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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 67. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Horned One on June 18, 2008, at 19:05:09
I woke up today in a good mood, almost laughing. It's only been six days, but already there's been a vast improvement. Last night I was considering going off it and taking a Zyprexa (:-0) instead. Thank GOD I'm feeling much better today. I didn't think tianeptine was of much use in severe depression, perhaps because I usually associate low incidence of side effects with low efficacy, but I'm now a believer. I've been bouncing off the floor of Hell over the last few weeks, and just as I thought there was no hope left, here comes this ray of sunshine. Just thought I'd share.
The only problem is that I only bought one strip and I'll run out in four days time. I just ordered another thirty, but I doubt they'll arive in time. Hope I don't relapse.
-Horny
Posted by Phillipa on June 18, 2008, at 20:01:20
In reply to Tianeptine has saved me, posted by Horned One on June 18, 2008, at 19:05:09
Congrats to you!!!! Phillipa
Posted by Horned One on June 18, 2008, at 20:21:21
In reply to Re: Tianeptine has saved me » Horned One, posted by Phillipa on June 18, 2008, at 20:01:20
Thanky you Phillipa. I only wish you could find a solution to your depression too. Would you ever consider trying tianeptine?
-Horny
Posted by linkadge on June 18, 2008, at 21:39:14
In reply to Re: Tianeptine has saved me, posted by Horned One on June 18, 2008, at 20:21:21
There is no evidence that Tianeptine is inferior to other antidepressants, quite possably the opposite.
The notion that Tianeptine is inferior to SSRI's essentially propeganda IMHO developed to keep the comfortably familiar low serotonin myth afloat.
Linkadge
Posted by iforgotmypassword on June 18, 2008, at 23:02:19
In reply to Tianeptine has saved me, posted by Horned One on June 18, 2008, at 19:05:09
go straight for this drug.
mental note.
if it gets through special access as quickly as my amisulpride did, i really should go for it. but then again sanofi aventis sent me this almost $300 box worth of amisulpride that i didn't expect, i'd like to avoid an analagous scenario unless it is absolutely necessary to part with that much money in one shot.
the only things that really bother me are it's half life, and the cholinergic question. i have no idea what i read meant tho, something about it decreasing acetylcholine concentrations in some area, whatever area, human brain? rat brain? i don't remember.
verbal fluency, executive function, motor skills, working memory, and killing extrapyramidal/parkinsonian symptoms...
those are my foci. and my miseries seem to swirl around the neurochemical reality of having some mutant predisposition to get permanent extrapyramidal symptoms from ssris and the anti-dopaminergic sludge my brain has to be to get caught in this state.
Posted by Racer on June 19, 2008, at 9:46:04
In reply to Re: Tianeptine has saved me, posted by linkadge on June 18, 2008, at 21:39:14
>
> The notion that Tianeptine is inferior to SSRI's essentially propeganda IMHO developed to keep the comfortably familiar low serotonin myth afloat.
>That's very interesting, since tianeptine was synthesized and marketed before the SSRIs hit the market. Admittedly, since I was on anti-depressants before Prozac came out, we did start hearing about how great it would be before it hit the market -- wow, an antidepressant which wouldn't cause those side effects! Still...
I think it might be reasonable to remain open to the idea that perhaps tianeptine's lack of popularity has more to do with the fact that it is not available in many countries -- including the US, Canada, England, and Australia, countries well represented on this site. It doesn't have to be any sort of conspiracy.
Posted by Horned One on June 19, 2008, at 10:08:28
In reply to Re: Tianeptine has saved me, posted by linkadge on June 18, 2008, at 21:39:14
>The notion that Tianeptine is inferior to SSRI's essentially propeganda IMHO developed to keep the comfortably familiar low serotonin myth afloat.
I didn't say tianeptine was inferior to SSRIs. I'm equally doubtful that SSRIs alone are likely to bring a complete remission in severe depression.
I have a number of years experience with this drug, and to me it always seemed a mild antidepressant. I thought I would need to go back on something like Parnate to lift me out of this depression, so I'm suprised that tianeptine has done it in such a short space of time. Incidentally, the antidepressant response has continued today and feels like it's here to stay. I felt so good I even went for a walk this afternoon in the wind and the rain. Now I'm out of the pit I can work on exercise and improving my social life that will hopefully support me in the longer term.
