Is Anybody Being Prescribed Scopolamine For Depression (Page 8)

is anyone being prescribed scopolamine off-label for depression? the NIMH is doing clinical trials for same and apparently it works, however my p-doc won't prescribe it for me.

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Ive been reading ab the ketamine studies for years but knew they would not be affordable. It didn't take much to convince my Pdoc to write the script for the patch. I've had horrid experiences in the past with SSRIs & absolutely no help from Lithium. I just recently wore the patch for three days after living in a black hole pretty consistently the last two years & I noticed a difference in my mindset within 48 hours. I did experience the blurry vision when attempting to read & the constipation factor. Rather than focusing on negative outlooks I've noticed myself reaching out & seeing possibility across the board. My question is how often should I do the three day stint of wearing the patch. Fortunately when I removed it yesterday I did not have any nausea or headaches. Any & all insight is appreciated.

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One more question... This stuff ain't cheap. Anyone get it online from Canada where it's more affordable? It definitely works so I need some in reserve at all times.

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my brother sent me from canada...there you can bye without persrcition

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Hi, I'm a female, age 50 who's suffered with atypical depression (dysthymia to MDD) since my teen years. I've tried multiple meds. Just tried ketamine infusions with Dr Glen Z Brooks in Manhattan (I highly recommend him), but did not respond. Does anyone have any experience with Scopolamine infusions? Dr Maura Furey is doing research at NIMH on this, but I'm not sure if anyone else is using this method.

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Scopolamine was recognized (and used) as an anti-depressant & relaxant around the early-20th century. Like 1900-1920 era. It went by the name "hyoscine". You can find it in Google books from that period. It was also considered the best treatment for people tyring to come-off of morphine addiction. It also was given for alcohol withdrawal (DT's). Apparently, though, it's quite toxic if taken in too-large an amount, and also used by some for very neafrious purposes.

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I know this is slightly off topic, but it may provide a little more hope for you, as it did for me. There is a new type of mental-illness-related gene testing being conducted by the company Genesight. Supposedly the gene tests provide info about what medications are most likely (or unlikely) to benefit you based on your unique genetic profile.

I just read about these tests and have not yet taken any, so I cannot comment about their cost, effectiveness, or conduct. I can only say that they SEEM very interesting considering the frustrating trial and error nature of seeking effective treatment. If you're suffering from depression/anxiety you might explore the Genesight Psychotropic test and the Genesight MTHFR test (MTHFR relates to folic acid dynamics tied to depression). Some of you might consider the ADHD test and/or the Analgesic test. For more details check out the website: assurexhealth.com

This seems like a very supportive community. Best of luck to you all.

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Thank you, Kev! I'll check it out

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This is off-topic, but just wanted to throw out another possible idea that may help someone. If you search "nicotine for depression" you will find info on a study that was done by Duke U that showed nicotine did help symptoms. I have been an occasional smoker off/on, but only when I drink maybe once a week. I am not recommending anyone smoke (and I think I am going to stop again because my throat is getting sore even from ultra-lights and I don't want cancer), but I went and bought nicotine gum (2mg) as a test. Today I felt really depressed for unknown reasons. An ultra-light cig is about 0.5mg of nicotine. 1/4 piece of gum did nothing, neither did a 1/2. Then I tried a whole piece...it made me kinda jittery, but I also have anxiety, so if you do as well, this may not be good for you. I can't say I feel less depressed except for the fact that it sort of "woke me up" a tad (I also have CFS and fibromyalgia so I never know how much of my fatigue is mental vs physical). Anyways, my point is maybe try the 2mg gum or lozenges and just see if it helps. They come in 20ct for about $13 at CVS or Walgreens. Might be worth it if it got you out of a real funk or suicidal situation, but due to addictive potential, may not be a good idea to become reliant on it. Also, I read some people (former smokers) who ended up using it too much (10+ pieces a day) and eventually ended up with hair loss and other negative side effects.

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I had a total knee replacement about 1 month ago. I was prescribed a scopolamine patch for nausea from the pain meds. I have major depression. As I kept changing this patch every 3 days I noticed I had NO depression. It was bizarre and the only med. that had changed (besides pain meds) was this scopolamine patch. I started getting a rash behind my ear, so I discontinued it and within a day my depression came back full on. I started doing some research and found this site. I am amazed how the depression was just GONE. Now, I do not know what to do. I wish I could get it in some other form. any ideas?

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How would you cut the adhesive off. I am looking at my patches and wonder how t do that? I am an RN too! I am allergic to the chemical in the adhesive too. I didn't have a reaction until patch #5....weird.

