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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 4 to 28 of 36. Go back in thread:
Posted by ClearSkies on May 22, 2008, at 18:48:33
In reply to Re: PBS Show About Depression, posted by chiron on May 22, 2008, at 18:42:35
> Overall, I did like their message about it being a medical disease & it deserves more attention and attitude as being such.
>I liked that aspect of it too. Still fighting the fight, 10 years on.
CS
Posted by DuckDuckGoose on May 22, 2008, at 18:51:45
In reply to Re: PBS Show About Depression, posted by ClearSkies on May 22, 2008, at 18:48:33
I've read andrew soloman's book and was curious what drugs he is currently taking. Does anyone know the full list?
Posted by Bob on May 22, 2008, at 20:24:07
In reply to Re: PBS Show About Depression, posted by DuckDuckGoose on May 22, 2008, at 18:51:45
> I've read andrew soloman's book and was curious what drugs he is currently taking. Does anyone know the full list?
He spells out the full list on the PBS show, but I don't remember it now. It contained Zoloft, Remeron, Zyprexa, and at least 3 other meds.
Posted by Bob on May 22, 2008, at 20:26:33
In reply to Re: PBS Show About Depression, posted by DuckDuckGoose on May 22, 2008, at 18:51:45
Again I would reiterate that there wasn't much mention of the many, many people for whom the medecines are a hell on earth. There were some people for the "medecines didn't work" but they somehow found a way to cure themselves, like the guy who basically hung out with his football player friend. I wish my disease was that easy to assuage.
Posted by Phillipa on May 22, 2008, at 21:11:24
In reply to Re: PBS Show About Depression » DuckDuckGoose, posted by Bob on May 22, 2008, at 20:26:33
Our cable recorder was not working last night and it didn't record got a new one today will the show be on again? Phillipa
Posted by SLS on May 22, 2008, at 22:13:14
In reply to Re: PBS Show About Depression, posted by torachan on May 22, 2008, at 18:32:55
> Yes, I seen most of it, and I thought the guy you mentioned, Andrew Solomon, was on far too many drugs for a disease like depression.
Q: How many pills is "a disease like depression" worth?
A: As many as it takes.
I need 5 different drugs to maintain an improvement of depression. I tried to discontinue one drug at a time once the treatment was established to identify which drugs were necessary in the regime. For me, 5 works. 4 does not. It took decades to find this combination of drugs.
- Scott
Posted by Ezekiel on May 23, 2008, at 4:34:47
In reply to Re: PBS Show About Depression, posted by SLS on May 22, 2008, at 22:13:14
Scott - that is simply astounding, it took you literally decades to cull together a magic cocktail of pills that finally adequately treated your depression?
My hang up has been relentless dysthymia the last 13 years interspersed with your occasional moderate to major depressive episodes, oh the joy of it all!
Anyways, please excuse my curiosity but I have to ask how you finally arrived at your AD regimen - care to disclose the concise version of the path? Did you recruit the help of pdocs all
along the way?I just began seeing a psychiatrist again for the second time in my life (last time was nearly a decade ago), and he proceeded to fling a diagnosis of ADHD at me after dialoguing for an 1 1/2 hrs - I walked out of his office (he happens to be a prominent researcher at the renown Massachusetts General Hospital) with a script for Ritalin for inattention & Valium for my intermittent insomniac periods. Well, I'm sort of still reeling from this encounter, I've never really considered this to be a core issue but he believes it's quite possibly driving everything (i.e., my rumination, anxiety, etc) WOW, who really knows you know?! Us depressives learn to live with a fair amount of resignation due to our failed trials of pharmacological intervention, so it becomes very hard to conjure any enthusiasm concerning a new "drug mediated opportunity" that will allegedly this time punch through the gray clouds of melancholy.
