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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on April 29, 2006, at 22:01:10
Anyhone here use dopamine agonists for depressive symtpoms ? Any luck ? Anyone get long term benifits from a dopamine agonist ?
Linkadge
Posted by TenMan on April 29, 2006, at 23:55:20
In reply to Sustained effect from Dopamine agonists ?, posted by linkadge on April 29, 2006, at 22:01:10
I recieved a pretty good antidepressant response from 5mgs. of bromocriptine once in the morning. Unfortunately the side effects were too much to bear. My next step was to try cabergoline but I haven't got around to it since thankfully my current cocktail is working well. Hope this helps.
Posted by circusboy on April 30, 2006, at 19:55:07
In reply to Sustained effect from Dopamine agonists ?, posted by linkadge on April 29, 2006, at 22:01:10
I'm assuming you'll consider dopamine reuptake inhibitors/releasers as "agonists" for the sake of this discussion?
I've only got a not terribly satisfactory i've-just-started sort of answer: I just dropped my antidepressant a week ago. I'm still taking the Ritalin that was prescribed as an adjunct treatment. So far, so good.
Considering that my primary depressive symptoms were always cognitive (the dysphoria, social withdrawal, etc. followed from them), a dopamine boost alone might make sense. I'll try to keep you posted.
As an aside, do you know how much methylphenidate affects norepinephrine transmission? That might be keeping me afloat as well...
> Anyhone here use dopamine agonists for depressive symtpoms ? Any luck ? Anyone get long term benifits from a dopamine agonist ?
>
> Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on April 30, 2006, at 21:08:08
In reply to Re: Sustained effect from Dopamine agonists ? » linkadge, posted by circusboy on April 30, 2006, at 19:55:07
Yeah, from what I gather ritalin affects the uptake of all three monoamines. Its strongest effect is on dopamine uptake, followed by norepinephrine uptake and then serotonin uptake.
I've heard of some people who find that ritalin is an effective antidepressant.
See my post below on how mice who lack DAT (and consequently have more dopamine) actually perform better in tests for depression than mice who lack SERT (a condition that SSRI's approximate).
Believe it or not, SSRI's are only weakly active in the forced swim test, a mouse model for depressive behavior.
Linkadge
Posted by Paulbwell on May 1, 2006, at 23:46:14
In reply to Sustained effect from Dopamine agonists ?, posted by linkadge on April 29, 2006, at 22:01:10
> Anyhone here use dopamine agonists for depressive symtpoms ? Any luck ? Anyone get long term benifits from a dopamine agonist ?
>
> LinkadgeHi YA!!
As a suvivor of 6 AD's- SSRI's, SSNRI's. I have found Methylphenidate better than the above.
Ritaalin/Methylphenidate is actually a-
-Dopamine reuptake IH
-Norepineephrine RI
-Norephine releaser.
I post the following for your amusement, despite the fact I have NEVER taken Dex."lynx (14) [halifax - Canada]
8/4/2005 10:09:03 AM
DexedrineTook Me Out of Hell!
DEXEDRINE TOOK ME OUT OF HELL! Have been on it for over a month , after forty years of severe depressions that were broken only for brief periods. It was so bad that it was akin to severe physical torture. No antidepressants helped much or for long. The low dose of Effexor I still am on just took the edge off. I have lived on only for my children's sake, knowing that eventually nature would take me out.Fortunately, I kept trying. Just over a month ago, I was diagnosed with ADD and tried Dexedrine 5mg for the first time. Within an hour my world calmed and everything felt so 'normal,' without the free-floating anxiety and depression I was used to! Focusing was suddenly easy - before it was nearly impossible.
Now I am on 15mg spansules twice a day and my depression has not returned at all! (My dry mouth is mostly gone, the only side effect.) I have energy and can always focus, combined with a natural sense of well-being - I have life and it is incredibly good! I am thankful to my good doctor - ADD is tough to diagnose in adults, especially with no hyperactivity as in my case.
I wonder how many poor souls are wandering this earth with untreated ADD and depression.... If you are one and read this, know that someone else understands and that help and life is possible!
Lynx"
One folks story~
Cheers
Posted by linkadge on May 2, 2006, at 20:43:55
In reply to Re: Sustained effect from Dopamine agonists ? » linkadge, posted by Paulbwell on May 1, 2006, at 23:46:14
Hmm. How about dose escalation? You were on 80mg at one point? Is that still constant ?
Linkadge
This is the end of the thread.
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