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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Existentialist on August 22, 2007, at 12:23:13
Hi, I am diagnosed as having inattentive ADD which for most of my life has been in the form of feeling anxious, depressed and having a hard time getting things together. I took my first dose today 20mg of ritalin, and it seemed ok for around the first hour. I enjoyed the feeling of calm and control it gave me. Instead of impulsive thoughts to sort out I could just think about whatever I wanted. It had calmed down my usually noisy mind. I was sort of in this nice little zone, but a bit disconnected from the rest of the world. The calm initially led me to believe I must be ADD because I felt no speedy or euphoric effect (like supposedly non ADDers might?)
But then my zone starts to get a little boring and lonely. Pretty soon nothing is happening mentally. It's not a crash or anything. I just don't have desire to do anything. I'm fine just sitting still for probably the first time ever. It's calmer than any benzo I've tried.
I could get into something, but it seems dull. It just blanked me out. As far as motivation and sex drive, and personality, or desire to interact with others, or to epathetically interpret TV, it seemed boring. Even video games I often played to deal with the mental chaos seemed boring to me. Yet I was still more focused.
I'm starting to come off it now after 3 hours, I know because I'm having a strong appetite coming back. It had maybe an hour and half that it was good. Now I just feel mentally calm, yet even more unmotivated not on task than if I had not taken it. It just seems like it's sucked me away. Socially I feel like I have nothing to say, no reason to say anything. And an impulse for creativity is gone too. Nothing creative happens, I can't brainstorm anymore, and I'm usually a pretty furious brainstormer.
Is this normal? Would adderall make me feel more energized and interested in things? I've had real problems with lethargy after mono 7 months ago and am returning to college after having trouble with dropping out and not completing classes before I even got sick. I was also diagnosed when I was young, 8 as ADD. I was looking to get a stimulant to deal with phsyical and mental tiredness and lack of focus and organization, and move on with my life. I'm 22 and going to be a sophomore in college where my friends have now graduated.
Posted by Racer on August 22, 2007, at 14:03:03
In reply to Ritalin too calming/sedating, posted by Existentialist on August 22, 2007, at 12:23:13
That seems like an awfully high starting dose to me. I started at 5mg, and my doctor suggested cutting that in half the first couple of days!
I like methylphenidate best of all the stimulants I've tried. Adderall led to increased depression for me, which is a known side effect for some people. But, everyone's different, your mileage will vary, etc.
Personally, I'd try taking half that much, or even less, and see how it goes after a few days. I know that one the immediate release Ritalin, I got very, very sleepy about an hour after taking it. Concerta, which is a long acting form, was better for me in that respect, and in that there was no crash at all. I never know when it's actually worn off. But one dose is never enough to know -- I stopped Ritalin at first because it stimulated my appetite so much! That's been less of an issue since then.
Good luck!
Posted by Quintal on August 22, 2007, at 16:28:56
In reply to Ritalin too calming/sedating, posted by Existentialist on August 22, 2007, at 12:23:13
Have you heard of avolition? Stimulants can actually reduce drive and motivation when the dose is too high. I don't know the full scoop on this - stims aren't my 'area of expertise', so hopefully one of the Addreall/Ritalin users will pop up and tell you more about it.
Until then maybe try taking a smaller dose and see if that makes any difference?
Q
Posted by psychobot5000 on August 23, 2007, at 11:50:02
In reply to Re: Ritalin too calming/sedating » Existentialist, posted by Quintal on August 22, 2007, at 16:28:56
I also agree--20mg is a huge starting dose, if given immediate release. I'd try a 5mg tablet, and see how that goes, and then try 7.5 or 10--it might work much differently. I've never had to take more than 10mg immediate release at once, and it probably would be unpleasant if I did take 20.
Best of luck!
Posted by existentialist on August 23, 2007, at 18:06:52
In reply to Ritalin too calming/sedating, posted by Existentialist on August 22, 2007, at 12:23:13
Yeah, that probably was a bit much. Thing was first day I got them I took one 10mg and not feel anything, but I should have known that night when I had an extremely light sleep and woke within 5 hours after taking restoril. Restoril was new and I blamed that.
