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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bipolarspectrum on November 28, 2006, at 23:45:40
Hi,
Many the regulars may recognize my name.. I have bipolar II and tried 50 medications, rtms, ECT and considered DBS.I have recently began tamoxifen with incredible results. Mania and depression reduced significantly.
Side effects are insomnia and hot flashes.
Please feel free to ask questions
bps
Posted by cecilia on November 29, 2006, at 1:55:32
In reply to SUCCESS story!, posted by bipolarspectrum on November 28, 2006, at 23:45:40
Tamoxifen? Isn't that the anti-estrogen drug used for breast cancer prevention? Are you male or female (for some reason I always thought you were male) and were your hormone levels abnormal before starting this? What made your doctor think of trying this? Anyway, glad you're doing better. Cecilia
Posted by madeline on November 29, 2006, at 3:56:36
In reply to SUCCESS story!, posted by bipolarspectrum on November 28, 2006, at 23:45:40
The use of tamoxifen for mania has been batted around for years, and I'm so glad that it is working for you.
The only caveat I can think of is just watch out for blood clots. If you have any leg pain or shortness of breath, see your doctor ASAP.
Have you had a hysterectomy?
Posted by Phillipa on November 29, 2006, at 19:33:56
In reply to Re: SUCCESS story! » bipolarspectrum, posted by madeline on November 29, 2006, at 3:56:36
I'm glad it's successful for you but I thought the same thing that it was for after chemo and radiation in cancer. Love Phillipa
Posted by bipolarspectrum on November 30, 2006, at 0:40:23
In reply to Re: SUCCESS story! » madeline, posted by Phillipa on November 29, 2006, at 19:33:56
Lol,
Your replies made me laugh.. no, no hysterectomy... im a male... and tamoxifen is still workin smoothly.. the insomnia is really bad though, and im using gabapentin for it.. otherwise, side effect free beside the occasional hot flash and diarrhea...The literature supporting tamoxifen is beginning to POUR out... I guarantee the psychiatric community will be hearing much about this drug and similar ones in the future..
godspeed!
bps
Posted by cecilia on November 30, 2006, at 7:10:05
In reply to Re: SUCCESS story!, posted by bipolarspectrum on November 30, 2006, at 0:40:23
Do you have any links on this? A quick google search spit out lots of articles on tamoxifen INCREASING depression. (in women, didn't know it had been tried in men). Which makes sense since it's anti-estrogen, though I haven't a clue what it would do in a man. I know they sometimes treat depression in men by giving testosterone, maybe this does something similar. (Though, off topic, but I think the world would be a lot more civilized if men were given drugs to decrease testosterone....) Cecilia
Posted by linkadge on November 30, 2006, at 16:57:19
In reply to Re: SUCCESS story! » bipolarspectrum, posted by cecilia on November 30, 2006, at 7:10:05
Tamoxifin was discovered to be a PKC inhibitor, ie able to dampen intracellular signal cascades like lithium and depakote.
It doesn't have effects on ion chanels, so it may reduce mania with less collateral.
Linkadge
Posted by bipolarspectrum on December 1, 2006, at 15:21:16
In reply to Re: SUCCESS story!, posted by bipolarspectrum on November 30, 2006, at 0:40:23
Posted by bipolarspectrum on December 1, 2006, at 21:01:59
In reply to Re: SUCCESS story! » bipolarspectrum, posted by cecilia on November 30, 2006, at 7:10:05
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/544801
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16356651&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsumTheres two to take a peak at.. theres more as well but these are the newest ones...
bps
> Do you have any links on this? A quick google search spit out lots of articles on tamoxifen INCREASING depression. (in women, didn't know it had been tried in men). Which makes sense since it's anti-estrogen, though I haven't a clue what it would do in a man. I know they sometimes treat depression in men by giving testosterone, maybe this does something similar. (Though, off topic, but I think the world would be a lot more civilized if men were given drugs to decrease testosterone....) Cecilia
Posted by cecilia on December 2, 2006, at 0:17:19
In reply to Re: SUCCESS story!, posted by bipolarspectrum on December 1, 2006, at 21:01:59
From these studies it sounds like it's only been tested in mania, not depression. Cecilia
Posted by bipolarspectrum on December 2, 2006, at 14:28:18
In reply to Re: SUCCESS story! » bipolarspectrum, posted by cecilia on December 2, 2006, at 0:17:19
Hi C,
Ur absolutely correct, but one has to remember that many bipolar 'depressive' episodes are often whats referred to as mixed states, half depression/half mania so to speak... I personally was constantly depressed, but always had a nervous energy to me, which is classic mixed state... often using anti-manic drugs cures the depression as well! great ex. is lithium, a well-known anti-manic drug with powerful anti-depressant qualities...
bps
This is the end of the thread.
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