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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bulldog2 on April 16, 2008, at 18:29:40
Has anyone had any luck using memantine as monotherapy for depression? At what dose and after how long did you notice any improvement?
Posted by bleauberry on April 22, 2008, at 17:40:38
In reply to Memantine Solely As An AD, posted by bulldog2 on April 16, 2008, at 18:29:40
> Has anyone had any luck using memantine as monotherapy for depression? At what dose and after how long did you notice any improvement?
Sorry bulldog2, I haven't opened my bottle of memantine yet. When I do, it will be monotherapy. Doc has armed with hydrocortisone, thyroid T3, and memantine. I have tons of leftover psych meds of just about every kind, so there is room for lots of tinkering.
It's weird. I can stop an ssri after just one week on it, and about 2 days later feel perfectly normal and like wow, I'm alive again, but then it quickly fades. Actually, it feels like as the serotonin clears out, squashed dopamine receptors wake up and I feel fine, but then due to their genetic commands they quickly develop tolerance to my own natural dopamine. Feedback loops screw it all up every time. That is my hypothesis anyway, and it is the best way I can describe it. For those reasons, I am hopeful memantine will allow my dopamine receptors to wake up and keep "sensing" the dopamine that is there without tolerance.
I do know what normal feels like because every now and then, either starting or stopping a med....before the feedback loops catch on...I feel it clear as day. At least I know my brain is still capable of complete remission and complete normalcy. Trying to keep it there is the mystery. The psych drugs and ECT have not been able to do that. Thus exploring other mechanisms, of which memantine is one.
Posted by bulldog2 on April 22, 2008, at 18:09:12
In reply to Re: Memantine Solely As An AD, posted by bleauberry on April 22, 2008, at 17:40:38
> > Has anyone had any luck using memantine as monotherapy for depression? At what dose and after how long did you notice any improvement?
>
> Sorry bulldog2, I haven't opened my bottle of memantine yet. When I do, it will be monotherapy. Doc has armed with hydrocortisone, thyroid T3, and memantine. I have tons of leftover psych meds of just about every kind, so there is room for lots of tinkering.
>
> It's weird. I can stop an ssri after just one week on it, and about 2 days later feel perfectly normal and like wow, I'm alive again, but then it quickly fades. Actually, it feels like as the serotonin clears out, squashed dopamine receptors wake up and I feel fine, but then due to their genetic commands they quickly develop tolerance to my own natural dopamine. Feedback loops screw it all up every time. That is my hypothesis anyway, and it is the best way I can describe it. For those reasons, I am hopeful memantine will allow my dopamine receptors to wake up and keep "sensing" the dopamine that is there without tolerance.
>
> I do know what normal feels like because every now and then, either starting or stopping a med....before the feedback loops catch on...I feel it clear as day. At least I know my brain is still capable of complete remission and complete normalcy. Trying to keep it there is the mystery. The psych drugs and ECT have not been able to do that. Thus exploring other mechanisms, of which memantine is one.I think that some depressives have a certain homeostasis that eventually brings us back to our depressed state. It may be genetics or some kind of hard wiring.You mention coming off an ssri and getting some kind of dopamine rebound and feeling better for a while. Than the body or mind compenstates and the depression returns.
I think drugs like memantine hold great promise. The fact that it can prevent opoid and amphetamine tolerance in some people hopefully means psychiatry has some new tools to work with.
Posted by Bob on April 25, 2008, at 17:38:39
In reply to Re: Memantine Solely As An AD, posted by bleauberry on April 22, 2008, at 17:40:38
> It's weird. I can stop an ssri after just one week on it, and about 2 days later feel perfectly normal and like wow, I'm alive again, but then it quickly fades. Actually, it feels like as the serotonin clears out, squashed dopamine receptors wake up and I feel fine, but then due to their genetic commands they quickly develop tolerance to my own natural dopamine. Feedback loops screw it all up every time. That is my hypothesis anyway, and it is the best way I can describe it. For those reasons, I am hopeful memantine will allow my dopamine receptors to wake up and keep "sensing" the dopamine that is there without tolerance.
>
> I do know what normal feels like because every now and then, either starting or stopping a med....before the feedback loops catch on...I feel it clear as day. At least I know my brain is still capable of complete remission and complete normalcy. Trying to keep it there is the mystery. The psych drugs and ECT have not been able to do that. Thus exploring other mechanisms, of which memantine is one.I too have experienced this same effect. Used to be that when I would reduce a dose of an SSRI that I had stabilized on I would get this fantastic postive rebound where I'd feel good for a day or two, but then everything would crash. I don't get this so much anymore, however.
Posted by WickedGirl on June 18, 2008, at 13:16:06
In reply to Re: Memantine Solely As An AD » bleauberry, posted by Bob on April 25, 2008, at 17:38:39
Yep! After taking AD for only one day, feeling like crap and then stopping, the next day I feel like what it must feel like to be normal. Wish that feeling would stay without any drugs or supps needed. I could save money! :)
This is the end of the thread.
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