Posted by SLS on July 16, 2006, at 7:11:24
In reply to Re: Any comments regarding sibutramine (Meridia)? » SLS, posted by cecilia on July 9, 2006, at 21:08:35
I watched a video yesterday of Peter Mueller, MD administering sibutramine to patients suffering from either fibromyalgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, or Tourettes. All of his patients also suffered mood, energy, and cognitive perturbations that overlapped with depression. The improvements in all aspects of their conditions were quite miraculous. Most were placed on dosages of 15-20mg per day given in divided doses. The only thing that bothered me is that many improved to some degree within a day, although the full effect did take longer. I don't doubt that this occurred, but it doesn't necessarily bode well for sufferers of true MDD or BD because I would expect it to take a minimum of two weeks to see an improvement in these conditions. I guess I still see the response to medication as a compensatory mechanism in the CNS that includes things like receptor reregulation and second messenger-mediated alterations in gene expression. These are things that take awhile to happen. Of course, there is the possibility that there are some psychostimulant properties that engage immediately while these other mechanisms are at work.
I think I am going to try this drug next. I am dismayed at the cost, though. It costs $134 for 30 10mg pills. The active metabolites have half-lives of about 12 hours. My guess is that one would need to take 20mg a day. $270 a month! I guess I'll start at 10mg and see what happens.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:665059
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060709/msgs/667446.html