5 ms·

I treat my treatment resistant depression by inducing 101+ fever for half an hour each day. I started when I had to stop an allergy to the EMSAM patch. There a

I treat my treatment resistant depression by inducing 101+ fever for half an hour each day. I started when I had to stop an allergy to the EMSAM patch. There are also medications that you might not have heard of. If you want, I can write more when I'm not on mobile.

solveit 8y ago
How do you induce a fever?
- Something1234 8y ago
  I'm guessing he uses a sauna.
  - WalterSear 8y ago
    Pretty much. I use IR lights and a pair of space heaters in an enclosed space. The IR lights do most of the job. Going to a sauna with a thermometer would probably be the easiest route for many who want to try this. It was easier for me to buy a bunch of lights on amazon and do it at home. Cheaper, too.
- DoreenMichele 8y ago
  You can easily induce a 102 degree fever with a very hot bath.
  - WalterSear 8y ago
    Not for half an hour, unless you have someone patient with a kettle. I have seen one journal abstract where that that was used, but I don't know the details. There are better methods though, if you have the budget of a hospital or research center, such as IR lights filtered through water. There's also a article outlining various methods of inducing hyperthermia.
    - DoreenMichele 8y ago
      Well, perhaps not by itself . I used to take an ear thermometer in the tub with me, dunk my head, check temp in both ears to make sure I hit 102, then wrap up in bedding, fully covered, for 20 minutes or so. Edit in reply to your edit: Yes I also preheated water on the stove and had assistance from a family member, though technically no kettle was involved. There are no doubt better methods if you have scads of money. If you don't, a bathtub and big pot on the stove, plus blankets, can readily get you there for cheap.
      - WalterSear 8y ago
        I've spent ~$200 on this.
        DoreenMichele 8y ago
        For some people, that would be a lot of money.
    - TheSpiceIsLife 8y ago
      If you have an instant gas hot water you have fairly unlimited hot water. You could position the bath plug to leak at a set rate and continually add hot water to maintain an appropriate water temperature.
CynicalDio 8y ago
What are these alternative meds?
- WalterSear 8y ago
  I was thinking specifically of Pramiplexole. Pramipexole in Treatment Resistant-Depression, Possible Role of Inflammatory Cytokines: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5143506/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5143506/ https://www.nature.com/articles/npp2016217.pdf?origin=ppub https://www.nature.com/articles/npp2016217.pdf?origin=ppub Antidepressant-like effect of pramipexole in an inflammatory model of depression. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27825895 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27825895 Anti-inflammatory treatment for major depressive disorder: implications for patients with an elevated immune profile and non-responders to standard antidepressant therapy https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5606303/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5606303/
thevagrant 8y ago
I would like to know more.
- WalterSear 8y ago
  I learnt about it from this interview of about depression inflammation research: > Charles Raison, M.D. is a professor at the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Founding Director of the Center for Compassion Studies in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Arizona. Dr. Raison’s research focuses on inflammation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DtJGJWjDys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DtJGJWjDys While the protocol he is implementing (and most hyperthermia protocols I have seen) involve temperatures reaching 104-105 degrees, in the interview they discuss a possible connection to hot yoga and sauna use, which would not involve such high temperatures. I would assume that it would easiest to try something like this at a sauna in a gym for a few week or so - all else you would need would be a thermometer. I picked up a bunch of IR lamps and a couple of space heaters, and set them up in a space just big enough to do push-ups in. The entire setup cost ~$200. http://i.imgur.com/aM3BCbE.jpg http://i.imgur.com/aM3BCbE.jpg I have been getting my temperature to 100 degrees via the lights and the heaters, spending another ten minutes trying to increase it from there (it is usually close to 102 by the time I stop), then resting for another 20 minutes with the heaters and lights not quite as overbearingly close. I've also started incorporate pushups and planks and drink a quart of hot tea (watch out with this and the thermometer :) ) At first I thought it wasn't doing much for depression, but continued to use it due to dramatic and unexpected improvements in my other immune conditions. After skipping it a few times, it became very obvious what effect it was having on my mood, which noticeably and reliably lifts around 20 minutes or so of reaching 100 degrees. Overall, it takes an hour a day. The process is tiring, and once your temperature starts getting above 100, you can't concentrate or do very much: even watching TV becomes a chore. And while it hasn't alleviated my depression, it's had enough of an effect that I'm no longer willing to go without it.

solveit 8y ago

How do you induce a fever?

