Posted by MB on May 27, 2003, at 13:36:20
In reply to Re: You CANNOT lower CORTISOL directly, posted by jrbecker on May 26, 2003, at 12:22:37
How would all this stuff apply the the Atypical Depressives (in whom the HPA axis is often underactive)? I fall into the Atypical category. I overeat and crave carbs/chocolate when depressed. I sleep and sleep and sleep when depressed. Also, I have some mood reactivity (a nice event or a cup of coffee might lift my spirits momentarily, but the hopelessness soon comes rushing back followed by two bowls of cereal and a pint of chocolate icecream).
I read an article that manipulating the HPA axis *might* be able to help Atypicals in conjunction with AD therapy:
Being an Atypical Depressive, I find it disheartening that SSRIs further increase my fatigue, increase the time I spend sleeping, and exacerbate my carbohydrate cravings. I know that MAOIs are the best (is that still unanimous?) for Atypicals, but I hear they're not that great, either, for attenuating the reverse vegatative symptoms that are the markers for Atypical Depression (i.e., "Wow, my mood's great, but I'm still sleeping 14 hrs/day, can't work, and am getting even fatter!"). Anyway, I'm reluctant to try them.
Also, parenthetically, opiates energize me, attenuate the reverse vegetative symptoms of my depression (hyperphagia, hypersomnia, leaden fatigue, etc.), and *cure* my depression. Even after I've built a tolorance to the euphorogenic effects of a certain dose of opiate, the antidepressant effects continue. It almost feels like something metabolic is being corrected. I must admit, though, that the opiate dose necessary is pretty high. I was stabalized on 225 mg of morphine/day. That's quite a lot, but after a few months, I was no longer feeling "high," I just felt "corrected"...I felt like I did as a kid before depression hit me in the third grade.
This all seems counterintuitive, since Atypicals seem to have hypoactive HPA axes, and opiates suppress the HPA axis. Shouldn't they make me more depressed, not better? I don't get it, I don't get it, I don't get it, and, furthermore I'm F****** FRUSTRATED.
MB
poster:MB
thread:228381
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030525/msgs/229469.html