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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by noelle on December 30, 2002, at 13:29:35
I'm on 75 mg of Effexor xr and Adderall, and it seems that its hit or miss with Adderall. Somedays I take it and it works great energizes me and helps me focus, other days it doesn't work at and actually makes me feel sort of disphoric and tired. I'm not sure if It is a dosing problem with the Effexor or if I tend to have varing dopamine levels. I'm thinking of taking L-tyrosine supplements but I'm not sure
Posted by noelle on December 31, 2002, at 15:45:57
In reply to Adderall/Effexor- dosing or dopamine level issue, posted by noelle on December 30, 2002, at 13:29:35
This is a real issue for me can someone please give some feedback
Posted by utopizen on December 31, 2002, at 22:24:41
In reply to Adderall/Effexor- dosing or dopamine level issue, posted by noelle on December 30, 2002, at 13:29:35
Okay, I took 300mg of Effexor XR for 5 months, just weaning off now. I can saw 2 things:
1. Effexor definitely did NOT help my ADD, even in the slightest. I had the worst semester ever, and will pay the price for the next 5 semesters to come as I struggle to make a comeback with a better GPA.
2.Effexor, in my case, actually made my ADD worse, only as an indirect effect of one of its side-effects. Impotence, or delayed orgasm, probably both. Anyway, as a result of not being able to have an orgasm frequently, and given my young age, I had difficulty concentrating on anything. And it wasn't because I was thinking about sex, it was that the chemicals released after orgasm are well-known to have energizing/focusing effects. Yet without reaching orgasm, the opposite happened, and I couldn't concentrate and hand in things on time. Simply put, I'm 19, male, and having no sex lowers my IQ. And Seinfeld lies.
3. I have taken every stimulant prescribable, including Desoxyn, Dexedrine, Adderall, and Ritalin. No difference from taking any of these before or after I started Effexor. Effexor may be responsible for acting like a stim in making your heart go up, temp go up, and all that bunk the nortyleptine is suppose to do for one's motivation, but unfortunately even 300mg made me no different than 0mg, on ADD or my social anxiety, and all it really did was inhibit my orgasm, with terrible consequences that include a rather humilating experience I won't detail here.
If you think sometimes Adderall works and sometimes it doesn't, it definitely is not Effexor's fault, unless you are over-looking the possibility I encountered. If so, stop and think if orgasm frequency coorelates to Adderall "potentiation" (otherwise known as you feeling focused, whether it's Adderall doing it or who knows).
But rest assured, either way, it's still all in your head =P
Posted by oracle on January 1, 2003, at 2:50:16
In reply to Adderall/Effexor- dosing or dopamine level issue, posted by noelle on December 30, 2002, at 13:29:35
I think you adderal dose may not be correct.
One the correct dose you will get the good effects
all the time. You might need more or less Adderal, I suspect more. I find Effexor really
helps my ADD. But it does not for every person with ADD.A general rule is if a med seems hit or miss, but when it does work it works well, think dosage adjustment of that med.
Posted by Ritch on January 1, 2003, at 9:18:28
In reply to Adderall/Effexor- dosing or dopamine level issue, posted by noelle on December 30, 2002, at 13:29:35
> I'm on 75 mg of Effexor xr and Adderall, and it seems that its hit or miss with Adderall. Somedays I take it and it works great energizes me and helps me focus, other days it doesn't work at and actually makes me feel sort of disphoric and tired. I'm not sure if It is a dosing problem with the Effexor or if I tend to have varing dopamine levels. I'm thinking of taking L-tyrosine supplements but I'm not sure
I was taking a tiny dose of Effexor with 5mg Adderall for a few weeks and I noticed that the Effexor would induce quite a bit of tiredness (despite the Adderall being taken at the same time in the morning). Are you taking the Effexor/Adderall together at the same time everyday? I noticed the tiredness thing related to the Effexor would be the worst when the peak blood levels were highest (about 2-4 hrs post-dosing), then 6+ hrs. that would wear down and I could feel the alertness from the Adderall. Perhaps you could suggest a dose decrease in the Effexor (to 37.5mg?) or *split* the 75mg dose into two 37.5mg doses and see how that goes?
Posted by Noelle on January 1, 2003, at 22:09:26
In reply to Re: Adderall/Effexor- dosing or dopamine level issue » noelle, posted by Ritch on January 1, 2003, at 9:18:28
Ritch,
When I really think about it. I take Adderall with Effexor (peak) I get a result but it is intermitent and it often is quite muted in its effect. However when I take it in the evening it energizes me, I'm assuming that the Effexor is wearing off at this time. I also take Neurontin at night but I'm thinking about taking a more theraputic dose through out the day which might level my moods a bit more, Its really furstrating though, I never know what to expect from my meds. For example: this morning I took 75 mg of Effexor then around 2:00 I took 10mg Adderall and it did nothing and I felt mentally tired but a bit shaky. I took Neurontin and then Around 6:30 I took another one after I had had a little drink and before dinner and I felt focused and energized.
