Posted by Bob on September 28, 2008, at 23:45:39
In reply to Re: Exotic Meds for Treatment Resistant Depression » Bob, posted by SLS on September 28, 2008, at 6:41:44
> > > My regime comprises the following:
> > >
> > > Parnate
> > > nortriptyline
> > > Lamictal
> > > Abilify
> > > NAC
> > >
> > >
> > > - Scott
>
> > Wow. You've made some major changes to your drug regimen.
>
> I consider it to be a no-lose move. If I don't respond as well to Parnate as I expect to, I might even give Marplan a whirl before returning to Nardil.
>
> > As for the Nardil induced weight gain, don't you think Nortriptyline would cause weight gain in the long run also?
>
> It does, and has. However, I find that I have success at managing my weight through diet with nortriptyline. I have lost 10 pounds in less than two weeks. Nardil is much more stubborn for me.
>
> > I thought pretty much all tricyclics were known for that.
>
> Pretty much. I think amitriptyline is probably the worst. However, I don't think they are universally worse than SSRIs. Desipramine is relatively weight-neutral. The problem with desipramine is that it tends to leave me with residual anhedonia. A pinch of serotonin is probably helpful to me.
>
> Where are you at with things?
>
>
> - Scott
I'm now taking relatively small amounts of Citalopram, Lithium, and Nortriptyline, along with a tiny pinch of Risperdal. I will eventually have to find something to add to this cocktail since I'm not getting a real robust response, but I am getting decent anxiolytic effects.Why do you combine Nortriptyline with the MAOIs? Did your doctor come up with this strategy way back in the first go-'round, or was that your idea? Wouldn't a sufficiently high dose of one or the other alone be sufficient, or is there something special about the combo of both? It seems like a quite unorthodox strategy.
Was the weight gain the only major thing that led you away from Nardil?
One last question... are you able to function sexually on your cocktails? I for one am mostly not able to, especially at fully accepted therapeutic doses.
- Bob
poster:Bob
thread:854329
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080926/msgs/854717.html