Posted by Ron Hill on November 18, 2007, at 20:40:37
In reply to Re: Keppra » Ron Hill, posted by kaleidoscope on November 18, 2007, at 16:57:28
> Have you just started the Androgel? I don't remember you mentioning it before.
Ed,
My testosterone levels are on the low end of the normal range. In May 2006, I began to wonder if low T was causing my depression. So I asked my endo if he would allow me to conduct a trial of Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT). Somewhat reluctantly, he approved my request.
At first, the TRT made a profound improvement and it completely resolved by depression. However, as time progressed, it stopped working as an antidepressant and it began to cause severe irritability. So, I discontinued the TRT. I have a little bit of Androgel left over from my previous trial.
These days, due primarily to the addition of Nardil (1.5 years ago) and Keppra (one year ago), my depressive phases of my bipolar ultra rapid cycling are relatively mild, and they last for only two or three days out of each 15 day cycle.
This is heaven compared to the horrendous debilitating depression 10 days out of every 15 days that I used to experience on an ongoing, ever repeating basis. But, none-the-less, I am continually looking for something that will take away my current residual ultra rapid cycling depressive phases.
So, my current trial is to use one day of Androgel tx at the onset of my depressive phase. I tried it for the first time during my most recent depressive phase (11/08/07) and it worked like a charm. I am scheduled to go into depression on 11/23/07, so I'll see if the one-day prn tx of Androgel will eliminate the depressive phase.
I have a tendency to conclude too quickly that just because something works once; it will continue to work forever. And I often proclaim full remission in my PB posts too soon.
As an aside, I began taking Deplin a month ago and I am continuing to get good results from it. Most notability, Deplin takes away my dysphoric mood states.
poster:Ron Hill
thread:793089
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20071115/msgs/795839.html