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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by megabored on January 2, 2006, at 1:05:08
Hello to All, and happy holidays!
First I guess, some background on my situation. Around 7 or 8 years ago I was diagnosed with Inattentive ADD, and was initially prescribed Ritalin. The side effects, most notably the edginess it created, led to a switch to Adderall.
Adderall is what I have been using since that time (about 7 years) and it has helped me immensely.Before my ADD diagnosis, I was also suffering from anxiety. I've also taken a few "med breaks" from Adderall and during those times my anxiety level remained just as high as when taking Adderall - my anxiety is not caused by the stimulant use. I'm just trying to emphasize that my anxiety exists regardless of whether or not I am using a stimulant.
Upon discussing my anxiety with my doctor, he initially let me try Xanax, which I soon after asked him to switch to Klonopin (partially thanks to the many Klonopin praises I'd read on psychobabble, which I have browsed for a few years but have pretty much remained a non-poster). I found Klonopin to be a wonderful medication, and it greatly helped me with anxiety.
So, it may seem that the story ends here, and I live happily ever after and ride off into the sunset etc etc, but unfortunately it doesn't.
The problem is that my current pdoc does not prescribe benzo's and stimulants simultaneously.
So, when I have asked him for Klonopin he stops my Adderall prescription. After being relieved of my anxiety from the Klonopin, I am trapped in my ADD symptoms again - being unable to focus or concentrate on anything long enough to even begin making anything resembling progress. So inevitably I go back to my doc and say that I have to get back on Adderall - being without it is debilitating for me. Of course then he stops writing me Klonopin prescriptions.
I'll try to wrap this up now (sorry for the monster post). Basically, against my docs advice, I had some left-over Klonopin and tried it with the Adderall - the effect the combo has is great. Of course I'm running out and will be back at square 1 soon with only 1 of the 2 meds.
Can anyone please give me some feedback, advice, or anything on their experiences with this combo? I have read a few threads on psychobabble where people have apparently successfully used the combo, but have not been able to find anything on the web regarding the simultaneous use of stimulants and benzos.
By the way, I've been seeing the same psychiatrist for the entire 8 years. Thinking of trying a new one who might be willing to help me with my problems. I'm assuming, and hoping, that there are pdocs out there who will prescribe this combo.
If you've read my post, thank you for having the patience to have reached the end :) Apologies for wordiness.
Any experiences/feedback/advice would be much appreciated.
thanks everyone,
Chris
Posted by med_empowered on January 2, 2006, at 2:03:44
In reply to Stimulant /Benzo combo - experiences, feedback plz, posted by megabored on January 2, 2006, at 1:05:08
I think some docs don't like doing benzo/stim combos since it kind of has a "Valley of The Dolls" feel to it. But..it can be safe and effective, if its done well. Have you tried Provigil? Your doc might be more willing to try a Provigil/Klonopin combo, since Provigil isn't an amphetamine.
Anyway, if a normal range dose of Klonopin helps with your Adderall, and the combo really helps your combined symptoms, your doc shouldn't be quite so hesitant to treat all your symptoms. You may want to find another doc..for me, 2-3mgs klonopin plus adderall was an OK combo. My doc was competent and cautious in RX-ing, so I would think other docs do this too, when necessary.
Posted by ed_uk on January 2, 2006, at 4:53:49
In reply to Stimulant /Benzo combo - experiences, feedback plz, posted by megabored on January 2, 2006, at 1:05:08
Hi
I have lots of questions!
What sort of anxiety do you suffer from? What do you worry about? What sort of symptoms does the anxiety cause? Have you been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder? Does the Adderall affect your anxiety *at all*? Have you ever tried any other meds for anxiety apart from Xanax and Klonopin?
>I'm assuming, and hoping, that there are pdocs out there who will prescribe this combo.
Yes, there are............but there are also pdocs who don't prescribe Klonopin at all so take care!
Regards
Ed
Posted by rjlockhart on January 2, 2006, at 12:39:26
In reply to Re: Stimulant /Benzo combo - experiences, feedback plz » megabored, posted by ed_uk on January 2, 2006, at 4:53:49
I was on a stimulant-benzodiazepine combo for about 3 months.
