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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by stargazer2 on December 24, 2013, at 14:47:01
My pdoc just started this med today, he said it was for bipolar (package insert says for schizophrenia), which I've never been diagnosed with, but he has treated my TRD with any and all meds, escecially anti psychotics, as Latuda classified as. Lately my suicidality has reared its head again and this is the med he added to Nardil 75 and Lithium 900.
Has anyone been on this for TRD, bipolar or schizophrenia and what kind of effects did you have, both positive or negative.
Merry Christmas to you all and hopefully you are not in the state I find myself in this holiday.
SAw my pdoc Monday, when he almost papered me, today and on Thursday so he can follow my progress or lack thereof. Hopefully my life will start to mean something good sooner rather than later. Just what will it take, I have no idea.
Star
Posted by stargazer2 on December 29, 2013, at 17:43:25
In reply to Latuda...anyone on?, posted by stargazer2 on December 24, 2013, at 14:47:01
Is this an unknown medication? It seems to be working for me
Posted by Tomatheus on December 29, 2013, at 18:44:28
In reply to LATUDA, posted by stargazer2 on December 29, 2013, at 17:43:25
> Is this an unknown medication? It seems to be working for me
It's rather new -- the newest antipsychotic on the market, as far as I'm aware. I'm glad that the medication seems to be helping you, and I hope that the benefits that you're noticing will continue.
Tomatheus
Posted by stargazer2 on December 29, 2013, at 23:58:44
In reply to Re: LATUDA » stargazer2, posted by Tomatheus on December 29, 2013, at 18:44:28
Thank you Tom...I'm glad the name ran a bell on someone's radar. I just read tonight that it was origianlly approved for schizophrenia but was just approved for the depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder, rather than the manic symptoms, so that's a good thing since the derpressive sx are the ones I have had constantly. I'm not really bipolar but since I'm on LIthium, the medical community assumes I am but my doc just calls it a mood disorder and has treated it with AD's, AP's and mood stabalizers. I guess it really doesn't matter what it is called as long as it can be treated.
Could I also have scizophrenia if I have negative signs of it like avoidant type personality?
Posted by Tomatheus on December 30, 2013, at 0:50:27
In reply to Re: LATUDA/ NEW AP for Schizo and Bipolar, posted by stargazer2 on December 29, 2013, at 23:58:44
Stargazer,
Thank you for your response. I wonder if it might just be a matter of time before Latuda will gain approval to be used in the add-on treatment of major depressive disorder. I think that Abilify and Seroquel were approved for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder for a while (without being approved as depression treatments) before they were approved for the add-on treatment of depression. Latuda could prove to be an attractive medication for the treatment of depressive disorders, I think, because of its partial agonist activity at 5HT1A receptors (a certain type of serotonin receptor). Basically, instead of blocking the receptors like some antipsychotics do, Latuda binds to the receptors and activates them, although to a lesser extent than a "full agonist" of the 5HT1A receptor would. At least that's my understanding of how a 5HT1A receptor partial agonist works.
The fact that you seem to be doing well on Latuda is also promising, of course. I of course am not a mental health professional, but I tend to think that your response to Latuda so far might possibly be due at least in part to the medication's action at the 5HT1A receptors, as opposed to the fact that the medication is indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia. In other words, I think that the medication may have antidepressant effects and that it's those effects that you're likely responding to. I'm not 100 percent sure about this, but, to answer your question, I think that I've read that the new DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) requires that a patient exhibit some "positive" psychotic symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, and/or disorganized speech) to be diagnosed with schizophrenia. So, I don't think that a person with only "negative" symptoms (reduction in goal-oriented behavior, affective flattening, poverty of speech, social withdrawal, etc.) can be diagnosed with schizophrenia, although a person with only "negative" symptoms (and no "positive" ones) might meet the criteria for a different psychotic disorder. Of course, this is just my lay-person's understanding of the DSM, and I would take what I say with a grain of salt and seek a professional's opinion if you want authoritative advice on whether your symptoms may be indicative of schizophrenia.
I hope that you'll continue to fare at least reasonably well with the treatment that you're receiving.
