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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 Tech on August 9, 2002, at 1:15:55
I think this might be a topic worth discussing.
How does medication feel? is the question.
I know how I want to feel. I want to feel 'well' physically and mentally and a bit like smiling and to have the energy and motivation to do things that I know need doing but don't even though they really need doing.
I know I don't want to have side effects like cloudiness/foggy thinking or inability to recall stuff. Also bad is the disassociation from reality in the sense that you're not happy but you're not really sad either. That's not much fun.
I was having a conversation today with a friend who has an unfortunate amount of experience in these matters and she said she's never seen an antidepressant that didn't come with what I don't want to have.
I have been taking St Johns Wort (a quality brand (trust me), Flora). I'm in the process of tapering off it. Why? Other than the fact I'm sick of taking it 3 times a day, I didn't feel like it was giving me enough of a 'kick'. I tried increasing the dose for several days and I didn't like the way it felt when I did that plus it was even more intervals to worry about. So I thought maybe I should taper off see how it feels and so one could be 'clean' for something else.
Well, I find energy levels and mood dropping as I taper off. So it was helping me a bit. I just wanted more efficacy. The Flora wort did not interfere with my thinking or memory recall which was a major plus.
Right. So I was wondering, are there folks out there who have found stuff that suits them that made them feel pretty damned normal and functional? I'm not really looking for 'names' of medications, but rather people who can say with certainty that it happened for them.
Many years ago I tried Prozac for 2 weeks, all it did was cloud me up and made me perspire too much. Not too long ago I got off the Wort for 1-2 weeks (maybe not long enough) so I could try Manerix (Moclobemide).. It was nasty. I had nasty side effects of feeling high, bad buzz stoned, pressure in head sensation, etc etc. I couldn't deal with it, stopped it and resumed the wort again shortly after. It was never quite the same as before I stopped it the first time.
Well, all comments welcomed. Even if they are not about you if you directly know someone who has this type of response feel free to comment etc.
Thanks!
Posted by cybercafe on August 9, 2002, at 8:12:18
In reply to How medication makes one feel, posted by Tech on August 9, 2002, at 1:15:55
Yes I have taken medication that had none of those bad side effects you mentioned
Posted by inertia on August 9, 2002, at 14:04:23
In reply to How medication makes one feel, posted by Tech on August 9, 2002, at 1:15:55
Yeah, I also was on meds that worked great. I felt totally normal. Just like I did for the first 19 years of my life before the bipolar kicked in. Unfortunately they don't work any more.
I don't know if this is good or bad, but my depression is so severe that I don't have the choice of stopping a med due to side effects. For me any side effect, except death, is better than how I feel off meds. Without meds I'm non-functional.
At least the choice is made for me.
Posted by oracle on August 9, 2002, at 18:43:49
In reply to How medication makes one feel, posted by Tech on August 9, 2002, at 1:15:55
> I think this might be a topic worth discussing.
>
> How does medication feel? is the question.
It does not feel like anything, just normal.
Posted by velaguff on August 9, 2002, at 19:21:08
In reply to How medication makes one feel, posted by Tech on August 9, 2002, at 1:15:55
Just a suggestion, if St.John's did positive things for you, maybe you should try Selegilene (AKA Eldepryl). It's also a MAO inhibitor, but you don't have to worry about dietary resrictions as with some other drugs in that class. It's an anti-parkinson's drug, but a lot of people think it has mood-elevating effects (not for me, but then, NOTHING works for me, except alcohol and speed). Selegilene is very safe, few side effects.
Posted by velaguff on August 9, 2002, at 19:32:24
In reply to How medication makes one feel, posted by Tech on August 9, 2002, at 1:15:55
Selegiline is a script drug, but it's not a controlled substance. You doctor might cooperate, if not it's available on the web from overseas. There ARE "cheese effect" dietary restrictions if one takes more than 10mg a day, but hardly anyone does. Just look it up on a few search engines. Interesting reading, if nothing else.
Posted by cybercafe on August 10, 2002, at 5:16:52
In reply to PS to last post, posted by velaguff on August 9, 2002, at 19:32:24
Parnate changed my personality in the following way:
can resist food
can't resist women
things are more interesting
i like the colour blue much more
i like the colour black less
This is the end of the thread.
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