Posted by SLS on March 21, 2002, at 10:55:52
In reply to Re: treatment resistant depressionSLS, posted by petters on March 21, 2002, at 2:03:23
Hi Petters.
> Good news in my cases. I have started olanzapin for four days ago. 5 mg at night. I have a very nice result. My depression have lifted, and my sleep is greath. I alwas respond very fast, when a drug worked for me. But I`m very scared for the dam-d poop out. I pray that this not occure for me this time.I will pray too.
More good news (I hope):
I have not seen anyone experience a poop-out of the antidepressant effects of olanzapine (or any of the other atypical neuroleptics), once a good response has been established for 3 or 4 weeks. I hope this is true for you also.
I have discontinued venlafaxine. I have determined that it reacts badly in combination with tricyclics in me. It makes things worse. I am going back to try nortriptyline again at 100mg. Imipramine affects my memory and cognition too much. It is probably the result of the anticholinergic effects. www.biopsychiatry.com calls imipramine "the stupid drug". Imipramine is not too bad at dosages of 200mg and less. Unfortunately, I need 300mg for it to have any beneficial effect. Perhaps taking an acetylcholine cholinesterase inhibitor drug like donepezil would help mitigate the cognitive side effects.
My current medications:
lamotrigine 300mg
nortriptyline 100mgI will give this a few weeks before making any changes. I am encouraged by what I feel. However, it has only been 3 days at 100mg.
> I know you are also make a trial on olanzapin once with temporary benefites, unfortunately.
I added olanzapine to Parnate + desipramine. I started at 2.5mg. I felt an improvement during the first 3 days, but it faded. The improvement did not disappear completely, though. When I raised the dosage to 5.0mg., I experienced significant cognitive side effects that required me to discontinue it. My mind felt numb - "zombie" and "foggy". I felt disconnected from the things around me. I could not think clearly. When driving a car, I would forget where I was. Things were not familiar. It was too much. This also happened with risperidone and ziprasidone.
I think I will probably need another drug. I might choose Nardil (phenelzine) to add next. If necessary, I might then try again to add either olanzapine, ziprasidone, or aripiprazole. I will also consider adding pramipexole.
What do you think of aripiprazole (Abilitat)? Is it available in Europe?
> My current mix:
>
> T. venlafaxin 225 mg
> T. lamotrigine 100 mg
> T. litium ( serum level, 0,5 )
> T. olanzapine 5 mgI will also consider taking lithium at low dosages like you. How much do you take? What blood-levels are necessary? I don't like the way I feel when I take lithium at dosages of 600mg. and higher. I feel apathetic. I lose my sense of myself (ego). I want lithium because of its neuroprotective and neurotrophic potential. It is supposed to promote plasticity. Maybe this would help to restore the size and function of the hippocampus. What do you think? Depression has greatly impaired my memory.
> I give you my best wishes, and take care of yourself, and please don´t give up, there is allway new med options. I´t is like having an winning ticket, when the right meds are found for you, and finaly kick in.Thank you, my friend.
STAY WELL !!!
Sincerely,
Scott
poster:SLS
thread:98310
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020318/msgs/99204.html