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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SalArmy4me on February 20, 2001, at 3:40:12
I have treatment-resistant depression with painful flashbacks and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. My illnesses are resistant to most antidepressants and anticonvulsants. But on a wild hunch, I started Mirapex, knowing full well that it is not standard treatment for depression.
It started working for me in a little less than a week (possibly because I got up to 6 mg per day in two days' time)! I found out that it needs to be taken about every 5 hours, otherwise I relapse. I have no side-effects from it (thank God). It has been 3 years since a medication has worked for me.
One day, it may become standard antidepressant therapy, because the studies below have shown promising results.
{Mirapex is a dopamine agonist that is most often used for Parkinson's Disease. But, it has been shown in two studies to have antidepressant properties in non-Parkinson's patients.}
Studies on Medline:
2. Pramipexole augmentation in the treatment of unipolar and bipolar depression: a retrospective chart review Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2000 Sep;12(3):137-40. [Record as supplied by publisher] PMID: 10984002
3:
Maj J, Rogoz Z.
Related Articles
Synergistic effect of pramipexole and sertraline in the forced swimming test. Pol J Pharmacol. 1999 Nov-Dec;51(6):471-5.
PMID: 10817524
4: Corrigan MH, Denahan AQ, Wright CE, Ragual RJ, Evans DL. Related Articles Comparison of pramipexole, fluoxetine, and placebo in patients with major depression. Depress Anxiety. 2000;11(2):58-65. PMID: 10812530
5: DeBattista C, Solvason HB, Breen JA, Schatzberg AF. Related Articles Pramipexole augmentation of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor in the treatment of depression. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2000 Apr;20(2):274-5. No abstract available. PMID: 10770475
6:
Goldberg JF, Frye MA, Dunn RT.
Related Articles
Pramipexole in refractory bipolar depression.
Am J Psychiatry. 1999 May;156(5):798. No abstract available.
PMID: 10327923
7:
Bennett JP, Piercey MF.
Related Articles
Pramipexole--a new dopamine agonist for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. J Neurol Sci. 1999 Feb 1;163(1):25-31. Review.
PMID: 10223406
8: Piercey MF. Related Articles Pharmacology of pramipexole, a dopamine D3-preferring agonist useful in treating Parkinson's disease. Clin Neuropharmacol. 1998 May-Jun;21(3):141-51. Review. PMID: 9617505
9:
Willner P.
Related Articles
The mesolimbic dopamine system as a target for rapid antidepressant action. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 1997 Jul;12 Suppl 3:S7-14. Review.
PMID: 9347387
Posted by JahL on February 20, 2001, at 9:03:34
In reply to Mirapex is Legitimate; studies prove works for me, posted by SalArmy4me on February 20, 2001, at 3:40:12
>I started Mirapex, knowing full well that it is not standard treatment for depression.
> I found out that it needs to be taken about every 5 hours, otherwise I relapse.Hi Sal.
I think I've asked this B4 but I'm not sure I got an answer...
Since you sleep (I imagine) for more than 5 hrs at a time, does this mean you wake up more depressed?
If so, how long B4 the first dose of Mirapex 'fixes' you?
Appreciate any info you can provide (it's high on my drug list!).
Ta,
Jah.
Posted by SalArmy4me on February 20, 2001, at 11:06:18
In reply to Re: MIRAPEX; 'Relapse' Question. » SalArmy4me, posted by JahL on February 20, 2001, at 9:03:34
For me, the drug needs to be taken every 5 hours. So this should make me depressed in the morning, after sleeping for 8 hours, right? But it doesn't...I don't know why that is. However, if I wait two hours after I get up to take the Mirapex, then I will relapse and feel terrible, not wanting to go to work.
Here are some advantages of Mirapex:
--It has a benign side-effect profile, with most patients reporting nausea as the main side-effect. But that side-effect may have been from the levodopa that the Parkinsons' patients were also taking during the clinical trials.
--Mirapex is definitely less expensive than Prozac or Wellbutrin. 100 of the 1.5 mg Mirapex tablets costs $80 on insurance at the largest HMO in the US. Prozac and Paxil are definitely more costly.
--It has few anticholinergic effects.
--It is not known to cause sexual dysfunction.
--Though it probably has to be taken three times a day, so does Neurontin, Wellbutrin IR, Effexor IR, and Visken.
--Mirapex has two studies done on it in non-Parkinsons' patients--one for unipolar depression and the other for bipolar disorder.
--It has minimal drug interactions as compared to Tricylcics Antidepressants or MAOI's (& RIMA's).Thus, if it works for you, its a good deal. Its the only thing that works for me...
