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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by PhoenixGirl on December 29, 2000, at 12:12:39
I have tried around 8 different ADs, and none of them has kept me from feeling depressed for no reason and fantasizing about suicide. They have an effect, but my quality of life is still crap. I've tried combining antidepressants, adding lithium, and adding thyroid hormone. I am considering adding a stimulant like Ritalin, Cylert, or Provigil because other things are not working well. Please tell me any info you have, and especially experiences you or someone you know have with these drugs. I'm concerned about loss of appetite and tolerance. I'm not very concerned about addiction because I already know that I will need medical treatment for depression for the rest of my life. So I want something that allows me to enjoy life and doesn't cause intolerable side effects like loss of libido and stomach pain. I am so tired of trying new meds, and I refuse to continue living this way. I've already lost 10 years to this disease, starting at age 12. This isn't living.
Posted by JohnL on December 30, 2000, at 17:12:08
In reply to Need info on Ritalin, Cylert, Provigil, etcetera., posted by PhoenixGirl on December 29, 2000, at 12:12:39
> I have tried around 8 different ADs, and none of them has kept me from feeling depressed for no reason and fantasizing about suicide. They have an effect, but my quality of life is still crap. I've tried combining antidepressants, adding lithium, and adding thyroid hormone. I am considering adding a stimulant like Ritalin, Cylert, or Provigil because other things are not working well. Please tell me any info you have, and especially experiences you or someone you know have with these drugs. I'm concerned about loss of appetite and tolerance. I'm not very concerned about addiction because I already know that I will need medical treatment for depression for the rest of my life. So I want something that allows me to enjoy life and doesn't cause intolerable side effects like loss of libido and stomach pain. I am so tired of trying new meds, and I refuse to continue living this way. I've already lost 10 years to this disease, starting at age 12. This isn't living.
Hi Phoenix Girl,
Well, my hat's off to you for hanging in tough as you have. I can sure relate.Since you have pretty well ruled out antidepressants as being the appropriate drugs to correct whatever chemistry problem you have, stimulants definitely make a lot of sense at this point as I see it. Ritalin and Adderall are probably the top two choices. Usually though they work better with an SSRI, so you might also consider restarting at a low dose whatever SSRI you liked the best overall. No need for big doses. The minimum, or even half the minimum, would probably be just right.
If a stimulant isn't helping in one week, I think you can reasonably ditch it and move onto another. You might consider planning this strategy in advance with your doctor. Try one for a week, another the next week, and a third the following week. If they are to work, they will do so in anywhere from day one to 72 hours. No sense wasting time after that.
If the whole stimulant thing proves worthless, top choices would be antipsychotics like Risperdal or Zyprexa (small doses) or a benzodiazepine like Klonopin or Xanax. Try two from each class to search for a best match. Again, these trials can be fairly rapid, unlike antidepressants typically.
But of course I can't end this post without mentioning my two favorites for people like you and me who have been so disappointed for so long with antidepressants...Amisulpride and/or Adrafinil. It's a different ballgame, but these two meds for me are just a million times better than anything else I've ever tried, with probably only 5% of the level of side effects from all other drugs. Just something to keep on the back burner in case you're interested.
John
Posted by anita on January 1, 2001, at 17:18:50
In reply to Need info on Ritalin, Cylert, Provigil, etcetera., posted by PhoenixGirl on December 29, 2000, at 12:12:39
Hi PhoenixGirl,
I think it's reasonable for you to try stimulants -- I'm one of those "tried every med" women. If many ADs haven't worked, you should try meds with different modes of action, such as mood stabilizers (other than lithium), stimulants, and low doses of the newer antipsychotics. Just remember that all drugs, including stimulants, are not the same -- I had a very good response to Ritalin, which then pooped out after about a month (I think due to tolerance), and had a bad reaction to Adderall. Also, lamictal works for me, but lithium made me worse. Most of the stimulants may cause a loss of appetite, but not sexual dysfunction. For me, reboxetine felt like a strong Wellbutrin (they have similar mechanisms of action), if that helps any.
