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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 Mr.Scott on February 20, 2005, at 19:25:49
Greetings Folks,
The exact nature of my depression has really never been fully characterized. Although bipolar II is the most frequent label. Mostly I'm either in the dumps or under the dumps entirely with a great deal of depression! I have a 15 year history of illicit drug and alcohol use, but I have been sober for some time and am active in a program of recovery. I can't tolerate antidepressants and I've used them all. I've had ECT and may in fact do it on a maintenance basis if my current cocktail fails.
My current potion involves using klonopin .5mg- .75mg and adderall 30mg to treat my depression. I also use 12.5mg of Zoloft (all I can tolerate) and up to 200mg of neurontin daily as needed.
I fear the adderall will poop and I will need to keep increasing the dose becoming addicted.
Does anyone else have any longer term experience using stimulant for depression.
Thanks,
Scott
Posted by Caslon540 on February 20, 2005, at 21:09:37
In reply to Amphetamine as a treatment for depression, posted by Mr.Scott on February 20, 2005, at 19:25:49
> I fear the adderall will poop and I will need to keep increasing the dose becoming addicted.
I would strongly suggest that you use the search feature on this site to look up past threads that discuss amphetamine tolerance. I take 400 mg of magnesium a day (200 in the morning, 200 in the evening) to help keep my tolerance to amphetamines down (I take 50 mg of Adderall a day). I don't have ADHD btw, either, but take it for depression/anxiety-related (and possibly lupus-related) fatigue. The magnesium seems to be working; I've been on Adderall for almost 10 months and the last time I needed to have my dosage increased was about 4 months ago. Before I started taking Adderall, I developed an out-of-control tolerance to Ritalin within 4 months, so compared to that I think I'm doing really well with tolerance now. (I started taking magnesium as soon as I started Adderall.)
Whew, I just said all this recently in my post about taking Adderall with Geodon, so I hope I'm not annoying anyone by being redundant.
Posted by Mr.Scott on February 20, 2005, at 21:15:29
In reply to Re: Amphetamine as a treatment for depression, posted by Caslon540 on February 20, 2005, at 21:09:37
Thank you so much Carlson! I will try the magnesium. I can't help but wonder what the relationship is, but I will certainly accept that it worked for you and might for me.
Scott
Posted by snapper on February 20, 2005, at 22:44:34
In reply to Amphetamine as a treatment for depression, posted by Mr.Scott on February 20, 2005, at 19:25:49
>
>
> Greetings Folks,
>
> The exact nature of my depression has really never been fully characterized. Although bipolar II is the most frequent label. Mostly I'm either in the dumps or under the dumps entirely with a great deal of depression! I have a 15 year history of illicit drug and alcohol use, but I have been sober for some time and am active in a program of recovery. I can't tolerate antidepressants and I've used them all. I've had ECT and may in fact do it on a maintenance basis if my current cocktail fails.
>
> My current potion involves using klonopin .5mg- .75mg and adderall 30mg to treat my depression. I also use 12.5mg of Zoloft (all I can tolerate) and up to 200mg of neurontin daily as needed.
>
> I fear the adderall will poop and I will need to keep increasing the dose becoming addicted.
>
> Does anyone else have any longer term experience using stimulant for depression.
>
> Thanks,
>
> ScottHi Mr. Scott,
I have in the past used Adderall along with Effexor as well as klonopin.I was also self medicating during those years, which obviously did not help matters. Be as it may I "loved" Adderall too much and ultimately came to realize that I kept having to increase my dosage just to continue to get any sustained effect. YMMV, but in truth and sad reality, trying to treat my case of long standing TRD BPII and co-morbid anxiety disorders w/Adderall, proved to NOT be the ticket to any real or long standing relief from this BI**h
of an illness. I guess to sum it up, would be to say that using amphetamines "Alone" to treat the seriousness of our illness, is kind of like trying to stop the bleeding of a severed limb with a bandaid. Sorry If I don't sound to positive on this matter but I do however believe that the use of an amphetamine or Adderall or like does indeed have a valuble role in a treatment plan that involves at least an AD, and or mood-stabilizer and an anxiolytic if need be.
I hope my response to you was at least somewhat helpful and wish you all the luck in the world in sorting out what is the most efficasious treatment for your specific diagnoses and symptomology!Just be as pro-active as you can be and keep fighting the fight. To be honest, at times, I wish I could just take Adderall,a fair quantity of alcohol and a benzo as needed to control my illness... but for me it just does'nt work to well.lol. Sorry for the long winded response but that is how I see it.
Take Care
Snapper
Posted by Mr.Scott on February 20, 2005, at 23:10:54
In reply to Re: Amphetamine as a treatment for depression » Mr.Scott, posted by snapper on February 20, 2005, at 22:44:34
"To be honest, at times, I wish I could just take Adderall,a fair quantity of alcohol and a benzo as needed to control my illness... but for me it just does'nt work to well.lol."
Hillarious! I know where you're coming from and I appreciate your response.
Scott
Posted by Caslon540 on February 21, 2005, at 5:26:14
In reply to Re: Amphetamine as a treatment for depression » Caslon540, posted by Mr.Scott on February 20, 2005, at 21:15:29
> I can't help but wonder what the relationship is, but I will certainly accept that it worked for you and might for me.
It has to do with magnesium being an NMDA partial antagonist. I just woke up and can't think straight enough to explain it right now, but if you Google the terms "NMDA antagonist amphetamine tolerance" (without quotes), you'll find the info. I should also mention that I'm not treating my depression solely with Adderall, but also with Effexor XR and Geodon.
:)
Posted by Sarah T. on February 22, 2005, at 1:53:08
In reply to Amphetamine as a treatment for depression, posted by Mr.Scott on February 20, 2005, at 19:25:49
Hi Mr. Scott,
What is the Neurontin prescribed for? Does it help? I tried it once and was a zombie for four days : (
Posted by mmcconathy on February 22, 2005, at 20:53:52
In reply to Re: Amphetamine as a treatment for depression » Mr.Scott, posted by snapper on February 20, 2005, at 22:44:34
adderall wore me down to the ground, but i abused it harder than a than you can say crash.
Ignore my past, it depends on the person, i do think if it used once, and kept at a stable dose, it will raise your mood nicely, do not think about what it will feel like at higher doses, the dose you are on is fine adn stay with it.
I took adderall for 8 years im burned out on talking about it, bad memories.
But my expereince can be completely diffrent from others, mainly becuasae of my misuse, there can be some success stories.
If you want to ask me anything, shoot, other wise im tired of even mentioning it.
Matt
Posted by Mr.Scott on February 23, 2005, at 22:36:48
In reply to Re: Amphetamine as a treatment for depression » Mr.Scott, posted by Sarah T. on February 22, 2005, at 1:53:08
I take 200mg max! I take it from time to time for anxiety or insomnia as I do not wish to increase my .5mg dose of klonopin. One day I'd like to discontinue it.
Posted by Sarah T. on February 23, 2005, at 23:01:12
In reply to Re: Amphetamine as a treatment for depression » Sarah T., posted by Mr.Scott on February 23, 2005, at 22:36:48
This is the end of the thread.
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