Posted by SLS on February 20, 2001, at 11:11:31
In reply to Mirapex is Legitimate; studies prove works for me, posted by SalArmy4me on February 20, 2001, at 3:40:12
Dear SalArmy4me,
What other medication are you taking?
I am considering adding Mirapex to my current combo to treat bipolar depression:
Parnate 80mg
desipramine 300mg
Lamictal 300mg
Zyprexa 2.5mgThanks.
- Scott
> I have treatment-resistant depression with painful flashbacks and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. My illnesses are resistant to most antidepressants and anticonvulsants. But on a wild hunch, I started Mirapex, knowing full well that it is not standard treatment for depression.
>
> It started working for me in a little less than a week (possibly because I got up to 6 mg per day in two days' time)! I found out that it needs to be taken about every 5 hours, otherwise I relapse. I have no side-effects from it (thank God). It has been 3 years since a medication has worked for me.
Posted by SalArmy4me on February 20, 2001, at 11:33:19
In reply to Re: Mirapex is Legitimate; studies prove works for me » SalArmy4me, posted by SLS on February 20, 2001, at 11:11:31
Um...you're going to think I'm insane:
I also take 600 mg venlafaxine XR, 60 mg mirtazapine, 40 mg buspirone, and 400 mg lamotrigine--in addition to the 6 mg of Mirapex.
All the other medications _combined_ do not have as much of an antidepressant effect as Mirapex does.
Posted by JahL on February 20, 2001, at 12:18:09
In reply to The Advantages of Mirapex » JahL, posted by SalArmy4me on February 20, 2001, at 11:06:18
> For me, the drug needs to be taken every 5 hours. So this should make me depressed in the morning, after sleeping for 8 hours, right? But it doesn't...I don't know why that is. However, if I wait two hours after I get up to take the Mirapex, then I will relapse and feel terrible, not wanting to go to work.
>
> Here are some advantages of Mirapex:
>
> --It has a benign side-effect profile, with most patients reporting nausea as the main side-effect. But that side-effect may have been from the levodopa that the Parkinsons' patients were also taking during the clinical trials.
> --Mirapex is definitely less expensive than Prozac or Wellbutrin. 100 of the 1.5 mg Mirapex tablets costs $80 on insurance at the largest HMO in the US. Prozac and Paxil are definitely more costly.
> --It has few anticholinergic effects.
> --It is not known to cause sexual dysfunction.
> --Though it probably has to be taken three times a day, so does Neurontin, Wellbutrin IR, Effexor IR, and Visken.
> --Mirapex has two studies done on it in non-Parkinsons' patients--one for unipolar depression and the other for bipolar disorder.
> --It has minimal drug interactions as compared to Tricylcics Antidepressants or MAOI's (& RIMA's).
>
> Thus, if it works for you, its a good deal. Its the only thing that works for me...
Posted by SLS on February 20, 2001, at 13:48:19
In reply to Mirapex + other antidepressants, posted by SalArmy4me on February 20, 2001, at 11:33:19
YAY! YAY! YAY!
YAY! YAY! YAY!
YAY! YAY! YAY!
YAY! YAY! YAY!
YAY! YAY! YAY!> Um...you're going to think I'm insane:
>
> I also take 600 mg venlafaxine XR, 60 mg mirtazapine, 40 mg buspirone, and 400 mg lamotrigine--in addition to the 6 mg of Mirapex.I may try venlafaxine 600mg also. You have an excellent doctor who is definitely quite sane.
I am a little surprised that your dosage of Lamictal exceeds 300mg. Do you have any difficulties with memory at 400mg?
YAY! YAY! YAY!
YAY! YAY! YAY!
YAY! YAY! YAY!
YAY! YAY! YAY!
YAY! YAY! YAY!
- Scott
Posted by SLS on February 20, 2001, at 13:53:55
In reply to The Advantages of Mirapex » JahL, posted by SalArmy4me on February 20, 2001, at 11:06:18
Hi again.
> For me, the drug needs to be taken every 5 hours. So this should make me depressed in the morning, after sleeping for 8 hours, right? But it doesn't...I don't know why that is. However, if I wait two hours after I get up to take the Mirapex, then I will relapse and feel terrible, not wanting to go to work.
Long shot: Try adding low dosages of either Zyprexa or Risperdal along with Mirapex to coax a more stable improvement. It seems that this strategy has popped up a few times here during the last few weeks and has provided a remarkable response.
Sincerely,
Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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