Tomatheus
Posted by stargazer2 on December 30, 2013, at 10:33:01
In reply to Re: LATUDA/ NEW AP for Schizo and Bipolar » stargazer2, posted by Tomatheus on December 30, 2013, at 0:50:27
Thank you...for a lay person you're a wealth of information and for being a nurse I'm a knowledge deficit of information. I just want a life worth living and perhaps Latuda will be it. I have no idea what this med will cost but I bet it is up there with abilify which cost $1000/month and it became financially prohibitive to continue on it but I did'nt get much response so I wasn't unhappy with having to stop it. I've only been on half a pill of Latuda for about a week but it's too early to tell the whole story yet.
How did you get so knowledgable, your mind seems really strong, mine has faltered for so long I have trouble with memory and comphehension that I have been unable to work for a few years and that is very troubling but I always had difficulty since my depression started at age 16 after my sister died. I always thought I had dyslexia because I could never read and retain information even though I completed college. Everyone says I'm smart but I never believed it becasue of the reading and retention issues. My memory has gotten worse over the years and makes me feel dumb.
I'm glad you like to read and understand this stuff especially the scientific workings of the brain and meds.
Star
Posted by Phil on December 30, 2013, at 15:35:49
In reply to Re: LATUDA/ NEW AP for Schizo and Bipolar, posted by stargazer2 on December 30, 2013, at 10:33:01
cost will be up there too.
Posted by Tomatheus on December 30, 2013, at 15:51:29
In reply to Re: LATUDA/ NEW AP for Schizo and Bipolar, posted by stargazer2 on December 30, 2013, at 10:33:01
Hello again Stargazer,
Thanks for your post. I do have an interest in the brain and in substances that affect it, and I like to share what I do know about such topics, but there really is a lot that I don't know, and I would say that there are others on this board who seem to be quite a bit more knowledgeable than I am. I've studied both psychology and journalism (and have bachelor's degrees in both), but I'd have to say that most of what I know about the brain and psychiatric medications comes from years of being a mental patient, having spent time looking for answers to my chronic fatigue and hypersomnia that still elude me. I can't say that all of the searching that I've done for answers to my chronic fatigue and hypersomnia has done much long-term good for me (in fact, it might very well have done some long-term harm), but I do like to share what I've learned over the years with others who might benefit from the information in hopes that they might see better outcomes than what I've seen up to this point.
I'm sorry to hear that you've had the problems with memory and comprehension that you've had, and I think that it must have been really difficult to lose your sister when you were just 16 years old. I think that there's no doubt that grieving from having lost a loved one can take quite an emotional toll on a person and can certainly lead to feelings of depression. I know that you asked about psychotherapy in another thread, and I personally think that talking to a therapist would be a good thing to try doing, if you haven't already done it. Generally speaking, utilizing psychotherapy with medication for depression tends to work better than either treatment modality alone. And considering that your depression emerged following your sister's death, I think it's likely that your depression could have some psychological underpinnings that might be amenable (at least to an extent) with psychotherapy.
Well, thanks again for your post. Again, it is my hope that the treatments that you're utilizing will continue to be of benefit to you. Take care.
Tomatheus
Posted by stargazer2 on December 30, 2013, at 15:56:54
In reply to Re: LATUDA/ NEW AP for Schizo and Bipolar » stargazer2, posted by Phil on December 30, 2013, at 15:35:49
Cost is always up there for the newest antipsychotic or any new med I suppose? why does it have to be so difficult to find a new med especially if it works but you can't afford to pay for it.
I know, blah, blah, blah, the drug companies have spent so much money on research that they have to recoup their investment especially if it is a dud and burns out with lack of effacacy or side effects too soon.
Nothing new...new drugs high costs until generics are developed after a few years and then the generic doesn't work as well as the original formula so by then new meds developed which work bette and higher cost. It is a med cost cysle.
Posted by stargazer2 on January 1, 2014, at 12:22:29
In reply to Re: LATUDA/ NEW AP for Schizo and Bipolar, posted by stargazer2 on December 30, 2013, at 15:56:54
This is the end of the thread.
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