![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by morgan miller on April 17, 2011, at 22:45:54
> Morgan, what is mTOR?
>
> I'm not inclined to start an ssri, but I won't say never.
>
> Are you taking zoloft? (I've lost track; sorry :P )
>
> Thanks for the link.
>
> :-)
>
> fbmTOR stands for mammalian target of rapamycin. This is a protein that regulates cell growth, survival, motility, and protein synthesis. The name for this protein came from the discovery of a bacteria on Easter Island(Rapa Nui) that powerfully inhibits mTOR. The bacteria was named Rapamycin, after Rapa Nui, and is used to suppress the immune system and prevent it from attacking newly transplanted organs. Inhibiting mTOR shows promise in cancer treatment and prevention and life extension. Other compounds that inhibit mTOR, to a much lesser extent than Rapamycin of course, are Curcumin, Resveratrol,and Terminalia Chebula.
Nope, not taking Zoloft at the time, though I may be going back to it at some point. Right now the drug in fashion is Lexapro, it's doing the job, but may not be exactly what I want. I also take 750 mg of Depakote ER and a little Lithium Orotate. I've been doing much better lately for a few reasons, not just medication. I'm no where near functioning they way I did just a few years ago though. I'm determined to make it happen one way or the other.
Hope you are hangin in there FB.
Morgan
Posted by Phillipa on April 17, 2011, at 23:05:48
In reply to Re: road mapping AD shortlist, posted by morgan miller on April 17, 2011, at 22:45:54
Morgan what dose of lexapro are you on? And did you start at that dose? What are your thoughts of 2.5 of lexapro with the dumb 50mg of luvox can't seem to let go of with benzo? Thanks know I'm not Floating Bridge Bet She Soon Responds Phillipa
Posted by morgan miller on April 18, 2011, at 12:09:03
In reply to Re: road mapping AD shortlist » morgan miller, posted by Phillipa on April 17, 2011, at 23:05:48
> Morgan what dose of lexapro are you on? And did you start at that dose? What are your thoughts of 2.5 of lexapro with the dumb 50mg of luvox can't seem to let go of with benzo? Thanks know I'm not Floating Bridge Bet She Soon Responds Phillipa
Hey Phillipa,
I'm on 10 mg. I guess that's not really a low dose : ) I may try 5 mg in a few months, but I'm going to stick with 10 for now. I think it's a good drug, but I still wonder if I would be able to feel a little more and experience a little more passionate creative fun in life on Zoloft, which is why I may go back to it at some point.
I don't see why trying a 2.5 mg dose of Lexapro would hurt in any way, and it certainly could help. I think it is worth a shot. Who knows, after a few months you may be able to lower your dose of Luvox a bit. Luvox isn't such a bad drug, I guess your problem with it may be that it isn't really doing the job anymore quite like it used to, is this correct?
Morgan
Posted by floatingbridge on April 18, 2011, at 14:52:57
In reply to Re: road mapping AD shortlist, posted by morgan miller on April 17, 2011, at 22:45:54
> mTOR stands for mammalian target of rapamycin. This is a protein that regulates cell growth, survival, motility, and protein synthesis. The name for this protein came from the discovery of a bacteria on Easter Island(Rapa Nui) that powerfully inhibits mTOR. The bacteria was named Rapamycin, after Rapa Nui, and is used to suppress the immune
system and prevent it from attacking newly transplanted organs. Inhibiting
mTOR shows promise in cancer treatment and prevention and life extension. Other compounds that inhibit mTOR, to a much lesser extent than Rapamycin of course, are Curcumin, Resveratrol,and Terminalia Chebula.Very cool. Did you mention in another thread you are taking one of these agents?
> Nope, not taking Zoloft at the time, though I may be going back to it at some point. Right now the drug in fashion is Lexapro, it's doing the job, but may not be exactly what I want. I also take 750 mg of Depakote ER and a little Lithium Orotate.I had a decent run on lexapro. Good for you :)
>I've been doing much better lately for a
few reasons, not just
medication. I'm no where near functioning they way I did just a few years ago though. I'm determined to make it happen one way or the other.
>This is welcome news, Morgan! And I believe you will make it happen. Sometimes the repaired model can be better than the original. Imho, of course :-P
> Hope you are hangin in there FB.
