Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1110560

Shown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

After stroke my meds don't work!

Posted by Englishman006! on June 8, 2020, at 4:27:18

I suffered an ishemic stroke in 2015, I've been put on Losartan for blood pressure and Rosuvastatin for cholesterol (both were borderline before stroke). Now the medications I've been on since 2003 don't work.

I suffer with social anxiety (no sense of humour), gad, depression and add (inattentive type)

I was taking:

memantine,
dexamphetamine,
low dose amisulpride,
lamotrigine
and fluoxetine.

These meds always gave me a sense of humour and increased personality. Now I am boring to be with, have lost my sense of humour and my social anxiety and depression are back.

I tried for so many years, since I was 17, to get well. I finally found a combination that controlled all my symptoms but now that combination doesn't work anymore.

I need help, any ideas anyone?

 

Re: After stroke my meds don't work!

Posted by linkadge on June 8, 2020, at 7:14:45

In reply to After stroke my meds don't work!, posted by Englishman006! on June 8, 2020, at 4:27:18

Hmm.

Do you have any new symptoms that you didn't have before? For example, are you more sensitive to light / sound?

Depending on the region of the stroke, brain connectivity can be impaired. If you found the event particularly traumatic, this too can leave an emotional burden.

I would go based on symptoms. You might try adjusting the dose of lamotrigine, fluoxetine or dextroamphetamine. You might try swapping fluoxetine for a different SSRI.

Of course 'environmental enrichment' (exercise, social interaction, trying new things) can help the brain re-establish connections. They can also increase BDNF and NGF which can help improve the brain's plasticity.

You might try adding some co-q10 (with doctor's supervision). It has some antidepressant properties and can improve the brain's mitochondrial energy.

Linkadge


 

Re: After stroke my meds don't work!

Posted by undopaminergic on June 8, 2020, at 7:53:54

In reply to Re: After stroke my meds don't work!, posted by linkadge on June 8, 2020, at 7:14:45

>
> I would go based on symptoms. You might try adjusting the dose of lamotrigine, fluoxetine or dextroamphetamine. You might try swapping fluoxetine for a different SSRI.
>

Memantine may also require a dose increase. It did for me, several times. In fact, I don't know at what dose it might have stabilised for me. Watch out for (hypo)mania.

>
> You might try adding some co-q10 (with doctor's supervision). It has some antidepressant properties and can improve the brain's mitochondrial energy.
>

It's my understanding that statins inhibit the body's endogenous production of co-enzyme Q10, so it is particularly indicated (due to rosuvastatin) in this case.

-undopaminergic

 

Re: After stroke my meds don't work! » linkadge

Posted by Englishman006! on June 8, 2020, at 8:01:59

In reply to Re: After stroke my meds don't work!, posted by linkadge on June 8, 2020, at 7:14:45

> Hmm.
>
> Do you have any new symptoms that you didn't have before? For example, are you more sensitive to light / sound?
>
> Depending on the region of the stroke, brain connectivity can be impaired. If you found the event particularly traumatic, this too can leave an emotional burden.
>
> I would go based on symptoms. You might try adjusting the dose of lamotrigine, fluoxetine or dextroamphetamine. You might try swapping fluoxetine for a different SSRI.
>
> Of course 'environmental enrichment' (exercise, social interaction, trying new things) can help the brain re-establish connections. They can also increase BDNF and NGF which can help improve the brain's plasticity.
>
> You might try adding some co-q10 (with doctor's supervision). It has some antidepressant properties and can improve the brain's mitochondrial energy.
>
> Linkadge
>
>
>
The stroke was bad, it was in the basal ganglia. I have changed my antidepressant to mirtazipine, been on it for 29 days but started at 15mg and for 6 days I've been on 45mg.

I have recovered my sense of humour on occasion but it's only been for 4 or five days and that's only happened a handful of times. I know it's still there though.

I used to have nightmares all the time prior to the stroke, I haven't had any since!

