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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 JackD on December 8, 2000, at 23:58:07
I think we need some more success stories here! C'mon you lucky bastards, help give the rest of us something to strive for!
Posted by kazoo on December 9, 2000, at 1:44:34
In reply to Success Stories, posted by JackD on December 8, 2000, at 23:58:07
> I think we need some more success stories here! C'mon you lucky bastards, help give the rest of us something to strive for!
^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Americans love a success story, but hate the successful."
Anne Morrow Lindberghkazoo (sniff, sniff)
Posted by Noa on December 9, 2000, at 11:31:54
In reply to Re: Success Stories » JackD, posted by kazoo on December 9, 2000, at 1:44:34
Well, Jack, my story is not one of perfect remission, but a good enough remission to function normally. It took a long time to find the right combo of medications, but the current combo is working fairly well with tolerable side effects:
Effexor XR 300 mg
Serzone 350 mg
Synthroid 50 mcg
Cytomel 12.5 mcg x2
Adderall 10 mg x2The key for me was figuring out that I was hypothyroid and that the hypothryoid was preventing me from benefitting sufficiently from the ADs.
How do I describe success? I went from sleeping al the time, feeling suicidal, crying all the time, aching, feeling fatigued, feeling cloudy headed, unable to make decisions, staying in my apartment the entire weekend, coming in late to work all the time and getting very little done while there, frequent absences, etc etc to functioning well at work, making new friends, getting out more, waking up in the morning cheerfully (that one I never would have predicted!), feeling hopeful (cautiously so, still, because I have had so many relapses in my life that it is hard to trust this one, even though I know it is different).
I still have a lot of work to do to clean up the mess (literal and figurative) created during the years of not functioning, but I feel optimistic about it, even though it goes so slowly.
I also know there are others here with success stories. Did you see Adam's recent posts? And Janice, I think, also represents a success story. And St. James, too.
Thing is, I think many people move on when they start to feel better, so you might not get as many responses as you would like.
Posted by Jen111111111 on December 10, 2000, at 12:42:15
In reply to Success Stories, posted by JackD on December 8, 2000, at 23:58:07
I take 75mg Effexor in the am and 50mg atenolol in the pm (for high bp). For some reason the "slowing down" effect of the bp med counteracts the "up" of effexor. I feel WONDERFUL! It's been a long time since I could honestly say that. Feels good :)
Posted by Noa on December 11, 2000, at 16:42:59
In reply to Re: Success Stories, posted by Jen111111111 on December 10, 2000, at 12:42:15
That is great, Jen. I could see how the bp meds could counter anxiety, etc., too. Glad you found a good combo for you.
Posted by JohnL on December 13, 2000, at 5:13:59
In reply to Success Stories, posted by JackD on December 8, 2000, at 23:58:07
> I think we need some more success stories here! C'mon you lucky bastards, help give the rest of us something to strive for!
Here are a few:
WayneR used to be a regular here. He had been disappointed with years of different drugs. He convinced his doctor to augment his Prozac with Naltrexone. It was a miracle for him, after all those years of suffering.Adam, who has reappeared here recently, participated in a clinical trial of transdermal Selegiline. He has done very well.
St James does well with Effexor+Remeron.
A girl here some time ago said she couldn't understand what the six week wait thing was all about, because Wellbutrin for her worked completely beginning the very first day.
There are plenty more among the archives. The many success stories--especially in a population of such ill and resistant patients--is what always kept my hope alive.
I don't consider myself a success story, but I can say that Adrafinil+Amisulpride have improved me about 95%. This after failing just about anything and everything you can think of. Name it, I've probably tried it. Only out of desperation did I turn to overseas markets, and now I wonder why I hesitated. I know of nothing available in the USA that comes close to Adrafinil or Amisulpride in terms of effectiveness and mildness of side effects.
With the benefit of hindsight, here's my recipe for success:
1. Try two or three different drugs in each class (i.e. 3 SSRIs, Wellbutrin, a tricyclic; Ritalin and Adderall; Zyprexa and Risperdal; Depakote and Tegretol, or Lamictal and Neurontin; Lithium; Xanax, Valium, Klonopin; Remeron.
2. Try each one for a minimum of one week and a maximum of two weeks. If it's going very well in that short time, stay with it longer. If instead things are getting worse, side effects are intolerable, or there is little hint of improvement, move on to the next drug after a one day washout.
3. Assuming someone did sample all of these, there would definitely be one, two, or three drugs that seemed much better than the others. Those should be revisited for longer trials, combinations, and tweeking. This 'probing' process can shave years and years of suffering off of one's treatment, and condense it into six months or less.
4. Don't rule out overseas medications. There are some fabulous medicines in other countries. The FDA, as esteemed as it is, is not the ultimate authority.I have a personal bias for Adrafinil and Amisulpride. With that in mind, I would personally move them to the top of any priority list. That is for three reasons:
1. Like all other drugs, they have clinical research supporting and confirming their effectiveness.
2. Side effects are minimal or nonexistent.
3. Unlike most other drugs, they can provide benefits even to normal people.
4. Disclaimer though...one should command a good understanding of titration and risks before attempting partial or complete self-directed care. This is not to be attempted by the suicidally depressed or the psychotic without a doctor's direct and close supervision. My views will understandably draw criticism from those firmly entrenched in conventional psychiatry which often inadvertently prolongs suffering much too long.
John
This is the end of the thread.
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