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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cmcdougall on April 19, 2002, at 10:21:48
Hi all:
Long time no post... This could mean I'm better - could mean I'm worse. Hard to tell. Will I ever know what it feels like to be "normal"?
Wanted to chime in about Omega 3 supplements. During my last med check, my long-time (10 years) and very trusted psychiatrist was very excited about a book he just finished called The Omega 3 Connection. He suggested I read it and try the supplements. I can't be bothered reading another book about yet another treatment. However, like most of you nice people I am always willing to try something new. Especially if it can't make me worse.
My dr recommended a specific brand of omega 3 called Omegabrite that you have to order online. My antenae immediately went up! Why can't I just buy the stuff at my local health food store. Dr. said this particular brand has a higher ratio of EPA to DHA ????? (since I haven't read the book, I have no idea what this means) I checked out the site and found to my surprise that it was priced lower than the store brands, and if you take into consideration the concentration of oils, it was much cheaper.
Dr. said he is taking it and noticed a profound difference in his mood right away. He did admit it could be placebo effect, but hey - even placebo is ok for as long as it lasts. :-)
I have been taking it for about 1 week. I might notice a little difference (or it could be wishful thinking). I started on the recommended beginning dose - today I increased. In another week I will increase again if I don't see a significant change.
I currently take 40mg Celexa, 50mg desipramine, 20mg Adderal Prn, and 50mg trazodone at night. I would like to someday get rid of the SSRI - I don't really think they help me that much. I've taken the desipramine for about 6 months and it made a big difference right away.
In the past I have tried:
*Prozac 6 week trial-caused anxiety and 20 lb weight gain
*Trazodone 4 yrs-worked well but had to increase dose regularly till AM grogginess forced a change. Got up to 350mg - slept REAL WELL!
*Pamelor 3 week trial-caused anxiety
*Serzone 3 yrs-worked ok, had to increase ultimately to 350mg, eventually pooped out
*EffexorXr 2 yrs-worked great, had to increase ultimately to 300mg, pooped out BIG TIME, horrendous w/drawal, psychotic episode, hospitalization (this is when psycho-babble taught me soooo much)As I withdrew from the Effexor (way too fast I now know), I added Celexa slowly till I reached 40mg. When I still felt like poopoo, doc suggested more Celexa. I felt like trying something something different, and after discussing it, I decided on Desipramine. My intuition told me not to keep increasing the SSRI.
I have taken a stimulant as needed for over 7 years, first Ritalin and now Adderal, usually 20-40mg per day - occasionally more. A little trial of Provigil did nothing but cause anxiety.
I really could dig up this info myself, but I have some mild cognition probs lately (could they be caused by my drugs?). Anyway, some of you babblers have this info right on the tips of your tongues. My questions are:
*Are Effexor and Serzone both SSRIs (I know Celexa is)?
*What role does desipramine play in neurotransmission and how does it differ from the SSRIs?
*What about the stims?
*Based on my responses to the different treatments, is there a pattern of what might work?
*What about the other old tri-cyclics? Are there any good ones? (side effects like constipation and dry mouth are manageable for me, weight gain is not)
*And finally, what about the MAOIs? Nardil's sexual probs and weight gain seem bad, although I had those big time on Effexor .Thanking you all in advance,
Carly
Posted by tex1 on April 19, 2002, at 11:02:30
In reply to Omega 3, SSRIs, and ??? - input kindly requested, posted by cmcdougall on April 19, 2002, at 10:21:48
Answers right away :
> *Are Effexor and Serzone both SSRIs (I know Celexa is)?
Effexor is a brand new category of antidepressant (SNRI, serotonine, noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors): until 75mg/die it works like an ssri, up, we say....from 150mg/die it works by blocking the reuptake of both serotonin and noradrenalin. But I know it's so bad to withdraw...I've tried it on my skin. You've got to go slow when tapering the dose....
Serzone, yeah, is a classic ssri.> *What role does desipramine play in neurotransmission and how does it differ from the SSRIs?
Desipramine is an old tricyclic antidepressant. It works by blocking the reuptake mostly of noradrenaline. But it should cause pretty many side effects, doesn't it ?
> *What about the stims?
If you've passed through an episode of psycosis, gee, I would never try those....
> *Based on my responses to the different treatments, is there a pattern of what might work?
Must study that...give me some time....
