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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by banga on December 19, 2004, at 15:26:49
Tomorrow I see my pdoc, hoping to try to convince her to a trial of a stimulant (Adderall).
But two things:
I tried some ritalin for a few days...sorry I cant tell you the dosage as I had taken the label off (duh). But the point is, I felt no efect.One pdoc gave me a sample of Provigil. I felt very very little at 100, maybe abi of somehing at 200.
So the question is--why the nonresponse? Either a) it doesnt work because my brain doesn't need it; or b) I need very much but at a much higher dose because my brain is so dead. ANy ideas?
Given this info, what type of dose of Adderall hould I push for??
I have symptoms very much like ADHD inattentive type--very unfocused, disorganized, cant get things done, very poor memory. And extremely spacey and out of it, trouble paying attention to my environment. This has been there all my life, I never considered it to perhaps be part of ADHD. UNtil I read some newer info on the web, and 3 people on my fathers side received this diagnose (and I expect my father is very likely to ADHD, even if it turns out I am not)
This diagnosis obviously carries a rule-out that this is not caused by my mood disoders. Certainly I imagine that they exascerbate the situation. I can't say I welcome another diagnosis with open arms (how many do need??) nor do I want this to be a "me-too" diagnosis. But if a simulant can jar me out of my head, it would be a miracle. Maybe thats why I dont care if I sleep so much of my life away, even when Im not trying to escape the pain of depression. It's like, whats the difference--daydreaming or night-dreaming? my whole life is life a fuzzy dream anyway.Thanks for any responses!
Posted by zmg on December 19, 2004, at 19:25:29
In reply to nonresponse to stimulants?, posted by banga on December 19, 2004, at 15:26:49
A lot of the reports I read about treating ADHD describe the effect as calming. Is this the effect your expecting? Or are you expecting to be more activated?
Posted by banga on December 19, 2004, at 20:34:29
In reply to Sexual/Lethragy-free antidepressants?, posted by zmg on December 19, 2004, at 19:25:29
I had the impression that stimulants--at least Adderall and Dexedrine, in some manners give you more ability to focus and be activated and engaged in your surroundings, yet not provoke/exascerbate anxiety, and--this is a guess-do in fact help you feel calmer as your mind is less disorganized and hectic.
So its an odd combination of being more activated yet also more calm and focused. That is what I have understood, and what I could use. Sort of like mental acuity. I have a lot of anxiety so the calming element would be highly welcome.I know meds cant solve everything, but years of therapy have convinced me that it is a tiring, uphill battle to fight biochemical realities without meds. Living a bit on this board I have realized more the complexities in diagnoses and treatments, and lack of a complete response on antidepressants has led me to consider other things than depression and anxiety.
I just have over the past years found out how very much we live in our own reality, which to us is "normal" and we may not realize it differs markedly from others' experience. A bout of depression can be easily identified as abnormal, a distinct departure from previous ways of being.....but with a condition that may have been there from day one? When for a brief time I had a terrific response to Paxil (it was brief) I felt very happy, motivated, and instead of having subtle anxieties about going out my door, I was excited; And instead of being preoccupied with what this new person I was to meet would think of me, I was excited to find out what they were like, hear about their profession. I was so aghast. I wrote to my best friend asking Is THIS what reality can be like? Is this what it is like for a lot of other people? I cried when I wrote that, both from joy and sadness of the biological trend built into my body. But this period id not last, was hit with negatives of this drug. It was on some level a tease, but on another lvel an uderstanding that perhaps life can be less strenuous.So for me, trying a stimulant will be checking--am I in more disorganization and cloudiness than necessary, can there be a different reality without all that, without fighting to connect with the world? Maybe not, we'll see. Just want to make sure I give this hypothesis a fair trial, give stimulants a logical dose and trial period.
Posted by zmg on December 19, 2004, at 21:10:21
In reply to Re: stimulants?, posted by banga on December 19, 2004, at 20:34:29
Well this board seems like an excellent place to get feedback then. My personal experience is somewhat similar to what your describe and I did go through a period of ritlan *abuse* (I am not suggesting that has anything to do with what your talking about) which did lift my lethragy, but certainly didn't leave me more outgoing (try sitting in my room all the time...my own special little world!).
That was a long time ago. Good luck to you.
This is the end of the thread.
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