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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Teresa167 on February 16, 2013, at 11:25:26
Hello everybody,
I've got a horrible anergic depression. I can't get out from bad and I can't function.
Meds are out of the question because I'm totally treatment-resistant.
My only options are: either ECT or try Ketamine.
I'm not shure if Ketamine will work for the anergy.
Does anybody has any suggestions?
I'm in a big dispair.
If I don't do anything about it, I will stay that way seems like forever, because I have chemical imbalance.
I've done ECT twice in the past, but I'm still reluctant to do it again,Teresa
Posted by Hugh on February 16, 2013, at 13:27:53
In reply to Bad anergy -what to do? ketamine option?, posted by Teresa167 on February 16, 2013, at 11:25:26
In addition to doing ketamine infusions at UCSD Medical Center, they also do scopolamine infusions.
Have you tried TMS? Last month, the FDA approved Deep TMS. Traditional TMS penetrates about 1.5 cm into the brain. Deep TMS penetrates 6 or 7 cm. Deep TMS will probably be available in the US within a few months.
Neurofeedback might be worth a try. People who lack motivation frequently have an underactive prefronal cortex. Neurofeedback can activate the prefrontal cortex.
Posted by Phillipa on February 16, 2013, at 18:20:54
In reply to Re: Bad anergy -what to do? ketamine option?, posted by Hugh on February 16, 2013, at 13:27:53
Couldn't one use a scopalamine patch? The ones used for seasickness? If if it does anything at all? Phillipa
Posted by Hugh on February 17, 2013, at 1:01:52
In reply to Re: Bad anergy -what to do? ketamine option? » Hugh, posted by Phillipa on February 16, 2013, at 18:20:54
> Couldn't one use a scopalamine patch? The ones used for seasickness? If if it does anything at all? Phillipa
I read about a woman who put on a scopolamine patch to prevent seasickness. She'd been depressed for years, and was shocked when her depression lifted not long after applying the patch.
Posted by brynb on February 17, 2013, at 9:56:23
In reply to Re: Bad anergy -what to do? ketamine option?, posted by Hugh on February 17, 2013, at 1:01:52
> > Couldn't one use a scopalamine patch? The ones used for seasickness? If if it does anything at all? Phillipa
>
> I read about a woman who put on a scopolamine patch to prevent seasickness. She'd been depressed for years, and was shocked when her depression lifted not long after applying the patch.
>
>
Hugh-dr. fruitmann's associate mentioned scopolamine to me as I had been complaining of nausea. can you take it while on ketamine? is it something you can take long-term?
thanks,
bryn
Posted by Hugh on February 17, 2013, at 11:53:54
In reply to Re: Bad anergy -what to do? ketamine option? » Hugh, posted by brynb on February 17, 2013, at 9:56:23
> dr. fruitmann's associate mentioned scopolamine to me as I had been complaining of nausea. can you take it while on ketamine? is it something you can take long-term?
>
> thanks,
> brynI don't know. But that's something I've been wondering about myself. As far as I can tell, when David Feifel at UCSD Medical Center treats depression with ketamine and scopolamine, it's either/or. If he's tried giving patients both of them, I haven't heard about it. But I have wondered if ketamine and scopolamine might work synergistically -- or if the combination might be dangerous. I'd suggest contacting Dr. Feifel or his nurse. JohnLA said he was treated very well by Feifel and his team.
Posted by brynb on February 17, 2013, at 12:18:07
In reply to Re: Bad anergy -what to do? ketamine option? » brynb, posted by Hugh on February 17, 2013, at 11:53:54
Posted by SLS on February 18, 2013, at 1:05:09
In reply to Bad anergy -what to do? ketamine option?, posted by Teresa167 on February 16, 2013, at 11:25:26
Hi Teresa.
> Meds are out of the question because I'm totally treatment-resistant.
Out of the question?
Why do you say this? It sounds like you are refusing treatment.
How do you know that you are "totally" resistant to drug treatment if you haven't tried every conceivable regime?
What dosage of desipramine did you add to Parnate 80 mg/day?
How many weeks did you give Wellbutrin 300 mg/day + Pristiq 100 mg/day to work?
How much lithium did you add to clomipramime?
How much time did you give Zoloft to work in combination with nortriptyline before switching to Effexor?
How did you react to the addition of minocycline to Lamictal?
Were you able to reach 60 mg/day of Remeron when it was added to Effexor?
What dosage of Abilify did you try when you added it to Wellbutrin and Lamictal?
Did you find Wellbutrin too stimulating when you added it to Nardil?
If you do go with ketamine, how would you have it administered? If injections do not help, I would suggest trying infusions according to the protocol currently being used at the NIH (USA).
I might consider using deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to help my drugs work better should my current response plateau.
This is what I am currently taking:
Parnate 80 mg/day
nortriptyline 150 mg/day
Lamictal 200 mg/day
lithium 450 mg/day
Abilify 10 mg/day
prazosin 15 mg/day
minocycline 200 mg/day...and loving it.
Q: How did you react to Paxil when you first started taking it?Q: Has it ever been suggested that you might be bipolar?
Q: What does your family history look like?
Q: How old were you when you first became ill?
Q: Did anxiety or insomnia precede depression when you were an adolescent?
Q: Which drugs produced even the slightest improvement in your condition, regardless of how brief?
Q: Which drugs produced an intolerable worsening of your condition?
- Scott
Posted by Teresa167 on February 19, 2013, at 10:36:54
In reply to Re: Bad anergy -what to do? ketamine option? » Teresa167, posted by SLS on February 18, 2013, at 1:05:09
Hi Scott,
Just wanted to let you know I wish meds were still working for me.
Posted by SLS on February 19, 2013, at 11:48:46
In reply to Re: Bad anergy -what to do? ketamine option?SLS, posted by Teresa167 on February 19, 2013, at 10:36:54
> Hi Scott,
>
> Just wanted to let you know I wish meds were still working for me.
I wish they were, too.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on February 19, 2013, at 11:51:13
In reply to Re: Bad anergy -what to do? ketamine option?SLS, posted by Teresa167 on February 19, 2013, at 10:36:54
I tried...
- Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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