Posted by JahL on August 11, 2004, at 11:50:57
In reply to Re: depersonalization help needed, posted by SLS on August 11, 2004, at 7:09:35
Hi Scott.
Very interesting post (as usual).
I'm going to try and address it properly when I've woken up. It's 5 p.m. here - my usual waking up time these days.
However I just wanted to answer one paragraph now.
I am actually trialing Memantine right now. Like yourself, I also experienced a mild improvement upon starting Memantine which has sadly faded after a couple of weeks. These transient responses are common to most drugs for me. It's as if my brain objects to the improvement and swiftly 'corrects' itself. Still, every month or two I get a couple of days to sort out the bills, tidy the house etc.
> I am looking into a few different things. I had a transient antidepressant response to memantine. Because of this, I have an interest in riluzole (Rilutek).
I'm especially excited by this one. Obviously Lamictal me helps and I'm hoping Riluzole, with its posited anti-glutaminergic properties, may also assist. Its use in the UK is heavily restricted and its online cost is prohibitive; around $700 per tablet! So a no-go for now. I believe the NIMH is conducting trials as we speak.
>The other thing I got my doctor interested in is mifepristone. It is a potent cortisol receptor antagonist.
Yeah. Big time. My younger bro', also suufering from Bipolar, is actively trying to get his hands on this one. Here in the UK it can only be prescribed in an abortion clinic. Probably helps if you're a lady. He sourced it online but again, it's v. expensive - about $150 per tab and you need at least a week's supply.
He's actually applied for inclusion in the NIMH study. Mifepristone is also being studied in Newcastle, England. My bruv is seeking to be treated as an outpatient there too.
If he makes it over to The States, I'll give you all due warning :)
S'funny that the three drugs next on yr list are also next on mine. Great minds and all that...
>Right now, though, I am waiting for the newly-approved Cymbalta (duloxetine) to reach the pharmacy shelves. It is a SNRI with high affinity for both transporters, and is less biased towards serotonin than Effexor.
Effexor messed me up more than any other single agent. It's fair to say that it, together with ECT (more later), is responsible for the absolute direness of my situation. No more ADs for me!
J.
(one day I'll master the art of sending short messages...)
poster:JahL
thread:374412
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040811/msgs/376417.html