-Horny
Posted by Horned One on June 19, 2008, at 10:40:22
In reply to it's probably in my best interest to, posted by iforgotmypassword on June 18, 2008, at 23:02:19
>if it gets through special access as quickly as my amisulpride did, i really should go for it. but then again sanofi aventis sent me this almost $300 box worth of amisulpride that i didn't expect, i'd like to avoid an analagous scenario unless it is absolutely necessary to part with that much money in one shot.
Tianeptine is pretty expensive, but not that expensive. I paid £72 for 30 days supply (90 tablets). That works out at $138 a month. There are slightly cheaper suppliers though, but they don't accept my card. I get amisulpride free on prescription and it did help a little in the beginning, but I wouldn't advise anyone to pay that much out of pocket for it.
>the only things that really bother me are it's half life, and the cholinergic question. i have no idea what i read meant tho, something about it decreasing acetylcholine concentrations in some area, whatever area, human brain? rat brain? i don't remember.
The half-life isn't a problem, but you do need to take three tablets spread out through the day. There are no between-dose withdrawal symptoms though. I haven't heard of the studies you mention, and I'm not sure if it really matters. A psychologist recently criticised me for over intellectualising problems. I think you might benefit from just trying the drug and sticking to it for a month or so. Often we veterans get so wrapped up in the neurochemistry of the drugs, but when it comes down to it things rarely work out in practise the way we hope they will from our theories.
I'd highly recommend tianeptine though, however it works (I don't think the mechanism is fully understood in any case). Good luck.
-Horny
Posted by Horned One on June 19, 2008, at 11:02:36
In reply to Tianeptine has saved me, posted by Horned One on June 18, 2008, at 19:05:09
I've been getting unusual tastes and smells over the last two days. Yesterday I could 'taste' amphetamine paste on my tongue. This was accompanied by mild cravings (I've never craved amphetamines before, in fact I have a strong dislike of them). Today I've been smelling cocaine in my nostrils, again accompanied by mild cravings. I'm wondering if this is my body's way of asking for stimulants? When I was depressed I had the feeling there was something physically wrong with my body, like it wasn't producing enough noradrenaline to regulate my mood and my blood pressure (and the polar opposite when i was manic - irritable and unable to sleep). I don't know why I didn't crave stimulants at the time, but I have a feeling they'd only have made me feel more exhausted. Right now I feel they'd really work. Interesting phenomenon though.
-Horny
Posted by linkadge on June 19, 2008, at 11:32:11
In reply to That's very interesting, considering... » linkadge, posted by Racer on June 19, 2008, at 9:46:04
I like conspiracies. They make my life interesting :)
Linkadge
Posted by Sigismund on June 19, 2008, at 16:30:43
In reply to That's very interesting, considering... » linkadge, posted by Racer on June 19, 2008, at 9:46:04
>it is not available in many countries -- including the US, Canada, England, and Australia, countries well represented on this site. It doesn't have to be any sort of conspiracy.
Something peculiar to the anglosphere then?
Posted by Jeroen on June 24, 2008, at 10:22:26
In reply to Tianeptine has saved me, posted by Horned One on June 18, 2008, at 19:05:09
hi, if it really make you feel good see a doctor now and get a prescription
youre happy so thats good and lets keep it that way by getting a prescription real not from the internet
Posted by Horned One on June 24, 2008, at 10:51:27
In reply to Tianeptine relapse, posted by Jeroen on June 24, 2008, at 10:22:26
Tianeptine did make me feel good, and it always has. If it was available on prescription where I live (and I think you're aware it isn't) I'd get it in a heartbeat. I don't have a pdoc at the moment, but I may ask to see if they can import it through the NHS when I do get to see one. This is very unlikely though, so I will probably have to switch to another antidepressant such as lofepramine or Parnate because tianeptine is too expensive for me to buy it long-term.
