Posted by JohnL on September 13, 2000, at 18:08:37
In reply to Adrafinil flop; trying SAMe, posted by shar on September 12, 2000, at 22:50:05
> Just an update on my long standing saga in trying to get a little better than "not suicidal." Currently taking Effexor and Wellbutrin. And Klonopin for sleep.
>
> I tried Adrafinil for a month or so, up to 1200 per day and not a thing. I went up slowly and steadily. Stopped at 600 for a few days. Nothing. Then, 900 to 1200. Big disappointment. Nothing. Nada. Nil. Zip.
>
> So, I went to Sam's Club where Nature Made SAMe is on sale 80 tabs for $45 with a $10 rebate. Started it yesterday. One a.m. and one p.m. Will go up fairly slowly. Insert says can take up to 8 per day but I really don't want to take 8 per day with my other meds and vitamins. Sheesh!
>
> I will report in a while. Any additional tips for possible success will be welcome.
>
> SharShar,
So sorry Adrafinil didn't work out. Surely if it was to work you would have felt something within a month.On the bright side, there are some clues here to think about. First, Effexor and Wellbutrin together are concentrating on increasing your norepinephrine levels. You are actually increasing all of them--serotonin, NE, and dopamine--but with an emphasis on NE. Adrafinil is also focused on NE. The fact that you are having only modest response to Wellbutrin+Effexor, and no response to Adrafinil, tells me that whatever chemistry is responsible for your symptoms, it isn't NE. The next logical candidates would be serotonin or dopamine. There are other things after that, but those would logically be next in line to target.
If you decided to focus more on serotonin (might as well flip a coin), then trying SSRIs would be the way to go. If instead you decided to focus on dopamine, Amisulpride would be my top choice. I only mention it because you have already taken the leap in trying a med from overseas. Amisulpride is a good one, with few side effects. And it has a large scientific foundation behind it, unlike Adrafinil which has little research behind it. Amisulpride has been proven clinically worldwide in all phases of depression, dysthymia, schizophrenia, and all the overlaps.
I would be tempted to go the dopamine route first. That's because if serotonin chemistry was a significant factor with you, surely the Effexor would be doing better than it is. Both Effexor and Wellbutrin will affect dopamine, but in a reuptake mechanism. Amisulpride is different, in that it increases the output of dopamine, rather than just letting it accumulate. Kind of like a turbocharger.
But certainly SAMe could work magic. I've heard many reports of it working very well, either alone or with antidepressants. Personally it worked well for me, though it just didn't last very long. Potential is there though. I hope it gives you pleasing results. If not, well, maybe it's time to reconsider different chemistries. I'm just glad you're out of that black hole. I don't want you to return there! I've been there too many times myself. When we die we don't need to go to hell, because we've already been there.
John
poster:JohnL
thread:44730
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000905/msgs/44756.html