Next day, I tried the 20 and after I crashed I started to feel really funny in my head, like being sleep deprived yet awake. This was 4 so I had an energy drink that I figure would wear off by bedtime. Well it made me what would probably be termed manic. It wasn't unstable manic, but being familiar with what mania supposedly is, this was the most 'manic' I've been. Restoril resulted in a light sleep from 12:00-3:00 AM.
Well for some reason, my depression and lethargy don't return as well as my ADD type symptoms today. Usually I feel drained during the day, but even though I was mentally getting a bit out of it, I didn't feel tired. My appetite which is often not there or I feel somehwat nauseas about eating is fierce. Then I can finally get some real sleep with no drugs at from 12-4 for the first time in 8 months and my dreams helped restore a sense of sanity. (Every drug I take for sleep screws up my sleep quality.)
It took me for a ride, but it seems to have helped oversleeping, and being lethargic during the day well after it's worn off. Like it jolted me awake. I know some people benefit greatly from sleep deprivation, but ritalin is also a dopamine reuptake inhibitor. Perhaps it has helped because of that? Strange, I'll keep you guys posted. I've read of another person with ADD who took his medication once every 3 days when he'd start to feel his mind becomming increasingly disorganized.
I feel good today so I have taken no drugs.
Posted by Existentialist on August 24, 2007, at 12:57:25
In reply to Re: Ritalin too calming/sedating, posted by existentialist on August 23, 2007, at 18:06:52
well for another update, last night I took seroquel 25mg restoril 15mg lunesta 2mg and even tried sonata 10mg, to fall asleep last night. The bulk of the work was done by the lunesta and seroquel, the restoril maybe smoth the experience out a bit. I woke up feeling the seroquel hangover but today I tried 5mg with good results. 1.5h of good effect, and taking the other half just now. Hopefully this scheme will work better. 20mg was way too much. I'd like to try adderall though anyway. Everyone says it's so much better and you don't constantly have to be crashing or going up or down.
Posted by Racer on August 24, 2007, at 22:43:42
In reply to Re: Ritalin too calming/sedating, posted by Existentialist on August 24, 2007, at 12:57:25
> I'd like to try adderall though anyway. Everyone says it's so much better and you don't constantly have to be crashing or going up or down.
Not *everyone* says that -- in some people, Adderall can increase depression. Mileage varies, so I wanted to warn you that what's better for some won't necessarily be better for you.
Methylphenidate does come in long acting versions, too, by the way. Ritalin LA and Concerta are both long acting.
Good luck, whatever you go with in the end.
Posted by rina on August 24, 2007, at 23:43:56
In reply to Re: Ritalin too calming/sedating » Existentialist, posted by Racer on August 24, 2007, at 22:43:42
I will say that Adderall to me and it's only my experience from taking it and Ritalin in different forms. Adderall is a smoother stimulant to me than ritalin. Less "peaks and valleys" then the final....BOOM!!! Just my experience. Let the smooth taste fool ya....lol The only drawback is...it doesn't give you any immediate release whatsoever. You don't know when it starts or stops...lol All you know is that you've begun to focus and multi-task.
Good Luck
Posted by rina on August 27, 2007, at 18:11:19
In reply to Re: Ritalin too calming/sedating, posted by Existentialist on August 24, 2007, at 12:57:25
i'm curious, did you find another stimulant other than ritalin that helped combat the sedation?
Posted by Existentialist on August 29, 2007, at 21:46:10
In reply to Re: Ritalin too calming/sedating, posted by rina on August 27, 2007, at 18:11:19
I'm trying to get a low dose of Dexedrine. By my shrink first day I saw him wanted me to take ritalin over adderall even, so it might be difficult to get.
I've read that ritalin is not good for people with "Inattentive ADD" I feel it is not good for me. I take a ritalin 10mg and it feels like it just sucked all my brain power right out of me. 5mg 3x is ok, things seem a bit brighter, but I feel a bit overwhelmed. Not very helpful at all to me.
Posted by rina on August 30, 2007, at 2:26:10
In reply to Re: Ritalin too calming/sedating, posted by Existentialist on August 29, 2007, at 21:46:10
I've tried so many thus far that I'm kind of aprehensive about starting the Dexedrine tomorrow. I'll keep you posted about what happens with the combo. Adderall/Dexedrine. You do the same with the Ritalin. Good Luck! I'll keep my fingers crossed for both of us.
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