-Horny
Posted by Horned One on June 24, 2008, at 11:07:39
In reply to Tianeptine has saved me, posted by Horned One on June 18, 2008, at 19:05:09
I think I'll just alter the title of this thread back to the original, thank you Jeroen. I was about to post anyway that I'd ran out of tianeptine on Sunday, and I'm starting to feel the strain. Hopefully my second order will arrive any day soon. If this continues I really will relapse back into the condition I was in before I started tianeptine. Thirty days worth should see me through until I get word about my new consultant, and with any luck he'll prescribe an antidepressant, but there's no guaruntee of that. I've been asking for help since January and just keep getting doors slammed in my face, hence the self-medicating.
-Horny
Posted by GWA on June 26, 2008, at 8:53:31
In reply to Re: it's probably in my best interest to » iforgotmypassword, posted by Horned One on June 19, 2008, at 10:40:22
Do you need more tianeptine - I found it did very little to me.
Posted by Horned One on June 26, 2008, at 18:51:36
In reply to ))Horned One » Horned One, posted by GWA on June 26, 2008, at 8:53:31
I could do with some more, yes.
Posted by Marty on June 27, 2008, at 9:11:18
In reply to Re: ))Horned One » GWA, posted by Horned One on June 26, 2008, at 18:51:36
Horned,
I'm in the same situation as you: It's my day 17 on Tianeptine, it's helping me a lot and I ordered my second batch too late and I'm about to run out of it..... I hope I won't feel too bad because I think I'll be without any for at least 1 week.
Since when you don't have any Tianeptine and what are your withdrawal effects ?
/\/\arty
Posted by Horned One on June 27, 2008, at 11:44:20
In reply to Re: ))Horned One » Horned One, posted by Marty on June 27, 2008, at 9:11:18
Just the return of bodily pain, depression, anxiety/uneasiness. I had no withdrawal symptoms as such, but it was hard just because tianeptine had been so effective at improving my symptoms. I did seem to become slightly manic about three days after I ran out. I don't know if the two events are related, but I think tianeptine may have been keeping my stable.
Luckily my order arrived yesterday, and today I'm feeling great. I took five tablets yesterday just to boost the response and it seems to have worked. I will definately ask my doctor to see if we can find a way to import this drug on prescription. I can't imagine lofepramine being as effective and tolerable (that's the alternative), and I'm not keen on going back on Parnate while I'm having a good response to tianeptine. I may end up having to just buy it for as long as I need it.
Tianeptine has saved me once again.
-Horny
Posted by Marty on June 27, 2008, at 23:53:07
In reply to Re: ))Horned One » Marty, posted by Horned One on June 27, 2008, at 11:44:20
"but I think tianeptine may have been keeping my stable" ...
... well maybe it's not called "STABLon" for nothing after all ;) (STABLON is the trademark name of Tianeptine)
I feel it keeps me stable too.. and more "connected / grounded" to reality. While I'm not in psychosis I wonder if for some it doesn't have for some (rarely) antipsychotic properties.
btw Horned, do you feel a little 'smarter' on Tianeptine ?
/\/\arty
Posted by psychobot5000 on June 28, 2008, at 17:10:51
In reply to Re: ))Horned One » Horned One, posted by Marty on June 27, 2008, at 23:53:07
> btw Horned, do you feel a little 'smarter' on Tianeptine ?
>
> /\/\artyJust ran across this thread - tianeptine is awesome. Raises my mood with essentially no side-effects - nothing I've ever taken besides it does that -you all know how bad AD side-effects often are.
I do sometimes feel it makes me a tiny bit sharper -from what I've read, it may slightly raise dopamine levels in a few areas of the brain, something like 18% or so, which might account for that effect.
As for Tianeptine's lack of availability, I think there are two plausible explanations which don't quite make it into conspiracy theory. The first is that, despite the lack of evidence, the (arguably slightly silly) low-serotonin theory is the dominant popular understanding of the problem, and we know too little about the problem to offer a theory that's much better, so it stays on top by default, helped by waves of pharm company advertising of course. Implicitly, its conclusions prevent tianeptine from being considered seriously as an AD.
