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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Anna Laura on April 9, 2002, at 13:34:40
The following article has been posted already (mid december of the last year i think); nonetheless, many people on the board could have missed it.
this is the url:
http://www.ksl.com/dump/news/cc/series/blues.htm
"Beating The Blues"
All of us have tasted the "blues" over the past several weeks. But for the clinically depressed, their sadness and fear began long before September 11th, and will never go away.
That's why a dramatic new experimental treatment for this most common form of mental illness has suddenly become the talk of the psychiatric community.
Why? Science Specialist Ed Yeates explains in this special report.
For those diagnosed with clinical depression, beating the blues is not easy. Most anti-psychotic drugs work well, but they still have unwanted side effects.
But what if you get a shot for the illness and it would just go away? Psychiatrists testing the compound say it's the most remarkable thing they've seen so far.
Hard to believe 40-year-old Kaydell Leavitt was once so sad and delusional he tried to take his life.
KAYDELL LEAVITT: "THE BAD GUYS WERE GOING TO GET ME AND THE GOOD GUYS WERE GOING TO GET ME. AND I HAD NO BASIS TO BELIEVE THAT ANY OF THAT WOULD HAPPEN. BUT THE THOUGHTS OCCURRED TO ME AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE TRUE."
Kaydell's depression got so bad it affected his job and almost broke up his family.
In those days, he could have never laughed like this with his granddaughter.
KAYDELL LEAVITT: "I DON'T FEEL ONE HUNDRED PERCENT WELL. BUT I SURE FEEL BETTER THAN BEING SO SAD I WANTED TO KILL MYSELF, OR BEING SO FULL OF FEAR I COULDN'T STAND IT AND HAD TO CHECK MYSELF INTO A HOSPITAL."
Kaydell is doing very well now. He takes medications to keep his illness under control.
But it takes several to do the job: Two mood stabilizers, an anti-psychotic drug and another, as needed, to help him sleep. He also must take them daily, and they are not without side effects.
That's why researchers now are rapidly searching for a whole new concept in treating not only Kaydell's more complicated bi-polar illness, but the more widespread clinical depression which in this country alone now afflicts 19-million people.
James Ferguson, M.D. / Pharmacology Research Corporation: "MORE AND MORE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CONCEPT OF WELLNESS. NOT JUST MAKING SOMEONE FEEL BETTER. (edit) ALL TOO MANY ANTIDEPRESSANTS GET YOU BETTER AND FUNCTIONAL, BUT YOU ARE NOT COMPLETELY WELL."
For many, that could change dramatically IF this experimental injection proves itself in clinical trials.
Feres Arguello, M. D. / Psychiatrist: "THIS IS NOT ONE OF THE MORE REMARKABLE. THIS IS THE MOST REMARKABLE I'VE SEEN. I MEAN - (edit) IF THIS THING PROVES TO BE EFFECTIVE, CONTINUES TO BE EFFECTIVE, THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE THE WAY WE TREAT DEPRESSED PATIENTS."
ED YEATES/ SCIENCE SPECIALIST: "CURRENTLY, IN THE TESTING PHASE HERE IN SALT LAKE AND AT SEVERAL OTHER CENTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY, VOLUNTEERS ARE GIVEN FIVE DAYS OF INJECTIONS ONE WEEK, ANOTHER FIVE IN THE SECOND WEEK. AND THEN NONE FOR SIX MONTHS OR LONGER. IN ANONYMOUS TEST PATIENTS SO FAR.."
DR. ARGUELLO: "THEY HAD NEVER FELT BETTER IN THEIR LIVES. FROM THEIR POINT OF VIEW, THEIR MOOD WAS NOW NORMAL. THEY WERE NO LONGER DEPRESSED."
Unlike these older drugs, the injections are completely novel, using a different method to balance brain chemistry.
Researchers are not sure how or why this compound from a family called tetropeptides works so well, but it has no apparent side effects. And just a few single injections appear to last months, a year - perhaps even longer.
Expect other changes as well. A novel new drug for the treatment of schizophrenia is due out later this year.
And there are new hypnotics in the pipeline, soon to be tested -- medications which will help those with anxiety sleep, but without the sedative hangover the next day.
Pharmacology Research
(Dr. Ferguson's Clinic)
801-261-8930
This is the clinic conducting the research mentioned in the story.U of U Mood Clinic
801-585-MOOD
This clinic is not involved in the study mentioned in the report, but conducts many other periodic studies regarding depression and other mood disorders.
Posted by Denise528 on April 10, 2002, at 9:48:09
In reply to Everybody should know this, posted by Anna Laura on April 9, 2002, at 13:34:40
Hi,
Do you have any more information on this new injection, how it works and when it is likely to be released?
Denise
Posted by Anna Laura on April 10, 2002, at 23:28:10
In reply to Re: This looks promising, posted by Denise528 on April 10, 2002, at 9:48:09
> Hi,
>
> Do you have any more information on this new injection, how it works and when it is likely to be released?
>
> Denise
Hi Denise,
I don't know much about that trial unfortunately: i've been doing some research lately and didn't find any additional information. I believe endogenous opiates are somehow involved (endomorphins, etc.). As soon as i find some new info i'll let you know.
Posted by Denise528 on April 11, 2002, at 8:39:55
In reply to Re: This looks promising, posted by Anna Laura on April 10, 2002, at 23:28:10
Hi,
I too have scoured the internet and cannot find anymore info on tetropeptides. I must admit that I'm reluctant to take opoids. Does anyone else have anymore information on this drug?
Denise
This is the end of the thread.
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