Posted by DiscoPuppy on May 14, 2002, at 10:10:37
In reply to Re: 3 beers - any thoughts?, posted by 3 Beer Effect on May 14, 2002, at 2:00:33
Thanks everyone for your information and advice. I really REALLY appreciate it.
3beers: Are you experiencing any sexual side effects on your Dexedrine? Just outta curiousity, what are you taking meds for? I'm sure you have mentioned it in other threads but I am still kind of new here.
Also, everything you guys have told me leads me to believe that stimulants like Dexedrine and Adderall might be in a Schedule II or III category. And if so, what does it mean to me if I get prescribed such a drug?
> Basically, any drug that meets your 4 criteria is going to cause anxiety/panic attacks.
>
> I would not discount the Wellbutrin SR. Wellbutrin SR does not cause weight gain or sexual side effects. Wellbutrin SR usually causes weight LOSS (one of its main side effects) & is often pro-sexual. Wellbutrin also is effective at increasing concentration & alleviating symptoms of Adult ADD although it is not as effective as Adderall or Dexedrine in doing this.
> Anything your are experiencing to the contrary is probably an interaction between the Zoloft & the Wellbutrin, but Wellbutrin SR by itself will not cause weight gain, sexual side effects, attention problems.
>
> I took Zoloft 100 mg for over six months & the sexual side effects were pretty ridiculous- that is probably the problem, the Wellbutrin wasn't able to overcome the Zoloft induced anorgasmia/delayed ejaculation. I also noticed that when I resumed taking Ritalin 20 mg 2x per day which I had taken a year before with much pyschostimulant success that the Zoloft somehow interacted/interfered with the Ritalin making my brain numb & basically making the Ritalin useless.
> So the Zoloft could be interfering with Wellbutrin's known psychostimulant properties.
>
> Instead of taking Adderall, I think you should ask your doctor about eliminating the Zoloft & instead take Wellbutrin SR by itself at an effective dose, which is 300 to 400 mg/day in 2 divided doses & give it a month to start working. Wellbutrin SR doesn't generally work well at doses below 300 mg/day.
>
> The reason I would recommend Wellbutrin SR is that Wellbutrin decreases anxiety over time (see the Wellbutrin SR website- they have a chart about its positive effect anxiety on there), & is also an effective anti-depressant with hardly any side effects compared to the SSRIs except weight loss & insomnia.
>
> Amphetamines like Adderall & Dexedrine are anti-depressants, but only during the 4 or 6 hours that they are working. After that your original depression returns with a vengence, & this is pretty bad because it happens every day- unlike anti-depressants, stimulants are unsustainable- you can't pop them 24 hours a day & tolerance is always a problem. My only anti-depressant right now is Dexedrine & I feel wonderful for the 4-5 hours after my 2 daily doses, but the other 4-6 hours i'm awake per 24 hour period I feel terrible & severly depressed.
>
> If you do end up taking an amphetamine, i've found Dexedrine usually causes less anxiety & nervousness than Adderall & low-dose Dexedrine makes you quite sociable especially if combined with an adequate dose of the benzodiazepine Klonopin (1 mg breakfast, 1 mg lunch). But, after reading your history of anxiety, if you take over 5 mg of Dexedrine at one time, you will probably become nervous & may even have a panic attack. I would keep the dose low, say 5 mg 2 or 3 times a day. Doses of 10 mg or more at a time are usually reserved/effective for ADD & are less effective for (social) anxiety.
>
> Anyways, I think your best bet is
> Wellbutrin SR 300-400 mg/day in two divided doses at breakfast & lunch (any later causes insomnia). Even better would be to also take Klonopin 1 mg breakfast & 1 mg lunch and Ambien (10 mg at night if the Wellbutrin SR causes any insomnia). The Klonopin basically eliminates any anxiety/panic attacks & ironically is one of the most potent but at the same time least addictive benzodiazepines. Klonopin does make you a bit dumber at first & tired (not me, but i've heard that from others), but those & any other side effects are gone by 2 weeks, but the anti-anxiety/anti-panic attack effect lasts atleast 3 months, & some researchers believe the anti-anxiety effect never goes away. For me, Klonopin makes me a nicer person, more confident, & more sociable.
>
> 3 Beers.......
poster:DiscoPuppy
thread:106213
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020510/msgs/106324.html