Something1234 8y ago
I'm guessing he uses a sauna.
- WalterSear 8y ago
  Pretty much. I use IR lights and a pair of space heaters in an enclosed space. The IR lights do most of the job. Going to a sauna with a thermometer would probably be the easiest route for many who want to try this. It was easier for me to buy a bunch of lights on amazon and do it at home. Cheaper, too.
DoreenMichele 8y ago
You can easily induce a 102 degree fever with a very hot bath.
- WalterSear 8y ago
  Not for half an hour, unless you have someone patient with a kettle. I have seen one journal abstract where that that was used, but I don't know the details. There are better methods though, if you have the budget of a hospital or research center, such as IR lights filtered through water. There's also a article outlining various methods of inducing hyperthermia.
  - DoreenMichele 8y ago
    Well, perhaps not by itself . I used to take an ear thermometer in the tub with me, dunk my head, check temp in both ears to make sure I hit 102, then wrap up in bedding, fully covered, for 20 minutes or so. Edit in reply to your edit: Yes I also preheated water on the stove and had assistance from a family member, though technically no kettle was involved. There are no doubt better methods if you have scads of money. If you don't, a bathtub and big pot on the stove, plus blankets, can readily get you there for cheap.
    - WalterSear 8y ago
      I've spent ~$200 on this.
      - DoreenMichele 8y ago
        For some people, that would be a lot of money.
  - TheSpiceIsLife 8y ago
    If you have an instant gas hot water you have fairly unlimited hot water. You could position the bath plug to leak at a set rate and continually add hot water to maintain an appropriate water temperature.

CynicalDio 8y ago

What are these alternative meds?

WalterSear 8y ago
I was thinking specifically of Pramiplexole. Pramipexole in Treatment Resistant-Depression, Possible Role of Inflammatory Cytokines: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5143506/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5143506/ https://www.nature.com/articles/npp2016217.pdf?origin=ppub https://www.nature.com/articles/npp2016217.pdf?origin=ppub Antidepressant-like effect of pramipexole in an inflammatory model of depression. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27825895 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27825895 Anti-inflammatory treatment for major depressive disorder: implications for patients with an elevated immune profile and non-responders to standard antidepressant therapy https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5606303/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5606303/

thevagrant 8y ago

I would like to know more.

WalterSear 8y ago
I learnt about it from this interview of about depression inflammation research: > Charles Raison, M.D. is a professor at the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Founding Director of the Center for Compassion Studies in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Arizona. Dr. Raison’s research focuses on inflammation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DtJGJWjDys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DtJGJWjDys While the protocol he is implementing (and most hyperthermia protocols I have seen) involve temperatures reaching 104-105 degrees, in the interview they discuss a possible connection to hot yoga and sauna use, which would not involve such high temperatures. I would assume that it would easiest to try something like this at a sauna in a gym for a few week or so - all else you would need would be a thermometer. I picked up a bunch of IR lamps and a couple of space heaters, and set them up in a space just big enough to do push-ups in. The entire setup cost ~$200. http://i.imgur.com/aM3BCbE.jpg http://i.imgur.com/aM3BCbE.jpg I have been getting my temperature to 100 degrees via the lights and the heaters, spending another ten minutes trying to increase it from there (it is usually close to 102 by the time I stop), then resting for another 20 minutes with the heaters and lights not quite as overbearingly close. I've also started incorporate pushups and planks and drink a quart of hot tea (watch out with this and the thermometer :) ) At first I thought it wasn't doing much for depression, but continued to use it due to dramatic and unexpected improvements in my other immune conditions. After skipping it a few times, it became very obvious what effect it was having on my mood, which noticeably and reliably lifts around 20 minutes or so of reaching 100 degrees. Overall, it takes an hour a day. The process is tiring, and once your temperature starts getting above 100, you can't concentrate or do very much: even watching TV becomes a chore. And while it hasn't alleviated my depression, it's had enough of an effect that I'm no longer willing to go without it.