Posted by TJO on July 24, 2004, at 6:50:15
In reply to Re: Symmetrel and depression, posted by SLS on July 23, 2004, at 12:19:22
> > Hi, just joined the board. I have treatment-resistant depression (as well as anxiety) and have tried all types of med combinations. I want to write a longer post RE: possible combos but right now want to address the newest addition to my meds-Im taking lexapro, geodon and still have lethargy and amotivation. I wanted to try Provigil but insurance didnt approve it. My psychiatrist prescribed Symmetrel instead (to combat fatigue and amotivation and sexual side effects). It's becoming clearer and clearer that a problem lies in the dopaminergic system so Im willing to try...ANYWAY does someone know what the response time is for Symmetrel? A matter of days or weeks? Thanks!
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> I can't really offer you information about Symmetrel, but I can describe my experience with Namenda (memantine), its sister drug. I added Namenda to the combination I had been taking of imipramine, Lamictal, and Abilify. I experienced a transient improvement after 1 week at 10mg, and again at 2 weeks at a dosage of 20mg. I am very treatment resistant. I don't know if the transiency of my reponse to Namenda can be generalized, or if it is something atypical and idiosyncratic to me only.
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> I think with Symmetrel, you are going to have to treat it for what it is - a drug for which there is little if any experience with its use as an antidepressant. You might want to assume that there is the same sort of latency of 2-3 weeks minimum that there is with standard antidepressants before declaring it a treatment failure.
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> Sorry I couldn't give you a definitive answer. Good luck with it. If your insurance will go along with it, and you are still interested in trying NMDA antagonists, give Namenda a try. There are strong hints to its efficacy in depression:
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> http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00040261
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>
> - Scott
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> Hi,
I was on Symmetrel for 4 weeks to combat the side effects of Risperdal making my joints stiff. It helped with that but I didn't notice any change in my depression (I have bipolar disorder). Good LuckTammy
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poster:TJO
thread:369388
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040724/msgs/369870.html