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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by denise528 on February 20, 2003, at 12:50:54
Hi,
Anyone out there found success after failing multiple trials of drugs, I need to see something that gives me hope.
Thanks......Denise
Posted by IsoM on February 20, 2003, at 14:08:12
In reply to Need to see some success stories., posted by denise528 on February 20, 2003, at 12:50:54
I saw your previous post to me, Denise, & yes, I'm feeling better - sort of. I think the couple of months of stress, while now over, had a physical effect on me. When I'm stressed, I can't eat much & healthy eating & supplements went downhill. It's not that I start eating junk food, I simply don't eat except a bare minimum. My fibromyalgia & IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) flared up again. I'm feeling tired & worn out. But mentally, things have improved. I'll just have to get serious about eating properly again & remembering to take my Dicetel for my IBS till it calms down again. Because it's not one of my regular meds, I keep forgetting to take it. One or two months, & I'll be back to normal plus spring will be in full force then. (Already have crocuses, snowdrops, & a few other flowers blooming here.)
I wish you'd gotten more responses about your questions on dopamine & Parkinson's. I don't know enough to even venture a semi-educated guess there. I find neurotransmitters are such an unknown area for scientists as one neurotransmitter can have such an effect in one part of the brain & an entirely diff effect in other parts. Dopamine, for example - low levels in the motor areas cause these Parkinson-like symptoms but I've talked with a couple of people with Parkinson's, & other than the depression from having the illness, they're not necessarily depressed or have low motivation. I'm confused how low levels of dopamine in the motor areas wouldn't mean low levels in other parts too. Or are they unaffected by lower levels in other parts - less so than depressed people?
I must say I wonder a great deal about these things too but have found no solid answers. That's one of the reasons I read & read about neurobiology & anything related. I'm seeking to gain a better understanding of how our brain works. It's so hard to study something like neurotransmitters that only exist for a fraction of a second before they're taken up again or degraded.
Please forgive me if I asked before as I'm getting all the people here mixed up with symptoms & meds. Did you ever try Provigil? My doctor believed me when I told him about my narcolepsy without insisting on sending me to a sleep lab. When I asked if I could try Provigil (instead of sending to France for adrafinil - I told him about it), he had no problem with it. The Provigil was disappointing in that it did nothing to help me stay awake - zippo. So when I went back after a couple of months & asked for Dexedrine instead, he gave it to me. I stopped the Provigil & switched to Dexedrine, but after a couple of wekks, I noticed my mood going downhill. Provigil did nothing for keeping me awake but did wonders as a mood enhancer! I really can't say enough good about Provigil's effects on me. It seems to help immensely as an AD, mood enhancer, & motivator. I'm now taking Celexa, Provigil, & Dexedrine. There's odd days when I have no real need of Dexedrine when I'm busy & it's bright & sunny out. That's fine as it gives me brief holidays from it, stopping me from building up a tolerance to it. But my Provigil is a must for me now. It really does take time for it to have a full effect. I found a month or so & it reached max benefits.
When a med works for a long time & then won't work again years later, I wonder if there hasn't been small changes in your brain chemistry that might cause that. Our brain is quite plastic & does change & grow despite earlier thinking. Has there been anything you can think of that might have changed something? Anything physical (environmental changes, supplements or diet, illnesses) or mental (major stresses like deaths, divorce, etc., new jobs) or anything you can think of? Sometimes I think we know more about Mars than our own brains. A lump of brain tissue from a cadaver tells us nothing about the functioning, living brain. We don't know enough yet.
Posted by Greg on February 20, 2003, at 14:26:22
In reply to Need to see some success stories., posted by denise528 on February 20, 2003, at 12:50:54
Hi Denise,
I was tried on 20 to 25 different meds before finally finding the combo of Zyprexa, Topamax, and Klonopin (originally Xanax) that I'm on now and have been for well over 2 years for BP II. Life has been far from perfect, I have some health issues that aren't related to my depression. But if I hadn't stuck things out and kept trying to find the right meds (and therapy), I really believe I wouldn't be here to write to you today. The hardest part for me was the "wait and see". It seemed like an eternity, but man, when the right meds finally started to work, what a rush...It can get better, but expect baby steps, not giant leaps.
I wish I had the words to make you feel better, but I'm afraid I'm sadly lacking. I hope you won't give up, it's your life and you owe it your best shot IMHO. If you don't think your doc is doing the best he/she can for you, get another one. I did and that was the difference maker for me. Keep talking, scream, yell, let people know when you're hurting. Do whatever you need to do to take care of you.
I'll be thinking about you,
Greg
Posted by ace on February 20, 2003, at 19:40:50
In reply to Need to see some success stories., posted by denise528 on February 20, 2003, at 12:50:54
> Hi,
>
> Anyone out there found success after failing multiple trials of drugs, I need to see something that gives me hope.
