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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jaby on March 16, 2004, at 21:57:16
I have exhausted most of the normal and not so normal routes to combat my BPII/depression/anxiety/whatever (20+meds). I have yet to use a stim, but do best with other stimulating meds. What are people's experiences using a stim for AD purposes?
Posted by bipolarspectrum on March 16, 2004, at 22:10:30
In reply to Long term stim use as an AD?, posted by jaby on March 16, 2004, at 21:57:16
Hello,
I am bipolar type III and I experienced hypomania on many of the stims, ritalin, provigil, etc...
Posted by PsychoSage on March 17, 2004, at 0:31:13
In reply to Long term stim use as an AD?, posted by jaby on March 16, 2004, at 21:57:16
> I have exhausted most of the normal and not so normal routes to combat my BPII/depression/anxiety/whatever (20+meds). I have yet to use a stim, but do best with other stimulating meds. What are people's experiences using a stim for AD purposes?
I am taking 50mg of provigil {normal dose is 100-200 generally - more for narcoleptics} on top of my trileptal and wellbutrin. I think it has given me a kind of focused energy. It is not free of side effects, but it is a great alternative to the bumpier stims like adderal and ritalin. Ritalin is often as an add on for treatment refractory depression. I have no experience with it though for depression.I think you should be aware that stims can trigger mania as well as depression. They can exacerbate your situation, so you have to be flexible and careful. Even if you stick with a low dose you have to be aware of tolerance and be vigilant about your moods, increasingly so. If life is not treating you well, but you are being overstimulating, you could have a dysphoric energy that produces thoughts and problems that you would not normally encounter while depressed on the normal meds.
check this site out: http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.drugs.html
Posted by HappyGirl on March 17, 2004, at 9:03:46
In reply to Long term stim use as an AD?, posted by jaby on March 16, 2004, at 21:57:16
Hi:
Like you, the depressive of my Bipolar II is major form of depression. For that, I too tried some of ADs, including SSRIs. However, in my case, SSRI triggers 'manic' episode. As a matter of fact, how I got the name, Bipolar II was after taking one of SSRIs, 'Zoloft.'
In regard to 'stimulant' med. that has AD effect is 'Wellbutrin sr,' not perfect like SSRI class that has potent effect on some of depressive form, ... but I'd say 80-90% range. Some saying that you can't expect like normal people, even on any of AD meds. and some saying that Med./med. combo. is meant to be just 'buffer,' not for 'cure' or complete elimination of your depressive moods. The rest is your 'psychological pump,' for that I believe psycho.-therapy/counselling helpful to most of mental ill folks.
Up to today, there are no 'magic' pills as long as I see from the reading/hearing.
Hopefully, some of drug companies produces more effective AD med./meds. in the near future.
H.G.
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