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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 appadoo on December 11, 2004, at 0:10:08
I got a script today for valium because I am trying to stop SSRI and they seem to be doing nothing for my anxiety
My question is will valium or benzodiazepine in general interfere with my ADHD medication.
My wild guess is it will either make me more sedated or if the paradox theory holds as with ampmatamines then the benzodiazepine will act as be activating.
Any advice will be welcome
cheers
Posted by mattw84 on December 11, 2004, at 3:33:27
In reply to is it common to use valium and ritalin same time, posted by appadoo on December 11, 2004, at 0:10:08
Yes --
Benzos and Stims seem to go hand-in-hand... so to speak and literally =) Ritalin, Adderall, Dex, etc... all tend to provoke anxiety (anxiogenic). So naturally an anxiolytic such as valium would be the natural choice to alleviate these symptoms.
Some things to consider:
- Yes it is going to be stimulant versus sedative in your body.
- The true purpose of any ADHD medication is only to increase dopamine (and norepinephrine in some) which will power the prefrontal cortex and allow you to FOCUS.
- The anxiolytic -- will prove sedating, ideally only for the short term. The sedative effects of benzos wear off rather quickly for most users. Aside from that they do not affect dopamine nor norepinephrine, so biochemically speaking there will be no synergistic or paradoxal effects from the said combination.
I have been taking Adderall and Xanax XR for a couple months now. In the beginning I had begun to lose faith in the adderall because it just wasn't 'doing-it' for me anymore. However, after having stabilized my Xanax XR dose I have noticed the Adderall regaining its effectiveness.
For what it's worth the Adderall was likely working the whole time I was adjusting to the Xanax. Just the counteractive sedative effect made me *believe* otherwise. Through this experience I have first-hand discovered that adderall is not primarily a 'stimulant' in we add'ers -- only that it allows us to have normal levels of dopamine and function prefrontally ideally. I.E. The goal is not to be 'pushed' to be attentive, only to be able.Hope that helps, or at the lease makes some sense =)
Matt
Posted by cybercafe on December 12, 2004, at 1:23:17
In reply to Re: is it common to use valium and ritalin same time, posted by mattw84 on December 11, 2004, at 3:33:27
> Yes --
>
> Benzos and Stims seem to go hand-in-hand... so to speak and literally =) Ritalin, Adderall, Dex, etc... all tend to provoke anxiety (anxiogenic). So naturally an anxiolytic such as valium would be the natural choice to alleviate these symptoms.
>
> Some things to consider:
>
> - Yes it is going to be stimulant versus sedative in your body.
>
> - The true purpose of any ADHD medication is only to increase dopamine (and norepinephrine in some) which will power the prefrontal cortex and allow you to FOCUS.hmmm... i thought it was either nucleus accumbens or reticular activating system where ADHD meds help you focus/stay awake etc etc ??
>
> - The anxiolytic -- will prove sedating, ideally only for the short term. The sedative effects of benzos wear off rather quickly for most users. Aside from that they do not affect dopamine nor norepinephrine, so biochemically speaking there will be no synergistic or paradoxal effects from the said combination.
>
> I have been taking Adderall and Xanax XR for a couple months now. In the beginning I had begun to lose faith in the adderall because it just wasn't 'doing-it' for me anymore. However, after having stabilized my Xanax XR dose I have noticed the Adderall regaining its effectiveness.
>
>
> For what it's worth the Adderall was likely working the whole time I was adjusting to the Xanax. Just the counteractive sedative effect made me *believe* otherwise. Through this experience I have first-hand discovered that adderall is not primarily a 'stimulant' in we add'ers -- only that it allows us to have normal levels of dopamine and function prefrontally ideally. I.E. The goal is not to be 'pushed' to be attentive, only to be able.
>
> Hope that helps, or at the lease makes some sense =)
>
> Matti also find once you stop worrying unnecessarily, it makes it easier to put things in perspective and focus on the task at hand :)
Posted by appadoo on December 12, 2004, at 5:34:34
In reply to Re: is it common to use valium and ritalin same time, posted by mattw84 on December 11, 2004, at 3:33:27
> Yes --
>
> Benzos and Stims seem to go hand-in-hand... so to speak and literally =) Ritalin, Adderall, Dex, etc... all tend to provoke anxiety (anxiogenic). So naturally an anxiolytic such as valium would be the natural choice to alleviate these symptoms.
>
> Some things to consider:
>
> - Yes it is going to be stimulant versus sedative in your body.
>
> - The true purpose of any ADHD medication is only to increase dopamine (and norepinephrine in some) which will power the prefrontal cortex and allow you to FOCUS.
>
> - The anxiolytic -- will prove sedating, ideally only for the short term. The sedative effects of benzos wear off rather quickly for most users. Aside from that they do not affect dopamine nor norepinephrine, so biochemically speaking there will be no synergistic or paradoxal effects from the said combination.
>
> I have been taking Adderall and Xanax XR for a couple months now. In the beginning I had begun to lose faith in the adderall because it just wasn't 'doing-it' for me anymore. However, after having stabilized my Xanax XR dose I have noticed the Adderall regaining its effectiveness.
>
>
> For what it's worth the Adderall was likely working the whole time I was adjusting to the Xanax. Just the counteractive sedative effect made me *believe* otherwise. Through this experience I have first-hand discovered that adderall is not primarily a 'stimulant' in we add'ers -- only that it allows us to have normal levels of dopamine and function prefrontally ideally. I.E. The goal is not to be 'pushed' to be attentive, only to be able.
>
> Hope that helps, or at the lease makes some sense =)
>
> MattEXCELLENT RESPONSE MORE THAN I EXPECTED.
IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE.
BY THE WAY I STOPPED SSRI BECAUSE THEY WERE MAKING ME SLEEPY EVENTHOUGH I WAS TAKING ACTUALLY CONCERTA.I AM USING VALIUM AT TIMES TO HELP ME WITH JOB INTERVIEWS AND BEING LET GO FROM WORK.AND THE VALIUM HAS PROVEN A LIFE SAVER
THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR INSIGHTS I REALLY APPRECIATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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