Hi I am 26 yr old male emailing from Sydney Australia. In june of last yr I consumed nearly a gram of the drug ice or crystal meth (1st and last time). The drugs effect was much greater than i could have thought not to mention the horrendous "comedown" period during which i had a HIV scare that had me in a paranoid state for close to 3 months (final result was negative) This episode of depression has lasted since this event took place back on June 25 last year. I have NEVER before experienced depression ...infact it took me some time (nearly 2 months after this encounter with the methampetamine)..post HIV negative result to ascertain what these terrible feelings (dissconnection/reduced appetite/general apathy for life/loss of confidence actually were). The GP's advice to try antidepressants did little to help...in hindsight they (efexor and Avanza) only exacerbated the anxiety I was experiencing. A new type of antipsychotic medication called Abilify (prescribed by psychiatrist) made me very agitated. I have used ecstasy occasionally in the past at city nightclubs but must emphasise occasionally..not regularly. I never experienced any ongoing effects (mentally or physically) after using ecstasy. My usual week involved frequent exercise both weights and running and led a healthy lifestyle overall. My appetite was always ravenous but after the encounter with the ice I lost alot of weight (much more so than any use of ecstasy) ..some seven kiliograms...and when I regained the weight my appetite and general feeling of confidence and wellbeing had not returned. I have always thought that I had very active mind and body ...thus the reason I would eat so often (despite being relatively thin) and perhaps (in hindsight) could have made me particularly susceptible to the negative effects of a psychoactive substance like this. Since this event last year I have not touched any illicit drugs and have tried my usual exercise routine of running and weights to try and mentally and physically get back on board. Have (in addition to healthy diet) been taking amino acids (glycine, inositol, L-glutamic, arginine) to try and boost mental wellbeing as well as folic acid. I did also try L-tyrosine and phenylalanine but was told they can cause agitation so stopped taking these. The major physical problem for me seems to be the inability for my body to put muscle on in response to training like I used to. Just yesterday evening I swam 700 m in my local swimming pool and the same the day before yet today no signs of muscle growth in upper arms and chest. This was something I used to do every morning and would get that thickened feeling in muscle groups very easily (along with increased appetite). Someone with whom I spoke descibed this as possible loss of nerve innervation but I am not sure. Am seeing a psychiatrist soon who will be doing a quantitative EEG to get better idea of depression..how does this work...am also trying to get into research study using either direct current stimulation or transcranial magnetic stimualtion to treat depression. Could these help or would the newer magnetic seizure therapy be of more help. I have recently had a magnetic resonance spectroscopy done which showed possible neuronal loss in basal ganglia of brain...an area high in dopamine...would one of the three above treatments be more suited given the MRS result? Any explantion in particular about why my muscles are no longer responding (growing) in response to weight training? Could any of the electrical treatments aid in fixing this problem? Would greatly appreciate your feedback. Cordially yours, Anthony Glass |
| Posted by: Anthony 3/25/2006 10:10:35 AM
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