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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 caha on March 6, 2003, at 9:14:16
Anyone here know about Mifepristone for psychotic depression?
I understand it's under study at Stanford and was wondering what you all thought of it.
Thanks
Posted by matt66 on March 6, 2003, at 13:44:32
In reply to Mifepristone Study, posted by caha on March 6, 2003, at 9:14:16
it recieved tons of hype and my doc was really enthusiastic about it. we imported it from england, and it actually made me feel worse. i have just regular chronic depression, and am sometimes doubtful when meds are prescribed for specific forms of depression (for example, i don't think paxil is any more effective for social anxiety disorder than any other AD out there). but before i tried it, my doc seemed to think it was THE med for treatment resistant depression since you only have to take it for four days (it supposedly isn't "effervescent") and they were saying that something ridiculous like 80% of people were responding. but that's just my experience. good luck!
Posted by caha on March 6, 2003, at 15:58:21
In reply to Re: Mifepristone Study, posted by matt66 on March 6, 2003, at 13:44:32
Matt - Sorry it didn't work for you. I sure appreciate your honesty. Have you found anything that works for you? My daughter has tried 15+ meds and they have all "pooped out". She's thinking of asking about an MAOI at her appointment next week.
Good luck to you and thanks again.
Posted by matt66 on March 6, 2003, at 23:12:50
In reply to Re: Mifepristone Study, posted by caha on March 6, 2003, at 15:58:21
DEFINATELY get your daughter to try an MAOI. The stigma surrounding themhas been damaging to the psychiatric community, as they are some of the most effective drugs, but docs shy away from prescribing them because they are worried about food interactions (hypertensive reaction). I must tell you however, it is a very simple diet to maintain. Basically you give up aged cheese, red wine, and beer. for me, it's become second nature- if I don't know what's in the food, i ask what kind of cheese it is- it's that easy. she can still eat pizza and american cheese (both not aged) and if by accident she eats something she's not supposed to, even then, the cases of a hypertensive reaction are rare, and there is an antidote (chlorpromazine, i believe it is) which she can carry around in case of a hypertensive reaction. the risk/benefit ratio simply makes it foolish not to try MAOI's. If you look through this board, it is filled with sucess stories of people on MAOI's. once again, your pdoc may be ambivalent, but find one who is willing to prescribe MAOI's. they are by no means a "last resort" after you've tried everything else. Nardil is the only med that's ever worked for me, and since it stopped woerking, I';ve focused my trials on MAOI's. when they work, the response tends to bemore or less complete, as opposed to ssri responses, which I've read often just numb the patient and don't provide full relief and tricyclics, while still very effective for many people, often bring with them nasty side effects that a young person may not be able to handle. you must dispel the illusion that MAOI's are in a class of their own and are noiw obsolete because of new ssri's etc. i too have had no sucess with med trials, but i think my problem was not having the patience to sit on a med to give it a fair enough time to start working. i absolutely recommend your daughter try an maoi and that you read these boards for information on the diet, dosage, experiences etc. if your doctor is apprehensive to prescribe it GET A NEW PSYCHIATRIST. seriosly. the reluctance to prescribe means he's looking out for his own ass, and buys into the "new wopnder drug" craze. Fact is, prozac doesn't work for everyone, and simply not prescribing maoi's because they are (out of date) is foolish, short sighted, and unfair to the patient. initially used as TB medications, maoi'sdon't just "have anti-depressant properties". they ARE anti-depressants, and just because they've been around for a while, does not lessen their efficacy. maoi's also seem to have the tendency to work on people who have failed to respond to most med trials. I hope this doesn't get your hopes too high (nardil worked for me for only as short time and then pooped out, but that brief period of remission has shown me just what an AD can do, and how much I suffer on a regular basis). Best of luck!
matt
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