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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by the blue professor on March 30, 2003, at 1:06:04
Hello all. I was recently started on dexedrine. I have not taken any medications for ADD since the early seventies (I am 53). I do not remember what my dosage was then but I took ritalin for a while and later dexedrine. I stopped taking them because my spouse made me. Didn't believe in these drugs. I have REALLY had a hard time getting to where I am and in the last couple of years the symptoms have gotten worse - to the point that I had to do something. I don't have the original spouse now and my present one is very supportive.
My psyc. put me on 10 mg dexadrine spansules, one per day. Should I feel anything from this dosage? I honestly cannot tell I have even taken it. I could take one of these before bedtime with absolutely no problem.
I seem to remember that these had a stronger effect on me when I took them before. Anybody have any idea why this is happening. Is this dosage really small or do I have an atypical response?
I am just curious at this point as it is a couple of weeks before my next appointment. I appreciate any insight you can offer.
Posted by utopizen on March 30, 2003, at 10:49:15
In reply to ADD and medications...what to expect, posted by the blue professor on March 30, 2003, at 1:06:04
I'm a big fan of Desoxyn, it's suppose to be really good for inattentives. The others gave me an OCD-like, perservering type of reaction, but Desoxyn seems more sophisticated. I can focus and am motivated to do so, but don't feel "bored" in the process.
Posted by Ritch on March 30, 2003, at 13:59:41
In reply to ADD and medications...what to expect, posted by the blue professor on March 30, 2003, at 1:06:04
> Hello all. I was recently started on dexedrine. I have not taken any medications for ADD since the early seventies (I am 53). I do not remember what my dosage was then but I took ritalin for a while and later dexedrine. I stopped taking them because my spouse made me. Didn't believe in these drugs. I have REALLY had a hard time getting to where I am and in the last couple of years the symptoms have gotten worse - to the point that I had to do something. I don't have the original spouse now and my present one is very supportive.
>
> My psyc. put me on 10 mg dexadrine spansules, one per day. Should I feel anything from this dosage? I honestly cannot tell I have even taken it. I could take one of these before bedtime with absolutely no problem.
>
> I seem to remember that these had a stronger effect on me when I took them before. Anybody have any idea why this is happening. Is this dosage really small or do I have an atypical response?
>
> I am just curious at this point as it is a couple of weeks before my next appointment. I appreciate any insight you can offer.
I haven't tried the Spansules. There are some people who claim they do not help very much because of the way the medication is released. You might ask your doctor about the immediate release version. However, you will probably need to take it 3x daily. 10mg isn't much of a dose for some with ADD. I'm bipolar+ADD and dexedrine actually made me tired feeling at times. My forehead was as hot as an iron and I had this weird sleepy/alert feeling. The other stims worked better, but made me too anxious. I'm not on any stims now.
Posted by Jet Meck on March 30, 2003, at 14:49:56
In reply to Re: ADD and medications...what to expect » the blue professor, posted by Ritch on March 30, 2003, at 13:59:41
Ritch I am bipolar + ADHD. What medications do you take now? I used to be on Adderall but did not help. I am now on Effexor and Zyprexa. I feel I could be better though.
Posted by Jet Meck on March 30, 2003, at 14:52:15
In reply to Re: ADD and medications...what to expect » the blue professor, posted by Ritch on March 30, 2003, at 13:59:41
Posted by Rainbowlight on March 30, 2003, at 16:30:57
In reply to ADD and medications...what to expect, posted by the blue professor on March 30, 2003, at 1:06:04
I've tried all the stims. I thought plain old regular Ritalin was the best, with the least peaks and valleys. I didn't care for the Dexedrine at all. Just my results. You might want to try doing a task that usually is hard for you to do. Something that would test your concentration to see if the medication is helping. For me, I find I can type much faster and I get alot more done around the house (bill paying, etc.) when I take Ritalin. You might need to play with the dosage to see how much is right for you. Also, each stim made me feel very different mood wise, you might have to try a few different ones to see which one is right for you. Congrats on getting help and your lucky to have a supportive spouse. Good luck!
Posted by Ritch on March 30, 2003, at 17:13:20
In reply to Re: ADD and medications...what to expect, posted by Jet Meck on March 30, 2003, at 14:49:56
> Ritch I am bipolar + ADHD. What medications do you take now? I used to be on Adderall but did not help. I am now on Effexor and Zyprexa. I feel I could be better though.
