Posted by Jerrympls on March 24, 2002, at 1:39:52
In reply to Re: Dexedrine Dysphoria - SAME-e to the rescue? HELP! » Jerrympls, posted by Ritch on March 23, 2002, at 11:19:48
Mitch-
Thanks for your reply. Here's a order of events as far as my meds are concerned: Oh and my diagnosis is Major Depression with Generalized anxiety disorder.....
Started Desipramine 50mg - had bad akathasia - added Ativan. After a couple weeks I got up to 150mg Desipramine - akathasia would rebound if I stopped ativan. NO antidepssant effect yet from Desipramine. Decided to add 100mg Seroquel as an augmentation strategy and also for sleep and anxiety. Seroquel worked very well. Still had some anxiety and restlessness so went up to 200mg Seroquel and finally after a month landed at 400mg Seroquel. Works very well for sleep and anxiety--perhaps mood too but I'm unsure. Akathasia calmed down a bit...still need ativan daily. Other than the restlessness, I'm not sure the Desipramine is ativating because I take it all at night. Desipramine totally wiped out my sex dive almost completely. Motivation and energy very low and still felt very apathetic--flat--a bit weepy - so decided to ad Provigil 200mg. Helped for a couple days....but not very helpful for mood. Next on to Dexedrine. Works well.
So, the dysphoria I am describing is more of an intense sadness/dread than panic or ansiety. It's not as if my heart rate starts speeding up. It's like these brief waves of "everything is depressing and sad" kinda things.....am I making any sense? I don't feel anxiety is playing any part. There's no real pattern to it too. I did increase my SAM-e to 800mg today and I didn't have as many "dysphoria" moments. So...hmmm....
I do try to take a day or two off of Dexedrine to help my brain recharge. It helps a bit. But without it during the week I wouldn't have the energy/will/motivation to get out of bed or to care about anything. So....damned if i do, damned if I dont.......
I'm thinking of switching the Seroquel to Topamax - but the Seroquel is helping alot I think---except for making me so completey hungry. I'm not too fond of the Desipramine because it makes my hands shake alot and it's noticable to co-workers, etc....it also could be adding to the weight factor.
Just a quick note about the meds I have been on: Over the past 10 years (I'm 30 now) I have been on every SSRI at least twice, imipramine, ascendin, Pamelor, Trazodone, Parnate, Serzone, Effexor, Wellbutrin, Remeron, Depakote, Lithium, Ritalin, Adderall, Cylert, Cytomel, a hand full of the benzos, Neurontin, Clonidine, Naltrexone (for SSRI augmentation)...and probably more I can't remember. I've also been through ECT (worst treatment mistake ever). And I currently have the VNS (Vegal Nerve Stimulator) implanted for almost 10 months (I can't comment yet on how well it is helping....I'm dyign to tell eveyone--but I must obey the study rules - have no fear--I will post everything here when they say I can....)
So, I dunno....>I'm always appreciative of everyone comments, suggestions, questions...thanks alot........
Jerry
> > Just in case you haven't read any of my recent posts, I"ll give you the low-down:
> >
> > Seroquel - 400mg (night)
> > Desipramine - 200mg (night)
> > Ambien - 10mg night
> > Ativan - 1mg daily as needed
> > SAM-e 400mg/day w/ B complex vit.
> >
> > First--DYSPHORIA! Ugh....I have these very strong but brief periods of dysphoria: stomach suddenly sinks and intense feeling of dread. These last a second or so scattered throughout the day. I can find no correlation to dosing times, etc. This dysphoria really scares me because I will be felling ok then all the sudden everything is terrible, dread overflows my thoughts, the bottom completely falls out......then I'm back to feeling ok again. WHAT IS THIS AND WHY!? I could be sitting with my friends laughing and out of the BLUE my stomach will drop, an overwhelming sense of dread will wipe over me and throw me through a dysphoric "wave" that lasts a couple seconds....but that's 2 seconds too long for me.
> >
> > At first I thought it had to do with Dexedrine not working to it's full potential - so I started SAM-e to see if it could help reverse the dysphoria lapses. I was up to 1600mg/day for a couple days (this stuff as everyone knows is terrible expensive) but I could take 20 SAM-e pills and feel nothing. I take it on an empty stomach with a B-complex vit. Right now I am only taking 400mg - but still nothing at all. I
> >
> > Long ramble longer, I need to hear from anyone - someone - about working with supplements like SAM-e to help with stimulant poop-out and the dreaded dysphoria.
> >
> > I know my dopamine system is probably running on low - but what can i do to replensih? If I tell my doc all this will he laugh me out of the office?
> >
> > Anyone? Elizabeth? JOhnX? Anyone? Anyone at all? Perhaps my med combo could be playing a part--for ex: would Seroquel reduce the effectiveness of Dexedrine? I'm already weary of the whole things with acidity and metabolism of dexedrine - but I have been drinking a lot of Diet Cherry Cokes too. I'm sure that stuff isn't good for me either.
> >
> > Ok I'll stop. Anyone? Please...I'm so frustrated and just need some help here...please.....thanks
> >
> > Jerry
>
>
> Hi Jerry,
>
> It doesn't really sound like "dysphoria" it sounds like *panic* to me. Why do you need to take so much Seroquel? Desipramine can be pretty *buzzy* too. Tricyclics in general can cause crawly skin and momentary adrenaline rushes. In what order were your meds started? Was it desipramine, then dexedrine, then you got anxiety and insomnia and they started piling on the Seroquel, Ambien, Ativan? The last time I was on a stimulant (Adderall), I had anx. problems and we kept adding on different things to quell it. One was Risperdal and then Seroquel. I had to go off the Adderall and go back on Klonopin. Maybe you need to back off your dexedrine *slowly* and see if you start feeling better (without getting depressed).
>
> good luck,
> Mitch
poster:Jerrympls
thread:99601
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020322/msgs/99788.html