Posted by SLS on January 15, 2008, at 22:31:07
In reply to Why would Provigil act like this? SLS? Anyone?, posted by 4WD on January 15, 2008, at 18:18:26
Hi Marsha.
I had the same response pattern as you did with Provigil. In fact, after any antidepressant effect that it produced diminished, came a worsening of depression that lasted two weeks beyond taking the last dose.
Provigil affects two neurotransmitter systems that we don't talk about too much here. It increases the release of glutamate and acts as a hypocretin (orexin) agonist. I think the neurotransmitter most important in the pro-wakefulness properties of Provigil is hypocretin efferents from the hypothalamus. The glutamate release enhancer probably helps out with any antidepressant properties this drug has via dopamine activation in the nucleus accumbens. I haven't been keeping up with research, so I don't know the latest regarding the pharmacology of Provigil.
I don't want to venture a guess as to what's going on with your response pattern to Provigil. There is quite a bit to take into consideration. It is heading towards midnight, and I need to turn my computer off. I'll see what I can come up with tomorrow.
:-)
Oh. It just occurred to me that having a response pattern similar to ours might indicate that Lamictal would be particularly effective as an augmentor of standard antidepressants. Have you tried it yet? At what dosage? How did you respond to it?
- Scott> I can take Provigil (100mg morning and 100mg early afternoon) for a few days and it helps with motivation and energy (though it makes me quite jittery). Then one day I'll take it, all other variables being the same, and instead of helping, it makes me very depressed. If I skip it for a week or so then go back on it, it helps again. But then the cycle repeats itself. I can't understand it.
>
> Any ideas anyone?
>
poster:SLS
thread:806757
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080114/msgs/806804.html