Posted by cybercafe on January 1, 2003, at 22:43:37
In reply to Re: Adderall/Effexor- dosing or dopamine level issue, posted by utopizen on December 31, 2002, at 22:24:41
what complicates the matter is that depression itself makes it hard to concentrate...
and effexor is an antidepressant, so maybe it helps people with mild depression concentrate?on the other hand.. i heard it was a dopamine antagonist... and thats why it sometimes causes tremors
but i seem to be facing the dilemma i'm sure many must go through -- i can't concentrate, do i raise my antidepressant dose, stimulant, or both?
> Okay, I took 300mg of Effexor XR for 5 months, just weaning off now. I can saw 2 things:
>
> 1. Effexor definitely did NOT help my ADD, even in the slightest. I had the worst semester ever, and will pay the price for the next 5 semesters to come as I struggle to make a comeback with a better GPA.
>
>
> If you think sometimes Adderall works and sometimes it doesn't, it definitely is not Effexor's fault, unless you are over-looking the possibility I encountered. If so, stop and think if orgasm frequency coorelates to Adderall "potentiation" (otherwise known as you feeling focused, whether it's Adderall doing it or who knows).
>
> But rest assured, either way, it's still all in your head =P
Posted by Ritch on January 2, 2003, at 9:48:48
In reply to Re: Adderall/Effexor- Ritch, posted by Noelle on January 1, 2003, at 22:09:26
> Ritch,
> When I really think about it. I take Adderall with Effexor (peak) I get a result but it is intermitent and it often is quite muted in its effect. However when I take it in the evening it energizes me, I'm assuming that the Effexor is wearing off at this time. I also take Neurontin at night but I'm thinking about taking a more theraputic dose through out the day which might level my moods a bit more, Its really furstrating though, I never know what to expect from my meds. For example: this morning I took 75 mg of Effexor then around 2:00 I took 10mg Adderall and it did nothing and I felt mentally tired but a bit shaky. I took Neurontin and then Around 6:30 I took another one after I had had a little drink and before dinner and I felt focused and energized.It sounds like the Effexor dose might be too high (at least for a single dose). I was taking Effexor to offset the anxiety from the Adderall and the amp helped clear the fogginess from the Effexor. Unfortunately, the Effexor cleared out too quickly leaving too much residual anxiety from the Adderall later on. So, I split my Effexor dose in halves (once AM, once late afternoon), and just took one dose of Adderall midday. You might ask your pdoc if you could take 37.5mg Effexor + Adderall once in the AM and then the same thing again mid-afternoon. Neurontin has a very short half-life. It would be smoother to spread that out if you could. In fact, you could be withdrawing from the Neurontin later the next day (after your nighttime dose), and getting a rebound "alertness" from it. In my case, I would get a mild rebound hypomania in the evening just before my dose at night (that also happens when I take too small of a Depakote dose only once at night). good luck...
Posted by Noelle on January 2, 2003, at 22:59:45
In reply to Re: Adderall/Effexor- Ritch » Noelle, posted by Ritch on January 2, 2003, at 9:48:48
Perhaps this might sound a little weird but I find that if I have a little bit of Vodka and lemonade( its probably the alcohol) the Adderall starts working. I've read on previous posts that alcohol can halt the effectiveness of anti-depressents. Could it be that this is what is happening.
Posted by Ritch on January 3, 2003, at 10:03:26
In reply to Re: Adderall/Effexor- alcohol helped?, posted by Noelle on January 2, 2003, at 22:59:45
> Perhaps this might sound a little weird but I find that if I have a little bit of Vodka and lemonade( its probably the alcohol) the Adderall starts working. I've read on previous posts that alcohol can halt the effectiveness of anti-depressents. Could it be that this is what is happening.
Alcohol releases dopamine (like a stimulant), but also works at GABA receptors (like a benzo). I had a really good synergy in the past with Neurontin and Adderall. Maybe all you need is to take some Neurontin (not a bunch) during the day with your Adderall. There is something in the psychbabble tips about someone being treated for neuropathic pain with Neurontin, it was stopped, they were treated with ADD with dexedrine (not very responsive), then the Neurontin was added back and she got a pronounced anti-ADD effect with the Neurontin addition. You might ask your pdoc about that. Spare the vodka, spare your liver.
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