Posted by zeugma on October 3, 2004, at 10:05:46
In reply to Re: why does Provigil help my ADD » zeugma, posted by karaS on October 3, 2004, at 1:36:25
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> If you don't know what the Ritalin is doing, is it possible that it's not doing anything for you at all? Are you still taking Nortriptyline now? (I remember when I started taking it, I had so much energy. It was so nice.)
I am still taking nortriptyline. I found that when I reduced the dose to 50 mg, with an eye to getting off it entirely, my fatigue and depression worsened. So I went off the Strattera instead, last year. You are correct in wondering whether the Ritalin is doing anything for me at all. I don't know if it is. But if it is, I don't want to find out the hard way that it is, if you know what I mean. I am in the middle of a stressful period at work and one of the most stressful periods of my life, and my most reasonable guess is that possibly the Ritalin is creating a changed environment for the Strattera to work in, which might let me keep the Strat dosage low enough to keep it on board. Since I see my pdoc next week, I would like the discuss at length the rationales for the meds, but right now if something is working even minimally, I want to mess with as few variables as possible. It is very likely that I will end up going off Ritalin soon. I would prefer that to be a decision made by my pdoc and me, and not forced by circumstance.
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> Too bad you couldn't stand the side effects since it clearly seemed to help you. (Provigil did nothing for me but make my limbs heavy.) So as long as you take at least a little break from the Strattera, you're able to go back on it and get the benefits again? That's great. Now you just have to figure out what to do instead during the down time.
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Yes. some of the 'down time' was pretty far down.> I'm starting on Cymbalta on Tuesday. I have the samples already. I just need to function on Monday so I don't want to start something new yet. I hope this helps with depression and focus - especially the focus because I have to get a job soon. If I do have some "soft bi-polar" tendencies, then I'll worry about adding something else in later. But for now, I really need to get functioning or else I'll be living with mom soon. (Horrors!)
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Are you currently on Effexor now? I would guess that Cymbalta would be better for you because of your focus problems and you might find the noradrenergic effects energizing. Also, did you take maprotiline as an antidepressant or simply as a sleep aid? MAP works exclusively as an NE reuptake inhibitor and you can use that as a guage of your response to noradrenergic drugs.Best of luck. Did your pdoc give you any reasons for thinking you are "soft bi-polar"?
The functioning part- yes, I completely understand. Nortriptyline got me functioning after years of joblessness and desperation. I hope Cymbalta gets you going in a similar way!-z
> -K
poster:zeugma
thread:397388
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041002/msgs/398493.html