![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by emme on January 10, 2005, at 0:27:52
Hi Scott,
Okay, I've been trying memantine now for a bit over a week. And I'm being diligent this time. I did 2.5 mg for the first 4 days or so, and now 5 mg. And...zippo. So far anyway. If I recall, you thought it seemed to have some slight positive effect for you. How long did it take for you to feel anything from it? You probably told me once, but I can't remember.
I hope the new year brings you some euthymia.
em
Posted by SLS on January 10, 2005, at 8:28:42
In reply to Scott (SLS), posted by emme on January 10, 2005, at 0:27:52
> Hi Scott,
>
> Okay, I've been trying memantine now for a bit over a week. And I'm being diligent this time. I did 2.5 mg for the first 4 days or so, and now 5 mg. And...zippo. So far anyway. If I recall, you thought it seemed to have some slight positive effect for you. How long did it take for you to feel anything from it? You probably told me once, but I can't remember.It took a few weeks at 20mg for me to receive benefit from memantine. I think I was taking Lamictal + imipramine at the time. The improvement was episodic and lasted about two weeks before it disappeared completely. It should be encouraging
to you that someone as treatment-resistant as me should have responded at all. Maybe it will stick for you. You will need to exercise patience, though. You might not feel anything for a few weeks and only once you reach your target dosage - which should be 20mg. I did try to push the dosage to 40mg. However, it made me feel drunk, so I stopped it. Maybe I shouldn't have. It was pretty scary.> I hope the new year brings you some euthymia.
Thanks. I'll say a few prayers for you too.
- Scott
Posted by emme on January 10, 2005, at 10:38:38
In reply to Re: Scott (SLS) » emme, posted by SLS on January 10, 2005, at 8:28:42
> It took a few weeks at 20mg for me to receive benefit from memantine. I think I was taking Lamictal + imipramine at the time. The improvement was episodic and lasted about two weeks before it disappeared completely.Yes, now I remember that the effect faded for you. 20 mg huh? I was hoping for an effect at 5 mg - economics of meds acquisition. Very low doses are often enough for me. But from what you report it sounds like I should increase it again soon if I can tolerate it.
> It should be encouraging
> to you that someone as treatment-resistant as me should have responded at all. Maybe it will stick for you.Hey, ya never know. Again, I can't recall if I asked (I didn't get that new brain for Christmas) whether you noticed SEs from it. I suppose we are both board guinea pigs for memantine.
What's your experience with tricyclics been like?
> Thanks. I'll say a few prayers for you too.
Thanks.
em
Posted by ravenstorm on January 11, 2005, at 10:57:34
In reply to Re: Scott (SLS) » SLS, posted by emme on January 10, 2005, at 10:38:38
Do you have depression with anxiety or just depression? Is your pdoc rxing the memantine? What side effects are you having so far? Sorry for breaking in here, I just haven't seen much posted on this drug. Hope you see improvement with the increase!
Posted by emme on January 11, 2005, at 11:37:03
In reply to Re: emme, posted by ravenstorm on January 11, 2005, at 10:57:34
> Do you have depression with anxiety or just depression?
Depression and anxiety.
> Is your pdoc rxing the memantine?
Yes. I think most family practitioners wouldn't know there's interest in it for depression. Are you considering trying it? You could join the group of board guinea pigs here. :)
> What side effects are you having so far?
Actaully, I'm not sure. I tried it once before but kept forgetting doses. At that time I thought it made me jittery. I'm incredibly tired right now, but I have been for weeks and I'm not sure whether or not to attribute any of the fatigue to the drug. I'll let you know if I get a clearer sense.
> Sorry for breaking in here, I just haven't seen much posted on this drug.
You're not breaking in. You're right. There are not too many anecdotal reports about it right now.
> Hope you see improvement with the increase!
Thanks. In a couple of days I'll let my pdoc know that I think it's time to try raising it.
em
Posted by ravenstorm on January 11, 2005, at 11:56:55
In reply to Re: emme » ravenstorm, posted by emme on January 11, 2005, at 11:37:03
Yes, I am contemplating it. What all have you tried before memantine?
Posted by ravenstorm on January 12, 2005, at 12:55:04
In reply to Re: emme, posted by ravenstorm on January 11, 2005, at 11:56:55
Posted by ed_uk on January 12, 2005, at 13:07:10
In reply to Re: half life of memantine? (nm), posted by ravenstorm on January 12, 2005, at 12:55:04
60-100 hours (Martindale)
Ed.
Posted by emme on January 12, 2005, at 14:59:06
In reply to Re: emme, posted by ravenstorm on January 11, 2005, at 11:56:55
Lotsa stuff. SSRIs: paxil, zoloft, celexa, lexapro.
Aslo, Serzone. Wellbutrin. Effexor. Remeron.
Trileptal. Lamictal (still on). gabitril.
MirapexThose are some of the things tried for depression. There have been other things too, including benzos - I'm too lazy to go into the whole list. Most (but not all) of the above have been helpful to some degree. They've either pooped out or I couldn't tolerate them.
> Yes, I am contemplating it. What all have you tried before memantine?
