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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by susanC on September 18, 2005, at 22:01:12
Hello all from a returning Mouse. It has been some time since I last visited. Verapamil along with Depakote is definitely my drug cocktail of choice. I have yet to find anyone here who has also found this combination to work. If you are out there, get in touch via this message. I checked the box.
Last spring I was feeling depressed for the first time since I started Verapamil two years prior. Pdoc and I decided to try plan “Z” and add a bit of Lithium. Lithium and I did not get along in 1987 when I tried the liquid version, so I was doubtful. But, I didn’t want to be depressed. It would also be great to lose some of the weight and have a poop now and then. What followed was a flush out, return to pre-verapamil hell, a dive into lithium for a short bit of “ok”, then a plunge into lithium neurotoxicity. Even at 300mg, it was too much. Then, I had to flush THAT out. Within 3 days of restarting Verapamil I was feeling better. I tell you this summer was not fun..But, I also found out Lithium is OFF my list.
Nobody knows WHY/How Verapamil (calcium channel blocker) works. I am so relieved it continues to work for me. In addition to the rapid cycling bp, I have what appears to be chronic fatigue syndrome, very low dhea, low pyruvate and low growth hormone insulin factor 1.
Here is my question to all of you Mental Health cachers out there: Have you run across anything? Pdoc latest working theory is I have a metabolic disorder.
So far, I know that diet helps keep my energy even, but does not resolve the crash 6 hours after waking. I run out of energy. This is where the possibility of mitochondrial dysfunction comes in.
Any insight, any links would be greatly appreciated. Even suggestions as to how and where I might start educating myself on “metabolic” illnesses as they relate to mental health, particularly rapid cycling bipolar and chronic fatigue syndrome would be greatly appreciated.
Again, hello to all you great, inquisitive people.
Posted by lunesta on September 19, 2005, at 11:34:46
In reply to Mouse is Back with a report, posted by susanC on September 18, 2005, at 22:01:12
I have CFS and Verapamil (calcium channel blocker) is probably working just like nimodipine in which a great CFS researcher Dr Goldstein found out about years ago. Same concept works with Neurontin and Lyrica basically. They are all L Type high voltage calcium channel blockers, spinal glutamate antagonists (which indirectly will raise gaba) and substance P antagonists.
There ya go!
Posted by susanC on September 22, 2005, at 22:55:40
In reply to Re: Mouse is Back with a report, posted by lunesta on September 19, 2005, at 11:34:46
Hello lunesta,
Thanks for the info. Now you have given me a bunch of $25 words to look up. I will also run them by the pdoc and see if he salutes.
Mouse
> I have CFS and Verapamil (calcium channel blocker) is probably working just like nimodipine in which a great CFS researcher Dr Goldstein found out about years ago. Same concept works with Neurontin and Lyrica basically. They are all L Type high voltage calcium channel blockers, spinal glutamate antagonists (which indirectly will raise gaba) and substance P antagonists.
>
> There ya go!
>
This is the end of the thread.
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