 

Re: After stroke my meds don't work!

Posted by Englishman006! on June 8, 2020, at 8:18:28

In reply to Re: After stroke my meds don't work!, posted by undopaminergic on June 8, 2020, at 7:53:54

Interesting about the co-enzyme Q10 statin relationship. I'll research that. I may try the memantine increase also.

Thank you both so much : )

 

Re: After stroke my meds don't work! » Englishman006!

Posted by linkadge on June 8, 2020, at 17:46:48

In reply to Re: After stroke my meds don't work! » linkadge, posted by Englishman006! on June 8, 2020, at 8:01:59

>I have recovered my sense of humour on occasion but >it's only been for 4 or five days and that's only >happened a handful of times. I know it's still >there though.

Hmm. Do you cognitivly 'catch' the humour (and just don't find it 'funny') or do you have difficulty picking up on the humour itself. (I hope this is not being intrusive, but I don't know you from a hole in the wall.) Also, have your motivation / energy levels been affected?

The basal ganglia has a fairly high dopamine content. Just thinking out of the box here...but something dopaminergic might help (say like Mirapex)?

Linkadge

 

Re: After stroke my meds don't work!

Posted by Englishman006! on June 8, 2020, at 18:45:21

In reply to Re: After stroke my meds don't work! » linkadge, posted by Englishman006! on June 8, 2020, at 8:01:59

> > Hmm.
> >
> > Do you have any new symptoms that you didn't have before? For example, are you more sensitive to light / sound?
> >
> > Depending on the region of the stroke, brain connectivity can be impaired. If you found the event particularly traumatic, this too can leave an emotional burden.
> >
> > I would go based on symptoms. You might try adjusting the dose of lamotrigine, fluoxetine or dextroamphetamine. You might try swapping fluoxetine for a different SSRI.
> >
> > Of course 'environmental enrichment' (exercise, social interaction, trying new things) can help the brain re-establish connections. They can also increase BDNF and NGF which can help improve the brain's plasticity.
> >
> > You might try adding some co-q10 (with doctor's supervision). It has some antidepressant properties and can improve the brain's mitochondrial energy.
> >
> > Linkadge
> >
> >
> >
> The stroke was bad, it was in the basal ganglia. I have changed my antidepressant to mirtazipine, been on it for 29 days but started at 15mg and for 6 days I've been on 45mg.
>
> I have recovered my sense of humour on occasion but it's only been for 4 or five days and that's only happened a handful of times. I know it's still there though.
>
> I used to have nightmares all the time prior to the stroke, I haven't had any since!
>

When I had the stroke I was in New York on holiday from Australia. I awoke with a nightmare at 3am, went to the toilet, was washing my hands and my arm flopped down! Then my leg went and I crawled back to the bed and alerted my partner. But I couldn't make sense. It was a word soup.

The ambulance took me to a hospital where they gave me clot busting drugs but they weren't working quickly enough so they took me to another hospital where I received a retrieval of the clot. The whole process took 6 or 7 hours. That was a lot of time wasted. I lost use of my right arm and need an orthotic to walk. I can't run or jog anymore.

I regained the ability to speak but they took me off all meds accept Prozac. I didn't say much because of the social phobia. I was there seven weeks. When I got back to Australia I was allowed to go on my old med regimen. But as I said, they didn't work as well anymore and I feel I've lost part of my personality.

I don't have impaired vision, the side of my mouth is numb but that is all. I kept my good looks, hehe! I'm 50 now but used to play soccer, go to athletics and Karate. Sport played a big role in my life. : (

I suspect the blood pressure or cholesterol meds may be playing a role...? I don't know.

