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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on March 31, 2003, at 15:22:09
Diagnoses: social phobia, agoraphobia, schizoid personality, panic disorder, generalized anxiety, dysthymia, cyclothymia
Drugs tried: Xanax, Klonopin, Tranxene, Serax, Valium, Ativan, Seconal, Amytal, Solfoton, Equanil, Soma, codeine, Ultram, Paxil, Luvox, Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa, Serzone, Remeron, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Elavil, Sinequan, Desyrel, Nardil, Risperdal, Seroquel, Mellaril, Marinol, Neurontin, Gabitril, Depakote, Lamictal, Trileptal, Adderall, Ritalin, Provigil, Inderal
Therapy wasn't any help either... my moods are stable with picamilon, GVL, tyrosine, and B-6, but the anxiety and complete lack of motivation haven't improved a whole lot.
I'm thinking somewhere along the lines of Topamax and Parnate... but what else is worth a try? The antipsychotics I've tried have never done a damn thing, but maybe Zyprexa could help? Abilify? What about a dopamine agonist--Mirapex, Requip... a straight D2 agonist, Parlodel?
Lithium?... Cylert?... Strattera?... Desoxyn?... Zonegran???
This is really driving me crazy, and at this point I'm willing to try *anything*; I could really care less about the side effects--please help!
Posted by glenn on March 31, 2003, at 16:27:12
In reply to Seeing new pdoc tomorrow--what to try?, posted by Ame Sans Vie on March 31, 2003, at 15:22:09
Wow your list of tried meds is even greater than mine and that is saying something!
In terms of meds I am not sure if there is anything I can suggest but as you are open to the idea of alternatives/ supplements you may want to have a look at the following and decide for yourself if they are worth a try:1. Holy Basil/Ocimum Sanctum, has very good reports especially for those for whom little else works, look on google groups
2. Tryptozen / pnt 200
3.Sceletium ( tortuosum. I beleive)
4.Sutherlandia
5. Relora
6. Inositol
7. Enada Nadh
8.Zeramax
9. Ru-486/ Mifepristone, your doc may if he is open minded consider this?!
10.Bacopa
11.Transcranial Stimulation - Pfinstegg has responded very well to this.
I hope there is something on here you find of use. It is a hell of ajourney to try and get well again,
my list is only slightly less than yours!Glenn
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on March 31, 2003, at 16:57:52
In reply to Re: Seeing new pdoc tomorrow--what to try?, posted by glenn on March 31, 2003, at 16:27:12
I've tried several of those (Relora, NADH, inositol) but some of them do sound worthwhile. Sceletium, sutherlandia, and tryptozen in particular. Have you tried these alternative treatments? Were they any help?
Really appreciate the reply!
Posted by fachad on March 31, 2003, at 19:55:17
In reply to Seeing new pdoc tomorrow--what to try?, posted by Ame Sans Vie on March 31, 2003, at 15:22:09
Here are a few ideas which may help you find some direction.
First, try to categorize and classify your target symptoms. This is vastly different from listing your diagnosis. It's a critical distinction, IMHO. Diagnoses are names give to grouping of symptoms and behaviors. They are defined by convention and that convention changes every few years. Target symptoms are the specific, personal subjective experiences and objective behaviors that cause you distress. They are unique to you and may or may not fit together into a DSM diagnosis.
You can find direction in your pharmacotherapy by listing your target symptoms, rank ordering them in importance to you, and then documenting how each symptom responded to each of the meds you have tried.
Each med could fit into one of these categories: complete response, partial response, no response, or made it worse. Rate your response to each med to each target symptom. That data can then be interpreted in terms of your ranking of importance of each symptom to help you decide what meds really help the most.
-fachad
BTW, did you ever see my reply to your post on Satanism over on the Faith Board? In case you missed it, here's the link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20021227/msgs/206976.html
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on March 31, 2003, at 20:31:09
In reply to Re: Seeing new pdoc tomorrow--what to try?, posted by fachad on March 31, 2003, at 19:55:17
Thanks for the reply--I think I'm pretty much settled on Parnate and clonazepam if this new doctor is willing to try a MAOI (or a benzo for that matter). I figure the Parnate may help with the hypersomnia, lack of energy, anxiety, and lack of motivation. I'm hoping to just take a low dose of clonazepam, or even a different benzo (Serax works all right) as needed, since clonazepam doesn't work for me taken prn.
I replied on the faith board--sorry it took so long!
Posted by stjames on March 31, 2003, at 22:00:42
In reply to Seeing new pdoc tomorrow--what to try?, posted by Ame Sans Vie on March 31, 2003, at 15:22:09
If it were me, I would come armed with ideas,
but let the doc make the first move. 1) They might
have a great idea 2) you can feel the doc out this way 3) you don't piss someone off.I would want to hear the reasons a new doc whats
me on whatever med, again so I can get a feeling for where they are coming from.
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on March 31, 2003, at 22:27:11
In reply to Re: Seeing new pdoc tomorrow--what to try?, posted by stjames on March 31, 2003, at 22:00:42
I definitely plan on letting the doctor suggest things first, but I'm almost positive it'll go like every other first appointment I've had:
"Have you tried Paxil?"
"Several times, doesn't work--and still having withdrawal symptoms two years later."
.....blank stare from prospective pdoc.... followed by:
"Well let's give it another try."
Aghhhhhh!!! I'm just so sick of this exact scenario playing itself out every time I start up with a new doctor. It's as if they have a script they all read from, no kidding! Hopefully this one will have a bit more sense, but I refuse to get my hopes up.
Posted by glenn on April 1, 2003, at 10:37:29
In reply to Re: Seeing new pdoc tomorrow--what to try?, posted by Ame Sans Vie on March 31, 2003, at 16:57:52
Hi,
I have got some of them but I have not actually tried them yet, after my experiences on kava, st johns wort , valerian , hops and others I have been a bit off alternatives for a while but I am planning to try again soon starting with inositol.
I forgot two by the way, Karoshil and Garum Armoricum which you may find interesting.
Ihave also been looking at trying a mixture of the things on here that seem to have helped some people either enormously or partially, that would include magnesium glycinate, chromium piccolinate Dha and Epa and using the centrepointe tapes that some people on another board appear to have had great success with.
Ihave currently settled on 20 mg celexa and 40 mg propranolol which I find great for my headaches and any physical anxiety.
Iam sure there is a key to all of our difficulties, its just that some people seem to have a simple 1 lever lock so they respond to a dose of prozac, elavil etc, you I and others seem to have a very complicated 111 lever lock!
The keys are there but it seems to me you have to try a lot of them, sometimes in combo to open it up!
Good luck with the doc, wouldn't it be nice if they came up with something interesting and innovative once in a while!
Glenn
Posted by glenn on April 1, 2003, at 14:17:08
In reply to Re: Seeing new pdoc tomorrow--what to try?, posted by glenn on April 1, 2003, at 10:37:29
Just another thought, I have actually tried a med you may not have, amisulpride/solian, Iwas recommended it by a guy who posted on here 3 years ago - andrewb-
He found it great for motivatoin and anhedonia and it did something for me but sadly pooped out.
One thing if you do try it -wean off!! Ididn't the first time and wham!Good Luck
Glenn
This is the end of the thread.
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