Ok I must apologize, I just realized I hijacked this thread by droning on about myself, my bad. I guess I needed to engage in a moment of catharsis - signing off . . . Zeke
Posted by michael on May 23, 2008, at 4:55:37
In reply to Re: PBS Show About Depression, posted by SLS on May 22, 2008, at 22:13:14
> > Yes, I seen most of it, and I thought the guy you mentioned, Andrew Solomon, was on far too many drugs for a disease like depression.
>
> Q: How many pills is "a disease like depression" worth?
>
> A: As many as it takes.
>
> I need 5 different drugs to maintain an improvement of depression. I tried to discontinue one drug at a time once the treatment was established to identify which drugs were necessary in the regime. For me, 5 works. 4 does not. It took decades to find this combination of drugs.
>
>
> - Scott
>
>Scott-
I've been here at PB very intermittanty for the last several years (not regularly since 2000 +/- a year or two).
In any case, you have no idea how good it sounds to hear that you've been able to find some degree of relief! I hope you find more!
I just want to thank you for all of the help, advice, insight, and encouragement that you've been able & willing to offer to me (not to mention to others) over those years - particularly since I know that your path has not been an easy one.
I hope that you know how helpful you've been to the rest of us, here at PB over the years! Thanks for taking the time to help me too, I've always valued your feedback, and sincerely appreciated your willingness to make the effort to share your knowledge! You're a good man. Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Michael
Posted by SLS on May 23, 2008, at 5:46:56
In reply to Re: PBS Show About Depression » SLS, posted by michael on May 23, 2008, at 4:55:37
Thanks, Michael. You brought tears to my eyes.
- Scott
> I've been here at PB very intermittanty for the last several years (not regularly since 2000 +/- a year or two).
>
> In any case, you have no idea how good it sounds to hear that you've been able to find some degree of relief! I hope you find more!
>
> I just want to thank you for all of the help, advice, insight, and encouragement that you've been able & willing to offer to me (not to mention to others) over those years - particularly since I know that your path has not been an easy one.
>
> I hope that you know how helpful you've been to the rest of us, here at PB over the years! Thanks for taking the time to help me too, I've always valued your feedback, and sincerely appreciated your willingness to make the effort to share your knowledge! You're a good man. Thanks again.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Michael
Posted by SLS on May 23, 2008, at 5:59:41
In reply to Re: PBS Show About Depression, posted by Ezekiel on May 23, 2008, at 4:34:47
A good place to start is to make 3 lists:
1. Drugs and drug combinations that produced an antidepressant effect, regardless of degree or length of time.
2. Drugs and drug combinations that produced a worsening of depression.
3. Drugs and drug combinations that were without effect.
Sometimes, it is not until a new drug arrives that a long journey can find its first destination - remission or robust improvement of the biological illness. The second destination might be psychotherapy to remediate the warped perceptions and thought styles produced by the depression. Subsequent destinations might involve vocational rehabilitation and/or academics. After reaching destination number one, most everyone gains the functionality and motivation to create their own unique and positive path in life.I am currently taking:
Nardil 90mg
nortriptyline 150mg
Lamictal 200mg
Abilify 20mg
Deplin 15mgAll of these drugs exerted a short-lived or partial antidepressant effect when taken individually with the exception of Deplin. Deplin was added on top of the four other drugs.
Why don't you go ahead and post your 3 lists and let people give you some input as to how best to use them.
Do you have any questions?
- Scott
Posted by llurpsienoodle on May 23, 2008, at 12:49:20
In reply to PBS Show About Depression, posted by Bob on May 22, 2008, at 17:04:15
to apologize for her rampant lack of understanding. She and dad watched the show together, apparently. I can't watch it on the TV, and my efforts to watch it on the computer have triggered depressed thinking and suicidal ideation. I guess I'm sensitive to that stuff. Evocative music and dark images are triggering to me these days.
Well, mom said she was sorry for always urging me to come off of meds as soon as possible. She said that she now understood that meds could be used for maintenence too.
it was an awkward call.
