Posted by Molybdenum on April 19, 2008, at 2:39:40
In reply to Re: The Depression Delimna, posted by bleauberry on April 18, 2008, at 21:59:30
My approach when I realised I was depressed was to follow what the doc recommended - what he saw working for more patients than not. He was an OK doc when it came to other medical matters, so I trusted him to be a good generalist. That got me onto citalopram.
When that pooped out I took more of an interest and read about receptors. My approach then was to attack the hell out of as many possible causes as I could at once in the hope that I'd feel "more better" and sooner! What's a good name for that? I know - I'll borrow it from Lt. Ripley in Aliens27 "Lets Nuke the site for morbid". So in that spirit I decided "California Rocket Fuel" (venlafaxine & mirtazapine) sounded exactly right for me. All I had to do then was manipulate the doc a bit until I was on high doses of both. If bupropion (Wellbutrin) was on the govt subsidised list here for depression, I would be on that too. That would cover ALL the big receptors according to Stephen M. Stahl's "Essential Psychopharmacology" (which incidentally is VERY available on torrent sites *ahem*) Unfortunately bupropion is only govt subsidised here for "short term use as an adjunct to quitting smoking" (!). Anyway, so that's where I am now on the Rocket Fuel & it really is working for the depression. I've always had trouble sleeping & the mirtazapine sure helps with that too.
Would I still be OK with 1/2 my current dose? Maybe I would - so I am self adjusting the mirtazapine down gradually until I feel bad & then up she'll go a bit until I am OK again.
Would I still be OK with a completely different set of meds? Maybe I would but it's an experiment that I'm not prepared to try. As you know, feeling really depressed is f*ck*ng awful. So I won't be willingly changing the mix any time soon for sure.
I don't believe for a minute that the docs really know how these drugs work. But I do believe that they have seen a lot of people "report feeling better" by taking them. In 2008 I think that's about as good as I can get, so I'll accept it until something better comes along.
All the theories about thyroid & metals, etc may be quite valid indeed. I just know I'll never personally produce enough blood to run every test there is. And until a new theory is commonly accepted "believed", there's no point in me getting tested for something that'll only end up as an interesting conversation piece at my doc's next dinner party.
At the moment this bunch of drugs is working for me & so I'll only rock the boat when I feel I'm in calmer waters. So that's my approach. ;)
Ooooohhhhh now I suppose after all that I better give it a name, hey?
OKOKOKOKokokokok...here it is :
"Shrugenism"
Take Care ;)
M.
poster:Molybdenum
thread:824066
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080412/msgs/824202.html