![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Julie Ann on July 3, 2000, at 12:33:00
Should I continue my Naltrexone trial?
I had chronic depression for about 10 years. My medications and depression causes me to sleep 12 hours per day, and I am often fatigued. I'm trying Naltrexone to give me more energy.
I've been on Naltrexone for about 9 days. I noticed that I had more energy for 5 days near the beginning of my trial. However, for the past few days I haven't noticed the Naltrexone (50 mg) working much.
So, what do you think -- should I continue my Naltrexone trial? Also, how do you withdrawl from Naltrexone?
Posted by SLS on July 3, 2000, at 15:03:24
In reply to Naltrexone Trial, posted by Julie Ann on July 3, 2000, at 12:33:00
> Should I continue my Naltrexone trial?
>
> I had chronic depression for about 10 years. My medications and depression causes me to sleep 12 hours per day, and I am often fatigued. I'm trying Naltrexone to give me more energy.
>
> I've been on Naltrexone for about 9 days. I noticed that I had more energy for 5 days near the beginning of my trial. However, for the past few days I haven't noticed the Naltrexone (50 mg) working much.
>
> So, what do you think -- should I continue my Naltrexone trial? Also, how do you withdrawl from Naltrexone?
Dear Julie Ann,Patience is a virtue. Being without virtue, I have very little.
I know nothing about Naltrexone (yet). It has been recommended to me by a doctor I consulted with recently. I guess it makes sense to treat it as if it were a traditional antidepressant and give it 3-4 weeks, assuming that you don't experience anything bad as a result of it.
1. You may not respond at the dosage of Naltrexone you are currently taking.
2. You may not respond if any of the other drugs you may be taking need dosage adjustments.
Questions (if you don't mind).1. How high of a dosage of Naltrexone will your doctor go up to?
2. What other drugs are you taking, and at what dosages?
3. What is your diagnosis? How would you describe your depression?
Any input would be helpful. Thanks.
- Scott
Posted by noa on July 3, 2000, at 15:31:47
In reply to Re: Naltrexone Trial, posted by SLS on July 3, 2000, at 15:03:24
I wish I could tell you which month's archive to look into, but there was a poster named Wayne who gave progress updates about his naltrexone trial. If I remember correctly, it was successful. Try looking in months from the Fall of 99. Good luck.
Posted by Julie Ann on July 3, 2000, at 22:58:45
In reply to Re: Naltrexone Trial, posted by SLS on July 3, 2000, at 15:03:24
> Questions (if you don't mind).
>
> 1. How high of a dosage of Naltrexone will your doctor go up to?I am on the highest dosage (50 mg) to which I am willing to up. There isn't much experience with people taking higher dosages that this from what I've read. Also, since there is a danger of liver damage I'll stick with the 50 mg.
>
> 2. What other drugs are you taking, and at what dosages?Wellbutrin 300 mg
Effexor 300 mg
Neurontin 1800 mg
SAMe 400 mg
DHEA 50 mg
Melatonin 3 mg> 3. What is your diagnosis? How would you describe your depression?
Major depression -- chronic (unremmitting, not recurrent), severe (without my medications, I would be stuck in a hell, contemplating suicide.)
> Any input would be helpful. Thanks.
>
>
> - Scott> > Should I continue my Naltrexone trial?
> >
> > I had chronic depression for about 10 years. My medications and depression causes me to sleep 12 hours per day, and I am often fatigued. I'm trying Naltrexone to give me more energy.
> >
> > I've been on Naltrexone for about 9 days. I noticed that I had more energy for 5 days near the beginning of my trial. However, for the past few days I haven't noticed the Naltrexone (50 mg) working much.
> >
> > So, what do you think -- should I continue my Naltrexone trial? Also, how do you withdrawl from Naltrexone?
>
>
> Dear Julie Ann,
>
> Patience is a virtue. Being without virtue, I have very little.
>
> I know nothing about Naltrexone (yet). It has been recommended to me by a doctor I consulted with recently. I guess it makes sense to treat it as if it were a traditional antidepressant and give it 3-4 weeks, assuming that you don't experience anything bad as a result of it.
>
> 1. You may not respond at the dosage of Naltrexone you are currently taking.
