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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SLS on October 26, 2004, at 15:53:28
I am stuck in a treatment-resistant bipolar depression. I'm thinking about trying this drug. It is currently being used to treat ALS.
- Scott
Posted by linkadge on October 27, 2004, at 14:46:16
In reply to Riluzole (Rilutek) - Any comments?, posted by SLS on October 26, 2004, at 15:53:28
I heard that for some people it has remarkable antidepressant properties. I have not tried this, but have found antidepressant effects from many glutamate inhibitors including lithium, magnesium, vitamin C, theananine. Some of these really help with the depersonalization factor of my mood problems. They may also help your depression if it involves thinking too deeply about certain issues.
Linkadge
Posted by SLS on October 27, 2004, at 15:22:53
In reply to Re: Riluzole (Rilutek) - Any comments?, posted by linkadge on October 27, 2004, at 14:46:16
> I heard that for some people it has remarkable antidepressant properties.
Woohoo!
I hope you're right. I have a prescription for it.
Thanks Linkadge.
- Scott
Posted by linkadge on October 27, 2004, at 21:05:55
In reply to Re: Riluzole (Rilutek) - Any comments?, posted by SLS on October 27, 2004, at 15:22:53
The only real side effects of glutamate inhibitors is potential cognition slowing.
I found lithium slowed me down, but if I took it in the evening I was bright the next day.
See the page
http://www.mcmanweb.com/article-191.htm
for the following quote.
And the ALS drug Rilutek (riluzole), a glutamate inhibitor, has “a remarkable antidepressant effect.”Linkadge
Posted by SLS on October 27, 2004, at 22:53:54
In reply to Re: Riluzole (Rilutek) - Any comments?, posted by linkadge on October 27, 2004, at 21:05:55
> The only real side effects of glutamate inhibitors is potential cognition slowing.
>
> I found lithium slowed me down, but if I took it in the evening I was bright the next day.
>
>
> See the page
> http://www.mcmanweb.com/article-191.htm
> for the following quote.
>
>
> And the ALS drug Rilutek (riluzole), a glutamate inhibitor, has “a remarkable antidepressant effect.”
How do you find this stuff?:-)
Thanks again.
- Scott
Posted by linkadge on October 28, 2004, at 7:52:06
In reply to Re: Riluzole (Rilutek) - Any comments? » linkadge, posted by SLS on October 27, 2004, at 22:53:54
Well I do a lot of medication reading. Sometimes a certain link will stick out in my mind.
I liked this article because it spoke some truth about treatment resistant depression.
"you can mess around all you want with the serotonin dopamine etc. But if you don't have the right circutry in place its not going to have an effect"
I wish somebody had given me lithium from the beginning. At least then the chance of my condition deteriorating would be slim.
Linkadge
Posted by dove on October 28, 2004, at 9:49:32
In reply to Re: Riluzole (Rilutek) - Any comments?, posted by linkadge on October 28, 2004, at 7:52:06
Is this glutamate increasing calcium influx into the neuron a possible reason for meds such as verapamil (calcium channel blocker) working for some bipolar's depression?
Thus, giving Rilutek (riluzole) the hypothetical potential for antidepressant effects (especially in bipolars).
random thoughts....
(Hey there Scott ;-)
dove
Posted by SLS on October 28, 2004, at 11:19:10
In reply to Re: Riluzole (Rilutek) - glutamate/calcium?, posted by dove on October 28, 2004, at 9:49:32
> Is this glutamate increasing calcium influx into the neuron a possible reason for meds such as verapamil (calcium channel blocker) working for some bipolar's depression?
>
> Thus, giving Rilutek (riluzole) the hypothetical potential for antidepressant effects (especially in bipolars).
>
> random thoughts....They're pretty good ones.
:-)
Right now, my justification for trying riluzole is more emipirical than theoretical. I responded partially to both Lamictal and Namenda. These drugs reduce glutamatergic activity, as does riluzole.
Thanks for your input.
I hope all is well with you.
- Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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