Posted by pseudoname on July 29, 2006, at 18:16:16
In reply to Re: Remeron stories » pseudoname, posted by purplesky on July 29, 2006, at 17:10:10
I wanted to say, purplesky, that I really identified with a lot in your original post. Like not being able to, well, do *any*thing.
> That's horrific! How long did you put up with that?
On Remeron I stuck it out only 3½ weeks at the treatment dose, so 5-6 weeks altogether. I bailed. But I should add for public readership that I don't want to discourage anyone else from trying Remeron. It obviously affects people differently.
> I commend you on your perseverance!
Thanks. But I gave up lots of times, and I've gone without treatment for years at a stretch. Also without functioning, employment, friends, sunlight, etc. Treatment was just so worthless to me it wasn't worth the additional struggle. I'm now 41. (I'm also male; Babblers sometimes wonder.)
> Out of curiosity, if you don't mind sharing, what medicinal cocktail has helped you the most?
I love sharing about it. (I think I yak about it too much on Babble, LOL.) I've been taking the opioid buprenorphine (Subutex) for about 8 months. It turns on some opioid receptors and blocks others, and for this unusual combo of properties it's used to treat opioid addicts in recovery. It takes away their craving without getting them high, so I'm told. I'm not an addict, and I'm amazed my pdoc was willing to let me try this. It doesn't make me buzzed or high, it just takes away the depression. And it was effective in a few days, not 3-6 weeks. I take about 0.5 mg a day, which is 1/20 or less of what a typical recovering addict might take. I have not had to increase the dose due to tolerance, either.
It is not a total cure of all my psychological problems, and I'm working a lot in self-therapy besides, but depression is effectively gone. Buprenorphine is gradually but radically revolutionizing my life. I'm not taking any other meds.
Interestingly, some opioid binding in a certain brain region was shown to be much lower in women with bulimia than in women without eating problems. One article says "medications that affect the brain's opioid receptor system and approaches to treatment for substance abuse disorders may be helpful in treating bulimia." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/08/050811092434.htm
I know your BMI is cool now, but that tendency (call it that?) might possibly be an indication of opioid system dysfunction. So, maybe if the other options you're considering don't turn out to be satisfactory, you might consider bupe, too, although it can be very hard to get. I put together these links about buprenorphine for depression: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/psycho-babble-tips/links/buprenorphine_for_de_001146748536/
poster:pseudoname
thread:671576
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060724/msgs/671822.html