Hi, I'm on Depakote 375mg, Wellbutrin 150mg, Klonopin .5mg with fishoil 800mg EPA/day, plus some occasional tyrosine. Adderall has worked the best (so far) for my ADD symptoms (at 5mg a day). Desipramine was a close 2nd (at 10mg/day). Ritalin/Focalin probably 3rd. Prozac was the only SSRI that seemed to help. Nortriptyline was helpful, but only if I took Prozac or Zoloft with it (odd). Buspar strangely enough *did* help-but only if I took a *little* SSRI with it (also very odd). Sedative antidepressants like doxepin, trazodone, serzone, Remeron, worsened ADD symptoms tremendously. All antipsychotics I've taken (conventional and atypical) have made ADD symptoms much worse, too. Benzos can make it worse-but not greatly so. Mood stabilizers can worsen things, but it is dose-dependent, however anticonvulsants help reduce impulsivity and irritability the best of any meds I've taken. I had no real improvement in ADD symptoms with Effexor-it was helpful for anxiety, however. I found Effexor combined with Adderall to work fairly well. Serotonergic drugs irritate my GI tract tremendously, so I am off the Effexor now. The Wellbutrin helps somewhat with task follow-through and listening skills, but doesn't work any "magic" by any means.
Posted by utopizen on March 30, 2003, at 20:51:18
In reply to Re: ADD and medications...what to expect » Jet Meck, posted by Ritch on March 30, 2003, at 17:13:20
By no means should one confuse it as a replacement to a stimulant or Straterra, but I found I was highly organized when taking Abilify. I wouldn't even allow for my bookmarks to remain out of folders for a second. Others have found similar experiences.
I went off it after 2 weeks of 7.5mg due to akathasia, but I'm thinking of asking my doc to augument it with Klonopin and go back on it. It's not for ADD, but it does happen to want to keep me on track. I was taking it for social anxiety.
Posted by Ritch on March 30, 2003, at 21:44:45
In reply to Abilify may be something to augument with, posted by utopizen on March 30, 2003, at 20:51:18
> By no means should one confuse it as a replacement to a stimulant or Straterra, but I found I was highly organized when taking Abilify. I wouldn't even allow for my bookmarks to remain out of folders for a second. Others have found similar experiences.
>
> I went off it after 2 weeks of 7.5mg due to akathasia, but I'm thinking of asking my doc to augument it with Klonopin and go back on it. It's not for ADD, but it does happen to want to keep me on track. I was taking it for social anxiety.Yes, my pdoc was wanting me to take it to virtually replace all of my meds and was real excited about it (esp. after a free trip to Las Vegas sponsored by the mfg where a presentation was shown), but I won't budge on the AP issue (akathisia, long term effects, etc.). I promised to research it and consider it. I just don't buy the "new safe AP" marketing hype. I remember when Celexa first came out and it was supposed to be so clean and the drug monograph looked like it was another version of cotton candy. I re-read the latest one and it seems that it has lengthened quite a bit in the adverse effect department. I realize that I am currently taking a medication (Depakote) that has a boldface boxed warning on the front of it's monograph, but it has been around since 1974.... I'm sure the newer antipsychotic medications such as Abilify will benefit and represent a viable alternative for many people (especially those with psychosis, schizo-affective disorder, intractable OCD etc.). I have to think in terms of taking a medication for decades, and I just haven't had luck with AP's for long-term periods without problems I have considered worthy given their benefit.
Posted by utopizen on March 31, 2003, at 3:13:01
In reply to Re: Abilify may be something to augument with » utopizen, posted by Ritch on March 30, 2003, at 21:44:45
My p-doc said the reason why he wants me on an AP is because it's the most agressive way of dealing with the anxiety... as opposed to a benzo that will only work while I take it, the idea is that an AP or AD will have residual effects after I stop taking it after a few months or so.
Posted by Ritch on March 31, 2003, at 8:52:24
In reply to Re: Abilify may be something to augument with, posted by utopizen on March 31, 2003, at 3:13:01
> My p-doc said the reason why he wants me on an AP is because it's the most agressive way of dealing with the anxiety... as opposed to a benzo that will only work while I take it, the idea is that an AP or AD will have residual effects after I stop taking it after a few months or so.
It may be the most *aggressive* method of dealing with the anxiety, but I don't understand his logic about the residual positive effects. When I was on low-dose Mellaril for a few years back in the early '80's I was taking it fairly regularly, but it was prescribed as a PRN medication (10-30mg hs PRN). When I would stop the med, the symptoms it was treating (generalized anxiety/insomnia associated with bipolar depression) would simply return just like stopping a benzodiazepine. Perhaps his rationale is that you will get better results with *therapy* while on an AP, and the results of the therapy would be the long-lasting ones he is speaking of?? Then the course of the AP would only be relatively brief.
Posted by Viridis on March 31, 2003, at 21:33:23
In reply to Re: Abilify may be something to augument with, posted by utopizen on March 31, 2003, at 3:13:01
I don't follow this logic -- unless there's some evidence that Abilify actually induces long-term brain changes that might reduce anxiety. If it's as Ritch has suggested, and the idea is that you'll respond better to therapy with an anxiolytic on board, then surely regular use of a benzo during the initial stages should have the same effect?
I dunno - just sounds like another excuse for avoiding benzos at all costs, and trying meds whose long-term effects are much more poorly understood. I'd (politely) ask your doctor for clarification, since this sounds pretty fishy to me.
This is the end of the thread.
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