Posted by DStupid on November 30, 2007, at 21:53:04
I have low tolerance for psychiatric meds insofar as my heart is concerned, and I tried -- but couldn't tolerate for more than a month -- Dexedrine (a stimulant), Ritalin (same), Pamelor (a TCA), Norpramin (a TCA), Wellbutrin (a combo). I was able to tolerate Lexapro but it pooped out after a year. I'm currently taking Klonopin (.5 mg) and Xanax (.5 mg) for general well being, and I take Toprol XL, a beta blocker (25 mg), for concentration. My dad, a retired scientist, told me today that I needed to get off the benzos (which I did in the past without a problem) and to start taking serious stuff, "to change my personality." My principal problem is a defective executive functioning -- spotting problems and resolving them -- in all spheres of my life which require solving problems on a daily basis. I never grasp the big picture.
When I was taking Dexedrine, however, I was bright and quick; when on Ritalin, methodical; when on Pamelor, I actually saw the big picture, and when on Norpramine, I was a good writer and organizer. I couldn't tolerate any of them due to rapid pulse, angina, palpitations, reduced ejection rate. I took them separately, and couldn't tolerate them even at the lowest dosage. When I was on Lexapro, I was relatively happy, but I still didn't see the big picture and could not solve ordinary problems.
Sorry for a long post. If there are any heart-conscious/suffering people out there on psych meds, do post your experience, please.
Separate question: do the rules here allow posting of links to uploaded medical e-books? Through extensive searches of medical student web sites, I've assembled a bunch of good books.
poster:DStupid
thread:797951
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20071125/msgs/797951.html