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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Thrud on April 4, 2002, at 1:44:47
Hi all.
After searching the archives here most people using Provigil seem pretty happy with it. The problem is the cost. So even though I want to try Provigil and will discuss this with my pdoc, I might have to settle for less.
Dexedrine seems to be another popular (and much cheaper) stim. Anyone out there able to compare the effects of these two from personal experience? I am wondering if I can afford Provigil by skipping one meal per day......
Thrud
Posted by 3 Beer Effect on April 4, 2002, at 3:41:55
In reply to Provigil vs Dexedrine: Experiences Wanted, posted by Thrud on April 4, 2002, at 1:44:47
For me, Provigil 200 mg worked okay at first all day long but after about 2 months it started "pooping out" and had a duration of action that dropped from all day to 4 hours, then to nothing at all.
Recent studies have found it is not effective for adult ADHD, so unless you have narcolepsy you are wasting your money on a glorified & expensive extended release caffeine pill.
Unlike they originally thought, they found out the effects of Provigil are dose related & 400 mg per morning works much better than 200 mg, atleast among narcoleps. But they don't make 400 mg pills so get ready to shell out some serious cash! Also, at 400 mg or greater it starts to induce its own metabolism by up to 20%.Right now I take Dextrostat 10 mg tablets 2x per day. I chose Dextrostat (d-amphetamine) because it is exactly the same medicine as Dexedrine but Dexedrine only sells 5 mg tablets & is more expensive. Dextrostat is made by Shire, the makers of Adderall, so is probably of better quality than generic dextroamphetamine & is only 32 cents per pill- I think Provigil is $5 a pill (US).
I asked for Dexedrine Spansules when I went in there but my psychiatrist said they are inconsistent & a waste of time. He did say Adderall XR works, but if you take the two doses of IR instead you can eat lunch when the first dose wears off & you will actually be hungry- Adderall used to be the diet pill Obetrol, & if you aren't careful you can get pretty rapid weight loss from it- probably more from Adderall XR.
I haven't decided if I like dextrostat better than Adderall yet. Adderall definitely seems to help you study or concentrate at work better & lasts around 6 hours while Dexedrine lasts around 4.5 hours. On the other hand, Dexedrine/Dextrostat seem to cause less anxiety/nervousness & is probably better for social phobics.
Both seem to increase confidence, talkitiveness & decrease inhibition, not just socially but with things like driving fast etc.
I might make a switch to Adderall for a month on my next visit & see if I like that better, but I don't know what dose of Adderall is equivalent to 10 mg of Dexedrine. (I read in medical literature that 20 mg of Ritalin= 10 mg of Dexedrine, but I haven't found that to be true in real life, Ritalin seemed a pretty powerful but short acting 3.5 hours stimulant- I wouldn't recommend it to non-students since it turns you into a anti-social study freak).
I'm hoping my psychiatrist won't know the equivalence either & will give me the 20 mg of Adderalls 2x per day- that's some good, powerful stuff (I used to buy those from a friend of mine for $3 each at college)!
(I think Adderall is now available in generic).
Posted by Thrud on April 4, 2002, at 7:52:25
In reply to Provigil vs Dexedrine vs Adderall , posted by 3 Beer Effect on April 4, 2002, at 3:41:55
Hi 3-Beer.
Thanks for your comprehensive reply. Sorry to hear about the Provigil pooping out so soon. What were the side-effects you experienced when on it? How about Dexedrine/Dexostat and Adderall? I have read quite a few articles claiming that Dexedrine gives sexual dysfunction (don't want that, no way). Did this happen to you?
Regardless of how good it is, I don't know how so many people on this board can afford Provigil: it's basically gold in tablet form. Must have amazing medical insurance.
The short life of the other meds suck. I hate the daily roller-coaster rides from short acting meds. Don't they have any "delayed response" type thing where it takes a couple of weeks to kick in (like the ADs)? They sound more like benzos only stimulating rather than calming.
Thanks for all your info.