>
>
> Thanks......DeniseDenise,
Look below for the word!
NARDIL!
Ace.
Nardil, 90mg.
Posted by Craig Allen on February 20, 2003, at 19:59:02
In reply to Re: I'll give you a success story in one word!!!!! » denise528, posted by ace on February 20, 2003, at 19:40:50
are you guys still having a hard time getting nardil (if you're in the u.s.), or did that problem get resolved?
Posted by ace on February 20, 2003, at 20:02:07
In reply to Re: I'll give you a success story in one word!!!!! » ace, posted by Craig Allen on February 20, 2003, at 19:59:02
> are you guys still having a hard time getting nardil (if you're in the u.s.), or did that problem get resolved?
Can't tell you dude, I'm in Australia!!! It's a little hard to get here, but, after ringing the manafacturer, they said they are likelt to take over the European market and maybe US market. They said that there is NO cahnce Nardil will ever die. BTW, Link pharmaceuticals is the manafacturer here in Australia.
Take Care!
Ace.
Nardil, 90mg.
Posted by Jack Smith on February 20, 2003, at 20:03:50
In reply to Re: I'll give you a success story in one word!!!!! » denise528, posted by ace on February 20, 2003, at 19:40:50
Denise, I seem to remember you saying that your pdoc would not give you an MAOI--GET A NEW PDOC. NOW. If you have to travel halfway across the country to see someone willing to prescrive this med, do it. Whatever it takes, you should try this class of meds since it is one of the few you have not tried and it is so successful for so many. . . .
> Denise,
> Look below for the word!
>
>
> NARDIL!
>
>
> Ace.
> Nardil, 90mg.
Posted by Phil on February 20, 2003, at 21:44:25
In reply to Need to see some success stories., posted by denise528 on February 20, 2003, at 12:50:54
Amitriptyline worked for me for years. Right now I'm on Wellbutrin, Klonopin, Adderall and Lexapro. I feel good most of the time and am okay with my life, etc.
The thing that kicks my rear here in Austin is when allergens are high, I turn into a lethargic, brain dead zombie. Nothing has helped for that.
Yesterday was one of my worst days ever as far as allergies. I was writing simple stuff at work over and over and just couldn't make sense of it.
Oh, last time I counted, I think I've tried 37 legal meds. In my younger days, I never met a drug I didn't like...ever. I think the buzz word is self-medicating. I called it getting toe(tore) down. I was toe down a lot.
Posted by likelife on February 21, 2003, at 0:03:09
In reply to Need to see some success stories., posted by denise528 on February 20, 2003, at 12:50:54
I've been on somewhat of a roll for the past 4-6 months (finally). I've tried AD's in all the classes, and found that Parnate worked really well (but I couldn't handle the side effects eventually), and desipramine has done a super job (for the past year and a half), in combo with Ritalin (even better for the past 6 months) and a wee bit of trazodone to sleep. I spent four odd years pretty far down--hospital and all that--and am back in school now, getting on with life. It's a nice feeling.
I've known despair, and I'm always kind of afraid it will come back in full force. Each time I've gone off a med I spiral down predictably within two weeks. It's amazing what a little chemical intervention will do for the brain.
I hope you find something that works for you. Best of luck.
Posted by sjb on February 21, 2003, at 9:47:25
In reply to Re: Need to see some success stories., posted by Phil on February 20, 2003, at 21:44:25
". .. and almost level to the ground. " My favorite Eric Clapton song.
Posted by Tina P on February 21, 2003, at 21:45:05
In reply to Re: Need to see some success stories- Phil, posted by sjb on February 21, 2003, at 9:47:25
I've had very few success stories to share in my life (obviously coming from someone who has suffered with clinical depression) but one thing's for sure: Without my antidepressants I don't know where I'd be today. I spent many years blaming my sadness on the blows life had hit me with, until finally realizing that the depression was way out of control. First I took Paxil, which worked wonderfully, but caused weight gain. Then I tried Welbutrin, hoping it would put an end to the weight gain, but it made me very dizzy and nauseous, so I went back to the Paxil. Finally, my doc switched me to Effexor and after giving it a few weeks to build up in my system, I think it might be the one for me. Of course, now I really need to lose some weight, which is pretty depressing!!!!!! But seriously, I consider my experience with mental illness and medication to be a success story. Please try not to let all the horror stories on these message boards discourage you. There is a light at the end of the tunnel! You just have to keep heading for the end of the tunnel!
Posted by Ron Hill on February 24, 2003, at 22:52:32
In reply to Need to see some success stories., posted by denise528 on February 20, 2003, at 12:50:54
Posted by denise528 on March 19, 2003, at 14:01:41
In reply to Re: Need to see some success stories. » denise528, posted by IsoM on February 20, 2003, at 14:08:12
Hi IsoM,
Glad to hear you're feeling better and that you are in control of it.