-Ll
Posted by michael on May 23, 2008, at 17:45:29
In reply to Re: PBS Show About Depression, posted by Phillipa on May 22, 2008, at 21:11:24
> Our cable recorder was not working last night and it didn't record got a new one today will the show be on again? Phillipa
Try this link:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/takeonestep/depression/index.htmlI think you can find if there are other broadcast times in your area, and if nothing else, you can watch it online.
I took a look, and the quality seemed as good as on TV - though I suppose that'll be relative to each person's PC equipment & setup, etc.?
Michael
Posted by Phillipa on May 23, 2008, at 19:30:42
In reply to Re: PBS Show About Depression » Phillipa, posted by michael on May 23, 2008, at 17:45:29
Thanks Michael. I think we are recording when it's on again but read the narrative and I lost my Mother to Addison's disease when I was l7. Love Phillipa
Posted by Midnightblue on May 23, 2008, at 20:41:53
In reply to my mom called me, posted by llurpsienoodle on May 23, 2008, at 12:49:20
> to apologize for her rampant lack of understanding. She and dad watched the show together, apparently. I can't watch it on the TV, and my efforts to watch it on the computer have triggered depressed thinking and suicidal ideation. I guess I'm sensitive to that stuff. Evocative music and dark images are triggering to me these days.
>
> Well, mom said she was sorry for always urging me to come off of meds as soon as possible. She said that she now understood that meds could be used for maintenence too.
>
> it was an awkward call.
>
> -LlLL,
It may not have been enough, but it was at least an attempt at understanding on their part.
MB
Posted by DuckDuckGoose on May 24, 2008, at 19:26:22
In reply to Re: my mom called me » llurpsienoodle, posted by Midnightblue on May 23, 2008, at 20:41:53
I found a transcript of the interview with solomon. He takes remeron, zoloft, wellbutrin, namenda, zyprexa, and something called remenedine (which I can't find any info on) for weight control. I can't imagine taking that much medicine (but I would if it was the only thing between me and suicide).
Posted by DuckDuckGoose on May 24, 2008, at 19:37:42
In reply to Re: my mom called me, posted by DuckDuckGoose on May 24, 2008, at 19:26:22
> I found a transcript of the interview with solomon. He takes remeron, zoloft, wellbutrin, namenda, zyprexa, and something called remenedine (which I can't find any info on) for weight control. I can't imagine taking that much medicine (but I would if it was the only thing between me and suicide).
It's Ranitidine, not remenedine - the transcript was wrong! By the way, I used to take zoloft and those were two 100mg pills he takes everyday along with everything else! God bless his liver!
Posted by Sigismund on May 25, 2008, at 19:23:58
In reply to Re: my mom called me, posted by DuckDuckGoose on May 24, 2008, at 19:37:42
In his book he mentions that he was so depressed that he had to be spoon fed by (I think) his father.
It's a really good book and I'm sorry that he has to take so much stuff but hope he feels OK.
Posted by BGB on May 26, 2008, at 13:53:26
In reply to Andrew Solomon, posted by Sigismund on May 25, 2008, at 19:23:58
I thought it was interesting when I read that Andrew's father is the Chairman of Forest Laboratories, the manufacturer of Namenda.
Posted by B2chica on May 27, 2008, at 8:21:43
In reply to Re: PBS Show About Depression, posted by DuckDuckGoose on May 22, 2008, at 18:51:45
Amantadine (spelling?) was one of them for weight control for the zyprexa.
b2c.
Posted by B2chica on May 27, 2008, at 8:26:56
In reply to PBS Show About Depression, posted by Bob on May 22, 2008, at 17:04:15
i was only able to watch an hour of it. i liked it at first but i must agree with bob. it was showing a lot of upsides, which i guess you want to show in TV, to the treatment especially of ECT. but i'm VERY glad they talked about the one girl who tried 7 or 9 drugs before she found one that worked for her depression. unfortunately my DH left before he heard that part (grrrr).
i'm just glad they are showing something more real of depression. i think the shows will just keep getting better.b2c.
