Posted by Quintal on November 14, 2006, at 16:19:47 [reposted on November 18, 2006, at 14:30:52 | original URL]
In reply to amisulpride (Solian) » Quintal, posted by pseudoname on November 14, 2006, at 13:25:13
> Hi, Quintal. Nice to meet you.
>
> > Pseudoname, have you tried low dose amisulpride (50mg region) for your dysphoria?
>
> I have not tried amisulpride/Solian®. I live in the U.S., and as far as I understand, it's not available here at all. Where do you live or how do you get it? (In general terms I mean, not violating Bob's rules….)
>
> > Personally I find the effect of low dose amisulpride similar to the effect of Parnate Klonopin
>
> Maybe I should try Parnate Klonopin, then, eh? ECT terrifies me, and I don't know if I can manage it logistically. My life terrifies me. Maybe I should try Klonopin by itself, too.
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Hi Pseudoname. I live in the UK where I used to get amisulpride free on prescription. I was going to suggest you try sulpiride as an alternative but a web search revealed that neither of them are approved by the FDA for use in the US.
I'm sure I've heard of people using amisulpride in America though. In fact I saw a thread on this topic a few days ago. There are legal ways of obtaining amisulpride in the US as it is not an illicit drug as such, just has no current medical licence. You may be able to import it if you can convince your pdoc it is likely to be sufficiently effective for your problems. Amisulpride was found to be more effective in treating dysthymia and depression than Prozac in one study, I'm sure there are others: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amisulpride
I would be surprised if Parnate amisulpride buprenorphine did not lift your dysthymia. Have you considered augmenting an MAOI and/or your buprenorphine with lamotrigine (Lamictal)? Lamotrigine also seems effective in preventing tolerance/sustaining the effects etc of opiates and possibly augmenting their effect, as well as being an effective antidepressant and mood stabilizer in itself. Here is one study I found that demonstrates this effect, but there are others that are more convincing: http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/156/12/2017
I recall the legendary Elizabeth of buprenorphine solved her dysthymia problem by adding a pinch of lithium to her MAOI. Perhaps lamotrigine would have fewer side effects though?
Klonopin helps with jitteriness and insomnia caused by Parnate and obviously soothes any residual anxiety. I found that Parnate antagonised the sedative effect of Klonopin during the day (although it was still effective for anxiety), but sedation recurred at night when the stimulant effect of Parnate wore off, which was good as it helped me sleep soundly without additional meds.
I’m getting tired of playing the medication game myself as nothing worked for very long, either that or I abused it (Klonopin) and was forced to withdraw. As an alternative to ECT / psychosurgery / suicide I am going out on a limb and venturing to Peru to participate in an Ayahuasca healing ceremony. I’m terrified of Ayahuasca, and being a social phobe, going to Peru without my comforting meds is even more terrifying than the Aya itself. It is going to be the biggest challenge of my life but I see no meaning or direction in the way I’m living right now.
Have you considered something like this pseudoname? It may be even more difficult to manage logistically, but it may be an greater mental/spiritual shock than ECT, and I suspect it would give you much more insight and lasting benefit (and perhaps even some cognitive enhancement?) than ECT.
Just a thought.
poster:Quintal
thread:704914
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20061118/msgs/704914.html