Posted by Ritch on February 21, 2003, at 10:05:45
In reply to Re: Pdoc appt.-Maoi or Lexapro or Straterra, posted by Peter on February 21, 2003, at 0:12:28
> > He may be tinkering with the idea of getting you off Adderall onto Straterra for your ADHD, and then see if the switch gets your anxiety down (and keeps your cravings under control). If that works (or partially works) he might then consider adding the Nardil since it would probably be much safer to try adding Nardil to an NE reuptake inhibitor like Straterra than it would be to risk adding it to a moderately high dose of a stimulant.
> > That theory makes sense to me, but he actually told me specifically that there's no danger in taking Nardil with Adderall. He said the interaction between Nardil and cocaine can be fatal, but that there's no danger in taking Nardil with an amphetamine! I guess he knows what he's talking about, but it seems strange to me.
> He also said that Strattera is chemically almost identical in structure to Prozac, except that it has a different action, as it doesn't affect serotonin like Prozac does. And he said Strattera does help social anxiety even though it's an NARI (like TCA's-which are are not effective for social anxiety!) Lot's of strange contradictions here, or at least it seems like it. But again, I guess he knows what he's talking about.
> Peter
>
Yes, it does seem a little odd. Maybe he is thinking along the lines of medicine instead of "mechanism". IOW, fluoxetine, reboxetine, and tomoxetine, are all close chemical cousins despite having differing mechanisms. Reboxetine has gotten this "reputation" (hearsay?) that it significantly improves "social functioning" (motivation?). Prozac helps "social functioning" in many. So perhaps that is his logic? I would like to try the stuff (Straterra) and see if it will work for my inattentive ADD probs. without making me uptight. I've come to the conclusion that my hyperactivity is the bipolar element (which adds to distractability), and the ADD element is inattentiveness/absent-mindedness. Desipramine worked wonders on the inattentiveness before, but made me too edgy. Maybe Straterra wouldn't? I've heard some irritability reports, but noone complaining of anxiety yet.The MAOI thing--the monograph warns of using sympathomimetic substances with it (cocaine-amphetamines), SSRI's,venlafaxine, meperidine, bupropion, even Buspar. I have heard someone post here that was taking Nardil or Parnate say their doctor had gave them a *small* dose of dexedrine to alleviate the postural hypotension she was having with the MAOI. I suspect you would have to be off the Adderall before you started the MAOI and then your doc would have to add it back in slowly to see how you responded.
poster:Ritch
thread:202089
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030219/msgs/202436.html