Posted by Anna Laura on January 7, 2002, at 1:32:03
In reply to Re: Effexor Help? » Anna Laura, posted by Mr. Scott on January 6, 2002, at 12:51:00
> Thanks for your reply Anna Laura,
> Are you still taking it with some success?
>
> ScottScott,
I noticed that Effexor worked better as time went by, but as i wanted to target my main symptom which is anhedonia, i've been considering to give MAOI a try.
I tried to switch to tranylcipromine (brand name Parnate in the U.S.) so i had to taper off my Effexor dose: the withdrawal wasn't so bad as i expected, but as i lowered the dose to 75 mg. depression showed up. Besides that i found out that the Parnate version in my country (Italy) is a mixed compound (tranycilpromine+antypsicotic), so i came back to effexor since antypsicotics make my depression worse (i think it's related to dopamine since antypsicotics seem to block the dopamine receptors thus lowering dopamine in the brain). I raised my effexor dose hoping it would kick in again. I spent my Christmas holidays feeling like shit. I started feeling better a few days ago: i guess noradrenalin/serotonin mechanism is involved; i'm still waiting for the dopamine to kick in : it usually takes few more weeks.
I've been thinking about augmenting effexor with mirapex (a dopamine agonist) still looking for a pdoc who's willing to prescribe it.
The more research i make on depression, the more i get persuaded that my type of depression is somehow linked to dopamine deficiency; pdoc are quite reluctant about prescribing dopaminergic drugs though. They 're always pushing you to take SSRI, considering them as they were the miracle drug. I was an achiever type of person before depression, i was flamboyant and very vital, always on the go (dopamine predominance type of character ?). The serotonin predominance temperament on the other hand is more about being mellow and calm (is that the reason why SSRI didn't work so well for me? ). Anyway, i'll try to get in touch with the university clinic and see if they are going to put me under a mirapex trial.
i think i need some hormones augmentation also, especially androgens. I know it sounds funny since i'm a woman but i have all the symptoms of androgen deficiency
as loss of muscle tone and low libido."The symptoms of androgen deficiency have been suggested to include the following: global loss of sexual desire, decreased sensitivity to sexual stimulation in the nipples and in the clitoris, decreased arousability and capacity for orgasm, loss of muscle tone, diminished vital energy, thinning and loss of pubic hair, and dry skin.[12] A major advocate of the notion that there is an identifiable syndrome of androgen deficiency in women is Dr. Susan Davis, Research Director of the Jean Hailes Foundation Research Unit at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Davis lists the following features of women likely to respond to androgen therapy: low libido, blunted motivation, fatigue, and lack of well-being in the presence of normal plasma estrogen levels but low levels of bioavailable testosterone."
poster:Anna Laura
thread:88869
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020103/msgs/89147.html