Posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 14, 2004, at 7:47:16
In reply to Re: For AME and all benzo+stim users!, posted by Cressida on May 13, 2004, at 0:52:53
> My lord that is a lot of information - someone has done his homework.
Oh, it ain't work -- I find the entire subject simply fascinating. I study this crap for fun, lol. Oh, and to learn as well, I suppose. ;-)
> I take methylphenidate 10mg three times a day. I was taking 60mg of Strattera once a day, but because it is so costly @ almost $200 per bottle of sixty that I chose to go back to using classic Ritalin.
Wow, I haven't tried Strattera myself (one of maybe a half-dozen psych meds about which I can say that) so had no idea how expensive it is. No matter how many times I hear about these ridiculous costs, it's always a new experience of enragement that envelops me when I learn how much some people are having to pay for trial after trial after trial of drugs that don't work. <sigh> I'm 21... is my disillusionment/quarter-life crisis showing? lol
> I never really noticed much of an affect from Strattera, but I wonder if it would help smooth or lessen the irritating ups and downs that's associated w/ Ritalin? Or perhaps the combination is more effective than either taken alone?
It's certainly possible (probable, even?) that there would exist some synergism between methylphenidate and atomoxetine. However, as methylphenidate is primarily an inhibitor of dopamine reuptake and atomoxetine inhibits primarily reuptake of norepinephrine, I don't personally see it as being a great choice for augmentation of Ritalin's effects (if it is truly those effects you are after). It seems to me that something dopaminergic would be more effective. Perhaps amantadine (which I coincidentally am going to start taking today for smoking cessation) would be a good choice, as it promotes release of dopamine and, according to some texts, is a dopamine reuptake inhibitor in its own right. A small dose of a dopamine agonist may be helpful, but these are probably out of the question considering the cost associated (worst case scenario being one of the newer, better DA-agonists, Requip -- can cost up to $1,000 monthly). Amantadine, OTOH, is dirt-cheap. I personally found a small rural pharmacy here that quoted my $3 for 30 x 100mg of amantadine and $5.75 for 30 x 350mg carisoprodol; Walgreens and Eckerd both wanted something in the $40 range altogether.
> The doctor prescribing the Ritalin isn't a psychiatrist but an endocrinologist who is primarily treating my essential hypertenstion. I haven't seen a psychiatrist in a year. Since I'm using methylphenidate again and experience depressive and anxiety symptoms in addition, I scheduled an appointment with a pdoc for later this month. I think I'll discuss the option of polypharmacy with the doctor. I would like to take something to treat both the side effects of Ritalin and my dysphoric depressive-anxious state. Hopefully there is a solution or partial fix.
Seeking out a good pdoc is a major, major step in the right direction -- the answers are out there if you look hard enough, and I'm confident you'll find something that ameliorates your current dilemma(e).
> As an aside, I've suffered depressive moods and anxiety since before the addition of Ritalin, which was made 5/7/04 - this past Friday. *R* actually lifts the depression, which is a bonus. Unfortunately but not surprisingly it causes nervousness. Furthermore, it brings on a *dull* or *flat* affect, but at the same time somewhat mood-elevating, that's hard to believe; I mean, it is a stimulant.
Yeah, Ritalin is an odd creature. I'm always hearing (mostly from the sensationalist media) that methylphenidate is nothing short of "kiddie-cocaine" as it operates in a very similar fassion. Well if that's true, then I guess the absolute euphoria I used to get from using coke was just placebo in response to doing an illicit drug, lol; I mean, my experience with Ritalin was *exactly* the same as you describe yours. The word "nervousness" so much more accurately describes the uneasy Ritalin feeling than "anxiety", which is how I used to refer to it. It really didn't cause me to be anxiety-laden, but rather I was rendered jittery, tense and more than a bit asocial. It just made me want to keep to myself and be in my own head constantly -- it was like chemically-induced autism.
Have you tried any amphetamine drugs? Since we both experienced methylphenidate in the same manner it seems, you may fare as well on the amphetamines as I have. They've given me my life back. As opposed to methylphenidate, they are true, well-rounded stimulants, IMHO. Not to mention the gentler comedown, ability to prevent tolerance via NMDA antagonism, and greater history of cardiovascular safety.
Keep me/us updated!
~Michael
poster:Ame Sans Vie
thread:345604
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040510/msgs/346720.html