Thrud
Posted by Charlotte on April 4, 2002, at 8:27:13
In reply to Provigil vs Dexedrine vs Adderall , posted by 3 Beer Effect on April 4, 2002, at 3:41:55
3BE, there is generic Adderall now. I'm taking it until I'm switched to XR - amphetamine salts by Barr.
Tabs are scored similarly to brand name.
Posted by IsoM on April 4, 2002, at 13:21:50
In reply to Provigil vs Dexedrine: Experiences Wanted, posted by Thrud on April 4, 2002, at 1:44:47
Thrud, if my only problem was the ADD, I'd be happy with Dexedrine alone, but seeing I have narcolepsy & have to fight the constant sleepiness, I prefer Provigil.
There's ways to counteract the peaks & valleys with pstims that's worked fairly well for me. I broke the Dexedrine tablet (it's flat & easy to break) into 2 pieces, one slightly bigger than the other. I then took the larger piece first, then shortly afterwards (maybe 15-30 minutes later) ate, & then took the other piece. Sort of doing my own sustained release version which worked better than the Spansules. The first part got into my system faster on the empty stomach, then the 2nd piece was absorbed slower due to food in me.
Second dosing in the afternoon, I'd do the same thing but took the larger piece at the time the first larger piece was supposed to be wearing off. Made it much smoother without any mid-afternoon sag. By the end of the day, I'd feel bushed though, till around 10:00 PM when I ALWAYS got a second wind but logically I knew I should be getting ready for bed then.
Posted by 3 Beer Effect on April 4, 2002, at 22:15:33
In reply to Re: Provigil vs Dexedrine vs Adderall » 3 Beer Effect, posted by Thrud on April 4, 2002, at 7:52:25
I haven't had any effect either way. I know Ritalin & Wellbutrin are pro-sexual & Dexedrine & Adderall act in a similar fashion, so if anything i'd say they would help.
The only thing i've ever read about it is that some males used to abuse amphetamines in the 1970s so they could last longer with their girlfriend(s), but they could still have an intense orgasm, they would just be a half an hour man instead of a two minute man. But these were people that snorted or injected hundreds of milligrams or even grams per day of dexedrine or benzedrine (d,l amphetamine sulfate- no longer made because of abuse) & probably did lots of cocaine & other drugs too.
At normal ADD or anti-depressant doses I would guess there may be a slight pro-sexual response or no difference either way. I'm titrating Lamictal right now & also taking Klonopin, both of which are bad for your sex life i think, so its hard for me to tell, but no major problems so far, especially compared to Zoloft- which turned me from 2 minute man to atleast an hour if ever man!
Posted by Thrud on April 4, 2002, at 22:59:21
In reply to I don't think dex or adderall cause sexual dysfunc, posted by 3 Beer Effect on April 4, 2002, at 22:15:33
>I'm titrating Lamictal right now & also taking Klonopin, both of which are bad for your sex life i think, so its hard for me to tell, but no major problems so far, especially compared to Zoloft- which turned me from 2 minute man to atleast an hour if ever man!
It's sadly funny that your experience is paralleling mine so much. I am currently on 150mg of Lamictal per day (fights fatigue, has some antidepressant effect) and 3mg Xanax (anxiety).
I found that Lamictal dimishes sensation and orgasm while Xanax reduces erection (don't they compliment each other beautifully?). Still, even together they are better than SSRIs in the sex department (like you are finding out now).
I am looking at replacing the Lamictal part with a stim, but I'm not sure if I can replace the benzo: I don't know of any other cheap, effective anxiolytic (much less without the sex problems). I could try switching to Klonopin or Ativan but I naturally expect sex problems with them as well. Saw "A Beautiful Mind" at the movies today. They have a scene where they reveal the tradgedy of impotence caused by psych drugs. I hope you and I both have better luck!
Good luck with your new combo.
Thrud
Posted by Zo on April 7, 2002, at 5:42:17
In reply to Provigil vs Dexedrine: Experiences Wanted, posted by Thrud on April 4, 2002, at 1:44:47
This is the end of the thread.
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