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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Garnet71 on February 8, 2009, at 20:41:58
I had read that after discontinuing Wellbutrin, there were studies that show the brain has a hard time (was it producing?) or sustaining sufficient dopamine levels until after 6 to 12 months post- discontinuation. I don't know if this is true; I can't ready neuroscience journal articles right now.
How would screwed up dopamine levels manifest in terms of symptoms? Has anyone gotten PET or other scans to find deficiencies/the cause of their symptoms?
I can't see spending years and years trying ot find a right combo of medication based on trial and error if there are tests available that will find the cause much quicker. From a cost-benefit analysis, wouldn't the cost of the tests save money in terms of health care and productivity in the long run? I realize that perhaps even with scans, scripts will still be trial and error in some sense, but would save a lot of time and prescriptions - and life.
How do you know if you have a dopamine problem?
Posted by garnet71 on February 9, 2009, at 3:41:48
In reply to Dopamine issues?, posted by Garnet71 on February 8, 2009, at 20:41:58
How do you know if you have a dopamine problem?
You would go to a doctor.
That couldn't be rational; after all, I've been going to doctors for years now, and for psychiatrists--almost 10 years. I am always told, after a 5 to 15 minute verbal/audio assessment, severely lacking in independent thought I might add, that I have depression or anxiety. Quite often, I am viewed as a hypochondriac.
I have not felt depressed for years, but strangely enough, I'm prescribed drugs over and over and over and over and over that.....drum roll xxxxxxxx make me depressed!
Posted by Alexanderfromdenmark on March 3, 2009, at 11:49:57
In reply to Dopamine issues?, posted by Garnet71 on February 8, 2009, at 20:41:58
I don't know how you can test dopamine in your brain, but you can use other meausures to get a picture of your body's catchelomine production. Julia ross, in her book "the mood cure" indentifies cat defieciency symptoms as, low psyhical and mental energy, low sexdrive, apathy, low focus and concentration, cold hands and feet, low motivation, weight gain and sleeping too much.
The adrenal and thyroid glands are important in the body's cat production, so getting the adrenal glands tested with a salivatest and the thyroid tested with tsh, ft3, ft4. If the TSH is higher than 2, then that can be indicative of low thyroid, even if your doc says that it's within normal range.
Posted by garnet71 on March 3, 2009, at 23:42:38
In reply to Re: Dopamine issues?, posted by Alexanderfromdenmark on March 3, 2009, at 11:49:57
"The adrenal and thyroid glands are important in the body's cat production"
Well I'll just have to take a chance and read up on that since my cortisol and thyroid both tested low.
Catchelomine production? Don't know what that is but I'll have to find out now that you have me curious and all.
Posted by garnet71 on March 3, 2009, at 23:51:06
In reply to Re: Dopamine issues?, posted by Alexanderfromdenmark on March 3, 2009, at 11:49:57
Hmm. this sounds too familiar. My endo told me hypoglycemia is tough to diagnose. My glucose was high as well--but I had a fruit smoothie 2 hrs before the appt. and the test called for fasting-but she told me to get it done anyway. I didn't think much of it since I ate all the fruit, but I've had symptoms of hypoglycemia too, and have gained a lot of weight. Hope I don't have the horoscope effect right now..lol..where everything I read is "that's me!" lol.
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/serotonin_connection.html
Posted by Alexanderfromdenmark on March 6, 2009, at 10:39:49
In reply to Dopamine issues?, posted by Garnet71 on February 8, 2009, at 20:41:58
Where did you read that Discontinuing Wellbutrin can make it difficult for the brain to produce it's own dopamine?
Posted by Alexanderfromdenmark on March 6, 2009, at 10:41:39
In reply to Re: Dopamine issues? » Alexanderfromdenmark, posted by garnet71 on March 3, 2009, at 23:42:38
Both your thyroid and cortisol tested low? Is that drug induced or is it something that has just happened? What's your drug history?
This is the end of the thread.
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