>
> MorganBy my fingers and toes. And of course friends and family online and irl. I see my pdoc tomorrow and am in my usual ambivalence. No meds (my gp is pushing this), meds as per needed, or ? It really is up to me which way to go. I've decided to be open-minded (a personal challenge). My pdoc, well, I was going to
say will be displeased, exasperated, but I can't speak for him or anticipate.Pain med 101 says two classes: basically AD's, nsaids--neither working to date, or narcotics. I'm still remembering Ultram
ER, which sits between the two, but after thisvnorco taper, not looking for another monkey. :-/Be well my friend and keep the updates coming.
Here's to personal determination!
hugs!
fb
Posted by floatingbridge on April 18, 2011, at 14:57:14
In reply to Re: road mapping AD shortlist » morgan miller, posted by Phillipa on April 17, 2011, at 23:05:48
Phillipa, when you say dumb luvox, is that because you can't feel it anymore, or are having increase in symptoms?
You sound frustrated (I'm guessing)?
I'm sorry :(
Are there symptoms you want addressed?
Posted by Phillipa on April 18, 2011, at 21:25:20
In reply to Re: road mapping AD shortlist » Phillipa, posted by floatingbridge on April 18, 2011, at 14:57:14
FB frustrated as can't seem to lower the luvox like a monkey on my back. Wonder if it could have changed something in my brain? What brain? Maybe it took a quick exit. And let me know what happens at docs tomorrow? Deal? Phillipa
Posted by morgan miller on April 18, 2011, at 22:00:52
In reply to Re: road mapping AD shortlist, posted by floatingbridge on April 18, 2011, at 14:52:57
Hey FB,
>Very cool. Did you mention in another thread you are taking one of these agents?
I take curcumin and resveratrol, which I believe have enhanced my health and well being.
Hang in there, I know things will get better.
Morgan
Posted by floatingbridge on April 18, 2011, at 22:14:41
In reply to Re: road mapping AD shortlist » floatingbridge, posted by Phillipa on April 18, 2011, at 21:25:20
I will Phillipa. I feel very Charlie Brownish right now. We'll see.
Hang in there. After so many years on luvox, there is probably such familiarity for your body. I know that isn't very scientific. I have been wondering if luvox hasn't steadily been doing it's job, it's just that the job got bigger. Like me and pristiq. Just thinking.... And thinking....
Hugs, sweetie.
Posted by Phillipa on April 19, 2011, at 20:34:15
In reply to Re: road mapping AD shortlist » Phillipa, posted by floatingbridge on April 18, 2011, at 22:14:41
FB it makes sense as the older a person gets the harder the job of say physical labor tasks? Love Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on April 19, 2011, at 22:21:53
In reply to Re: road mapping AD shortlist, posted by morgan miller on April 18, 2011, at 22:00:52
Resveratrol is in knotweed, that herb BB mentions. I just wiki'd it. Oh. And chocolate : J
You've been up to some interesting research. I appreciate you sharing this. Anti-inflammatory agents are next on my list to check out.
Thanks for the encouragement. You sound stronger Morgan. Good work.
>
> >Very cool. Did you mention in another thread you are taking one of these agents?
>
> I take curcumin and resveratrol, which I believe have enhanced my health and well being.
>
> Hang in there, I know things will get better.
>
> Morgan
>
>
Posted by floatingbridge on April 19, 2011, at 22:32:11
In reply to Re: road mapping AD shortlist » floatingbridge, posted by Phillipa on April 19, 2011, at 20:34:15
Phillipa,
I guess that's how I'm looking at my situation right now with the addition of back and fibro stuff.
Used to be anxiety w/bouts of depression. Then MDD w/anxiety. Then all the above plus.
Today pdoc thinks that maybe I'm not really as much depressed as anxious.
Improvement. Lol. Consider removing one dx cautiously.
fb
Posted by morgan miller on April 19, 2011, at 22:54:47
In reply to Re: road mapping AD shortlist » Phillipa, posted by floatingbridge on April 19, 2011, at 22:32:11
> Phillipa,
>
> I guess that's how I'm looking at my situation right now with the addition of back and fibro stuff.
>
> Used to be anxiety w/bouts of depression. Then MDD w/anxiety. Then all the above plus.
>
> Today pdoc thinks that maybe I'm not really as much depressed as anxious.
>
> Improvement. Lol. Consider removing one dx cautiously.
>
> fbI personally don't ever trust a pdocs opinion on things like this. Who would I trus? A really good therapist with a Phd in clinical psychology. Anxiety and depression often go hand in hand, if one exists, the other is likely there in equal amounts as the one currently being experienced the most. Your current state is probably one more of anxiety, but it is likely that the depression is always lurking beneath.