>
> 2. You may not respond if any of the other drugs you may be taking need dosage adjustments.
>
>
Posted by JohnL on July 4, 2000, at 6:23:18
In reply to Naltrexone Trial, posted by Julie Ann on July 3, 2000, at 12:33:00
> Should I continue my Naltrexone trial?
Julie Ann
I could be wrong, but I think it would be wise to give it a full 30 days. Also be aware that 100mg has been used in depression vs 50mg.Are you taking it with an SSRI? I ask because it has primarily shown benefit when added to an SSRI rather than being used alone.
The doctor who first pioneered and experimented with Naltrexone augmentation in depression recommends a trial of about a month. That good early repsonse you had may be a clue of better things to come. Or it could have been a short term response that won't return. I think 30 days could be sufficient to find out which. And keep in mind you could go up to 100mg.
If it turns out to be a flop (the odds are pretty good that it won't be a flop), the usual gradual reduction of dosage is the way to quit.
Naltrexone unfortunately didn't do much for me. It apparently is helpful in about 75% of cases. I guess I was in the other 25% camp. But when I quit, I reduced dosage in small chunks over about a one week period and had no problem with withdrawals. Hopefully it will kick in within the next 3 weeks and withdrawal won't be an issue! :-)
JohnL
Posted by SLS on July 4, 2000, at 9:42:54
In reply to Re: Naltrexone Trial » SLS, posted by Julie Ann on July 3, 2000, at 22:58:45
Dear Julie Ann,
Thanks for the reply. We gotta' get you well too.
Wellbutrin 300 mg
Effexor 300 mg
Neurontin 1800 mg
SAMe 400 mg
DHEA 50 mg
Melatonin 3 mgThe question that begs asking is whether or not you have ever tried an MAO inhibitor.
You could probably add Parnate to everything you are taking EXCEPT Effexor. This includes Naltrexone. If you were to consider doing this, I would be interested to help you verify the compatability of an MAOI with SAMe, DHEA, and melatonin. Wellbutrin, Neurontin, and Naltrexone are certainly safe to combine with any MAO inhibitor. I seem to remember reading of someone for whom adding naltrexone to Nardil did the trick.
Can you describe how each of the 6 drugs you have listed have helped you?
Thanks again, Julie Ann.
- Scott
Posted by Julie Ann on July 13, 2000, at 14:51:36
In reply to Re: Naltrexone Trial » Julie Ann, posted by SLS on July 4, 2000, at 9:42:54
> Thanks for the reply. We gotta' get you well too.
Thanks for your concern.
>
> The question that begs asking is whether or not you have ever tried an MAO inhibitor.
>
Yes. I've been on MAOIs for about a year. They were very effective for me. But at the dosage I had to take them at, the side effects were unbearable.
> You could probably add Parnate to everything you are taking EXCEPT Effexor. This includes Naltrexone. If you were to consider doing this, I would be interested to help you verify the compatability of an MAOI with SAMe, DHEA, and melatonin. Wellbutrin, Neurontin, and Naltrexone are certainly safe to combine with any MAO inhibitor. I seem to remember reading of someone for whom adding naltrexone to Nardil did the trick.
>
When I tried the MAOIs before, I did not combine the drugs with any other meds. I have thought of doing exactly what you describe above, and I plan to do it if nothing else will work. (Going on MAOIs is difficult for me because I must stay off Effexor for at least a week. Without Effexor, I become quite ill.)> Can you describe how each of the 6 drugs you have listed have helped you?
>
> Wellbutrin 300 mg -- Helped anxiety, concentration, sad mood fatigue. Also, lost some weight.> Effexor 300 mg -- Helped anxiety, concentration, sad mood.
> Neurontin 1800 mg -- Again, anxiety, concentration, sad mood.
> SAMe 400 mg -- Took away the muscle pains in both my arms which made it difficult for me to function. (I had a hard time cleaning, typing on the computer, etc.) Probably had an effect on anxiety, concentration, etc., also.
> DHEA 50 mg -- Gives me more energy, I believe.
> Melatonin 3 mg -- I can't sleep without it.
>
> - ScottHope this helps you, Scott. BTW, what are your diagnosis and medications?
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.