Posted by Elizabeth on August 15, 1999, at 1:42:11
In reply to Re: fellow anhedonia sufferer tips , posted by Paul on August 15, 1999, at 1:19:20
> I think a stimulant, Ritalin, dexadrine spansules, cylert, would be my first choice, if you can get your doc to prescribe it, I can't.
If it's any consolattion, I tried these; they didn't seem to help. I had the same not-interested-in-music problem that everybody else is describing (only I don't play the guitar ). I also wasn't eating, going outside except when I had to, socializing, etc. Within a week on lithium I started having urges to do all this stuff again. Lithium has about a dozen pharmacological mechanisms, many of which involve things that I don't yet understand very well.
> But many have found relief with the addition of a stimulant, dopamine agonist, lithium, pindolol, something called "Revia" which I'm looking for more info. on.
Revia blocks opioid receptors. I'd stay away from it if you have anhedonia; a guy I know who has been doing clinical research on opioids in depression says it tends to be dysphoric.
There is buprenorphine, but I think if you can't get your doc to prescribe Ritalin or Dexedrine, you probably won't be able to get him/her to write for buprenorphine, either. Still, it's a great drug for anhedonia. I've heard of people using long-acting morphine (MS Contin, Kadian) as well. I tried MS Contin for a bit (it comes in pill form, unlike buprenorphine) and it worked, but not as well as a supposedly-equivalent dose of buprenorphine did (on depressive symptoms in general, not just anhedonia).
> Also, a loaner high spectrum SAD light could help, I think I'm gonna try it.
Let us know how it goes!
poster:Elizabeth
thread:10100
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990814/msgs/10123.html