Posted by JohnX on October 13, 2001, at 12:38:55
In reply to Scott - medication responses?, posted by JohnX on October 13, 2001, at 12:14:00
Scott,After looking over your prior postings you had
information that indicated many contrary reactions
to meds. You also described that a pdoc indicated
that you have symptoms that may be consistent
with those for PTSD. PTSD is an extremely complicated
disorder and the shape of the body during a
depression (spicifically in the HPA axis) will
show paradox's to those who are normally depressed.One such test for this is a dexamethasone suppression
test. (I think there is a better one). A depressed
person is administerred the synthetic steroid
dexamethasone. Generally
people who have depression are dexamethasone
non-supressors (levels of corticosteroids don't
drop with dexamethasone administration), they have elavated levels of
corticosteroids and this causes a down regulation
of inhibitory receptors. But for people with
PTSD who are depressed the *opposite* is seen.
The subject will generally be a super-suppressor
of cortisol when tested with dexamethasone. I have
looked at this and other biological underpinnings
to PTSD to try and understand my bizzare med
reactions and I have also tried to understand
how existing treatments may help me.Anyways, the latest thinking is that CRF antagonists are
the best way to break a back-asswords feedback
loop in the HPA axis (hypothalamis,pituitary,
adrenal gland).Personally, I think there may be ways to
stablize the area of the brain that is most
likely impacted by chronic stress (the locus
coerulus). Without robust feedback response
mechanisms in the body, depression can be
very elusive to treat. But I think with a will
there is a way.Have you been tested for abonormalities
in your HPA as I discussed?-john
> Scott,
>
> I'm looking over your med list. Maybe we can
> reason through to find a pattern that will help
> you reach an end to your search. This has worked
> well for me. Maybe it is psychosomatic for me, but
> my working theories seem to correlate well with
> responses I get from various meds.
>
> My primary thing that keeps me going is the
> fact that "I have felt better". Logic dictates
> that my brain still has the capability of experiencing
> well-being. My main problem has been keeping any
> response going, and so I look into that and
> try to understand why, and I think I come to some
> good conclusions.
>
> So here are a couple of starter questions:
>
> - What happened on d-amphetamine?
> - What meds if any did you get some sort of
> "response", and what transpired ?
> - Was there ever a period of time that you
> felt "cured" even if it was only for a few
> hours or days or weeks?
>
> -John
>
> Yo' list:
>
> imipramine
> desipramine
> amoxapine
> amitriptyline
> nortriptyline
> protriptyline
> clomipramine
> tranylcypromine
> phenelzine
> isocarboxazid
> moclobemide
> clorgyline
> trazodone
> lithium
> carbamazepine
> valproate sodium
> lamotrigine
> gabapentin
> bupropion
> indalpine
> viqualine
> pk-8059
> nomifensine
> adinazolam
> modafinil
> bromocriptine
> triiodothyronine
> thyroxine
> d-amphetamine
> methylphenidate
> idazoxan
> mirtazepine
> clonazepam
> risperidone
> olanzapine
> ziprasidone
> perphenazine
> paroxetine
> venlafaxine
> fluoxetine
> lorazepam
> triazolam
> temazepam
> zolpidem
> chlorpromazine
> fluphenazine
> pemoline
> chloral hydrate
> selegiline
> quetiapine
> placebo
poster:JohnX
thread:81196
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011007/msgs/81199.html