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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 cybercafe on September 24, 2004, at 19:22:33
Wow ritalin makes me really anxious... i am taking 20 mg SR right now... perhaps once daily... i am wondering if the anxiety gets an easier, and i guess how long it might take and by how much.. i already will take up to 4 mg of clonazepam without ritalin so i don't want to have to go any higher
Posted by anxiety_free on September 25, 2004, at 10:18:49
In reply to Ritalin anxiety -- does it go away with time?, posted by cybercafe on September 24, 2004, at 19:22:33
> Wow ritalin makes me really anxious... i am taking 20 mg SR right now... perhaps once daily... i am wondering if the anxiety gets an easier, and i guess how long it might take and by how much.. i already will take up to 4 mg of clonazepam without ritalin so i don't want to have to go any higher
It usually does. It did for me, definitely. My doc started me on 40, then upped, then switched to adderall..it was crazy. Anyway, my beta blocker, propanolol, helped a lot. You might want to ask for a sleeping pill from your doc, too...that helps, and they're usually willing to short-term Rx you. If all else fails, ask for short-term anxiety treatment boosters. Most of my friends take benzos with their stims, so I imagine your doc will be open to it.
Posted by utopizen on September 25, 2004, at 10:41:20
In reply to Ritalin+Anxiety, posted by anxiety_free on September 25, 2004, at 10:18:49
> It usually does. It did for me, definitely. My doc started me on 40, then upped, then switched to adderall..it was crazy. Anyway, my beta blocker, propanolol, helped a lot. You might want to ask for a sleeping pill from your doc, too...that helps, and they're usually willing to short-term Rx you. If all else fails, ask for short-term anxiety treatment boosters. Most of my friends take benzos with their stims, so I imagine your doc will be open to it
>the poster's already on Klonopin, a "short-term anxiety treatment booster"!
Anyway, try other stims first, because trying to add on pills before fixing the pill causing problems is not such a good idea. You're just adding on side effects needlessly.
Try Adderall or Desoxyn, the latter of which is-- when combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- for me a very "clean" choice when it comes to anxiety. Any amphetamine will give you anxiety and insomnia if you think of it enough while on one.
The trick is to combine meds like Klonopin along with your private "stash" of coping in this crazy world.
For me, it's sipping chamomile tea, listening to self-hypnosis tapes to help me drift off to sleep (along with breathing exercises, which is my salvation from having to take Ambien!) -- and plenty of bike riding to literally ride off my anxiety and depression (although I do have to force myself to put on the gear first, I'm always proud of myself after I'm done riding my bike).
For me, Ritalin isn't very "clean"-- it makes me too anxious and dorky. Adderall less so, but Desoxyn helps me focus (at the right dose) and doesn't make me anxious.
But don't increase your klonopin. Did you say whether you were on an antidepressant? Try working with one or switching to another, because finding the right one that works for you can help you to decrease the Klonopin to something more like 3mg/day.
The trick with Klonopin is this: only get brand name or Teva-branded generic Klonopin. The rest are terrible. You have to call a pharmacy to check which one they carry. That, and make a point of doing yoga or breathing exercises and some self-hypnosis tape for a 1/2 hour and exercise for an hour each day.
It may sound laughable or laborious, and it might take awhile before you notice an effect, but you owe it to yourself to help relaxation regimens maximize the benefit you get from your meds.
Think of your meds like they're a $5000 bike or a $200 pair of running shoes sitting in your closet. Without the right lifestyle choices, you're never going to enjoy them.
Posted by henryO on September 25, 2004, at 13:26:12
In reply to Ritalin anxiety -- does it go away with time?, posted by cybercafe on September 24, 2004, at 19:22:33
Did you jump right in at 20mg a day? Doctors ought to have to try some of their own medicines. Try starting out with small doses and moving up slowly. With Ritalin especially you can break it up in to smaller pieces and spread the dose out over hours. Ritalin comes on fast and drops off quickly too. It can leave you with rebound. I liked many of the suggestions of utopizen.
Posted by theo on September 25, 2004, at 18:05:07
In reply to Ritalin+Anxiety, posted by anxiety_free on September 25, 2004, at 10:18:49
Do you like the Adderall better than Ritalin as far as anxiety goes?
Posted by paulbwell on September 25, 2004, at 18:05:27
In reply to Re: Ritalin+Anxiety-- some life/meds advice, posted by utopizen on September 25, 2004, at 10:41:20
>
> > It usually does. It did for me, definitely. My doc started me on 40, then upped, then switched to adderall..it was crazy. Anyway, my beta blocker, propanolol, helped a lot. You might want to ask for a sleeping pill from your doc, too...that helps, and they're usually willing to short-term Rx you. If all else fails, ask for short-term anxiety treatment boosters. Most of my friends take benzos with their stims, so I imagine your doc will be open to it
> >
>
> the poster's already on Klonopin, a "short-term anxiety treatment booster"!
>
> Anyway, try other stims first, because trying to add on pills before fixing the pill causing problems is not such a good idea. You're just adding on side effects needlessly.
>
> Try Adderall or Desoxyn, the latter of which is-- when combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- for me a very "clean" choice when it comes to anxiety. Any amphetamine will give you anxiety and insomnia if you think of it enough while on one.
>
> The trick is to combine meds like Klonopin along with your private "stash" of coping in this crazy world.
>
> For me, it's sipping chamomile tea, listening to self-hypnosis tapes to help me drift off to sleep (along with breathing exercises, which is my salvation from having to take Ambien!) -- and plenty of bike riding to literally ride off my anxiety and depression (although I do have to force myself to put on the gear first, I'm always proud of myself after I'm done riding my bike).
>
> For me, Ritalin isn't very "clean"-- it makes me too anxious and dorky. Adderall less so, but Desoxyn helps me focus (at the right dose) and doesn't make me anxious.
>
> But don't increase your klonopin. Did you say whether you were on an antidepressant? Try working with one or switching to another, because finding the right one that works for you can help you to decrease the Klonopin to something more like 3mg/day.
>
> The trick with Klonopin is this: only get brand name or Teva-branded generic Klonopin. The rest are terrible. You have to call a pharmacy to check which one they carry. That, and make a point of doing yoga or breathing exercises and some self-hypnosis tape for a 1/2 hour and exercise for an hour each day.
>
> It may sound laughable or laborious, and it might take awhile before you notice an effect, but you owe it to yourself to help relaxation regimens maximize the benefit you get from your meds.
>
> Think of your meds like they're a $5000 bike or a $200 pair of running shoes sitting in your closet. Without the right lifestyle choices, you're never going to enjoy them.
Hey Uto,Do you think Lance will be heading for the 'Desox' for an unbelieveable 7th TDF win? ;)
Posted by VelvetElvis on September 26, 2004, at 1:52:33
In reply to Ritalin anxiety -- does it go away with time?, posted by cybercafe on September 24, 2004, at 19:22:33
You can try combining it with an SSRI or you might ahve better luck with Focalin, an Isomer of Rit.
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 27, 2004, at 3:31:03
In reply to Re: Ritalin+Anxiety-- some life/meds advice, posted by paulbwell on September 25, 2004, at 18:05:27
> Do you think Lance will be heading for the 'Desox' for an unbelieveable 7th TDF win? ;)
Sorry to interrupt, but I'd like to redirect follow-ups regarding Lance to Psycho-Social-Babble. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040923/msgs/395573.html
Thanks,
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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