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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Maxime on December 20, 2003, at 13:22:05
Me again. I have a lot of questions today.
Is there anyone here who uses an ADD med as monotherapy for depression. Actually I am bipolar but depression is the biggest problem for me.
What receptors do meds such as ritalin work on? Do they only effect the dopamine?
Thanks in advance.
Maxime
Posted by fachad on December 23, 2003, at 20:43:56
In reply to ADD med as mono therapy for depression, posted by Maxime on December 20, 2003, at 13:22:05
Sure. It's worked for me for years.
I think many people suffer needlessly because of the FDA system of "approved indication" for medications, and the resulting (implicit) constraints on what treatments are tried and in what order.
As to using ADD meds (psychostimulants) for depression, here are some posts I did on this topic a while back:
Ritalin is not marketed as AD
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020307/msgs/97442.htmlRitalin for SSRI Induced Apathy Anergia
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020307/msgs/97130.htmlMarketing Hype and Specificity of Drug Treatments
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020408/msgs/103154.html
Posted by Viridis on December 24, 2003, at 0:57:11
In reply to ADD med as mono therapy for depression, posted by Maxime on December 20, 2003, at 13:22:05
I take Adderall for ADD, but it has strong antidepressant properties as well. I mentioned this to my pdoc, and he said that stimulants can be great antidepressants, but prescribing them for anything other than ADD is very risky for doctors, due to their highly controlled status and close monitoring. He will occasionally prescribe Ritalin etc. for severely depressed patients briefly, while waiting for SSRIs etc. to kick in, but says he really has to be prepared to justify this.
So in a weird way, I guess I'm lucky. I haven't been able to tolerate any of the "standard" antidepressants I've tried (SSRIs, Wellbutrin etc.), and the other meds that have helped have either been marginal (Provigil) or stopped working (Strattera).
However, I can't really say I'm on stimulant monotherapy, since I also take Klonopin daily and Xanax occasionally. These are for anxiety, but since a lot of my depression stems from anxiety I consider them "antidepressants" too. In any case, the combination of Klonopin with Adderall works quite well for depression (for me), although I continue to try new things -- Lamictal probably will be next.
Posted by Maxime on December 25, 2003, at 13:08:12
In reply to Re: ADD med as mono therapy for depression, posted by fachad on December 23, 2003, at 20:43:56
Thanks so much for the links and for your information.
I hope I find something soon.
Maxime
> Sure. It's worked for me for years.
>
> I think many people suffer needlessly because of the FDA system of "approved indication" for medications, and the resulting (implicit) constraints on what treatments are tried and in what order.
>
> As to using ADD meds (psychostimulants) for depression, here are some posts I did on this topic a while back:
>
> Ritalin is not marketed as AD
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020307/msgs/97442.html
>
> Ritalin for SSRI Induced Apathy Anergia
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020307/msgs/97130.html
>
> Marketing Hype and Specificity of Drug Treatments
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020408/msgs/103154.html
Posted by Maxime on December 25, 2003, at 13:11:49
In reply to Re: ADD med as mono therapy for depression » Maxime, posted by Viridis on December 24, 2003, at 0:57:11
Well I will ask my pdoc at my next appointment. I am currently taking Parnate an MAOI, but it seems to have pooped out on me. SSRIs do not work. And things like Effexor and Wellbutrin made me manic or psychotic (i'm bipolar).
Thanks again.
Maxime
> I take Adderall for ADD, but it has strong antidepressant properties as well. I mentioned this to my pdoc, and he said that stimulants can be great antidepressants, but prescribing them for anything other than ADD is very risky for doctors, due to their highly controlled status and close monitoring. He will occasionally prescribe Ritalin etc. for severely depressed patients briefly, while waiting for SSRIs etc. to kick in, but says he really has to be prepared to justify this.
>
> So in a weird way, I guess I'm lucky. I haven't been able to tolerate any of the "standard" antidepressants I've tried (SSRIs, Wellbutrin etc.), and the other meds that have helped have either been marginal (Provigil) or stopped working (Strattera).
>
> However, I can't really say I'm on stimulant monotherapy, since I also take Klonopin daily and Xanax occasionally. These are for anxiety, but since a lot of my depression stems from anxiety I consider them "antidepressants" too. In any case, the combination of Klonopin with Adderall works quite well for depression (for me), although I continue to try new things -- Lamictal probably will be next.
This is the end of the thread.
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