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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 CareBear04 on February 1, 2004, at 16:30:10
I wonder if I might have ADD. I have a ton of trouble concentrating and sitting still and paying attention and am very sluggish throughout the day. Activating ADs like Wellbutrin tend to help. I'm wondering whether a stimulant might help me focus. I imagine they're not very easy to obtain from doctors, and maybe even less so in my case because i'm very anxious and agitated. do stimulants make that worse? Thanks!
Posted by BackOfClass on February 1, 2004, at 16:50:07
In reply to stimulants bad for anxiety?, posted by CareBear04 on February 1, 2004, at 16:30:10
Dexedrine is considered to cause less anxiety, but I guess it depends what you are anxious about. A benzo might be good to augment a stimulant, but to much is not good with this combo. For me, I get fog headed.
Posted by CareBear04 on February 1, 2004, at 16:53:41
In reply to Re: stimulants bad for anxiety? ?CareBear04, posted by BackOfClass on February 1, 2004, at 16:50:07
I'm already on quite a bit of benzos for anxiety and Ambien to sleep. I'm anxious about everything, and the benzos help with physical anxiety. I'm on Abilify and Lithium for the psychological anxiety. Do you get foggy headed on benzos or on stimulants?
> Dexedrine is considered to cause less anxiety, but I guess it depends what you are anxious about. A benzo might be good to augment a stimulant, but to much is not good with this combo. For me, I get fog headed.
Posted by BackOfClass on February 1, 2004, at 17:08:54
In reply to Re: stimulants bad for anxiety? » BackOfClass, posted by CareBear04 on February 1, 2004, at 16:53:41
I get fog headed when I take to much benzo with a high dose stimulant. Without the benzo in my system I am a nervous wreck, so I need some, but the stimulant compensates this at just the right dose. In other words, for me a stimulant causes and diminishes anxiety, but I think my ADD is the root of much of my anxiety.
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on February 1, 2004, at 19:28:08
In reply to Re: stimulants bad for anxiety? » CareBear04, posted by BackOfClass on February 1, 2004, at 17:08:54
I have extremely severe anxiety and take 8mg Klonopin, 60mg Adderall, and 20mg Prozac daily. Funny thing is, the Adderall makes me feel so sociable that I imagine I could drop the Klonopin if I wanted to... but that's not going to happen anytime soon. :-)
Posted by Kon on February 2, 2004, at 10:41:55
In reply to Re: stimulants bad for anxiety? » BackOfClass, posted by CareBear04 on February 1, 2004, at 16:53:41
>I'm anxious about everything, and the benzos help with physical anxiety. I'm on Abilify and Lithium for the psychological anxiety.
Not to question your experience but benzo's main effects are within the brain and they are known to work on the psychological component of anxiety. Why do you think benzos help with physical anxiety and not the psychological component?
As opposed to benzos which work on the cognitive component of anxiety, beta-blockers help with physical anxiety, as they decrease autonomic symptoms, such as palpitations, tremor, sweating, blushing, etc. But they can indirectly affect higher-level mental symptoms such as fear, especially among those who worry a great deal about their physical symptoms and whether they are visible or harmful.
However, individuals with predominantly psychological symptoms of anxiety often obtain no benefit from beta-blockers and require benzos or other drugs.
This is the end of the thread.
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