Posted by JackD on January 12, 2005, at 20:36:30
In reply to Scott (SLS), posted by emme on January 10, 2005, at 0:27:52
Emme, I've had quite significant success, to say the least, from using memantine. The trick is, knowing what to use it WITH. It's main functions from my perspective are for: augmenting very specific medication combinations, neuropathic pain or augmenting pain killers.
Clinical trials are in the works for 40mg for Depression, I'm not sure what doses for other conditions (like neuropathic pain), but basically the 20mg dose for Alzheimer's is understandably low for other therapeutic angles.
Good luck.
Posted by ravenstorm on January 12, 2005, at 20:46:09
In reply to Re: half life of memantine? » ravenstorm, posted by ed_uk on January 12, 2005, at 13:07:10
60-100 hours! Holy Cow! I would assume no discontinutation syndrome then!
Thanks Emme, understandable not to want to rehash.
Posted by lars1 on January 13, 2005, at 7:48:46
In reply to Re: Scott (SLS), posted by JackD on January 12, 2005, at 20:36:30
> Clinical trials are in the works for 40mg for Depression, I'm not sure what doses for other conditions (like neuropathic pain), but basically the 20mg dose for Alzheimer's is understandably low for other therapeutic angles.
Hi Jack,
Could you tell me where you saw the 40mg dose referenced? The only depression trial that I've seen (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00040261) is using 20mg/day. If there are other trials going on, I'd really like to know about them.
Thank you for posting your past experiences with memantine, BTW. Information about psychiatric use of this drug is very scarce, as I'm sure you know, so every bit helps.
Best regards,
Lars
Posted by JackD on January 13, 2005, at 10:05:23
In reply to Re: Scott (SLS), posted by lars1 on January 13, 2005, at 7:48:46
Hmm, haven't been able to find anything yet, here's some stuff I did stumble upon though that I thought were interesting while I looked though:
http://www.ntii.com/products/index.shtml
http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/03/briefing/3979B1_01_ForestLabs-Memantine.pdfI could've sworn I read about it being used at 40mg for Depression on-line (the links I provided only show it being used at 40 for Neuropathic pain). My doctor did call Forest Labs however during a session with me and was told by a drug rep that a 40mg depression trial was underway, so unless he was confused there must be some validity to this claim. I'll keep trying to see if I can dig anything else up. Thanks for that other link too.
Posted by lars1 on January 14, 2005, at 6:45:36
In reply to Re: Scott (SLS), posted by JackD on January 13, 2005, at 10:05:23
> Hmm, haven't been able to find anything yet, here's some stuff I did stumble upon though that I thought were interesting while I looked though:
>
> http://www.ntii.com/products/index.shtml
> http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/03/briefing/3979B1_01_ForestLabs-Memantine.pdfThanks for the links. I hadn't seen those. The PDF is the most comprehensive report on memantine that I've found. I suppose it should be taken with bit of skepticism since it looks like it's basically an advocacy document attempting to persuade the FDA to approve a new drug.
> I could've sworn I read about it being used at 40mg for Depression on-line (the links I provided only show it being used at 40 for Neuropathic pain). My doctor did call Forest Labs however during a session with me and was told by a drug rep that a 40mg depression trial was underway, so unless he was confused there must be some validity to this claim. I'll keep trying to see if I can dig anything else up. Thanks for that other link too.Did Forest Labs have anything else useful to say over the phone that you could share? It sounds like they confirmed that they thought it was a legitimate (though unproven) thing to try for depression?
Best regards,
Lars
Posted by SLS on January 14, 2005, at 8:07:31
In reply to Re: memantine » JackD, posted by lars1 on January 14, 2005, at 6:45:36
> > Hmm, haven't been able to find anything yet, here's some stuff I did stumble upon though that I thought were interesting while I looked though:
> >
> > http://www.ntii.com/products/index.shtml
> > http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/03/briefing/3979B1_01_ForestLabs-Memantine.pdf
>
> Thanks for the links. I hadn't seen those. The PDF is the most comprehensive report on memantine that I've found. I suppose it should be taken with bit of skepticism since it looks like it's basically an advocacy document attempting to persuade the FDA to approve a new drug.
>
> > I could've sworn I read about it being used at 40mg for Depression on-line (the links I provided only show it being used at 40 for Neuropathic pain). My doctor did call Forest Labs however during a session with me and was told by a drug rep that a 40mg depression trial was underway, so unless he was confused there must be some validity to this claim. I'll keep trying to see if I can dig anything else up. Thanks for that other link too.
>
> Did Forest Labs have anything else useful to say over the phone that you could share? It sounds like they confirmed that they thought it was a legitimate (though unproven) thing to try for depression?Memantine definitely had a passing antidepressant effect for me at 20mg. It lasted for about a week. In Germany, I believe it has been used for Parkinsons and depression along with Alzheimers. The feeling of drunkeness that I experienced after a few days at 40mg scared me, though. If people begin to report similar reactions that disappear with time, I might try it again.
- Scott
Posted by JackD on January 14, 2005, at 9:03:52
In reply to Re: memantine » JackD, posted by lars1 on January 14, 2005, at 6:45:36
> Did Forest Labs have anything else useful to say over the phone that you could share? It sounds like they confirmed that they thought it was a legitimate (though unproven) thing to try for depression?
No unfortunately not... I assume they want to divulge as little as possible while testing is going on.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.