Posted by AndrewB on February 17, 2001, at 13:19:14
In reply to Re: About Mirapex/ To Scott, posted by natg on February 17, 2001, at 12:44:52
I've been following the studies on Mirapex for over a year now. I've always felt that it has the potential to help a lot of treatment resistant depressives, including bipolars. Scott and I disagreed on its potential, he tended to think it was another bromocriptine. From what I have read though, compared to bromocriptine, it has a much higher response rate and is not prone to poop out. This can be explained by a mode of action significantly different from bromocriptine.By itself, Mirapex should not be expected to give complete relief of depressive symptoms. Rather it will find its place as an adjunct. It is not known all the meds that it may combine well with. It does however tend to improve the response to SSRIs while also lessening the side effects (i.e. sexual). It also seemingly can be combined synergistically with low dose neuroleptics. Since, it lowers prolactin, it also is likely to lessen or take away hyperprolactinemia (i.e. breast swelling in women) that can occur with certain neuroleptics. For example, given sufficient time and dosage, Mirapex may allow NatG to resume her menses while continuing Risperdal.
Nausea, not lack of response, may the main reason for discontinuation of Mirapex. Nausea, most often transient, will be experienced in the majority of people who use it, especially at the higher doses required for full AD effect. Probably domperidone (available only from overseas), a peripheal dopamine antagonist, will lessen or eliminate the nausea without interfering with the AD effect. I haven’t read of anyone trying this combo though.
For some Mirapex also has an arousal effect and can mediate anergia. It is will be interesting to see how it combines with other arousal agents.
Beyond this, it also may be anxiolytic for some. I’ve heard this purposed but have not read any reports on its anxiolytic efficacy.
AndrewB
poster:AndrewB
thread:53858
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010212/msgs/54251.html