 13:25:39
In reply to Re: Revia to treat Bipolar Disorder?, posted by Donna on April 18, 1999, at 11:00:21
>
> > I've heard of adding Revia to an antidepressant to
> > help with depression. For example, see:
> > http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Patients-who-lose-response.html
> > http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Aug-antidep-with-naltrex.html
> > But I haven't heard of using it by itself for
> > bipolar disorder. Can your psychiatrist give you
> > some references?
> > Bob
>
> Dear Bob,
> I currently take Depakote for Bipolar and Revia for alcoholism. I now understand that being bipolar contributed to the my alcohol abuse along with other issues. When first starting the Revia, aprox. 2 years ago, at 50 mg per day, it eliminated my desire for alcohol completely. However, I found that when I went off the Revia, for short/long periods of time, my desire for alcohol returned. The combination of Depakote and Revia tends to greatly decrease my desire for alcohol. Or, when I do drink, I drink much less. I am now considering increasing my dosage to 100 mg per day to eliminate the desire for alcohol all together. According the the package insert, this should be safe - however, I will need to consult my doctor. I'm going to try it (100 mg) for the next couple of days to see what happens.
does anyone know how typical the side effects for revia are, and can anyone out there say anything confidently about the toll this naltrexone (revia) takes on the body---is it similiar to other drugs about which more is known? It is being recomended to me for my ongoing problems with alchohol and depression...
Posted by nowrist on April 23, 1999, at 14:07:22
In reply to Re: Revia to treat Bipolar Disorder?, posted by nowrist on April 23, 1999, at 13:25:39
> >
> > > I've heard of adding Revia to an antidepressant to
> > > help with depression. For example, see:
> > > http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Patients-who-lose-response.html
> > > http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Aug-antidep-with-naltrex.html
> > > But I haven't heard of using it by itself for
> > > bipolar disorder. Can your psychiatrist give you
> > > some references?
> > > Bob
> >
> > Dear Bob,
> > I currently take Depakote for Bipolar and Revia for alcoholism. I now understand that being bipolar contributed to the my alcohol abuse along with other issues. When first starting the Revia, aprox. 2 years ago, at 50 mg per day, it eliminated my desire for alcohol completely. However, I found that when I went off the Revia, for short/long periods of time, my desire for alcohol returned. The combination of Depakote and Revia tends to greatly decrease my desire for alcohol. Or, when I do drink, I drink much less. I am now considering increasing my dosage to 100 mg per day to eliminate the desire for alcohol all together. According the the package insert, this should be safe - however, I will need to consult my doctor. I'm going to try it (100 mg) for the next couple of days to see what happens.
> does anyone know how typical the side effects for revia are, and can anyone out there say anything confidently about the toll this naltrexone (revia) takes on the body---is it similiar to other drugs about which more is known? It is being recomended to me for my ongoing problems with alchohol and depression...oops---I forget to ask--->I'm also taking zoloft and I wonder does anyone have any testimony to offer as to revia's capacity to 'boost' the effects of zoloft? thanks.
Posted by Randy on April 26, 1999, at 11:32:52
In reply to Re: Revia to treat Bipolar Disorder?, posted by Donna on April 18, 1999, at 11:00:21
>
> > I've heard of adding Revia to an antidepressant to
> > help with depression. For example, see:
> > http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Patients-who-lose-response.html
> > http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Aug-antidep-with-naltrex.html
> > But I haven't heard of using it by itself for
> > bipolar disorder. Can your psychiatrist give you
> > some references?
> > Bob
>
> Dear Bob,
> I currently take Depakote for Bipolar and Revia for alcoholism. I now understand that being bipolar contributed to the my alcohol abuse along with other issues. When first starting the Revia, aprox. 2 years ago, at 50 mg per day, it eliminated my desire for alcohol completely. However, I found that when I went off the Revia, for short/long periods of time, my desire for alcohol returned. The combination of Depakote and Revia tends to greatly decrease my desire for alcohol. Or, when I do drink, I drink much less. I am now considering increasing my dosage to 100 mg per day to eliminate the desire for alcohol all together. According the the package insert, this should be safe - however, I will need to consult my doctor. I'm going to try it (100 mg) for the next couple of days to see what happens.It has been my experience as a recovering alcoholic
(12 years clean) that until I completely took
alcohol out of the equation the depression
continued. Once the alcoholism was addressed
(complete abstenance) then my depression became
manageable. It is my belief that alcoholism is
but a symptom of the problem. The course of action
that was successful for me when all else failed
was a 12 step program called Alcoholics Anonymous.
The antidepressants began to help shortly there
after, and after 3 years in AA my doctor removed
me from pharmocological therapy completely. My
depression has been quite manageable since and
my quality of life improved dramatically.
You might want to look into it along with your
physicians suggestions.Good Luck
Randy
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