Posted by rod on March 6, 2004, at 8:26:37
In reply to Re: Dosage of Galantamine for non Alzheimer Purpos » rod, posted by SLS on March 6, 2004, at 7:49:25
> > > Although it doesn't affect everyone this way, Ach cholinesterase inhibitors like galantamine are known to cause or make worse depression. I would still try it, though.
>
> > Yes, I know about this and have experienced this by myself. Exelon is quite depressiogenic for me, but Galantamine schould be somewhat different, because it directly or indirectly increases stimulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Thats a feature which isnt shared with any of the other achetylcholine-esterase inhibitors.
>
> That should boost dopamine release in PFC and NACC, right?
>In fact I dont know about the exact effect. But I have read somewhere that it indeed faciliates the release of some neurotransmitters. Thanks for the info.
> > I am asking because I feared the dangers of a cholinergic crisis. These drugs are lethal in overdose.
>
> Gosh. I didn't know that.
>
> > And hell yes, it seems to work for me! Its day 3 on 6 mg and I really feel an improvement in memory but whats most astonishing also in mood, mental energy, and improves my inability to make a decision.
>
> That's great! What a pleasant surprise!
>
> > I think many of these improvements are also a result of incresaed perfusion (blood flow) of the brain (Thats what the AchE Inh. also do). And conincidentally I do have left brain sided hypoperfusion,
>
> How were you tested for this?
>I did a SPECT scan. Not at Amen clinic. Did this in an public hospital. The hypoperfusion is not severe, so the doctors I talked to, somewhat ignore the results. They only find worth treating this, if your symptoms are severe as they are when you had a stroke. But If I look which things are attributed to the two sides of our brain, the right side is ok, while the left side isnt. But its somewhat similar to depression.
> > Hmmm, I think I will take it for long term use.
> > Other drugs I take are Lamictal, Neurontin, Solian (Amisulpride), Nortriptyline, Amantadine and Diphenhydramine.
>
> How would you describe your illness? Maybe it has a few things in common with mine. What do you feel the amantadine is doing for you? My cocktail is similar to yours. I'm taking Lamictal, imipramine, Zoloft, memantine, and Abilify. If you continue to improve with galantamine, I'll definitely put it on my list of things to try.Well, its a mixture of many diagnosis. I have comorbid ADD (I did a computer test and I performed very poor), Social Anxiety Disorder (But I would rather say I am just socially withdrawn. I like to be alone most of the time and avoid masses of people. I dont feel comfortable if there are many people around), my current doctor said i have some aspects of the deficit syndrome (but without ever having psychosis or beeing schizophrenic), maybe ultra rapid cycling with mainly mixed states, and dystymia with recurrent depressive episodes. And maybe some kind of subsyndromal epilepsy, because of hypoperfusion. Also the temporal lobe. This might explain my ADD symptoms and why I get worse on SSRIs (Temporal Lobe ADD). But I fact I dont know what is causing what and if things are comorbid or are seperate.
Its hard to find the right words about what Amantadine is doing for me. It somewhat feels like a mood stabiliser, making me a bit more normal.
Each component of my coctail is a small but valuable step towards normality.
>How do you respond to MAOIs?
The only one I have tried was Moclobomide, which didnt had great effect for me. Nor good or bad.
The other ones are no longer available in my place :-(>
> > PS I hope this is not a transient effect.
>
> I just put in a little prayer to make it so.
>Thanks!
> Good luck!
>
>
> - Scott
>Roland
poster:rod
thread:320016
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040304/msgs/321058.html