Posted by uncouth on November 10, 2009, at 14:20:48
In reply to Re: Peter Breggin, posted by SLS on November 10, 2009, at 6:25:45
Scott,
That sequence you put forth is interesting. My primary concern right now is the potential toxicity of lithium. I have been at 600mg for 6 weeks and I can definitely tell some cognitive and memory problems. I am talking to my dr. about reducing the dose. I feel the lithium helped me get out of my suicidal pit, but now could be one of the causes of this chronic apathy and indifference I feel. I think SSRIs also contribute to that, and I'm hoping wellbutrin and agomelatine do not share that property....I for one won't ever take SSRIs again.Zyprexa WAS a significant help but the weight gain and intense hunger was too hard to manage, and it too helped me get out of "the pit". I talked to my dr. about potentially switching to asenapine (saphris) and he advised a 7 day washout from zyprexa first. Im mid way through that and now wondering if I should even be on an antipsychotic at all. Breggin is pretty convinced they are universally disabling.
But then again there is also research I believe showing increases in prefrontal activity and neurogenesis, and certianly many people ahve repsonded well to AP. So I don't know what to do.
The one thing I do believe Breggin is correct about is the "spellbinding" effect of many of these medications. They affect your ability to discern their effects. Even if you "respond" it's hard to tell what other subtle brain disfunction may be occuring.
I'm starting to wonder whether the safest bet might be a precursor strategy (L-Tryptophan, DL-Phenylalanine, Deplin, SAM-e, B12, etc.).
I don't know if Breggin has teased out differences between MAOIs/ TCAs/ and SSRIs, but he seems to think that all antidepressants are disabling, and that is effectively their mechanism of action.
Anyway, reading some of his stuff (his books are available in partial form to read on Google Books) got me thinking and a bit scared. Do I have to choose between intense emotional pain or complete numbness and affectlessness?
-uncouth
poster:uncouth
thread:925110
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20091107/msgs/925201.html