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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 Questionmark on September 23, 2004, at 3:07:47
(My question is after this two excessively long paragraphs)
i have been taking bromocriptine (averaging between about 0.2mg and 0.5mg per day) for my Nardil (60mg/day) -induced anorgasmia/SD for about 5 or 6 weeks now, after failed trials with cyproheptadine (Periactin) and amantadine (Symmetrel). At first i was fairly happy, and significantly hopeful, with it. Although it made me extremely lethargic (a common side effect), i did not experience the other common side effect that i was expecting-- moderate to severe nausea-- at all. i even felt that it was actually INcreasing my appetite (a positive effect for me), despite the fact that i expected it to do the exact opposite-- due to its nausea and and its dopamine agonist properties, which i suspect would be more likely to suppress appetite. And i did feel that it was helping the SD problem to a decent extent, which made me think that once i was able to increase the dose some, it would be particularly effective.
However, this past week i've been starting to contemplate whether i should stay on it or not. i still feel like it's making me tired/lethargic as sh*t, and i've been extremely depressed lately, to such an extent that i can't explain it any other way then for the bromocriptine to be at least involved. i just have had so very little energy and motivation lately. And i've felt considerably anhedonic recently as well.
And if that's not enough, i don't even feel that my SD & anorgasmia are being helped by the bromocriptine anymore.
So my question is, do you think the bromocriptine really is likely to be responsible for my worsened mood and lack of energy lately? Is it possible for the side effects to remain, or even increase in severity, while the beneficial effects diminish in severity?
Does anyone have any suggestions on whether i should stay on it any longer and/or which drug i should try next? i'm thinking Mirapex or Requip will probably be my next trial, but i'm not very optimistic about those since they're both dopamine agonists, and amantadine and bromocriptine have been failures as well. So, any suggestions?
Thank you.
Posted by rod on September 23, 2004, at 5:29:29
In reply to Bromocriptine (Parlodel), posted by Questionmark on September 23, 2004, at 3:07:47
Hi,
I dont have an answer, but wanted to say that I had similar experiences with Amantadine and Mirapex. (both made me somewhat worse)
Roland
Posted by SLS on September 23, 2004, at 6:13:20
In reply to Bromocriptine (Parlodel), posted by Questionmark on September 23, 2004, at 3:07:47
What about Ritalin?
- Scott
Posted by Questionmark on September 26, 2004, at 14:03:23
In reply to Re: Bromocriptine (Parlodel), posted by SLS on September 23, 2004, at 6:13:20
> What about Ritalin?
>
>
> - ScottRod, thank you for your comment. It's helpful.
Scott, thank you for your suggestion. i don't know though. Even if my pdoc would prescribe Ritalin to me, i'm not sure i noticed really significant libido (/etc.)-enhancing effects from it in the past (and i've taken it many times). It definitely makes sexual activities more pleasurable generally, but aside from that i'm not sure how much it helped & would help. Also, despite how much i love Ritalin, it tends to make me less prosocial, and more anxious (not surprisingly) and obsessive and decrease my appetite and what not. i definitely don't like taking psychostimulants regularly.
i wonder if taking "as needed" would be beneficial though, actually. Do you think it would? i'm so sick of this. Mirapex and Requip probably would not be helpful either, judging by my experiences with bromocriptine and amantadine, huh?
Also, what would you think about my trying pemoline (Cylert)? Do you think that might be good?
Thank you Scott and/or anyone else who responds.
Posted by Questionmark on September 26, 2004, at 14:06:37
In reply to Re: Bromocriptine (Parlodel), posted by SLS on September 23, 2004, at 6:13:20
Posted by zeugma on September 26, 2004, at 17:37:45
In reply to Re: Bromocriptine (Parlodel), posted by Questionmark on September 26, 2004, at 14:03:23
Cylert, from what I can rememeber from a brief trial more than a decade ago, was more like Provigil than it was like Ritalin (ie smoother, had a more beneficial 'slowing' effect on my thought process). Unfortunately it causes weight loss like Ritalin does, or at least it did for me. I'm too exhausted right now (the damned Ritalin does nothing for me energywise) to read the whole thread- have you tried Provigil?
-z
Posted by Questionmark on September 29, 2004, at 1:07:24
In reply to Re: Bromocriptine (Parlodel), posted by zeugma on September 26, 2004, at 17:37:45
i was on Provigil for a short time (~ 4 weeks) when i was on Paxil a few years ago. i was not particularly impressed. It did help a great deal for helping me stay awake & more alert when i was really tired, and i did prefer it over Wellbutrin (which isn't saying much). But i do not think i felt that it had any beneficial effects other than the one just mentioned.
Also, Provigil has no real benefits on anorgasmia/SD, which is the primary Nardil side effect that i have been trying desperately to
relieve, to no avail (except for with cannabis-- but that's not the most practical substance for me to use that frequently).
It's really starting to depress the heck out of me. (How's that for sad irony?)
> Cylert, from what I can rememeber from a brief trial more than a decade ago, was more like Provigil than it was like Ritalin (ie smoother, had a more beneficial 'slowing' effect on my thought process). Unfortunately it causes weight loss like Ritalin does, or at least it did for me. I'm too exhausted right now (the damned Ritalin does nothing for me energywise) to read the whole thread- have you tried Provigil?
>
> -z
This is the end of the thread.
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