 

Re: After stroke my meds don't work! » linkadge

Posted by Englishman006! on June 8, 2020, at 19:54:39

In reply to Re: After stroke my meds don't work! » Englishman006!, posted by linkadge on June 8, 2020, at 17:46:48

> >I have recovered my sense of humour on occasion but >it's only been for 4 or five days and that's only >happened a handful of times. I know it's still >there though.
>
> Hmm. Do you cognitivly 'catch' the humour (and just don't find it 'funny') or do you have difficulty picking up on the humour itself. (I hope this is not being intrusive, but I don't know you from a hole in the wall.) Also, have your motivation / energy levels been affected?
>
> The basal ganglia has a fairly high dopamine content. Just thinking out of the box here...but something dopaminergic might help (say like Mirapex)?
>
> Linkadge
>

The meds gave me wit, some say a dry sense of humour. Now I can't think of what to say. If someone bates me it's awkward. I know when I have that more lively side of my character, even when I'm by myself. It's as though the dex and memantine used to stimulate that part of my brain. When the dose of dex wore off I would go quiet; I immediately knew. It also gave me the ability to engage in small talk.

 

Re: After stroke my meds don't work!

Posted by Lamdage22 on June 9, 2020, at 1:59:21

In reply to After stroke my meds don't work!, posted by Englishman006! on June 8, 2020, at 4:27:18

I want meds that give me a sense of humour, too. I can be a bit uptight.

 

Re: After stroke my meds don't work! » Lamdage22

Posted by Englishman006! on June 9, 2020, at 3:51:44

In reply to Re: After stroke my meds don't work!, posted by Lamdage22 on June 9, 2020, at 1:59:21

> I want meds that give me a sense of humour, too. I can be a bit uptight.

It is possible if you've got a sense of humour. When I was young I found that after a beer I could make people laugh. A beer would make me confident, strong, witty and able to concentrate. Unfortunately or fortunately for that matter, it didn't last! I always felt I was one beer short of normal if you know what I mean.

 

Re: After stroke my meds don't work!

Posted by linkadge on June 9, 2020, at 7:12:15

In reply to Re: After stroke my meds don't work! » Lamdage22, posted by Englishman006! on June 9, 2020, at 3:51:44

Meds for a sense of humour hmm let me see.

magic mushrooms
alcohol
weed
laughing gas

Kidding.

Linkadge

 

Re: After stroke my meds don't work!

Posted by undopaminergic on June 9, 2020, at 7:40:17

In reply to Re: After stroke my meds don't work!, posted by linkadge on June 9, 2020, at 7:12:15

> Meds for a sense of humour hmm let me see.
>
> magic mushrooms

Depends on the kind of trip you get. At worst, it could be quite dysphoric.

> alcohol

A classic.

> weed
> laughing gas

Memantine!!! I had so much fun I got fed up with it.

Maybe GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate).

> Kidding.

Seriously, those suggestions are some of the best I can think of.

Save for memantine, all of them are drugs of "abuse", but I think that's to be expected. People use these drugs for a reason -- to have fun.

-undopaminergic

 

Re: After stroke my meds don't work!

Posted by alchemy on June 22, 2020, at 20:43:53

In reply to Re: After stroke my meds don't work!, posted by Englishman006! on June 8, 2020, at 18:45:21

> I suspect the blood pressure or cholesterol meds may be playing a role...? I don't know.

I would say this is a possibility. Is it possible to do a trial without? It sounds like you had a good mix going on. That really sucks!
You could do some research to see what enzymes the body uses to clear these drugs to identify if they use the same one (which may or may not be problematic).

 

Re: After stroke my meds don't work!

Posted by alchemy on June 22, 2020, at 22:41:09

In reply to Re: After stroke my meds don't work!, posted by alchemy on June 22, 2020, at 20:43:53

> > I suspect the blood pressure or cholesterol meds may be playing a role...? I don't know.
>
> I would say this is a possibility. Is it possible to do a trial without? It sounds like you had a good mix going on. That really sucks!
> You could do some research to see what enzymes the body uses to clear these drugs to identify if they use the same one (which may or may not be problematic).

--just saw this: 'Do calcium channel blockers (CCD) impair the effectiveness of antidepressants in the treatment of major depressive disorder (clinical depression)?'


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