Posted by SLS on October 29, 2005, at 13:01:27
In reply to Re: SLS - how's the trial? » SLS, posted by emme on October 29, 2005, at 7:47:34
Hi Emme.
> > Given my high cortisol levels
> Have you tried ketaconazole or any other cortisol-lowering drugs?I've discussed it with my doctor, but we had set mifepristone as the priority. Still, it would be interesting to see how ketaconazole or metyrapone would treat me. Metyrapone is a pain in the neck to get in the U.S. It is used only to help diagnose Cushings Disease and other hypercortisolemic conditions and is dispensed only as a test agent. Novartis has a protocol set up to provide it for various treatments, but I don't know how involved the process is. Elsewhere in the world, metyrapone is available as a treatment for Cushings and similar syndromes. It might be quicker to get it from the U.K. than to bother with Novartis.
> > how would someone with low cortisol and an atypical unipolar diathesis respond to it?
> I spoke with an endocrinologist this summer who may try to treat some of my pdoc's treatment-resistant patients with cortisol-lowering drugs.Do you know which ones? Would he be combining different drugs?
> He hadn't yet written the protocol, but was hoping to do it by the end of summer. I've had a response to Abilify, so I haven't been in contact with him again.
How well are you doing with the Abilify? Are you currently satisfied with the degree of antidepressant response?
> I'm trying to find some sort of workable dosing of both memantine and abilify. With abilify, the insomnia and cold intolerance are problems. The insomnia might still improve. I don't know what I can do about the cold intolerance and it's getting cold outside!How long have you been on Abilify? Are you taking at least 5.0mg?
> I can't concentrate on anything feeling so chilly.
I have had this happen a number of times when first starting Parnate or after adding a tricyclic.
> Last time I tried abilify, you suggested that it might be acting in a similar manner to apomorphine.
If for some stupid reason, I were right, it might indicate that you need to increase the dosage of Abilify, not lower it. It depends on whether or not there is a pronounced preference for its acting as a presynaptic DA agonist at low dosages.
No answers, just more questions...
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:572867
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051024/msgs/573053.html