Adderall (amphetamine) 40mg
Lorazepam 1mgIt calmed down "overfocused" feeling, it made you sort of come back to earth.
I have taken Dexedrine 40mg with 2mg of Lorazepam before also, it does increase sociability, but it decreases psychostimulant effect, such as doing tasks (organizing)
Ativan isnt like Klonopin, Klonopin sort of decreases, dulls awareness. Lorazepam just eases anxiety, its not mentally potent. More for the nerve.
I hope this was some info.
Matt
Posted by Phillipa on January 2, 2006, at 18:39:52
In reply to Re: Stimulant/Lorazepam, posted by rjlockhart on January 2, 2006, at 12:39:26
Since you've had this pdoc for eight years he must know you well enough to know you don't abuse meds. Have you tried really talking to him about this a journal of how you feel when on one or the other or both? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Paulbwell on January 7, 2006, at 6:30:27
In reply to Stimulant /Benzo combo - experiences, feedback plz, posted by megabored on January 2, 2006, at 1:05:08
I find Ritalin up to 80mgs Scripted+valium 15mgs somewhat satisfactory for peace of mind and functionality.
Cheers
Posted by megabored on January 8, 2006, at 0:23:08
In reply to Re: Stimulant /Benzo combo - experiences, feedback plz, posted by med_empowered on January 2, 2006, at 2:03:44
I'm not sure what exactly you mean by "Valley of The Dolls feel to it" regarding this combination. Can you elaborate?
Regarding Provigil, no I haven't tried it, so I may look into the possibility of trying it and do a little research. I did try Strattera for a while and it didn't help me much - not sure how similar, if at all, those two are though. Does anyone have any experiences good or bad with either of these meds, especially when combined with a benzo?
You said that when you were on 2-3mgs Klonopin plus Adderall it was an OK combo. How long did you try the combo and are you on something different and more effective now? My current dosages are 20 mg twice/day (Adderall) and 1mg/day (Klonopin), although the few times I tried 1.5mgs/day it seemed like it may have been a better dosage.
Thanks for replying!
Chris
Posted by megabored on January 8, 2006, at 0:56:28
In reply to Re: Stimulant /Benzo combo - experiences, feedback plz » megabored, posted by ed_uk on January 2, 2006, at 4:53:49
> What sort of anxiety do you suffer from? What do you worry about? What sort of symptoms does the anxiety cause? Have you been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder? Does the Adderall affect your anxiety *at all*? Have you ever tried any other meds for anxiety apart from Xanax and Klonopin?
My anxiety is pretty much in line with what I understand GAD to be. I worry about a lot of things, a lot of the time, but I guess the most extreme anxiety occurs when I have people scrutinizing and/or attacking me, but I'm sure thats true for almost everybody.The symptoms caused by the anxiety are bad - ranging from avoidance of any situation that I think may be uncomfortable to being "paralyzed" by it - unable to think straight or calm down enough to even have my wits about me. Its as if I'm so anxious I'm not even me.
As for the Adderall affecting my anxiety, it doesn't. The only instances it has have been the few times I have taken more than my correct dosage. I don't abuse either of these meds, but I have taken more than my normal dose of Adderall a few times though for various reasons such as having a terrible hangover and thinking it (the hangover) was preventing the Adderall from having its full effect. The higher dosage would cause some anxiety though, probably b/c its an amphetamine and it "sped" me up too much. This is one reason I stick to my normal dose!
I haven't tried any other Benzo's other than Xanax and Klonopin, although I did try Paxil for anxiety but I didn't have much success.
Thanks for replying!
Chris
Posted by megabored on January 8, 2006, at 1:13:36
In reply to Re: Stimulant/Lorazepam, posted by rjlockhart on January 2, 2006, at 12:39:26
So the Adderall/Ativan combo worked pretty well for you then? Why did you only take it for 3 months and what are you taking these days?
You said that "Ativan isnt like Klonopin, Klonopin sort of decreases, dulls awareness. Lorazepam just eases anxiety, its not mentally potent. More for the nerve." So have you taken Klonopin with a stimulant and found it less effective than Ativan with a stimulant? I'd be willing to try a different benzo with Adderall if some people have had more success with others than with Klonopin.