> *What about the other old tri-cyclics? Are there any good ones? (side effects like constipation and dry mouth are manageable for me, weight gain is not)All the old tricyclic tend to acuse weight gain, except desipramine. Another very good old antidepressant is clomipramine.
> *And finally, what about the MAOIs? Nardil's sexual probs and weight gain seem bad, although I had those big time on Effexor .
Never tried MAOIs, but that could be a good try for you, in my own opinion. Remember not all the persons react in the same way as for adverse effects.Bye
Tex
Posted by cmcdougall on April 19, 2002, at 12:13:10
In reply to Re: Omega 3, SSRIs, and ??? - input kindly requested, posted by tex1 on April 19, 2002, at 11:02:30
> Desipramine is an old tricyclic antidepressant. It works by blocking the reuptake mostly of noradrenaline. But it should cause pretty many side effects, doesn't it ?
Not really for me... Severe constipation that is treated w/ daily metamucil, some dry mouth - makes me drink more water, which I need. Thats all.
> If you've passed through an episode of psycosis, gee, I would never try those....I couldn't FUNCTION w/out my stims. I think the psychotic episode was caused by the effexor w/drawal AND the addition of neurontin that I had just started for migraine prophylaxsis. I know that neurontin is pretty benign for most, but it sent me over the edge. At least thats what I think...
> > *Based on my responses to the different treatments, is there a pattern of what might work?
>
>
> Must study that...give me some time....
>
Thank you soooo much.
> Never tried MAOIs, but that could be a good try for you, in my own opinion. Remember not all the persons react in the same way as for adverse effects.YMMV - this I know very well... Maybe I should try Parnate or L-Depryl. Something to think about and discuss w/ pdoc.
Thanks again.
Carly
Posted by JohnX2 on April 19, 2002, at 15:48:29
In reply to Re: Omega 3, SSRIs, and ??? - input kindly requested, posted by tex1 on April 19, 2002, at 11:02:30
>
> Serzone, yeah, is a classic ssri.
>Serzone is not a classic ssri at all.
Serzone has very unique antidepressant qualities.
It blocks the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine.
In addition to this, it has properties that *hide* so to speak brain receptors that may cause side effects and possibly contribute to depression.John
Posted by tex1 on April 22, 2002, at 2:33:29
In reply to Re: Omega 3, SSRIs, and ??? - input kindly requested » tex1, posted by JohnX2 on April 19, 2002, at 15:48:29
>
> >
> > Serzone, yeah, is a classic ssri.
> >
>
> Serzone is not a classic ssri at all.
> Serzone has very unique antidepressant qualities.
> It blocks the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine.
> In addition to this, it has properties that *hide* so to speak brain receptors that may cause side effects and possibly contribute to depression.
>
> John
Ya, John is right: Serzone is not a classic SSRI, as I said first, but mostly works on serotonin than on norepinephrine. It's pretty complicated to explane how it works in few words. It comes from TRITTICO (developed by an Italian pharmaceytical called Angelini). It's used also for sleep disorders but can cause priapism (not in your case I gess....). A good review is found in dr. bob's antidepressant update.Bye
Tex
Posted by Pogo on April 27, 2002, at 10:35:44
In reply to Omega 3, SSRIs, and ??? - input kindly requested, posted by cmcdougall on April 19, 2002, at 10:21:48
Hi Carly,
I've been taking Omega-3 supplements for about a month and have been doing pretty good with it.
I started low and have increased to the high dose
of 10 grams of EPA + DHA.I read the book you mentioned, the key is the EPA, so I'm using 6 grams of EPA.
My only diagnose is ADD and take a high daily dose of Ritalin. Before Omega, I was taking SJWort which seem to stablize me some, but the Omega seems to work all the more consistently.
One thing is for certain, I sleep a whole lot better- sleeping just like a little, I mean a very big, baby.
Things seemed to go better when I updosed the EPA. I also throw in some Sam-e, it seems to kick up the Ritalin.
I buy the fish oil at the below web. Its a lot cheaper than the Omega Brite. To get 10 grams of
Omega-3, it requires 20 Tablets.
http://store.yahoo.com/ihealthtree/supom310x100.htmlregards,
Pogo.
Posted by cmcdougall on April 27, 2002, at 13:20:11
In reply to Re: Omega 3 » cmcdougall, posted by Pogo on April 27, 2002, at 10:35:44
This is the end of the thread.
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