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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Jack Smith on May 21, 2003, at 18:40:08
In reply to I wish *everyone* could try Mirapex!!, posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 21, 2003, at 16:59:05
> This medication has made my life so full of love, laughter, and just... well... complete. Even with an SSRI and benzodiazepine, I feel so human. And the depression? Gone with the wind. I just had to repeat it again--try it! You won't regret it!!!
Congratulations!!! I am curious what dose you are at? What sort of side effects you have experienced as well? Also, do you, or anyone know, of long term side effects of dopamine agonists. I am just a little worried about movement disorders but I admittedly do not know much about this stuff just that, I think, dopamine depletion can cause them.
Also, please do not take offense with this question, do you think that it will last? I recall you saying the same things about provigil and lexapro. Is there anything different about this? I am rooting for you, I am just curious.
JACK
Posted by jerrympls on May 21, 2003, at 20:35:47
In reply to I wish *everyone* could try Mirapex!!, posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 21, 2003, at 16:59:05
> This medication has made my life so full of love, laughter, and just... well... complete. Even with an SSRI and benzodiazepine, I feel so human. And the depression? Gone with the wind. I just had to repeat it again--try it! You won't regret it!!!
Congrats! I've heard many good things about this med. I think it's the next thing for me to try. I hope it continues to work well for yoU! Keep us posted!
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 21, 2003, at 20:57:40
In reply to Mirapex » Ame Sans Vie, posted by Jack Smith on May 21, 2003, at 18:40:08
> Congratulations!!! I am curious what dose you are at?
1.5mg, three times daily
> What sort of side effects you have experienced as well?
Some pretty bad nausea at first, but that went away fast.
> Also, do you, or anyone know, of long term side effects of dopamine agonists. I am just a little worried about movement disorders but I admittedly do not know much about this stuff just that, I think, dopamine depletion can cause them.
I admittedly don't know much about this... but then I suppose I'm at the point that I don't care. Just as long as it works.
> Also, please do not take offense with this question, do you think that it will last? I recall you saying the same things about provigil and lexapro. Is there anything different about this? I am rooting for you, I am just curious.
>Oh, with Provigil I needed daily 1000mg doses to help me. That ended up giving me horrible headaches. And I still take the Lexapro, and Klonopin, which both help a great deal with the social anxiety. Mirapex, on the other hand, reverses the benzo/SSRI apathy and makes me more human again.
Posted by Caleb462 on May 21, 2003, at 22:31:48
In reply to Mirapex » Ame Sans Vie, posted by Jack Smith on May 21, 2003, at 18:40:08
> > This medication has made my life so full of love, laughter, and just... well... complete. Even with an SSRI and benzodiazepine, I feel so human. And the depression? Gone with the wind. I just had to repeat it again--try it! You won't regret it!!!
>
> Congratulations!!! I am curious what dose you are at? What sort of side effects you have experienced as well? Also, do you, or anyone know, of long term side effects of dopamine agonists. I am just a little worried about movement disorders but I admittedly do not know much about this stuff just that, I think, dopamine depletion can cause them.It isn't dopamine delpetion per se that causes movement disorders. It's actually death of dopamine-containing neurons, or perhaps death of receptors?. I'm really not quite clear on it. A dopamine agonist shouldn't cause these problems, though, because it would likely cause upregulation of receptors - which would be considered a good thing. For instance, tobacco smokers have a much lower chance of developing alzheimers disease. This is because they are ingesting a nicotinic chollinergic agonist, and nicotinic chollinergic receptors upregulate in the prescence of large amounts of nicotine over a period of time. The more chollinergic receptors present, the less the prescence of alzheimers disease.
I mean... dopamine agonists are used to TREAT movement disorders, so it's safe to assume they are not going to cause a movement disorder. It's the antagonists you have to watch out for.
Posted by Jack Smith on May 22, 2003, at 12:43:09
In reply to Re: Mirapex, posted by Caleb462 on May 21, 2003, at 22:31:48
> For instance, tobacco smokers have a much lower chance of developing alzheimers disease.
I knew there was something good about my smoking habit. If only people would stop suing so the price wouldn't keep going up.
> I mean... dopamine agonists are used to TREAT movement disorders, so it's safe to assume they are not going to cause a movement disorder. It's the antagonists you have to watch out for.
Thanks Caleb. That seems to make sense. I assume Mirapex is a stronger agonist than nicotine?
