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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 lissy on May 25, 2001, at 23:03:48
This may sound like a silly question but is it possible that an antidepressant could curb severe gambling addictions? I am very worried about my brother he can't stop gambling and is in debt up to his eyeballs. He will not go to a therapist or to a support group. He had been on Prozac as a teen for depression. I was wondering especially if Prozac would be of help seeing that the patent is almost expired and it should be cheaper soon.
Posted by ChrisK on May 26, 2001, at 5:10:46
In reply to Can A.D.s help gambling Addiction?, posted by lissy on May 25, 2001, at 23:03:48
Go part way up the page to a thread that started out being "It doesn't get any better than this?" The thread has wandered greatly but in the middle are some posts about Naltrexone and cutting. Naltrexone is used to block the high from drugs and alcohol so that the cravings aren't there anymore. My experience was that it worked quite well to reduce alcohol cravings.
The theory put forth above is that it could also block the high that some people get from cutting themselves. In your case it may work to block the gambling "highs" that your brother gets. It also works well in combination with Prozac as an augmentor for depression. It may be worth looking into.
Chris
Posted by Bill L on May 26, 2001, at 10:12:54
In reply to Can A.D.s help gambling Addiction?, posted by lissy on May 25, 2001, at 23:03:48
There was a study done last year showing that Celexa helped people waho were compulsive out of control shoppers. Celexa is sort of like Prozac.
> This may sound like a silly question but is it possible that an antidepressant could curb severe gambling addictions? I am very worried about my brother he can't stop gambling and is in debt up to his eyeballs. He will not go to a therapist or to a support group. He had been on Prozac as a teen for depression. I was wondering especially if Prozac would be of help seeing that the patent is almost expired and it should be cheaper soon.
Posted by Cam W. on May 26, 2001, at 10:53:53
In reply to Can A.D.s help gambling Addiction?, posted by lissy on May 25, 2001, at 23:03:48
Lissy - SSRIs are used in OCD states, of which compulsive gambling is one. There has been some reports of using SSRIs for compulsive gambling (Luvox™ - fluvoxamine and Prozac™ - fluoxetine) but the results have been very mixed. Perhaps SSRIs would work better if the gambling were a result (or symptom) of a major depression. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be effective in those who truly want to quit gambling.
I have heard of Wellbutrin™ (bupropion) working in a case of compulsive gambling after trials of a couple of SSRI did not work. I believe that the person in this case was depressed and the resolution of the depression also stopped the gambling.
I hope this is of some help - Cam
Posted by Andrews on May 26, 2001, at 22:58:59
In reply to Re: Can A.D.s help gambling Addiction?, posted by ChrisK on May 26, 2001, at 5:10:46
wellbutrin supposedly helps in behaviors that invole "cravings". apparently the same neural pathways are involved in alcohol abuse, overeating, drug abuse and gambling. wellbutrin may suppress these "cravings".
> Go part way up the page to a thread that started out being "It doesn't get any better than this?" The thread has wandered greatly but in the middle are some posts about Naltrexone and cutting. Naltrexone is used to block the high from drugs and alcohol so that the cravings aren't there anymore. My experience was that it worked quite well to reduce alcohol cravings.
>
> The theory put forth above is that it could also block the high that some people get from cutting themselves. In your case it may work to block the gambling "highs" that your brother gets. It also works well in combination with Prozac as an augmentor for depression. It may be worth looking into.
>
> Chris
Posted by lissy on May 28, 2001, at 10:08:34
In reply to Re: Can A.D.s help gambling Addiction?, posted by Andrews on May 26, 2001, at 22:58:59
> wellbutrin supposedly helps in behaviors that invole "cravings". apparently the same neural pathways are involved in alcohol abuse, overeating, drug abuse and gambling. wellbutrin may suppress these "cravings".
>
>
> > Go part way up the page to a thread that started out being "It doesn't get any better than this?" The thread has wandered greatly but in the middle are some posts about Naltrexone and cutting. Naltrexone is used to block the high from drugs and alcohol so that the cravings aren't there anymore. My experience was that it worked quite well to reduce alcohol cravings.
> >
> > The theory put forth above is that it could also block the high that some people get from cutting themselves. In your case it may work to block the gambling "highs" that your brother gets. It also works well in combination with Prozac as an augmentor for depression. It may be worth looking into.
> >
> > ChrisI think he is in a depression. He seems so self-destructive. He has had diabetes for over 10 years now and won't test his blood sugar and doesn't eat the right foods and just seems to have given up. If he isn't at work or the casinos he just sleeps. I come from a family of alchoholics and struggled w/alcholism myself and eating disorders. He never had the alchoholism like the rest of the family, so I think this gambling addiction took the place of the alcholism. Thanks for the advice guys. He hit rock bottom last year and filed bankruptcy, so it is really hard to understand how he could start up again.
This is the end of the thread.
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