Good luck!
anita
I have tried around 8 different ADs, and none of them has kept me from feeling depressed for no reason and fantasizing about suicide. They have an effect, but my quality of life is still crap. I've tried combining antidepressants, adding lithium, and adding thyroid hormone. I am considering adding a stimulant like Ritalin, Cylert, or Provigil because other things are not working well. Please tell me any info you have, and especially experiences you or someone you know have with these drugs. I'm concerned about loss of appetite and tolerance. I'm not very concerned about addiction because I already know that I will need medical treatment for depression for the rest of my life. So I want something that allows me to enjoy life and doesn't cause intolerable side effects like loss of libido and stomach pain. I am so tired of trying new meds, and I refuse to continue living this way. I've already lost 10 years to this disease, starting at age 12. This isn't living.
Posted by Cece on February 16, 2001, at 2:27:23
In reply to Re: Need info on Ritalin, Cylert, Provigil, etcetera., posted by anita on January 1, 2001, at 17:18:50
> Hi PhoenixGirl,
>
> I think it's reasonable for you to try stimulants -- I'm one of those "tried every med" women. If many ADs haven't worked, you should try meds with different modes of action, such as mood stabilizers (other than lithium), stimulants, and low doses of the newer antipsychotics. Just remember that all drugs, including stimulants, are not the same -- I had a very good response to Ritalin, which then pooped out after about a month (I think due to tolerance), and had a bad reaction to Adderall. Also, lamictal works for me, but lithium made me worse. Most of the stimulants may cause a loss of appetite, but not sexual dysfunction. For me, reboxetine felt like a strong Wellbutrin (they have similar mechanisms of action), if that helps any.
>
> Good luck!
>
> anita
>
>
> I have tried around 8 different ADs, and none of them has kept me from feeling depressed for no reason and fantasizing about suicide. They have an effect, but my quality of life is still crap. I've tried combining antidepressants, adding lithium, and adding thyroid hormone. I am considering adding a stimulant like Ritalin, Cylert, or Provigil because other things are not working well. Please tell me any info you have, and especially experiences you or someone you know have with these drugs. I'm concerned about loss of appetite and tolerance. I'm not very concerned about addiction because I already know that I will need medical treatment for depression for the rest of my life. So I want something that allows me to enjoy life and doesn't cause intolerable side effects like loss of libido and stomach pain. I am so tired of trying new meds, and I refuse to continue living this way. I've already lost 10 years to this disease, starting at age 12. This isn't living.
> >Phoenix Girl
I tried cylert a few years ago- for about a week I loved it, my brain fog cleared, and then it started to make me crazy- revved up in a nasty way, not able to stay in my own skin.
Now I am some new mood stabilizers- Neurontin and Lamictal- and recently added a low dose of Adderall, which is helping my mental focus and not causing problems. Could be the addition of the mood stabilizers, could be the diff between cylert and Adderall, could be the cautious dosing. But my point is that it's really worth it to keep on with the process. I also take anti-depressants- Nortriptyline for a few years, previously Zoloft.
Good luck.
Cece
Posted by Clayton on March 18, 2004, at 16:47:48
In reply to Re: Need info on Ritalin, Cylert, Provigil, etcetera., posted by anita on January 1, 2001, at 17:18:50
Ritalin worked well for me but I did delepope a toleranne and kept bumping my dose without authoritaion form the doc. I definiteltely became addicted...at least I the craved the drug.
Lately, I've been using Provigil. It is a marvekous drug. It is not quite as effective as the Ritalin but does not built a tolerance...nor do I bump by dose.
Provigil aslo helps with deression (I am also on Paxil and Remaron) VERY significantly and helps my short term memory and to stay on task and focused at work. It's not magic or a panacea! But I believe it is a low risk, faily harmless drug that is worth a try.
Best wishes and good luck!
Posted by KXo on March 18, 2004, at 19:17:05
In reply to Re: Need info on Ritalin, Cylert, Provigil, etcetera., posted by anita on January 1, 2001, at 17:18:50
How did you know your Ritalin had pooped out?
==KXo
Posted by KXo on March 18, 2004, at 19:49:45
In reply to Re: Need info on Ritalin, Cylert, Provigil, etcetera., posted by KXo on March 18, 2004, at 19:17:05
I am on Ritalin and Klonopin... I started it more than 1 month ago and I am feeling better, but not 100% as I felt when I was on SSRIs.
I don't pretend to up my dose now. But I think maybe it could be worthy if I don't develop tolerance. Maybe upping the dosage is just what I need to feel 100%! I think I will know this only when I try, but I worry if I can develop tolerance to the upper dosage and then if it doesn't work, not be able to feel how I am feeling now in my current dosage. Do you have ideas?
Thank you!
==KXo
This is the end of the thread.
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