JACK
Posted by JaneB on May 22, 2003, at 16:16:17
In reply to Re: Mirapex » Caleb462, posted by Jack Smith on May 22, 2003, at 12:43:09
> > For instance, tobacco smokers have a much lower chance of developing alzheimers disease.
>
Is there evidence of this? I thought the opposite was true.
JaneB
Posted by lawrence S. on May 22, 2003, at 17:21:31
In reply to Re: Mirapex » Caleb462, posted by Jack Smith on May 22, 2003, at 12:43:09
Glad to hear the Mirapex is working out for you. I had a good response to it too. Maybe I should have given it more time. My Pdoc is having great results with his patients too. He never presribed it until a year ago when I brought a Psychobabble article about it to my appointment. Thank you Dr. Bob!
Posted by Jack Smith on May 22, 2003, at 17:32:34
In reply to Re: Mirapex, posted by lawrence S. on May 22, 2003, at 17:21:31
> Glad to hear the Mirapex is working out for you. I had a good response to it too. Maybe I should have given it more time. My Pdoc is having great results with his patients too. He never presribed it until a year ago when I brought a Psychobabble article about it to my appointment. Thank you Dr. Bob!
If possible, could you point me to where to find that article. I am interested in showing it to my pdoc. He likes to see new treatment options.
JACK
Posted by Ron Hill on May 22, 2003, at 19:53:36
In reply to Re: Mirapex » Caleb462, posted by Jack Smith on May 22, 2003, at 12:43:09
> > For instance, tobacco smokers have a much lower chance of developing alzheimers disease.
>
> I knew there was something good about my smoking habit. If only people would stop suing so the price wouldn't keep going up.Hey Jack,
Here is another tidbit regarding cigarette smoke that I found interesting the first time I saw it. Separate and distinct from the effects of nicotine, cigarette smoke contains a compound (2-Naphthylamine) that functions as both an MAOI-A and an MAOI-B. The resulting upward influence on dopamine levels is thought by some to account for the markedly lower incidence of Parkinson's among smokers than the incidence found in the general population. It seems a shame that 2-Naphthylamine is also carcinogenic.
2-Naphthylamine, a compound found in cigarette smoke, decreases both monoamine oxidase A and B catalytic activity.
Hauptmann N, Shih JC.
Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA. hauptman@neotherapeutics.com
Cigarette smokers exhibit a lower monoamine oxidase (MAO; EC 1.4.3.4) activity than nonsmokers. MAO is located in the outer membrane of mitochondria and exists as two isoenzymes, MAO A and B. MAO A prefers 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin), and MAO B prefers phenylethylamine (PEA) as substrate. Dopamine is a substrate for both forms. 2-Naphthylamine is a carcinogen found in high concentrations in cigarette smoke. The results of this study show that 2-naphthylamine has the ability to inhibit mouse brain MAO A and B in vitro by mixed type inhibition (competitive and non-competitive). The Ki for MAO A was determined to be 52.0 microM and for MAO B 40.2 microM. The inhibitory effect of 2-naphthylamine on both MAO A and B catalytic activity, supports the hypothesis that smoking decreases MAO activity in vivo, instead that smokers with lower MAO activity are more prone to become a smoker.
PMID: 11233991 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Posted by jerrympls on May 22, 2003, at 21:01:44
In reply to Re: Mirapex » lawrence S., posted by Jack Smith on May 22, 2003, at 17:32:34
> > Glad to hear the Mirapex is working out for you. I had a good response to it too. Maybe I should have given it more time. My Pdoc is having great results with his patients too. He never presribed it until a year ago when I brought a Psychobabble article about it to my appointment. Thank you Dr. Bob!
>
> If possible, could you point me to where to find that article. I am interested in showing it to my pdoc. He likes to see new treatment options.
>
> JACK
>HEY! ME TOO! I want to take some good info in to my new pdoc so please give us the link! THANK YOU!!!
Jerry
Posted by Caleb462 on May 22, 2003, at 22:24:15
In reply to Re: Smoking, posted by JaneB on May 22, 2003, at 16:16:17
> > > For instance, tobacco smokers have a much lower chance of developing alzheimers disease.
> >
> Is there evidence of this? I thought the opposite was true.
> JaneBI checked up on my research, and in fact, I was wrong. There were previous studies done that suggested tobacco smoking did help prevent against alzheimer's, but apparently this has turned out not to be true. Most of the research I found concluded that smoking had no impact on the development of alzheimer's, whether it be positive or negative.
However, there is a much lower occurence of parkinson's in tobacco smokers.
