say what?

the bad news:

the protocol kidlet has been on has failed.  big time.  they think it is time to change her from SSRI's to MAOI's . . . this is my new language.  like it?  unlike SSRI's which increase serotonin, with MAOI's, the enzyme monoamine oxidase, which is involved in removing the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine from the brain, is blocked which makes more of these brain chemicals available.  got it?  serotonin is the stuff that makes us happy.  we want more of it.  but not too much.

MAOI's have a ton of restrictions . . .  nothing with Tyramine which means no aged cheeses, no beer, wine, fava beans, sauerkraut (like kidlet would eat that anyway) but also no bacon or soy sauce . . .  two of her favorites and no pepperoni.  ouch! also nothing with epinephrine which is found in a lot of pain medication and decongestants.  say what? the list goes on.

the good news:

as they wean her off her current SSRI, she is noticeably happier.

                                                              !!!!N O T I C E A B L Y!!!!

so they have decided to try Lamotrigine before the MAOI's.  Lamotrigine is a sodium channel blocking class of anti-epileptic drugs also used for depression, and has fewer restrictions.  still with me?  now that would be amazing because i am lost in the jargon of some medically adroit jabberwocky.

what i do understand is that kidlet is happier than she has been.  i vote for happiness.