Posted by SLS on May 10, 2003, at 21:08:56
In reply to Re: Remeron rocks for treatment-resistant unipolar » SLS, posted by Squiggles on May 10, 2003, at 19:35:09
Hey, Squiggles.
> No, i'm sorry i did not make myself clear;
> i meant that of the 18 or 20 drugs tried
> by my friend - most of them new only,
> imipramine and Remeron have worked; and in
> my case - lithium;Well then, I guess your lack of clarity has given me a potentially good idea. I could try adding Remeron to imipramine.
> I am simply wondering if there has been any
> real advance with the new drugs or if they
> are just spin-offs.I think the answer is probably "yes and no". All of the SSRIs are chemically distinct from each other and all offer alternatives to one another, exhibiting different efficacies for any one individual. I know someone who responds to Paxil and not to Celexa. There are plenty of people for whom the reverse is true. As someone else mentioned, it may be that too many resources are being spent to develop more SSRIs at the expense of more novel compounds. What I find encouraging is that it has become increasingly apparent (and reported in the media) that the available antidepressants are less effective than they were once portrayed. For example, the number 70% is reported to be the percentage of people who respond to any one antidepressant. However, "respond" does not mean "remission". It only means that 70% experienced at least a 50% reduction of measurable symptoms. Perhaps only 40% actually attain full remission. 30% respond to placebo.
> I'm glad yours work
Right now, I am improved by only 15% over my unmedicated baseline. That will not get me back to work.
> - are you under the care of a psychopharmacologist?
The doctor I'm seeing is primarily a psychopharmacologist. I just started seeing him, so I don't know the extent to which he offers psychotherapy.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:225645
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030505/msgs/225687.html