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I use the patches for motion sickness. I've been on them for a good while now. I get a skin burn at the patch site also. I started putting them on my arm covered by band-aids. I find they work just as well and the side effects are not as bad. I also find I can get 5 to 6 days out of them.

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I can't see any way to cut the adhesive off, you'd probably end up taking the medicine off with it. It totally sucks...these patches truly did help me but the rash was not worth it and the pills had no effect for me :(

I wonder if you could crush a tablet, make into a paste and put under a bandage? Would it absorb that way?

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I would be really cautious about cutting the patches. The active medication is Scopolamine. If too much is taken at one time it does have a serious effect on the body. I know it can effect your vision and at high doses it causes hallucinations. It has also has ties to being used as a Date Rape drug. I've read an article that NASA Scientist came up with an liquid oral form to help the Astronauts but it has not cleared FDA approval.

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Hi everyone! There are some amazing stories here, and I want to help you tell them.

I am a journalist working on a story about ketamine and scopolamine treatments for depression. If you've participated in a study, visited a clinic for intravenous or intranasal ketamine, or self-medicated by obtaining scopolamine patches, etc., I would love to talk to you!

These drugs seem so promising, but it is very frustrating that they are not yet approved or covered by insurance for depression. I want to talk to the people that have experienced the benefits of these treatments firsthand. Your voices would make this story come to life. I will be happy to keep you anonymous if that makes you more comfortable.

{edited for privacy}

Thank you!

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Hey Journo!

Just getting ready to start oral compounded Scopolomine 2x 0.4 mg every three days for 4 doses over 12 days.
I have had some minor depression which i say is SAD because it always comes in late October and start to get a bit of relief in March and is gone by summer.
Had some High blood pressure issues a year ago and one of the 7 pills prescribed was Lorazepam. All the pills made me a depressed zombie..so in March i slowly got off them all. Metoprolol was 2.5 months and hard to get off...palpitations and anxiety...so i started taking more lorazepam 1.5 mg per day and then when i got off the BP meds i decided to get off the lorazepam until i had horrible withdrawals symptoms and researched it to find out i am addicted to them and had bad symptoms...saw a specialist and he switched me to Valium in August...was great for about a month but dropped too fast and got another withdrawal spanking.
By October i was feeling really sedated and feeling the SAD come on more than normal.
Just talked to my Dr the other day and he said it sounded like depression and since he is a specialist and on the cutting edge he recommended Scopolomine in pill form by a compounding pharmacy to see what happens and get me feeling better so i can continue to taper off the Valium.
I am a little nervous about taking it as i now am a doubter of prescription drugs.
I have researched this drug a bit and am willing to try it as i want off the Valium ASAP.
I'll let you know what happens. I do coaching and therapy so i am pretty good at making distinctions of others and myself. Sometimes to my detriment...lol

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I wish you luck. I tried Scopolamine oral (went up to 2mg) and sad to say, it did basically nothing for me. The patches did help, but I am allergic to the adhesive in the patch, which was so disappointing :( I would get a major itchy red circle when I removed it that would take forever to go away. Wasn't worth it :(

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Anticholinergic meds were popular when tricyclic were in vogue. They are similar to truth serum Rx's in some ways. Tricyclic Rx's have a unacceptable mortality and morbidity.

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My then 15 year old daughter has suffered from low moods since preschool. She has battled severe depression and anxiety all her life. She cried every day at preschool and elementary school, biting her arm so hard she'd draw blood. She hasn't been able to complete a full year of school since 5th grade and has been on hospital home bound schooling since. She attempted suicide twice, and was sent to a pediatric mental hospital for 6 months. She has been prescribed literally dozens of psychiatric medicines to no avail...antidepressants, antipsychotics, bipolar meds, etc. etc. She had surgery for sinusitis and adenoid removal and was given a scopolamine patch for anti-nausea for recovery. For that week with the patch, she was "normal" as in calm and content. wish there was a way to keep her in this state, but I don't think she could function with the patch 24/7 and I don't know of any psychiatrist who would prescribe it for her. She's 17 now. Maybe when she turns 18 we'll have better luck.

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Emily's Mom, look at Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation (JBRF) website.... Offers new perspective on bipolar-like behavior/mood symptoms. Look for their description symptoms for the "fear of harm" phenotype....it may match what your daughter is experiencing? They also report children with this particular group of symptoms tend to be resistant to treatments used for depression/ anxiety/ bipolar, etc. The research group is conducting clinical trials on intranasal ketamine.
Maybe there is hope???

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I've had the same experience. I think instead of the nicotine it is something else in the tobacco. Maybe MOAI in the tobacco plant. It cold be a chemical in the mgf of cigs. It could also be a reaction to satisfying the addiction to something in cigs as well as nicotine. Also gum is released slowly and cigs give you a quick hit.

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