![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Rachel on July 20, 1998, at 20:09:24
I have chronic, severe depression that has remained unrelentless in the face of paxil, zoloft, imipramine (did work briefly), depakote, remeron, effexor, hormones, and wellbutrin. Based on some research I have been reading, I would like to try naltrexone. I am a recovering alcoholic/addict. I have been clean and sober for over two years. What do you think?
Posted by Anita on July 21, 1998, at 16:19:18
In reply to Naltrexone, posted by Rachel on July 20, 1998, at 20:09:24
I'm trying to decide if I should try naltrexone
(to augment my present AD) also. I hesitate
only because I get nauseous easily,
and that's the most common side effect. Someone
also mentioned to me that it could cause apathy.I had treatment-resistant depression before I
tried Nardil. Have you considered trying an MAOI?Anita
Posted by Rachel on July 25, 1998, at 6:04:40
In reply to Re: Naltrexone, posted by Anita on July 21, 1998, at 16:19:18
Anita, thank you for your response. I am not sure what an MAOI is, my doctor has not discussed this with me. We met on Friday and he is not supportive of the idea of using Naltrexone, and he has given me a script for Stellazine in very small doses. I will be on 225mg of effexor, 25 mg. of imipramine and 2mg. of Stellazine. Guess we will see what happens....
Posted by kevin on September 3, 1998, at 20:45:29
In reply to Naltrexone, posted by Rachel on July 20, 1998, at 20:09:24
> I have chronic, severe depression that has remained unrelentless in the face of paxil, zoloft, imipramine (did work briefly), depakote, remeron, effexor, hormones, and wellbutrin. Based on some research I have been reading, I would like to try naltrexone. I am a recovering alcoholic/addict. I have been clean and sober for over two years. What do you think?
rachel, what dose of Remeron where you using?
Posted by ian on September 12, 1998, at 11:46:25
In reply to Naltrexone, posted by Rachel on July 20, 1998, at 20:09:24
> I have chronic, severe depression that has remained unrelentless in the face of paxil, zoloft, imipramine (did work briefly), depakote, remeron, effexor, hormones, and wellbutrin. Based on some research I have been reading, I would like to try naltrexone. I am a recovering alcoholic/addict. I have been clean and sober for over two years. What do you think?Do a search of RxQx on this site and you'll find a number of items from MDs supporting the use of naltrexone as an antidepressant. It appears that it does indeed work for some people.
Posted by Elizabeth on December 14, 1998, at 3:15:31
In reply to Re: Naltrexone, posted by ian on September 12, 1998, at 11:46:25
> Do a search of RxQx on this site and you'll find a number of items from MDs supporting the use of naltrexone as an antidepressant. It appears that it does indeed work for some people.
My impression is that naltrexone is primarily for augmentation of antidepressants when there is a partial response (or preventing poop-out, or jump-starting if poop-out has already occurred) as well as for substance dependence (especially opiates and alcohol). It is also used for people with chronic self-injury problems (e.g., cutting). But I don't know how good it would be by itself for straightforward depression.
Also, I asked a psychopharmacologist who I have seen for consultations a few times (Alexander Bodkin, at McLean) about naltrexone, and he said that he'd found that people tend to experience dysphoria when they're on it - "it's not a pleasant drug to be taking."
Is there a reason you're interested in naltrexone in particular?
Posted by Elizabeth on December 15, 1998, at 19:58:48
In reply to Re: Naltrexone, posted by Rachel on July 25, 1998, at 6:04:40
> Anita, thank you for your response. I am not sure what an MAOI is, my doctor has not discussed this with me. We met on Friday and he is not supportive of the idea of using Naltrexone, and he has given me a script for Stellazine in very small doses. I will be on 225mg of effexor, 25 mg. of imipramine and 2mg. of Stellazine. Guess we will see what happens....
"MAOI" stands for monoamine oxidase inhibitor. They are a type of antidepressant that works differently from the other ones you have tried. You can't eat aged cheese and some other things when you're taking them, though, and they interact with a number of other drugs so that you would have to quit your other antidepressants and then wait a week or two (depending on whether you are using regular or sustained-release Effexor) before starting one.
Stelazine is one of the older antipsychotic drugs (a "major tranquilizer") BTW. Not sure why he would be trying it; that's kind of weird (unless you are having delusions or something). There is some evidence that the new antipsychotics (Risperdal, Zyprexa, Seroquel, and Clozaril) can augment antidepressants, though.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.