Posted by JohnL on April 29, 2000, at 3:05:22
In reply to Re: JohnL, posted by AndrewB on April 27, 2000, at 10:47:20
> John,
>
> Again it is pleasing to hear of your good state of mind.
>
> I'm curious, since your current cocktail covers a lot of bases so to speak as far as neurotransmitters goes, does it compare at all to an MAOI. A Parnate without side effects perhaps?
>
> AndrewBGood question Andrew. But I don't know the answer. The only MAOI experience I have is with Moclobemide, which made me feel much worse. I have also noticed my depression worsens when serotonin is raised too much (like on 30+ mg Prozac, or any dose of a serotonin med slightly higher than the usual dose). Increasing serotonin levels does not work for me very well, and increasing NE levels generally causes worsening. With that in mind, I suspect a real MAOI would not be good for me.
Ironically SJW doesn't worsen me at all, even though it is increasing NE and serotonin levels. Must have something to do with the mechanism by which it inhibits reuptake, which is probably different than the mechanism of prescriptions. I've tried SJW with everything. Usually it seems rather neutral, like a vitamin. But with Adrafinil and Amisulpride, it kicked in nicely the very first day and continues still. Go figure. Our chemistries must be so complicated. That's why I generally frown on diagnosis labels and attempts at predicting success on one med vs another. Even our best explanations of how a drug works and what it affects I think only scratch the surface. I think there's a lot more going on. Probably a lot more than we currently know. All that matters to me is results. And the only way I know of to achieve that is to try and see.
But in theory, on paper, I do not suspect a MAOI would produce good results with me. May likely make me worse. I think the receptor stimulation effect of Adrafinil and Amisulpride is more important to my chemistry than is increasing neurotransmitter levels.
I am not however completely free of side effects. I'm not sure who is at fault here, but my vital parts are rather limp, and having sex has been most frustrating. Either Adrafinil or Amisulpride could be guilty, though I suspect Adrafinil more. I noticed on the Amisulpride label that impotence is stated as a possible side effect. But I took it months ago with Prozac and didn't have any problem then. So I think it's the Adrafinil.
Last night I tried my first 50mg dose of Viagra. I told my pdoc I would like to treat the side effect directly on an as-needed basis, and avoid adding or substracting from the psychiatric mix. I seem to have stumbled onto a delicate balance with my cocktail, and I don't want to rock the boat. Viagra works. :-)
JohnL
poster:JohnL
thread:31319
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000420/msgs/31647.html