Hang in there FB, you're strong, smart, and graceful. You have so much more than the average person.
Morgan
Posted by Phillipa on April 19, 2011, at 23:16:27
In reply to Re: road mapping AD shortlist » Phillipa, posted by floatingbridge on April 19, 2011, at 22:32:11
FB so what anti inflammatories you thinking? I was fine with just anxiety for over 30 years. I still don't feel depressed just for instance if ride bike the pain after so that keeps from mowing lawn and I'm an active person or was. Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on April 20, 2011, at 1:04:56
In reply to Re: road mapping AD shortlist, posted by morgan miller on April 19, 2011, at 22:54:47
Thanks for watching my back, Morgan. I wouldn't really take back the depression dx, and neither did he.
I hadn't seen him for six weeks plus. He last saw me on a soup of stuff that wasn't working. He didn't like it, either, the pile up.
So I clearly am not a happy camper today; I am, however, more lucid and in touch with my core symptoms. Anxiety is really big for me. Ptsd is an anxiety disorder. And, oddly enough, the old dx of social phobia came up again. He said that makes sense to him more than depression. (I was dx'd w/ that around 2000 in hospital, not by this guy.)
It was like rebooting my dx's. He said point blank he's not into labels. He'd like to See me find the right medicine--if I want it.
I described it like this, in cbt type terms. First there is a thought *or* a feeling. Certain ones are intolerable, and I will do anything to get away. As I react, I can even know I'm reacting, but it just becomes way, way to big. Despite all the deep breathing self-talk, it's a crazy echo chamber. I become highly dysphoric. That's when I just need to be hit on the head. (He didn't care for that phrasing.) It really is just wanting a reset button.
This made sense to him. I said, that is why I ask you what you seem to think are left field questions like how about risperdal as needed. I said that is how I use benzos. Just someone take me out for awhile. Then he asked how I felt
about using medication this way. I said,
well not happy, but glad I have that panic button that works. Because I didn't for years (only medicated at around 39-9?) and had I had some kinda' emergency med in my 20's and 30's, I wouldn't be
such a wreck. He agreed. He doesn't
have a problem for now with my benzo use because he understands what it does for me. He says he's working to help find the best medicine for me.For example, he understood me not
wanting to commit to an AD, and how I feel somehow better without one. I don't know if anyone has made him work so hard.I certainly wish I felt better on AD's. Like you wrote in another thread about getting up, taking a good enough AD, and living life (highly paraphrased).
He offered no suggestions. No rush to medicate other than to affirm my use of xanax, desiring to help me get restorative sleep, and very pleased with my norco taper, though he finds my pain level unacceptably high.
It was an interesting session.
Posted by floatingbridge on April 20, 2011, at 1:27:07
In reply to Re: road mapping AD shortlist » floatingbridge, posted by Phillipa on April 19, 2011, at 23:16:27
Phillipa, I think pain taxes people incredibly. It incites anxiety and depression and fatigue. Like today. A lovely day. I awake in a decent mood. Slept well enough. Within one hour of being up, the pressure of being upright just becomes insistent. So I manage it. All the while I'm making the effort to stay engaged with whatever task or pleasure at hand, I'm really multi-tasking. All day.
Your pain sounds all day, too. Yes?
However, by decreasing the norco, the stim, the snri, I can feel the pain more precisely. That's good because I can really work with it. However, a big
however, this is a transitional state, because I am going to find a way to heal what I can and then medicate what remains. I feel the same about AD's.If it's anxiety and fr*ckin SP and ptsd, those same old fears, by golly, I am going to work them. This is a big attitude improvement for me.
Posted by SLS on April 20, 2011, at 6:47:08
In reply to Re: road mapping AD shortlist, posted by morgan miller on April 19, 2011, at 22:54:47
> Hang in there FB, you're strong, smart, and graceful. You have so much more than the average person.
>
> MorganI am of the same opinion.
- Scott
Posted by floatingbridge on April 20, 2011, at 9:39:15
In reply to Re: road mapping AD shortlist » morgan miller, posted by SLS on April 20, 2011, at 6:47:08
Hey, thanks you two!