Posted by Caleb462 on May 22, 2003, at 22:26:36
In reply to Re: Mirapex » Caleb462, posted by Jack Smith on May 22, 2003, at 12:43:09
> > For instance, tobacco smokers have a much lower chance of developing alzheimers disease.
>
> I knew there was something good about my smoking habit. If only people would stop suing so the price wouldn't keep going up.Actually, as you can see in my post to Jane, I was wrong. The likelihood of a smoker developing Parkinson's, however, is reduced.
>
> > I mean... dopamine agonists are used to TREAT movement disorders, so it's safe to assume they are not going to cause a movement disorder. It's the antagonists you have to watch out for.
>
> Thanks Caleb. That seems to make sense. I assume Mirapex is a stronger agonist than nicotine?
>
> JACKNicotine is not a dopamine agonist, it's a chollinergic agonist. Nicotine does cause the release of dopamine, however.
Posted by lawrence S. on May 23, 2003, at 16:02:37
In reply to Re: Mirapex » lawrence S., posted by Jack Smith on May 22, 2003, at 17:32:34
I tried doing a P-Babble search for the study that was done on Mirapex. This is what I gave my Pdoc. Sorry I could'nt find it as of yet. Here's an idea: Have your Pdoc contact mine and maybe he can convince yours. If you want to you can Email me and I'll give you his name. Pongobongo2003@yahoo.com
Lawrence
Posted by Dr. Bob on May 23, 2003, at 17:39:05
In reply to Re: Mirapex, posted by lawrence S. on May 22, 2003, at 17:21:31
> He never presribed it until a year ago when I brought a Psychobabble article about it to my appointment. Thank you Dr. Bob!
You're welcome, but thank whoever it was that posted that article! If you can figure out who it was. :-)
Bob
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 23, 2003, at 18:26:39
In reply to Re: Mirapex, posted by lawrence S. on May 22, 2003, at 17:21:31
I'm so happy that others are interested in, what has been for myself, a miracle in a little white, powder-pressed pill. I'd love to be able to share experiences with others who take this stuff... I spend a lot of time in the mental health chats on AOL, and I promote it heavily there. It makes me want to cry, how absolutely blissful it is. Not euphoric... not over-the-top. Just serene, content, and ready to take on the world. And the pro-sexual effects are fantastic, lol!
Please you all... talk to your doctors about Mirapex (and I'm rather curious about Requip [ropinirole] as well...). We could form the happiest group of people here on PB, lol. Cheers!
Posted by jerrympls on May 23, 2003, at 20:30:36
In reply to Re: Mirapex, posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 23, 2003, at 18:26:39
> I'm so happy that others are interested in, what has been for myself, a miracle in a little white, powder-pressed pill. I'd love to be able to share experiences with others who take this stuff... I spend a lot of time in the mental health chats on AOL, and I promote it heavily there. It makes me want to cry, how absolutely blissful it is. Not euphoric... not over-the-top. Just serene, content, and ready to take on the world. And the pro-sexual effects are fantastic, lol!
>
> Please you all... talk to your doctors about Mirapex (and I'm rather curious about Requip [ropinirole] as well...). We could form the happiest group of people here on PB, lol. Cheers!AMY-
I would LOVE to chat with you about how Mirapex has worked for you. I am extremely interested in trying this as I have tried EVERYTHING else. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE email me so we can chat- I have many questions!!
Thanks!
Jerry
jerrympls@mn.rr.com
Posted by billk on May 23, 2003, at 20:53:34
In reply to I wish *everyone* could try Mirapex!!, posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 21, 2003, at 16:59:05
> This medication has made my life so full of love, laughter, and just... well... complete. Even with an SSRI and benzodiazepine, I feel so human. And the depression? Gone with the wind. I just had to repeat it again--try it! You won't regret it!!!
My father, who has a history of depressive episodes, became very badly depressed at the same time he was diagnosed with early Parkinson's Disease. (Apparently the two often go together). He started taking Wellbutrin, and this helped him somewhat.
But his neurologist then prescribed Mirapex, primarily for the PD. When he started taking the Mirapex it was like flipping a light switch. All traces of the depression immediately disappeared, and he was back to reading the newspaper and watching the financial channel.
So now I am interested in trying it on my own depression, although I have no Parkinson's. Your post may be what I need to go do it.
