Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Christ_empowered on October 5, 2013, at 13:30:24
OK. So I've had issues with psychotic depression since I was a teenager. I'm now 29 and on: 20mgs/Abilify, 1200/Trileptal, and up to 300/Neurontin.
Depressed! Only mild, transient, quasi-psychosis. Nothing too scary. I do Orthomolecular, and that helps tremendously.
So, Cali Rocketfuel interests me. Its Effexor XR and Remeron, together at last. Supposed to work as well as Parnate, without dietary restrictions.
Can I do this on top of what I have now? Is it a bad idea? Will it destroy my brain? What about EPS, TD, akathisia, all that? What kinda doses do you start out with on this mix?
Thanks in advance!
Posted by linkadge on October 6, 2013, at 7:37:33
In reply to 'California Rocket Fuel,' anyone?, posted by Christ_empowered on October 5, 2013, at 13:30:24
For me, I'd like to take trileptal + venlafaxine. I have some mood instability, that I don't feel I can bring up with my doctor. Its not off the wall mood swings, but as soon as you start to go in the bipolar direction, its hard to come back.
Posted by Christ_empowered on October 6, 2013, at 8:47:46
In reply to Re: 'California Rocket Fuel,' anyone?, posted by linkadge on October 6, 2013, at 7:37:33
I recommend Trileptal, if you need an anti-convulsant to control the more (hypo)manic, agitated, angry end of things. Minimal blood work, not too many side effects, the dosing range seems flexible, 2x daily dosing...good stuff, at least compared to depakote, lithium, tegretol. Also, if it helps you avoid an AP/AAP, then...awesome.
Posted by Snell on October 7, 2013, at 20:28:15
In reply to Re: 'California Rocket Fuel,' anyone? (nm) » Christ_empowered, posted by Snell on October 7, 2013, at 20:25:26
I've found that this is a very powerful combination. Not as much as Parnate, but about as powerful as you can get without going to the MAOIs. It's pure antidepressant; I'm not sure why there's all this discussion of trileptal, etc., other than that the trileptal will prevent mania.
The problem is the poop-out, sometimes disappointingly rapid, of the mirtazapine. In my experience mirtazapine lasted for six months and then stopped, just stopped. I then gave it up for several years, went back to it, and had it work for about two days.
Effexor XR, on the other hand, is like the Energizer Bunny--it just keeps working and working.
So the problem with the California Rocket Fuel, like real rocket fuel, is that it only burns for a limited time. Then you're left with the Effexor, which is not a bad thing to be left with.
Just so you know: During the six months the California Rocket Fuel worked for me, I: started a new love relationship that lasted for six years; I switched careers to one that was vastly more fulfilling; and I moved from my miserable apartment in Providence RI to a lovely place in Brookline, Mass. So, when it worked, it really worked. It was sad when it stopped.
Your mileage, of course, may vary.
Posted by Christ_empowered on October 8, 2013, at 8:22:05
In reply to Re: 'California Rocket Fuel,' anyone?, posted by Christ_empowered on October 6, 2013, at 8:47:46
I'll see about it when I see my shrink. It seems like a good combo to start with the--Effexor XR AM, Remeron PM, maybe both at low-ish doses (?). If nothing else, the Remeron could help me sleep while the Effexor XR starts working, which would be very, very nice. I believe both drugs are available as generics, which is nice, too.
The Abilify @ 20-30 in there makes me wonder. That's higher dosage...still augments AD drugs? Or does it act more as an anti-manic/anti-psychotic at that dose? Ugh. Psychopharmacology.
Ordinarily, I wouldn't want to start on 2 ADs at once. But I've had this weird, sometimes intensely psychotic, thing for a couple years now, off and on...I want to get rid of "it" and start functioning better, you know?
Thanks for all the input.
This is the end of the thread.
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