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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 sam K on July 16, 2009, at 23:20:15
I dont really understand. Why am I so susceptable to changes in the brain? or something. I'll give you guys examples. First off, I did LSD one time, one hit. The next day I was severly depressed and anxious. I mean it wasnt mild. A serious change occured. I changed so much in one day.
Then I get over that after a few years, and then I start taking more powerful meds (I only took klonopin and gabapentin). I took Luvox and got this thing where I feel my teeth all the time. This is probably so freaking rare its unbeleiveable. There is nothing on the whole internet about it.
Then i take Lamictal brand name (which i had a bad feeling about) and now I feel fuzzy and get this weird feeling. Its not explainable.
But the question is why do I get permanent/long lasting effects from drugs? It depresses me.. Maybe its destiny.
Posted by Phillipa on July 16, 2009, at 23:55:24
In reply to a question about me, posted by sam K on July 16, 2009, at 23:20:15
Sam didn't you just post you were doing better and feeling better about you? So a bit confused. But are these meds over all helping you? Love Phillipa
Posted by sam K on July 17, 2009, at 1:38:36
In reply to Re: a question about me » sam K, posted by Phillipa on July 16, 2009, at 23:55:24
its complicated.....
Posted by SLS on July 17, 2009, at 6:37:42
In reply to a question about me, posted by sam K on July 16, 2009, at 23:20:15
> I dont really understand. Why am I so susceptable to changes in the brain? or something. I'll give you guys examples. First off, I did LSD one time, one hit. The next day I was severly depressed and anxious. I mean it wasnt mild. A serious change occured. I changed so much in one day.
> Then I get over that after a few years, and then I start taking more powerful meds (I only took klonopin and gabapentin). I took Luvox and got this thing where I feel my teeth all the time. This is probably so freaking rare its unbeleiveable. There is nothing on the whole internet about it.
> Then i take Lamictal brand name (which i had a bad feeling about) and now I feel fuzzy and get this weird feeling. Its not explainable.
> But the question is why do I get permanent/long lasting effects from drugs? It depresses me.. Maybe its destiny.> its complicated.....
I have had similar reactions to certain drugs. When I was cycling every 11 days, lithium stopped the cycling, but left me in a state of severe depression. Neurontin, Lyrica, and Provigil exacerbate my depression after taking each of them for a week or two. Then when I stop taking these drugs, I feel worse for 4-6 weeks afterwards. These reactions were time limited, which is different than what you are describing, though.
I guess it makes sense that some of these powerful drugs can produce long lasting changes in brain function. Even SSRI poop-out can be looked at that way, where subsequent exposures to the drug no longer produce a therapeutic response. I have had at least one side effect that emerged the first time I took imipramine in 1982 that persists to this day.
Perhaps it makes sense to think of these drugs as placing a stress on the system such that you trigger a susceptibility to depression. Instead of the death of a loved one producing the stress, it is the exposure to certain drugs.
Like you said, it is complicated. Of course, there are specific reasons why these things have happened to you. I just don't know what it is. With Neurontin and Lyrica, I have identified what I believe to be the offensive property. Both drugs are powerful ligands of the alpha-2-beta subunit of the calcium channel. I haven't studied Provigil closely enough to form a theory for why it affected me in such an untoward way.
Is it your destiny to have untoward side effects of drugs? Perhaps. I doubt there are very many people who post here who haven't suffered side effects. Yours are demoralizing, though. I can understand if you were to feel helpless and hopeless. I've been there many times myself. I wasn't too crazy about my life a week ago. Lithium is helping, though. I imagine you will eventually find success.
I wish I had an answer for you so that you could from now on stay away from offending drugs. LSD probably produces its effects through the stimulation of 5-HT2a serotonin receptors. Regarding Luvox, stimulation of these serotonin receptors and 5-HT3a can produce subcutaneous hyperalgesia (pain). Perhaps you should stay away from SRIs for a little while and try drugs like Wellbutrin, TCAs, or MAOIs, or even Remeron. It may be that your best bet is to take a drug like Abilify or Zyprexa, two drugs that block 5-HT2a receptors. I am only thinking out loud.
Abilify + Wellbutrin + Remeron
Weird, I know. However, I doubt you've tried everything yet.
Have any drugs been helpful for your condition?
- Scott
Posted by sam K on July 17, 2009, at 11:14:03
In reply to Re: a question about me, posted by SLS on July 17, 2009, at 6:37:42
i appreciate your response so much! Haha, no I havn't tried everything, but I have tried a lot. No exaggeration at all. I don't want to list. Adderall has helped my depression a lot, and generic lamotrigine is helping me too. Im on generic adderall and generic lamotrigine. The brand name gave me so really bad reaction. I felt like I was dying. Like that rash was in my lungs or something. It wasnt though, I tend to get weird feelings.
the Teva lamotrogine, I read that you are on is working fine for me in terms of efficinacy, but also has some side effects, some that I probably am going to have to accept. The lamotrigine is probably the only bipolar drug that doesnt effect my personality and slug me out. It just brings me more energy and nothing really changes except less mood swings from depression to hypomanias. So I have no choice but to stick with it.
And ive tried all the bipolar drugs, even the experimental/offlabel ones. except verampmil. But i doubt thatd work anyway. Gabapentin is okay.. but causes me more anxiety and too much appetite increase for now.
It seems teva is the best lamotrigine for me right now. Im going to sucker it out and give it along time.
And yes, I have been staying away from ssris. Not because the side effects, but they dont really help me get better. If they did Id take them.
Ive taken abilify a few times and it really give me strange feelings. As do all the APs. Plus I combined, stupidly, seroquel and abilify and I got this lip tremor. Very mild but scares me and I know if i go back on it, it could make it worse in the long term.
Im going to wait until the glycine APs come out. I think those wont have such a punch on me.
Posted by SLS on July 17, 2009, at 11:51:12
In reply to Re: a question about me, posted by sam K on July 17, 2009, at 11:14:03
I'm glad you had the insight to try a different preparation of lamotrigine. I would not have thought to do that. The Teva brand works well for a friend of mine. For me, it just wasn't as potent milligram per milligram versus the GSK Lamictal. Still, Teva was much, much better than the Mylan brand lamotrigine. Could you imagine taking 500mg and still not have any side effects? When I go up to 300mg of Lamictal, I experience profound brain fog, ataxia, and cognitive and memory impairments, particularly short term memory. With Mylan at 500mg, none of these side effects were present and my depression was worse.
By the way, it was the Dr. Reddy brand of lamotrigine that my friend found ineffective. She recovered nicely once she went back to Teva.
- Scott
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