But also, it took a while after Tianeptine's discovery for it to be used as an antidepressant. For whatever reason, Servier, the patent-holder, didn't get it on the market until that patent was expired. Thus, they now can't afford to spend 500 million to get tianeptine approved in, say, the US, without the ability to charge a high price for it. Tianeptine's exclusion is at least partially financial, it seems - an unfortunate side-effect of the way the patent system works.
Theoretically, they could repatent one of the isomers, or some other slightly altered forms, but for whatever reason, they haven't. Some say Servier doesn't have enough financial resources to do it.
But I love tianeptine - glad to hear others are getting some good use out of it.
-Psychbot
Posted by Marty on June 28, 2008, at 20:32:57
In reply to Re: ))Horned One, posted by psychobot5000 on June 28, 2008, at 17:10:51
Wow. It's the first time I see so many people at once saying Tianeptine really works for them :D
"The few, the proud, the Tianeptined !"Seriously, it seems to be one of the most exclusive club here. I hope to stay lucky enough to stay in that club as long as I need it.
BTW, what effects coffee is having on you guys ? (With and Without Tianeptine) just wondering if it help your mood ...
/\/\arty
Posted by psychobot5000 on June 29, 2008, at 11:48:20
In reply to Re: ))Horned One » psychobot5000, posted by Marty on June 28, 2008, at 20:32:57
>
> Wow. It's the first time I see so many people at once saying Tianeptine really works for them :D>
> Seriously, it seems to be one of the most exclusive club here. I hope to stay lucky enough to stay in that club as long as I need it.
>Been on it for years now, and it still works.
> BTW, what effects coffee is having on you guys ? (With and Without Tianeptine) just wondering if it help your mood ...
>
> /\/\artyCoffee makes me jittery - too much stimulation. I prefer tea, which has some mild anti-anxiety chemicals to sort of balance the stimulants. Either way, coffee or tea, tianeptine makes it a little easier to take (for me), because of its anxiolytic qualities.
Posted by WickedGirl on June 30, 2008, at 16:09:53
In reply to That's very interesting, considering... » linkadge, posted by Racer on June 19, 2008, at 9:46:04
Oh its a conspiracy Racer. For sure. The government and FDA are determined to prevent any drug that actually enhances the libido in any way (not just whether a man can get it up mind you) from making it to market here. They will say and do anything to prevent that. Tianeptine was developed by Survector after their original creation Amineptine was shot down once it was discovered that women were often having spontaneous orgasms while taking it (no joke). The FDA disapproved the drug citing the possibility that it would promote drug-seeking behavior. Of course, they also tried to say there were possible dangers to the heart as well, which is fascinating since I can find NO mention of that problem actually occurring in any of the information I have found about the drug. Enter Tianeptine......after being shot down with Amineptine, Survector developed Tianeptine and applied for the right to manufacture and market it here. But heavens, this drug has also been known to increase sexual desire, particularly in women, although it is not as potent as the originating drug, Amineptine. "Oh no", says Mr. FDA man. Disapproved. This might encourage dependency as well (note...no evidence of such, just the FDA stating it might be so).
By the way, if a drug works to improve the quality of life that all of us experience, I do believe that we are all going to want it. So, if that is drug-seeking behavior, then yes, that will occur. And the problem is...........
Posted by WickedGirl on June 30, 2008, at 16:58:06
In reply to Re: That's very interesting, considering..., posted by WickedGirl on June 30, 2008, at 16:09:53
Shoot. Meant to say Servier. Don't know why I typed Survector. ARGGGHHH! I need brain help!
Posted by Marty on June 30, 2008, at 17:31:10
In reply to Re: That's very interesting, considering..., posted by WickedGirl on June 30, 2008, at 16:09:53
> Oh its a conspiracy Racer. For sure. The >government and FDA are determined to prevent any >drug that actually enhances the libido in any >way (not just whether a man can get it up mind >you) from making it to market here. They will >say and do anything to prevent that.
