Posted by cubbybear on December 10, 2002, at 3:20:04
In reply to Re: Cubbybear » cubbybear, posted by bluedog on December 9, 2002, at 10:06:23
Hi bluedog,
I finally have a few daytime moments to sit down and write. I've been feeling quite crummy the last few days, with a minor upper-respiratory problem (cough, stuffed nose) and feeling prettty weak and run down. I've also had a couple of headaches and so the overall crappy feeling makes it hard for me to know what's really going on here--is it mostly a result of getting used to the Aurorix or is it mostly from the cold "bug", or a little of both? One can only speculate. . .
I liked your last note in which you replied to my questions about the Aurorix kick-in period and possibilities of poop out. You said you'd be glad to answer any other questions I have, and I certainly do have two things on my mind: Pls. answer:
1) What was the maximum dose of Aurorix that you were on? We all know that the official range is 300-600 mg. per day, but I've read a couple of professional abstracts in which some patients were given well above the max. 600 mg. (even up to 1200 mg.) with no detrimental effects. I've also seen postings on this website which hint that Aurorix works better at high doses, such as 900 mg. Do you have any experience or opinion on this? (I'm going to ask my dr. what his ideas are, but I'd like to hear yours in the meantime.)
Second, I'm very curious about the relative popularity or competition-- between Aurorix-MAOIs vs. the SSRI drugs in Australia. In the U.S., the MAOs now have just a fraction of the market and Aurorix is not even available. I sense that there IS a market for Aurorix throughout Europe and elsewhere, but I was curious about the competition between the MAOIs/Aurorix and SSRIs in your country. It's all about big money, you know.
Now, looking at your letter posted on Dec. 9, you talked about the fact that relapses happen more often when you try to stop ADs and I surely agree. I definitely agree about the need for good friends, supportive family and good health. But you're the first person I've heard say that he was actually glad to have had the struggles with depression, i.e. that it made you stronger and feel that you had gained so much in the long run. Well, all I can say is, that's wonderful, except it has not been true for me. I consider depression (or any psychic pain for that matter) to be the most agonizing pain a human being can experience, and my last depressive episode in July was the "ultimate." Maybe I should say that the depression itself did nothing but cause me suffering, but the life mistakes I was making (such as spending money frivolously) finally came out into the open so hopefully I've learned a lot from that.
You say that you'd like to search for a maintenance AD that will allow you to function with no side effects, and we both hope that Aurorix will prove to be the one. But as far as the development of ADs and anxiolytics that have no side effects--well, personally I doubt if such dream medications could ever be possible. Seems that every single drug in existence has at least one undesireable side effect.
Lastly, you mentioned the word "spirituality" in your note. This touches a deep personal interest of mine and it is certainly one of the many reasons that I chose to live in Thailand. I would like to get into subjects like this with you, but believe it would not be appropriate for psychobabble. So what should we do? Would you be willing to exchange E-mail adddresses? I would want to keep posting messages regarding the Aurorix trial so others could also benefit, but I have no problem with E-mail for non-drug-related correspondence. Maybe you can think this one over and let me know. . .Take care
poster:cubbybear
thread:130712
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021203/msgs/131211.html