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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 25. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rjlockhart04-08 on January 19, 2012, at 19:43:41
My doctor believes that I have brain damage from alcohol and amphetamines being used together and she is starting me on this medication the next time I see her. I really need to some advice because I seriously doubt that I have any damage from drugs. I have a slow problem solving mind. It takes me a long time to think of solutions. Googleing things, listening to music. I mean I just need to excerise my brain that's all.
I am below average in some math and reading and IQ. I have an IQ of an 86. Which is borderline from being slow.
What will Namenda do for me???
Posted by herpills on January 19, 2012, at 20:06:26
In reply to My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage, posted by rjlockhart04-08 on January 19, 2012, at 19:43:41
Wow, that's way off label. Namenda is for Alzheimer's disease.
Posted by creepy on January 19, 2012, at 20:39:38
In reply to My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage, posted by rjlockhart04-08 on January 19, 2012, at 19:43:41
I mentioned this in another post. Some people say memantine helps with building tolerance to amphetamine.
Not sure what your doc's logic is in this choice though. You arent initially responding to anything, right? And they arent using any stimulants, so whats to develop tolerance to?
Memantine is a D2 agonist.. maybe thats the goal?
Or slowing glutamate which might be related to brain damage?
Hopefully it doesnt do anything to make you more prone to drug seeking. Supposedly D2 agonism can do that.
Have you had any MRI's that show brain damage? Or a previous IQ test that shows a much higher score that might support the assumption it came from drug use? Seems a bit odd to me.
Posted by Phillipa on January 19, 2012, at 20:55:48
In reply to Re: My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage, posted by creepy on January 19, 2012, at 20:39:38
Matt see a neurologist and get an MRI of the brain asap. And it's for Alzheimers the med. Phillipa
Posted by Emme-V2 on January 19, 2012, at 21:13:03
In reply to My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage, posted by rjlockhart04-08 on January 19, 2012, at 19:43:41
Let me jump in for a sec. Your doctor may have several possible goals in mind with this drug. I can tell you my own experience. Mine tried me on it for depression and it WORKED!! And it helped with apathy as well. I didn't tolerate it that well and ultimately ditched it for Abilify. But my doctor told me she had success with it for several depressed patients.
If you have questions about what she hopes you will get from Namenda, ask her. But it's possible it might at least help with mood.
Posted by rjlockhart04-08 on January 19, 2012, at 22:08:43
In reply to Re: My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage » rjlockhart04-08, posted by herpills on January 19, 2012, at 20:06:26
she's using it because she believes that drugs have caused my brain to decline. I never abused drugs to that point but she's a very smart doctor yet arrogant at times. She deals with drug addicts and told me that she sees this alot with heavy use of alcohol and methamphtamine. I didnt do methamphetamine. I did dextroamphetamine, yet I didnt abuse it all the time. I just took extras at times.
Posted by rjlockhart04-08 on January 19, 2012, at 22:14:30
In reply to Re: My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage, posted by creepy on January 19, 2012, at 20:39:38
I have had drug seeking hehavior with doctors in the past. I asked them if they would prescibe me barbiturates because I wanted something much stronger than benzos because I build tolerance fast. But barbitures can cause death much faster and easier.
Anyways back to what you are saying. I don't know if I will ever go back on amphetamine. But she said that Namenda would slowly stop decline from damange. I seriously doubt the little drugs I did caused that to happen. It's hopeless depression that has caused me to decline thinking everything I try will not work. It's a doom gloom feeling.
I do think I need to have another brain scan.
Thank you for posting.
Posted by rjlockhart04-08 on January 19, 2012, at 22:16:59
In reply to Re: My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage, posted by Phillipa on January 19, 2012, at 20:55:48
It will still take time to get there because I am low in resrouces and I feel hopeless. This med is suppost to restore me back to normal. That's what she told me. I doubt it thought...
thank you for your post
Posted by Christ_empowered on January 19, 2012, at 22:23:17
In reply to Re: phillipa, posted by rjlockhart04-08 on January 19, 2012, at 22:16:59
I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but its entirely possible that you have brain damage. I had a brain scan (a couple, actually) while I was supposed to be sedated (I was being admitted to a mental hospital). Loads of brain damage. Antipsychotics, benzos, amphetamines...it adds up real fast.
That doesn't mean you're stupid. My doc at the mental hospital told me I have "transcendent intelligence," which I guess is what they call it when you've fried your brain (I also got hit on the head with pipe during a botched mugging) and you're still reasonably smart. The low-IQ could be depression, side effects from current meds, untreated learning disability...I don't know. I kind of doubt your IQ is actually 86. But I'm not a doctor.
I'd try this drug. I'd also try to taper off anything that might be slowing you down.
Posted by Phillipa on January 19, 2012, at 23:16:57
In reply to Re: phillipa, posted by Christ_empowered on January 19, 2012, at 22:23:17
CE did you mean to Phillipa or Matt? Thanks?
Posted by Phillipa on January 19, 2012, at 23:18:32
In reply to Re: Did » Christ_empowered, posted by Phillipa on January 19, 2012, at 23:16:57
Also Matt to receive peace of mind I'd get that MRI I'm sure your parents will help you with this as doesn't involve meds Phillipa
Posted by morgan miller on January 20, 2012, at 1:12:51
In reply to Re: My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage, posted by rjlockhart04-08 on January 19, 2012, at 22:14:30
LDN shows promis in helping the brain recover from neurodegeneration. It's worth checking out.
You likely have brain damage from any chronic mental health issues-not sure about the drugs you have been on.
Posted by SLS on January 20, 2012, at 4:48:20
In reply to Re: My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage » rjlockhart04-08, posted by Emme-V2 on January 19, 2012, at 21:13:03
> If you have questions about what she hopes you will get from Namenda, ask her.
