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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 scatterbrained on November 11, 2004, at 15:30:53
Hi. I've been taking memantine for the past few months with mixed results. Strangely it seems to make my cognitive problems worse but help fairly well with the anhedonia;in a more consistent way than other medications have.My doc says that at first memantine seems to make cognitive problems worse and then better.who knows. it's hard to tell what's the depression and whats the medication at this point. He says that alot of times memantine seems to work really well if you add a cholesterine inhibitor(another type of dementia medication). Has anybody done this? By the way, I also take lamictal(which I've been going down on because of the cognitive problems).I also take Sam-e,trazadone,zoloft, respirdal(half of .25),and multivitamin and still cant think straight, but I have a good doctor(finally)and I feel like I'm on the right track, with longer and more complete times of remission(like a a few hours as opposed to a few minutes)
Posted by scatterbrained on November 17, 2004, at 1:03:11
In reply to memantine WITH cholesterine inhibitor anybody?, posted by scatterbrained on November 11, 2004, at 15:30:53
Hi. I've been taking memantine for the past few months with mixed results. Strangely it seems to make my cognitive problems worse but help fairly well with the anhedonia;in a more consistent way than other medications have.My doc says that at first memantine seems to make cognitive problems worse and then better.who knows. it's hard to tell what's the depression and whats the medication at this point. He says that alot of times memantine seems to work really well if you add a cholesterine inhibitor(another type of dementia medication). Has anybody done this? By the way, I also take lamictal(which I've been going down on because of the cognitive problems).I also take Sam-e,trazadone,zoloft, respirdal(half of .25),and multivitamin and still cant think straight, but I have a good doctor(finally)and I feel like I'm on the right track, with longer and more complete times of remission(like a a few hours as opposed to a few minutes)
Posted by SLS on November 18, 2004, at 7:09:31
In reply to memantine WITH cholesterine inhibitor anybody?, posted by scatterbrained on November 17, 2004, at 1:03:11
> Hi. I've been taking memantine for the past few months with mixed results. Strangely it seems to make my cognitive problems worse but help fairly well with the anhedonia;in a more consistent way than other medications have.My doc says that at first memantine seems to make cognitive problems worse and then better.who knows. it's hard to tell what's the depression and whats the medication at this point. He says that alot of times memantine seems to work really well if you add a cholesterine inhibitor(another type of dementia medication). Has anybody done this? By the way, I also take lamictal(which I've been going down on because of the cognitive problems).I also take Sam-e,trazadone,zoloft, respirdal(half of .25),and multivitamin and still cant think straight, but I have a good doctor(finally)and I feel like I'm on the right track, with longer and more complete times of remission(like a a few hours as opposed to a few minutes)
A friend of mine once added Aricept to mitigate the cognitive impairments produced by depression with mixed results. She eventually discontinued it. I tried Aricept also, and found it to exacerbate my depression somewhat. Depression is a potential side effect of this drug, as it is with other pro-cholinergic drugs.Try it. If your depression gets worse, at least you'll know why. Otherwise, it migh help with memory, but I don't know to what degree it will clear up thinking. Zyprexa is a good drug for that.
Good luck.
- Scott
Posted by jujube on November 18, 2004, at 11:22:12
In reply to memantine WITH cholesterine inhibitor anybody?, posted by scatterbrained on November 17, 2004, at 1:03:11
Since you are supplementing with Sam-e, you seem like you are willing to experiment with natural supplements. I have read recently that both DMAE and Acetyl L-Carnitine are supposed to be effective for both memory problems and lack of motivation. I am looking at ordering some for myself to give them a try. Might be something for you to look into and discuss with your doc.
Tamara
> Hi. I've been taking memantine for the past few months with mixed results. Strangely it seems to make my cognitive problems worse but help fairly well with the anhedonia;in a more consistent way than other medications have.My doc says that at first memantine seems to make cognitive problems worse and then better.who knows. it's hard to tell what's the depression and whats the medication at this point. He says that alot of times memantine seems to work really well if you add a cholesterine inhibitor(another type of dementia medication). Has anybody done this? By the way, I also take lamictal(which I've been going down on because of the cognitive problems).I also take Sam-e,trazadone,zoloft, respirdal(half of .25),and multivitamin and still cant think straight, but I have a good doctor(finally)and I feel like I'm on the right track, with longer and more complete times of remission(like a a few hours as opposed to a few minutes)
>
>
Posted by scatterbrained on November 18, 2004, at 13:26:35
In reply to Re: memantine WITH cholesterine inhibitor anybody?, posted by SLS on November 18, 2004, at 7:09:31
But has anyone tried memantine together with a cholesterine inhibitor?
Posted by scatterbrained on November 18, 2004, at 13:31:36
In reply to Re: memantine WITH cholesterine inhibitor anybody?, posted by SLS on November 18, 2004, at 7:09:31
> > Hi. I've been taking memantine for the past few months with mixed results. Strangely it seems to make my cognitive problems worse but help fairly well with the anhedonia;in a more consistent way than other medications have.My doc says that at first memantine seems to make cognitive problems worse and then better.who knows. it's hard to tell what's the depression and whats the medication at this point. He says that alot of times memantine seems to work really well if you add a cholesterine inhibitor(another type of dementia medication). Has anybody done this? By the way, I also take lamictal(which I've been going down on because of the cognitive problems).I also take Sam-e,trazadone,zoloft, respirdal(half of .25),and multivitamin and still cant think straight, but I have a good doctor(finally)and I feel like I'm on the right track, with longer and more complete times of remission(like a a few hours as opposed to a few minutes)
>
>
> A friend of mine once added Aricept to mitigate the cognitive impairments produced by depression with mixed results. She eventually discontinued it. I tried Aricept also, and found it to exacerbate my depression somewhat. Depression is a potential side effect of this drug, as it is with other pro-cholinergic drugs.
>
> Try it. If your depression gets worse, at least you'll know why. Otherwise, it migh help with memory, but I don't know to what degree it will clear up thinking. Zyprexa is a good drug for that.
>
> Good luck.
>
>
> - Scott
Does zyprexa work better than other atypicals for clearing up thinking?
Posted by SLS on November 20, 2004, at 9:29:56
In reply to Re: memantine WITH cholesterine inhibitor anybody? » SLS, posted by scatterbrained on November 18, 2004, at 13:31:36
Hi.
> Does zyprexa work better than other atypicals for clearing up thinking?
Many people who describe their experience with Zyprexa report clearer thinking as a prominent effect. This has been my experience as well. It is unfortunate that Zyprexa carries so high a burden with weight gain.
- Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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