Posted by Geezer on February 23, 2002, at 11:10:30
In reply to dope-amine dilemma, posted by lula on February 22, 2002, at 14:31:00
Good thread!
Hi lula,
Your post made me think about some things retrospectively. I have no advice but would like comments for self-education.
1) Recovering alcoholic/addict (same & Valium, clean since 1985)
2) DXed with ADD (don't think I have that)
3) Abuse coffee (yes but quit after detox. from speed-insomnia & too wired)
4) Smoke cigs. (yes 2 packs/day for 38 yrs. quit June 2001, caused my current depression).
5) Familial Tremor (not me but my mother has EPS from Trilofon - yours does sound genetic)
6) Adrenaline-junkie (I used to think this too - now think it was running to release endorphins + norep. to feed hypomania....OR ease depression ? which cam first chicken or the egg)
7) Use sex as a mood elevator (this was very important to me when younger - I know see it as typical symptom of hypomania, IMHO the drug abuse is too)Agree with your natural running theory but not possible for me-due to mild COPD (Emphazima?SP). Agree with SSRI results - worthless for me. Dopemine & norep. meds may be the answer but they are difficult to get. You can get some norep. effect with "Side-Effexor" and Remeron if you can stand the serotonin pain and horror (I am currently taking Remeron 30mg. - had one day improvement at 15mg. after 5 days, pdoc raised to 30mg and I have been in hell for the past 10 days will report in one week).
Know about flushing the meds. when you "stray" from recommended dose. I have been terrified since 1985 and done the same.
MAOIs maybe the answer but I have spent many years trying to find out. I am going to look into abuse potential (can't ask the pdoc she is a master at circumventing any direct question suggesting human intelligence).
"What do dopamine deficient alcoholics and addicts take"? So far.....the same thing everyone else takes!
Old School had a good comment: "BTW traditional psyc. tends to have a high percentage of misdiagnosis". How sweet it is to be 57 years old (treated for 30 years with AD monotherpy) then DXed and treated for Bipolar II for the past 9 mos.
Its a very difficult road. The only hope seems to be education (through your own research) then you have to DEAL with the psychiatrists - they are rolling the dice just like we are!
Geezer
poster:Geezer
thread:95123
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020222/msgs/95211.html