I don't know if 'conspiracy' is the good term to describe what happened but... Servier, the maker of Amineptine and Tianeptine (note: SURVECTOR is the trademark name of Amineptine, not the maker name), wanted to market Tianeptine (Stablon) for other disorder than depression/anxiety at the beginning. It was that good for the first label they choose and wasn't approvable for that in any decent country. By the time they choose to sell it for depression/anxiety (end 80's) their PATENT WAS EXPIRED and so there was little money to be made with it in the USA especially considering the money it takes to play the FDA games (clinical trials etc). What makes look the whole thing like a conspiracy is that it's TRUE that the FDA wasn't interested in having this drug approved: FDA is not only interested in protecting the health of the Americans, they are also interested in PROTECTING THE US MARKET AND THE AMERICAN PLAYER IN THIS MARKET. Servier is an european bigpharm company, not an American one. The fact is that the FDA WOULD ALLOW Tianeptine to be approve here, BUT NOT BEFORE ANOTHER GOOD TIANEPTINE-LIKE (SSRE?) antidepressant MADE IN USA got approved and marketed. One of the MANY example of this trend is PROZAC which has been, is and will always be labeled as the FIRST SSRI. Well the fact is that there were many other SSRIs before PROZAC but there were not MADE IN USA and so they didn't approved them UNTIL they got their first one approved.. All American Prozac. It's a form of (Market) PROTECTIONISM. For the record: Americans then was targetting norepinephine and NOT serotonin. Europeans was the one targeting serotonin and Americans was making fun of them and are sometimes doing even today; they consider Europeans science calibre to be inferior to theirs.
So we can conclude the FDA was quite happy to NOT have to do ANYTHING in order to protect their market against Tianeptine: Servier shoot themself in the foot because of the time they took to cash on their patents in the USA. After that the cost of entry to market in the USA (the FDA $$$ game of approval) was enough to discourage Servier to EVEN TRY SERIOUSLY. Game Over.
>Tianeptine was developed by Survector after >their original creation Amineptine was shot down >once it was discovered that women were often >having spontaneous orgasms while taking it (no >joke).This is not even one of the main reasons Amineptine (Survector) was withdraw from the market around the WORLD. MANY meds, (even SSRIs!) has this side effect for some woman. Tianeptine wasn't inducing this RARE side effect more often than any other.
> The FDA disapproved the drug citing the >possibility that it would promote drug-seeking >behavior.'Drug-Seeking' behaviour IS the main reason why it was withdraw. It is a fact Amineptine was addictive, but it was wrong to withdraw it totaly just like it would be wrong to withdraw the benzos and all other FDA Scheduled drugs. It should have been Scheduled so that a limited numbers of treatment resistant patient could benefit from it. When someone is depressed and had never tried any AD before then Amineptine would have been a unacceptable risk from a medical practionner point of view, BUT is someone else is depressed AND FAILED SEVERAL AD TRIALS ETC... then it becomes a calculated and acceptable risk : Chances of suicide > Chances of 'evil drug-seeking behaviours'.
> Enter Tianeptine......after being shot down >with Amineptine, Survector developed Tianeptine >and applied for the right to manufacture and >market it here. But heavens, this drug has also >been known to increase sexual desire, >particularly in women, although it is not as >potent as the originating drug, Amineptine. "Oh >no", says Mr. FDA man. Disapproved. This might >encourage dependency as well (note...no evidence >of such, just the FDA stating it might be so).
There's evidences Tianeptine is potentially addictive FOR PEOPLE UNDER 25. What about labelling it "PROHIBITED FOR PEOPLE UNDER 25" then ? That said, the whole thing isn't about libido/orgasmic effects. What about the "Barbie Drug" that is coming ? supposed to give us a good tan, full of libido and makes us loose weight ? You think the FDA wouldn't approve it ? Possible.
> By the way, if a drug works to improve the >quality of life that all of us experience, I do >believe that we are all going to want it. So, if >that is drug-seeking behavior, then yes, that >will occur. And the problem is.......................is that it's not the point. drug-seeking behaviours (dependancy) isn't the same thing as something that induce desires. Porsches and Ferrari aren't ban because everyone would want one and Porches and Ferrari doesn't possess the ability to BYPASS our jugement/rational faculties and REWIRED our brains to be obsess by them to the point of causing trouble to ourself and others. Got my point ?
Did you tried Tineptine ? If so what do you think of it ? any orgasms ? ;)
/\/\artykeywords: FDA, Tianeptine, Stablon, approval, US, Canada, the history of tianeptine, amineptine.
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