:P
Posted by morgan miller on April 20, 2011, at 12:51:45
In reply to the glass is half full today » morgan miller, posted by floatingbridge on April 20, 2011, at 1:04:56
FB, I think I understand why you feel the way you do about AD's. I would hope though, that you at least in the future keep an open mind to trying something like Zoloft. I do believe it is very possible that after a good 3 or 4 month trial and finding the right dose, you could find significant relief from such a drug. While you may go through some periods of dealing with uncomfortable side effects before reaching a time and dose of therapeutic benefit, the reward of benefiting from a unique antidepressant like Zoloft with all of it's potential for several benefits outside of just alleviating anxiety and depression, may be well worth the risk of taking 4 months of your life to trial it. Also, Zoloft has been known for it's ability to help alleviate feelings of anger and resulting behavior.
Sorry if I'm pushing on you in a way that you do not want or need to be pushed. I certainly hope this is not the case.
Morgan
Posted by floatingbridge on April 20, 2011, at 13:45:30
In reply to Re: the glass is half full today » floatingbridge, posted by morgan miller on April 20, 2011, at 12:51:45
Are you kidding? Morgan, you are just super. I have family members who can hammer an agenda. That's not what I perceive you doing at all.
I hesitate to trial anything, period because of long effects. I haven't been off dexedrine or pristiq or cymbalta or lyrica for very long.
I started out very, very med-phobic. I'm aiming for a med-aware, still less is more, but why suffer needlessly attitude.
You didn't rush your lexapro choice, I don't think, did you? You also, intellegently so, waited a good trial period before making working decisions.
I'm in the just looking phase. Being off of snri's at this point is very interesting. I'm cultivating the ability to self observe. Right now I'm considering the idea of an emergency med. That my pdoc didn't shoot that down says much about him. I have really pushed him past what he knows, and he can say so. And then we
can have a conversation. That's really good for me.The idea of going back to my usual snri, ssri is not alluring. I was very numb. And that was not aiding my recovery.
I've shut too many doors. I don't want to habitually do that. For instance, after being off of pristiq, I can look back months and two more meds later and
say that maybe pristiq was actually doing more than I was able to acknowledge at the time. Phillipa helped to point that out, and I don't think she'll mind if I
credit her. Because I am very thankful for that insight.We are having an early unseasonable fog here. I would love some sun. Other than that, my day is alright, everything considered.
That you care enough to post is really priceless. Really.
Hugs to you during your day!
Posted by hyperfocus on April 26, 2011, at 0:09:20
In reply to Re: the glass is half full today » morgan miller, posted by floatingbridge on April 20, 2011, at 13:45:30
I thinking stopping most of the meds and just having a washout period is a very good idea fb. SO when you pick an AD or pain med to start back you can be sure that the effects, whether positive or negative, are not due to the tail-end of some other med withdrawal. You doctor sounds like a really good one if he's willing to treat you as a unique human and use all his analytic powers to study your case and come up with a solution, instead of slapping a bunch of labels on you and prescribing according to a textbook. You shoul definitely hang on to him/her.
amitriptyline at night when you resume meds still has my vote if you're experiencing depression, insomnia, fibromyaglia and other neuropathic pain
Posted by floatingbridge on April 26, 2011, at 10:41:08
In reply to Re: the glass is half full today » floatingbridge, posted by hyperfocus on April 26, 2011, at 0:09:20
> I thinking stopping most of the meds and just having a washout period is a very good idea fb. SO when you pick an AD or pain med to start back you can be sure that the effects, whether positive or negative, are not due to the tail-end of some other med withdrawal. You doctor sounds like a really good one if he's willing to treat you as a unique human and use all his analytic powers to study
your case and come up with a solution, instead of slapping a bunch of labels on you and prescribing according to a
textbook. You shoul definitely hang on to him/her.
Yes. He's a keeper. I see him today. He's old enough to have seen trends come and go, and also to outlive his medical school indoctrination ;)>
> amitriptyline at night when you resume meds still has my vote if you're experiencing depression, insomnia, fibromyaglia and other neuropathic painThanks hp. That one keeps coming up. My pdoc hesitates on it because he says the sides would be difficult for me. A recent mini-test of doxepin from my gp was sobering. I felt awful, though I
aborted after only two days, not allowing myself to stabilize on it. My pdoc just chided me and said please, please,
please act in tandem with him.Thanks for weighing in. It's crazy, really. I need meds--or something-- but need to be very careful. More now than when younger. Of course, if I had been careful
then.(If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.)
Are you taking good care?
fb
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.