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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 SadDoggie on July 31, 2007, at 0:15:08
Hi,
Has anyone used Concerta or any of the other sustained release stimulants for depression? I've tried regular Ritalin but it only works for 3 hours and then I feel bad again. How long and good do the sustained release ones work?
I want to use it on a limited basis, only for a few days. I take Klonopin and Effexor but the Klonopin wears off after awhile and I need to give it (at least) a five day break so it has an effect again. It would be nice to be able to give it a 10 or 14 day break cause that would make it stronger, but I don't think any of the stimulants would work for that long in me, I develop tolerance quickly. It probably would help for 5 days though. I need something otherwise I get deeply depressed during those 5 day breaks.
Posted by linkadge on July 31, 2007, at 8:27:06
In reply to Concerta or other stimulants for depression, posted by SadDoggie on July 31, 2007, at 0:15:08
I suppose the stimulants don't exaserbate the benzo withdrawl anxiety?
Yeah, I have used ritalin CR, or whatever its called. It works from morning till about 5pm. I still crashed, but later in the day.
I think the crash from the cr version was milder.
Taking some magnesium in the evenining seemed to help the crash.
Linkadge
Posted by Oppycat on July 31, 2007, at 8:33:25
In reply to Concerta or other stimulants for depression, posted by SadDoggie on July 31, 2007, at 0:15:08
> Hi,
>
> Has anyone used Concerta or any of the other sustained release stimulants for depression? I've tried regular Ritalin but it only works for 3 hours and then I feel bad again. How long and good do the sustained release ones work?
>
> I want to use it on a limited basis, only for a few days. I take Klonopin and Effexor but the Klonopin wears off after awhile and I need to give it (at least) a five day break so it has an effect again. It would be nice to be able to give it a 10 or 14 day break cause that would make it stronger, but I don't think any of the stimulants would work for that long in me, I develop tolerance quickly. It probably would help for 5 days though. I need something otherwise I get deeply depressed during those 5 day breaks.
I take Adderall XR and it seems to work almost all day for me. I prefer it to taking regular Adderall in divided doses. However, I'm afraid that you might find it too enervating if you took it during a long Klonopin break. Adding a fairly strong stimulant during a benzo withdrawal may not be a good idea, although you would know within a couple of days. Have you ever tried just reducing the Klonopin briefly instead of eliminating it completely during your break?
Posted by SadDoggie on July 31, 2007, at 9:19:22
In reply to Re: Concerta or other stimulants for depression » SadDoggie, posted by Oppycat on July 31, 2007, at 8:33:25
A long acting Ritalin would be great. It doesn't exacerbate the anxiety and brings some sanity. The short-acting Ritalin lasts only 3 hours though which is extremely short. I can't be taking it every 3 hours or else I'll become a super addict, I wait 5 hours for the next dose. I'm glad to hear the long acting one has some effect and for a longer time, it might help me alot.
Posted by nickguy on July 31, 2007, at 11:03:33
In reply to Re: Concerta or other stimulants for depression, posted by SadDoggie on July 31, 2007, at 9:19:22
I used to take adderall regular and had bad crashes from it.
I just started concerta, and it works for anxiety for me as well. It's not quite as strong in terms of concentration, but it's decent. The crash is pretty mild (I wouldn't really call it a crash, its more just like you notice the effects are wearing off), and comes at about 9 hours later. I also take klonopin as well (we have a lot in common).
Posted by Phillipa on July 31, 2007, at 11:33:24
In reply to Re: Concerta or other stimulants for depression, posted by nickguy on July 31, 2007, at 11:03:33
How can you just stop klonopin is it a very low dose? Does stopping it for a while make the klonopin work again as tolerance to benzos has happened to me. But isn't that like an upper/downer? Love Phillipa who really doesn't understand the stimulants with the benzos.
Posted by SadDoggie on July 31, 2007, at 21:59:45
In reply to Re: Concerta or other stimulants for depression, posted by Phillipa on July 31, 2007, at 11:33:24
I know Klonopin has a very long half-life but for me it only works for 5 hours (I don't understand why). Nickguy for how long does it work for you?
So I take .5 mg of Klonopin like 3 times a day (or 4 if I can't sleep). I've never gotten any seizures for stopping it, I've been taking it for a couple of years now. Yes if you stop it for awhile it will work again in many cases. The longer the better. For me the minimum seems to be like 5 days. For me Klonopin with Effexor both help my depression and anxiety. The stimulants help that too when I have to take a 5 day break from Klonopin. Unlike some lucky people I can only take the stimulants for a few days before they wear off. But they help me get through the 5 days which would be horrible without any med help.
Posted by nickguy on August 1, 2007, at 11:14:45
In reply to Re: Concerta or other stimulants for depression, posted by SadDoggie on July 31, 2007, at 21:59:45
> I know Klonopin has a very long half-life but for me it only works for 5 hours (I don't understand why). Nickguy for how long does it work for you?
>
> So I take .5 mg of Klonopin like 3 times a day (or 4 if I can't sleep). I've never gotten any seizures for stopping it, I've been taking it for a couple of years now. Yes if you stop it for awhile it will work again in many cases. The longer the better. For me the minimum seems to be like 5 days. For me Klonopin with Effexor both help my depression and anxiety. The stimulants help that too when I have to take a 5 day break from Klonopin. Unlike some lucky people I can only take the stimulants for a few days before they wear off. But they help me get through the 5 days which would be horrible without any med help.Klonopin lasts about 7 hours for me. I take 1 mg, usually twice a day and sometimes, like you said, a last dose to help sleep.
Concerta seems to brigthen my mood a tad. Not a lot, but it certainly has a bit of an AD effect. For me, it helps with anxiety too, which is probably mostly related to the AD effect. I've been taking 54mg of it, it lasts about 8 hours. It's not doing as much as I hoped in the way of concentration.
Posted by nickguy on August 1, 2007, at 11:17:48
In reply to Concerta or other stimulants for depression, posted by SadDoggie on July 31, 2007, at 0:15:08
> Hi,
>
> Has anyone used Concerta or any of the other sustained release stimulants for depression? I've tried regular Ritalin but it only works for 3 hours and then I feel bad again. How long and good do the sustained release ones work?
>
> I want to use it on a limited basis, only for a few days. I take Klonopin and Effexor but the Klonopin wears off after awhile and I need to give it (at least) a five day break so it has an effect again. It would be nice to be able to give it a 10 or 14 day break cause that would make it stronger, but I don't think any of the stimulants would work for that long in me, I develop tolerance quickly. It probably would help for 5 days though. I need something otherwise I get deeply depressed during those 5 day breaks.Since klonopin wears off for you, you should probably talk to your doctor about increasing the dosage.
Posted by rina on August 4, 2007, at 18:37:53
In reply to Re: Concerta or other stimulants for depression, posted by nickguy on August 1, 2007, at 11:17:48
Focalin XR lasts the longest. 10-12hrs. One pill a day.
This is the end of the thread.
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