I would have written back sooner but haven't been feeling too good lately. To answer your questions no I haven't tried provigal but I did try the adrafinil and that didn't really do anything, I think my brain must be a rock totally impervious. I must admit I'm starting to feel very despondant about anything I might try next even ECT.
It is frustrating when the drugs that used to work so well no longer work, If they hadn't of worked so well maybe I could accept the fact that they're not working now. I constantly yearn for those days, it's like that Song "sit down" if I hadn't seen such riches I could live with being poor. But then I was very luck, I had about 15 really good years, years that I wouldn't have had without the ADs. To answer your other question, no I haven't had any post traumatic stress symdrome, although I think stress at work probably brought this whole thing back on again 2 years ago.
My Psychiatrist is going to try me on an MAOI at my request but I'm feeling pretty despondent about that as I don't suffer the classic symptoms of atypical depression.
Denise
Posted by denise528 on March 19, 2003, at 14:04:49
In reply to Re: Need to see some success stories. » denise528, posted by Greg on February 20, 2003, at 14:26:22
Hi Greg,
Sorry to hear about your health problems and glad to hear that the Comination that your on are helping you. Can I ask you why you are taking both Klonopin and Zyprexa when they are both sedating, how much Zyprexa are you on and what the topamax does for you?
I've found Zyprexa really helpful to get me out of the deep end, it's been the only thing that's helped but I feel a bit too plasticy/artificial on it.
Denise
Posted by denise528 on March 19, 2003, at 14:06:58
In reply to Re: I'll give you a success story in one word!!!!! » denise528, posted by ace on February 20, 2003, at 19:40:50
Ace,
I had an idea the Nardil was working for you, I've seen your other posts. I wish I was in your shoes right now. What symptoms of depression do you you suffer from, aren't you bipolar? and what other ADs had you tried before hitting on Nardil?
Denise
Posted by denise528 on March 19, 2003, at 14:10:12
In reply to Re: Denise528, may I talk with you for a moment? (nm) » denise528, posted by Ron Hill on February 24, 2003, at 22:52:32
.
Posted by denise528 on March 19, 2003, at 14:10:54
In reply to Need to see some success stories., posted by denise528 on February 20, 2003, at 12:50:54
.
Posted by ace on March 19, 2003, at 20:43:48
In reply to Re: To ACE, posted by denise528 on March 19, 2003, at 14:06:58
> Ace,
>
> I had an idea the Nardil was working for you, I've seen your other posts. I wish I was in your shoes right now. What symptoms of depression do you you suffer from, aren't you bipolar?No Bipolar at all. I USED TO suffer from quite bad episodic depression and a plethora of anxiety disorders (Just about everyone, but OCD the most worse)
I have NO depression thanks to Nardil.
90% relief from every anxiety d/o, EXCEPT ocd, thanks to Nardil (Lithium is going to tackle the last 10%
60-70% OCD relief from Nardil Once again, (Lithium is going to kick OCD's ass into the ground) I must mention however that, in comparison to shitty SSRIs (except Luvox from anectodal reports I've read), which give 20-30% relief typically, Nardil has been good for the OCD.
I tried a lot of antipsychotics (not because of psychosis, but because of my derealization and severe phobic anxiety)Tried Zoloft, only helped minimally
Tried Luvox - insomnia
A few others. Probably didn't give a few, including Luvox, a fair go, but I'm very happy on Nardil.
Good luck! My Nardil is definately a success story! Check out my prior posts.
Ace,
NARDIL MANIAC!
and what other ADs had you tried before hitting on Nardil?
>
>
> Denise
Posted by LyndaK on March 22, 2003, at 1:15:10
In reply to Need to see some success stories., posted by denise528 on February 20, 2003, at 12:50:54
Hi Denise,
I realize you initially posted this back in February, but I wanted to add one more story of success. I have tried most all of the SSRI drugs. Zoloft was the best of those but it caused memory and concentration problems that ended up being its own form of dysfunction. I tried Wellbutrin, but it made me too irritable. I went to a new pdoc who looked at the list of drugs I had tried (I wrote it out for him and took it to my first appointment) and the "pros" and "cons" I had listed for each. He then decided to try me on Remeron (Mirtazipine) which ended up being the "Magic Pill" for me. It had some pretty heavy start-up side effects but they all resolved with time. I truely feel like I'm living again -- not just getting through each day. I've also had weekly therapy for the past 3+ years which has helped a lot, but I don't think I would've gotten much out of the therapy without the chemical support on-board.
Best of luck to you as you continue to search. I hope you find the right one or right combo soon.
Lynda
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