Posted by MiniMom on May 28, 2008, at 16:25:28
In reply to Re: my mom called me, posted by DuckDuckGoose on May 24, 2008, at 19:37:42
> > I found a transcript of the interview with solomon. He takes remeron, zoloft, wellbutrin, namenda, zyprexa, and something called remenedine (which I can't find any info on) for weight control. I can't imagine taking that much medicine (but I would if it was the only thing between me and suicide).
>
> It's Ranitidine, not remenedine - the transcript was wrong! By the way, I used to take zoloft and those were two 100mg pills he takes everyday along with everything else! God bless his liver!I couldn't find anything on Remenedine either, but I don't think it's Ranitidine; that's Zantac for stomach acid. I thought maybe it was Amantadine, which is for the flu, but also related to Parkinson's... One of my biggest issues w/these meds is that the weight gain is so upsetting to me that it's impossible to even judge the treatment because of the depression from gaining weight.
Posted by Bob on May 28, 2008, at 17:54:24
In reply to Re: my mom called me, posted by MiniMom on May 28, 2008, at 16:25:28
> > > I found a transcript of the interview with solomon. He takes remeron, zoloft, wellbutrin, namenda, zyprexa, and something called remenedine (which I can't find any info on) for weight control. I can't imagine taking that much medicine (but I would if it was the only thing between me and suicide).
> >
> > It's Ranitidine, not remenedine - the transcript was wrong! By the way, I used to take zoloft and those were two 100mg pills he takes everyday along with everything else! God bless his liver!
>
> I couldn't find anything on Remenedine either, but I don't think it's Ranitidine; that's Zantac for stomach acid. I thought maybe it was Amantadine, which is for the flu, but also related to Parkinson's... One of my biggest issues w/these meds is that the weight gain is so upsetting to me that it's impossible to even judge the treatment because of the depression from gaining weight.Yeah, not to mention sedation, and sexual side effects... yada, yada, yada. It never ends. That's why I originally was surprised by his cocktail. It's amazing to me that not only do people function on such large amounts of meds, but they seem to function better. I personally can barely tolerate one or two meds at low doses, and endless experimention to find that magical combo of umpteen simultaneous psychoactive drugs would kill me right quick.
Posted by DuckDuckGoose on May 29, 2008, at 9:38:41
In reply to Andrew Solomon, posted by Sigismund on May 25, 2008, at 19:23:58
I'm pretty sure he is on ranitidine (zantac). I have read of people taking it successfully to control remeron weight gain - some on this very board, I believe. I'm not quite sure how it helps with weight gain, or if other H2 blockers would be as effective.
Posted by MiniMom on June 2, 2008, at 13:37:26
In reply to Re: Andrew Solomon, posted by DuckDuckGoose on May 29, 2008, at 9:38:41
> I'm pretty sure he is on ranitidine (zantac). I have read of people taking it successfully to control remeron weight gain - some on this very board, I believe. I'm not quite sure how it helps with weight gain, or if other H2 blockers would be as effective.
Well I take omeprazole (Prilosec) another H2 acid blocker--on a daily basis and hasn't stopped me from gaining weight. At under 5', I am extremely depressed about the 32 lbs. I just gained. After Paxil, I gained 40 lbs. and finally lost it. I still haven't found my "Andrew combination" that helps my depression, anxiety and extreme irritability. Now I have all those symptoms and am fat too--yet again. How many years does it take to get your combo? '
Posted by DuckDuckGoose on June 3, 2008, at 13:13:26
In reply to Re: Andrew Solomon, posted by MiniMom on June 2, 2008, at 13:37:26
> Well I take omeprazole (Prilosec) another H2 acid blocker--on a daily basis and hasn't stopped me from gaining weight. At under 5', I am extremely depressed about the 32 lbs. I just gained. After Paxil, I gained 40 lbs. and finally lost it. I still haven't found my "Andrew combination" that helps my depression, anxiety and extreme irritability. Now I have all those symptoms and am fat too--yet again. How many years does it take to get your combo? '
>prilosec is a proton pump inhibitor, a different class of drug from the H2 antagonists.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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