Posted by Geezer on May 23, 2003, at 22:00:25
In reply to I wish *everyone* could try Mirapex!!, posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 21, 2003, at 16:59:05
> This medication has made my life so full of love, laughter, and just... well... complete. Even with an SSRI and benzodiazepine, I feel so human. And the depression? Gone with the wind. I just had to repeat it again--try it! You won't regret it!!!
Can anyone tell me if this drug carries a high risk of tolerance and abuse. Please, I am not being in anyway critical - I have a past history of Dexadrine abuse. Dexadrine was the best drug I ever took for depression but got into a very bad time in 1985. Since that time I have had 11 ECT treatments and just about everything under the sun with only limited and brief relief. I have atypical depression, possible "soft bipolar". and unbearable fatigue and sleepiness. Provigil at 500mg. only lasts 4 hours. Does insomnia tend to be a problem with Mirapex? This is a very uplifting thread - thank you all - sorry to be comming in at the tail end.
Geezer
Posted by Caleb462 on May 24, 2003, at 0:13:29
In reply to Re: I wish *everyone* could try Mirapex!! » Ame Sans Vie, posted by Geezer on May 23, 2003, at 22:00:25
> Can anyone tell me if this drug carries a high risk of tolerance and abuse. Please, I am not being in anyway critical - I have a past history of Dexadrine abuse. Dexadrine was the best drug I ever took for depression but got into a very bad time in 1985. Since that time I have had 11 ECT treatments and just about everything under the sun with only limited and brief relief. I have atypical depression, possible "soft bipolar". and unbearable fatigue and sleepiness. Provigil at 500mg. only lasts 4 hours. Does insomnia tend to be a problem with Mirapex? This is a very uplifting thread - thank you all - sorry to be comming in at the tail end.
>
> Geezer
>
>I was wondering the same thing myself, and did some looking around - but could not find any references regarding mirapex as an abusable drug, so I assume it's not considered to be one. Seems odd... I would reason that a direct D3 agonist would be a highly euphoric drug at the right doses... but I've never taken Mirapex or any other dopamine agonist, so I can't say.
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 24, 2003, at 6:42:49
In reply to Re: I wish *everyone* could try Mirapex!!, posted by Caleb462 on May 24, 2003, at 0:13:29
Obviously, I've never abused my Mirapex in any way. In the beginning, it's the unrelenting nausea that prevents you from taking extra, and in the end, you realize anyway that this drug is not going to get you high. But it will get you high*er*. <groan>
Hey, it's early, that was my attempt at humor/motivational speaking, lol.
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 24, 2003, at 7:28:11
In reply to Re: Mirapex » Ame Sans Vie, posted by jerrympls on May 23, 2003, at 20:30:36
Hi there, glad to hear you're so enthusiastic! I tried to e-mail you, but it said you couldn't accept e-mail from my e-mail address. Wonder what could be wrong?
Anyway, maybe you should try writing me at either:
or
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 24, 2003, at 7:29:17
In reply to Re: I wish *everyone* could try Mirapex!!, posted by billk on May 23, 2003, at 20:53:34
I only hope my post was enough to inspire a trial of Mirapex. I was told years ago by a fellow patient that I should give it a go, but I didn't listen. Now I'm kicking myself for that!! :-)
Posted by McPac on May 24, 2003, at 15:17:03
In reply to Re: I wish *everyone* could try Mirapex!! » billk, posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 24, 2003, at 7:29:17
Re: Mirapex......
What classification of med is it?
Is it mostly for depression? Is it used for anxiety at all? How about OCD?
Finally, how long has it been out?
THANKS!!!!
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 24, 2003, at 16:28:29
In reply to Ame, Re: I wish *everyone* could try Mirapex!!, posted by McPac on May 24, 2003, at 15:17:03
> Re: Mirapex......
>
> What classification of med is it?
> Is it mostly for depression? Is it used for anxiety at all? How about OCD?
> Finally, how long has it been out?
> THANKS!!!!It's a dopamine agonist at D2, D4, and especially D3 receptors. It's used primarily for Parkinson's, though many studies show it to be wonderful in treating depression and bipolar II (along with a mood stabilizer). It doesn't help anxiety much, or OCD, but it does motivate you like you wouldn't believe, so you may sort of forget the anxiety because you're going so strong.
It was approved by the FDA in 1997.
Posted by HenryO on May 25, 2003, at 4:42:27
In reply to Re: Mirapex, posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 23, 2003, at 18:26:39
How long has the Mirapex been working for you? I see from other posts that people have this great response then the brain adjusts, or "down regulates" (whatever that means). Then it poops out like so much else.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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