Thanks for replying,
Chris
Posted by megabored on January 8, 2006, at 1:24:31
In reply to Re: Stimulant/Lorazepam, posted by Phillipa on January 2, 2006, at 18:39:52
> Since you've had this pdoc for eight years he must know you well enough to know you don't abuse meds. Have you tried really talking to him about this a journal of how you feel when on one or the other or both? Fondly, Phillipa
Yes, I have had this pdoc for 8 years, but I recently moved out of state so I'm currently in the process of finding a new pdoc. Regarding a journal of how I feel on 1 or the other or both, I do have a spreadsheet that I use to enter in when I take my meds and I try to put notes in it from time to time regarding how I felt at the time. I haven't been using it very long but it is useful to look over, and even more so when I have put in notes regarding how I felt etc.Thanks for replying,
Chris
Posted by megabored on January 8, 2006, at 1:34:05
In reply to Re: Stimulant /Benzo combo - experiences, feedback plz » megabored, posted by Paulbwell on January 7, 2006, at 6:30:27
> I find Ritalin up to 80mgs Scripted+valium 15mgs somewhat satisfactory for peace of mind and functionality.
>
> Cheers
Is that what you are currently taking? When you say "somewhat satisfactory" are you saying that you're just kind of "making it through OK" with the combo or is it working well but just not perfectly?Also, are you only prescribed Ritalin and getting the Valium elsewhere or are you prescribed both simultaneously? The way you worded it I wasn't sure.
Thanks for replying,
Chris
Posted by ed_uk on January 8, 2006, at 10:16:40
In reply to Re: Stimulant /Benzo combo - experiences, feedback » med_empowered, posted by megabored on January 8, 2006, at 0:23:08
Hi Chris
>I did try Strattera for a while and it didn't help me much - not sure how similar, if at all, those two are though.
Provigil is not related to Strattera. I get the impression that Provigil tends to be less effective for ADHD symptoms than Adderall though.
Ed
Posted by ed_uk on January 8, 2006, at 10:19:54
In reply to Re: Stimulant /Benzo combo - experiences, feedback » ed_uk, posted by megabored on January 8, 2006, at 0:56:28
Hi Chris
What was your experience with Paxil? How long did you take it for?
Ed
Posted by megabored on January 21, 2006, at 13:05:32
In reply to Re: Stimulant /Benzo combo - experiences, feedback » megabored, posted by ed_uk on January 8, 2006, at 10:19:54
> What was your experience with Paxil? How long did you take it for?
I took it for about a year and then tapered off of it. Was at 30mg/day for most of the time I took it. Not effective for me, and bad side effects - in general I don't like SSRI's...
Posted by ed_uk on January 21, 2006, at 13:20:14
In reply to Stimulant /Benzo combo - experiences, feedback plz, posted by megabored on January 2, 2006, at 1:05:08
Hi
Are you still thinking of seeing a different doctor?
Ed
Posted by megabored on January 21, 2006, at 13:46:08
In reply to Re: Stimulant /Benzo combo - experiences, feedback plz » megabored, posted by ed_uk on January 21, 2006, at 13:20:14
> Are you still thinking of seeing a different doctor?
Hi Ed,
Thanks for responding so quickly! Also, apologies for me taking so damn long to respond to you.
Sorry I didn't update everyone in this thread, but I have been ridiculously busy lately. To answer your question, yes, I did find a new doctor and he seems to have no problem prescribing stimulant/benzo together. I just had my 1st appointment with him this past week and was able to get both Klon and Adderall scripts. I'm very relieved that I was able to get both meds.
Thanks for always responding to my posts Ed! I wish the others that posted in this thread would respond to my follow-ups as well.
Posted by ed_uk on January 21, 2006, at 14:23:24
In reply to Re: Stimulant /Benzo combo - experiences, feedback » ed_uk, posted by megabored on January 21, 2006, at 13:46:08
I'm glad you found a doc who was willing to prescribe what works for you! :)
Ed
This is the end of the thread.
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