Posted by Ktemene on November 26, 2004, at 15:14:57
In reply to Namenda, so far, so good, posted by JackD on November 24, 2004, at 17:22:40
> Just in case you guys are interested, I convinced my doctor to prescribe me Namenda (memantine HCL) 60mg a day in addition to my antidepressants and Lamictal. I've had treatment resistant/bipolar II depression for a LOOOOOOOONNNNNNNG time. Please take me seriously when I say that I have been able to find COMPLETE remission using memantine and I am even euthymic. Basically, I feel f'n great (this has been 3-4 months so far I think, so I haven't wanted to post; I've been disappointed one too many times) and am even able to take a heavy dose of antidepressants without experiencing either poopout or severe mood swings. I am also DEFINITELY not manic, just incredibly content that I've found this magic formula of meds. My doctor even called Forest labs and found out that they have had success with treating depression in trials using JUST Namenda at 40mg. They didn't want to give any further details for obvious reasons. I hope this post is informative, and if anyone wants to ask me exactly what I'm on, how I feel, etc etc, my email address is [email protected] .
Hi Jack,
It is terrific that you have found something that works so well for you, especially since you were treatment resistant for so long. I came across a reference to memantine that I thought would interest you, and I copied it below.
Ktemene
“Psychobiological Mechanisms of Resilience and Vulnerability: Inplications for Successful Adaptation to Extreme Stress” by Dennis S. Charney (Am J Pschiatry 161:195-216, February 2004
Subjects with major depression are hyperresponsive to amphetamine such that the severity of depression in major depression was highly correlated with the rewarding effects of amphetamine. The mechanism may be depletion of synaptic dopamine with up-regulation of dopamine receptors (154, 155). Increasing dopamine function in the nucleus accumbens, the orbital frontal cortex, and the ventral tegmental area and NMDA receptor blockade in the nucleus accumbens and the medial prefrontal cortex may enhance sensitivity to reward. Therefore, psychostimulants, dopamine reuptake inhibitors, monoxamine oxidase-B inhibitors (selegiline), the dopamine receptor agonists (pramipexole), and NMDA receptor antagonists (memantine) may be useful for treating anhedonia and hopelessness resulting from traumatic stress exposure.
poster:Ktemene
thread:419100
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041123/msgs/420564.html