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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SheilaC on February 2, 2010, at 17:37:22
Anyone out there take stimulants for ADD?
After Adderall made me irritable, my doc switched me to Focalin and I really, really like it. It works great without making me high.
I noticed that after the stimulant wears off I feel tired (like I need a nap) and easily emotional, kinda weepy, but not in a bad way. I don't feel depressed, just more apt to shed a tear over good things.
Is this just the wear off of the stimulant?
I take the immediate release because I can't take long acting meds. I am wondering if I take one dose in the morning and a second dose around lunch maybe I can put off these side effects.
Posted by JohnnyBLinux on February 2, 2010, at 18:55:01
In reply to Emotional from stimulants..., posted by SheilaC on February 2, 2010, at 17:37:22
I used to take stimulants, including Focalin, and noticed feeling a bit bummed out once it started clearing my system. Since I don't take ADD meds I feel lax and not too motivated (aka sleepy). I've recently learned that ADD was a misdiagnosis my entire life and that I actually have schizophrenia. What a shock that was to learn! Perhaps the addition of an antipsychotic will help get me more motivated and alert. I see a new pdoc tomorrow and I want to find out if Abilify could be a viable option. I already take Cymbalta 60mg.
Immediate-release Focalin is usually taken 2-3 times per day, 4-5 hrs between doses (i.e. taken at breakfast, lunch & late afternoon). I was happy with Adderall the extended release version. It was expensive though, but not as expensive as 30 capsules of Cymbalta 60mg. It sucks hot having health insurance!
Good luck with your medication.
Posted by Phillipa on February 2, 2010, at 19:03:38
In reply to Re: Emotional from stimulants..., posted by JohnnyBLinux on February 2, 2010, at 18:55:01
Johnny how did they misdiagnose you for so long? What symptoms did you display? And Sheila anyway you could time the stimulants since they tire you to take one nearer to bedtime? Phillipa
Posted by JohnnyBLinux on February 2, 2010, at 19:24:31
In reply to Re: Emotional from stimulants... » JohnnyBLinux, posted by Phillipa on February 2, 2010, at 19:03:38
That's a good question which I asked my new mental health care team. I presented the day I went in with panic / anxiety like symptoms over my job and living arrangement. I thought I was becoming psychotic one morning about a week ago, so I went to the hospital. They sent to a place to rest (not a psych hospital) and I left with a diagnosis of shizophrenia and an order to not take my ADD med Adderall XR. They put me on Abilify, discontinued it, then restarted me on Cymbalta 30mg, then upped it to 60mg. I still haven't experienced visual and/or auditory hallucinations but those symptoms must not be as important as I once a thought in diagnosing schizophrenia.
I was diagnosed with ADD/ADHD when I was very young and then again my third year in college.
My new mental health care team want me to take a special exam to determine what's going on with me but I'm tired of all the questions and history acquisition. I thought I knew what I had but I guess mental health diagnoses can change even into adulthood.
Basically, I was having trouble sleeping one night before work. I was getting anxious about working and living with my employer when the restaurant I work out was scheduled to open for business. I was short of breath and breathing a little fast. Now I believe that if I had taken the day off and rested over the weekend I would have been okay. My temp was up and down too, but by too much. When I got home from my inpatient stay I had stomach pains and nausea and a fever of 101. Also, before going to the ER, when I was watching TV, I thought the actors were responding my facial expressions, which I knew was absurd so I high-tailed to the ER in a panic! I became more alert and aware after starting Adderall XR. I started really paying attention to facial expressions, the dialogue, plot, etc. Maybe it was all a bit too much stimulation and emotion for me to process. I was taking Adderall XR 30mg & Cymbalta 30mg. Anyway, now I'm back to just Cymbalta 60mg. I hope all of this makes sense.
Posted by rjlockhart04-08 on February 2, 2010, at 20:35:39
In reply to Emotional from stimulants..., posted by SheilaC on February 2, 2010, at 17:37:22
Taking Vyvanse currently, yes, thank goodness someone outthere understands!
That's why in the past if abused stimulants, they would cause the emotions to just "collapse". What happens when it wears off...it's like a "drain" period of the dopamine, and the stimulation, and it causes emotional feelings like, just crying because of what ever your thinking about causes dispair.
How is Focalin compared to Vyvanse?
I take 30mg.
Posted by SheilaC on February 3, 2010, at 15:15:18
In reply to Re: Emotional from stimulants..., posted by rjlockhart04-08 on February 2, 2010, at 20:35:39
> Taking Vyvanse currently, yes, thank goodness someone outthere understands!
>
> That's why in the past if abused stimulants, they would cause the emotions to just "collapse". What happens when it wears off...it's like a "drain" period of the dopamine, and the stimulation, and it causes emotional feelings like, just crying because of what ever your thinking about causes dispair.
>
> How is Focalin compared to Vyvanse?
>
> I take 30mg.
I tried taking Vyvanase and liked it except for the fact that it never wore off. I couldn't sleep and after several days I just felt easily angered. I even took the lowest dose - 20mg. I think Vyvanse is supposed to last 12 hours (which for me is more like 18 hours!).The Focalin is pretty good, but I need to take at least 2 doses a day.
I didn't like how Adderall made me irritable and mean (Focalin doesn't do that).
I will give it another week or so and see how it works out.
I need an 8 hour Vyvanse!
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