That's good advice.
Namenda can help with symptoms of depression, which would include cognitive slowing.
- Scott
Posted by novelagent on January 21, 2012, at 10:11:56
In reply to My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage, posted by rjlockhart04-08 on January 19, 2012, at 19:43:41
> My doctor believes that I have brain damage from alcohol and amphetamines being used together and she is starting me on this medication the next time I see her.
> I am below average in some math and reading and IQ. I have an IQ of an 86. Which is borderline from being slow.
>
> What will Namenda do for me???Not without cognitive remediation, which are brain exercises (try Lumosity.com). All the studies of cognitive enhancers demonstrate they do little unless there's something new being learned to flex the muscle of the drug at hand-- otherwise they're worthless. They need to be combined with these cognitive exercise, or they won't work.
For amphetamine abuse, your doc is a smart one, so be grateful. Namenda upregulate dopamine, the neurons amphetamine damaged, repairing the damage. If you were slow before amphetamine abuse, any damage done was damage you couldn't afford-- you didn't have much of a buffer zone to work with.
Posted by novelagent on January 21, 2012, at 10:20:22
In reply to Re: My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage, posted by creepy on January 19, 2012, at 20:39:38
Namenda up-regulates dopamine, restoring dopamine cell firing. Her doc is very smart. You're right that it can cause preference for amphetamine/cocaine, but that's only at very high doses, and nothing she would be prescribed. I believe it does the opposite at low doses for meth addicts, reducing cravings.I still think people reporting tolerance to amphetamines need to be weary of the dose they are reporting at-- tolerance is usually a sign of toxicity, and maybe a sign the drug expectation is too high to begin with.
Just because it made someone feel like homework was a breeze the first week or so doesn't mean that should be expected everytime, because it's not suppose to do that.
> I mentioned this in another post. Some people say memantine helps with building tolerance to amphetamine.
> Not sure what your doc's logic is in this choice though. You arent initially responding to anything, right? And they arent using any stimulants, so whats to develop tolerance to?
> Memantine is a D2 agonist.. maybe thats the goal?
> Or slowing glutamate which might be related to brain damage?
> Hopefully it doesnt do anything to make you more prone to drug seeking. Supposedly D2 agonism can do that.
> Have you had any MRI's that show brain damage? Or a previous IQ test that shows a much higher score that might support the assumption it came from drug use? Seems a bit odd to me.
Posted by phidippus on January 22, 2012, at 22:13:56
In reply to My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage, posted by rjlockhart04-08 on January 19, 2012, at 19:43:41
Namenda was originally developed as a treatment for Alzheimer's Disease. It is shown to improve cognition.
If she wants to further improve your cognition, you can ask her about Keppra which also improves thinking.
Eric
Posted by SLS on January 23, 2012, at 7:15:57
In reply to Re: My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage » rjlockhart04-08, posted by phidippus on January 22, 2012, at 22:13:56
> If she wants to further improve your cognition, you can ask her about Keppra which also improves thinking.
Has this been your experience with Keppra?
- Scott
Posted by phidippus on January 23, 2012, at 13:27:55
In reply to Re: My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage » phidippus, posted by SLS on January 23, 2012, at 7:15:57
Keppra(Levirecetam) is in the family of Racetams, which are considered 'nootropic' drugs. Nootropic drugs have been shown to improve cognition.
I found Keppra made me feel very clear.
Eric
Posted by rjlockhart04-08 on January 23, 2012, at 14:05:26
In reply to Re: My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage » SLS, posted by phidippus on January 23, 2012, at 13:27:55
thanks. The only thing is that keppra is an anticonvultant used for some siezures. I have no idea what my doctor will say about it. But thanks for the suggestion.
Posted by SLS on January 23, 2012, at 14:32:29
In reply to Re: My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage » SLS, posted by phidippus on January 23, 2012, at 13:27:55
> Keppra(Levirecetam) is in the family of Racetams, which are considered 'nootropic' drugs. Nootropic drugs have been shown to improve cognition.
>
> I found Keppra made me feel very clear.
What prompted you to discontinue it?A friend of mine does well with Keppra. In combination with other drugs, it helps him with his ultra-rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.
- Scott
Posted by phidippus on January 23, 2012, at 17:33:54
In reply to Re: My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage » phidippus, posted by SLS on January 23, 2012, at 14:32:29
I found more effective drugs :)
Eric
Posted by SLS on January 24, 2012, at 3:32:51
In reply to Re: My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage » SLS, posted by phidippus on January 23, 2012, at 17:33:54
> I found more effective drugs :)
Which drugs are you currently having success with?Thanks.
- Scott
Posted by phidippus on January 25, 2012, at 15:54:48
In reply to Re: My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage » phidippus, posted by SLS on January 24, 2012, at 3:32:51
I've been on Lithium since 2003 and no other mood stabilizer has worked as well.
Currently, I am having success with Viibryd and Mirtazapine in treating my OCD and some of the depression that comes with being bipolar.
Latuda has made a huge impact on my mood and has been effective in augmenting my OCD treatment.
PRN I take Ativan and Dilaudid.
Eric
Posted by SLS on January 25, 2012, at 21:49:34
In reply to Re: My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage » SLS, posted by phidippus on January 25, 2012, at 15:54:48
> Latuda has made a huge impact on my mood and has been effective in augmenting my OCD treatment.
That's great news!
Do you find Latuda to be weight-neutral?
- Scott
Posted by phidippus on January 26, 2012, at 19:42:00
In reply to Re: My doctor is putting me on Namenda for damage » phidippus, posted by SLS on January 25, 2012, at 21:49:34
I've lost 17 lbs since being on Latuda.
Eric
This is the end of the thread.
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