Posted by JohnL on December 31, 2002, at 7:11:50
In reply to What are best ADS for fast enhance of MOOD?, posted by blackrain on December 29, 2002, at 9:41:36
Hi,
My opinions here for the best ADs for fast enhancement of mood are totally unscientific. They are based on observations over the years.
I think the AD that works the fastest is the one that combats the person's brain chemistry problem the most directly. Is the person's depression related to the serotonin system? Or is it norepinephrine? Dopamine? Are levels too low? Too high? Receptor binding problems? Malformed or damaged receptors? Electrical instability? We don't know any of these things until we try various medications. Trial and error is the only way to gather clues as to what the underlying brain problem is.
With me, for example, none of the SSRIs did much. After a couple years, it became apparent to me that my symptoms were not directly related to the serotonin system. My problems were elsewhere.
But the TCA Desipramine worked wonders for me in ONE DAY and continued afterward. That was a pretty strong clue that my problems were in the norepinephrine or dopamine circuitry, not serotonin. The side effects were too harsh for me though.
The European antipsychotic/antidepressant Amisulpride begins working for me at day 2, and I reach a level of at least total recovery or even better in one week, every time. It has a side effect of impotence for me that prevents me from taking it regularly.
So the best ADs for fast enhancement of mood, for me, are Amisulpride or Desipramine. But for someone else who has a different brain chemistry problem, these drugs might do nothing for them. It all depends on what the person's unique brain chemistry problem really is and how well a particular drug targets that problem directly (versus indirectly through cascade chain reactions, which takes time if it ever works at all).
As a blanket approach for the general population, the combination of Prozac plus Zyprexa, initiated at the same time, shows anecdotal evidence of being effective for many people within one week. My GP tells me he is having a great deal of success with Zyprexa combined with any of the SSRIs.
If someone is in real bad shape and needs to be lifted up immediately, Ritalin or Adderall can do that for many people, while they wait for their AD to take over (if it's going to).
Many opinions on this topic, I'm sure. I just feel that the fastest AD is the one that targets the real problem in the most direct manner. It will be different for every person, since we all have unique genes, chemistry, personality and circumstances.
JohnL
poster:JohnL
thread:133637
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021230/msgs/133900.html