[Speed3]

Has anyone tried Namenda or Mematine, particularly for treatment resistant or rapid cycling bipolar depression.

It is off label, it is mainly a ahlzheimers med. I heard about it a while back. It works on the glutamate system in the brain.

There are some new articles out on results of clinical trials that were for TR bipolar depression. 72% of the patients with treatment resistant bipolar depression had marked improvement within 6 months. The dose was 10 to 30 mgs per day.

I just started it today at 5 mg 2 times per day.

I hope it helps, because I am definitely in the treatment resistant population.

They are also saying it helps OCD, which I have too.

[Travelinglady]

I haven't heard of anyone else. Please let us know how it goes!

[intergalactictraveler]

Originally Posted by Speed3

Has anyone tried Namenda or Mematine, particularly for treatment resistant or rapid cycling bipolar depression.

It is off label, it is mainly a ahlzheimers med. I heard about it a while back. It works on the glutamate system in the brain.

There are some new articles out on results of clinical trials that were for TR bipolar depression. 72% of the patients with treatment resistant bipolar depression had marked improvement within 6 months. The dose was 10 to 30 mgs per day.

I just started it today at 5 mg 2 times per day.

I hope it helps, because I am definitely in the treatment resistant population.

They are also saying it helps OCD, which I have too.

Several years ago, read the same research and asked my pdoc about it and to my surprise, he prescribed it. Short story; for me, it didn't work but nothing has worked for me. With all my heart, I hope you get a good response.

I took namenda during my ECT treatments to help prevent any memory issues. I had absolutely no memory issues, but it's hard to say if the namenda is what did the trick. I don't know anything about it being used for depression.

[ilive4music]

my doctor wants to give me this for anxiety ...any information would be appreciated...thanks!

[neverending]

I don't know about anxiety. Nothing worked for my bipolar. But now I have been taking mematine for 2 years I think and it has stabilized me. I have been on just about everything available for bipolar n this is the only one that I can both tolerate and has actually worked. I m also on other meds. I take lorazepam for anxiety myself. Haven't seen the mematine make any difference there as far as I know.

However as I have never been stable before in my life n I am a senior now, it could also be helping some w anxiety and I just don't realize it.

[ilive4music]

Originally Posted by neverending

I don't know about anxiety. Nothing worked for my bipolar. But now I have been taking mematine for 2 years I think and it has stabilized me. I have been on just about everything available for bipolar n this is the only one that I can both tolerate and has actually worked. I m also on other meds. I take lorazepam for anxiety myself. Haven't seen the mematine make any difference there as far as I know.

However as I have never been stable before in my life n I am a senior now, it could also be helping some w anxiety and I just don't realize it.

glad it's working for you (even if its for the bipolar part ) i have seem some studies use it for bipolar too