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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sendow on July 29, 2010, at 16:40:21
Anyone use Ritalin for depression? i have lack of motivation anxiety and want to do nothing... i tried all meds ssri snri wellbutrin...too sides effects.
Now i'm on Luvox and klonopin.
I never take stimulants and Ritalin is the only one available in my country. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Posted by Phillipa on July 29, 2010, at 17:19:24
In reply to Anyone use Ritalin for depression???, posted by Sendow on July 29, 2010, at 16:40:21
What is your current dose of luvox? Did it at one time work for you? And what country do you live in as someone from same country would know what meds available? Phillipa
Posted by Sendow on July 29, 2010, at 18:09:40
In reply to Re: Anyone use Ritalin for depression??? » Sendow, posted by Phillipa on July 29, 2010, at 17:19:24
> What is your current dose of luvox? Did it at one time work for you? And what country do you live in as someone from same country would know what meds available? Phillipa
I'm on 100 mg, 50 morning 50 evening for ocd... it work for ocd but not for depression... i tried all ssri snri and wellbutrin with no luck... i live in italy. Here docs prescrive Ritalin for some children with ADD and in some cases in adults with same disease. Donnow... just know if anybody have luck with Rit for depression and lack of motivation.I fell very down.
Posted by Phillipa on July 29, 2010, at 20:21:54
In reply to Re: Anyone use Ritalin for depression???, posted by Sendow on July 29, 2010, at 18:09:40
That's not a high dose for luvox yes it does help with OCD. Hoping you get responses. Phillipa
Posted by emmanuel98 on July 29, 2010, at 20:54:41
In reply to Re: Anyone use Ritalin for depression??? » Sendow, posted by Phillipa on July 29, 2010, at 20:21:54
Ritalin didn't help my depression at all, but I had severe, suicidal, nearly catatonic depression, so maybe it would help you, who seem to have a milder case. It did make me feel more motivated and got me out of bed, when I had been sleeping 36 hours at a time.
Posted by chujoe on July 29, 2010, at 21:01:30
In reply to Re: Anyone use Ritalin for depression???, posted by emmanuel98 on July 29, 2010, at 20:54:41
I take 60 mg of Cymbalta for anxiety & depression & 30 mg of Ritalin for adult ADD. Right now I am nearly symptom-free. Also, I find that the Ritalin boosts the effect of the SNRI -- I was able to lower my Cymbalta dose from 90 to 60 after starting Ritalin. I take 20 mg SR Ritalin in the morning & 10 mg regular in the late afternoon.
Posted by Sendow on July 30, 2010, at 13:47:44
In reply to Re: Anyone use Ritalin for depression???, posted by emmanuel98 on July 29, 2010, at 20:54:41
> Ritalin didn't help my depression at all, but I had severe, suicidal, nearly catatonic depression, so maybe it would help you, who seem to have a milder case. It did make me feel more motivated and got me out of bed, when I had been sleeping 36 hours at a time.
"It did make me feel more motivated and got me out of bed"
yeah thats wut i'm looking for
Posted by bleauberry on July 30, 2010, at 18:37:23
In reply to Anyone use Ritalin for depression???, posted by Sendow on July 29, 2010, at 16:40:21
Interesting question. I've been thinking the same thing. Ritalin has usually helped me feel better as an emergency med, but I think it really needs to be in combo with ssri. Studies I have been reading suggest it enhances all of the neurotransmitters when combined with ssri. It is an antidepressant of choice with some doctors, either alone or with ssris, for elderly frail patients. In ADD and ADHD, there is usually an improvement of mood with ritalin as a side effect. There is the possibility of it worsening depression, but that can happen with any and all meds.
Over the years there have been quite a few people here that found ritalin either somewhat helpful or extremely helpful. In all of those cases it was in combination with an ssri, usually prozac, zoloft, or lexapro.
Since the combination of ssri plus tca is usually better than either alone, I would think ritalin would be a good substitute for the tca in such a combination. You get all the dopamine enhancemenet, norepinephrine enhancement, and serotonin enhancement, except without all the anticholinergic side effects.
Tolerability is an issue. Some people find a steady dose that keeps working over time, others need to keep raising it to a high dose, and others get poopout no matter what.
In comparison with heavy hitters like antipsychotics and tcas, I see ritalin as a rather tame player in comparison to them and with a lot of potential benefit.
Of course, mileage varies and you never know till you try. All the studies in the world and opinions from other people mean nothing until you see what the drug does for you personally.
Posted by Sendow on July 31, 2010, at 8:16:41
In reply to Re: Anyone use Ritalin for depression???, posted by bleauberry on July 30, 2010, at 18:37:23
> Interesting question. I've been thinking the same thing. Ritalin has usually helped me feel better as an emergency med, but I think it really needs to be in combo with ssri. Studies I have been reading suggest it enhances all of the neurotransmitters when combined with ssri. It is an antidepressant of choice with some doctors, either alone or with ssris, for elderly frail patients. In ADD and ADHD, there is usually an improvement of mood with ritalin as a side effect. There is the possibility of it worsening depression, but that can happen with any and all meds.
>
> Over the years there have been quite a few people here that found ritalin either somewhat helpful or extremely helpful. In all of those cases it was in combination with an ssri, usually prozac, zoloft, or lexapro.
>
> Since the combination of ssri plus tca is usually better than either alone, I would think ritalin would be a good substitute for the tca in such a combination. You get all the dopamine enhancemenet, norepinephrine enhancement, and serotonin enhancement, except without all the anticholinergic side effects.
>
> Tolerability is an issue. Some people find a steady dose that keeps working over time, others need to keep raising it to a high dose, and others get poopout no matter what.
>
> In comparison with heavy hitters like antipsychotics and tcas, I see ritalin as a rather tame player in comparison to them and with a lot of potential benefit.
>
> Of course, mileage varies and you never know till you try. All the studies in the world and opinions from other people mean nothing until you see what the drug does for you personally.Thanks for the post Bleauberry! yes any person react different on meds, for example on 300 mg of wellbutrin i was sleepy! i hope ritalin have a stronger effect on my dopmine than noradrealine, now on Luvox that is a the most pure SSRI i feel incomplete effect. Let's see wut happen.
I got appointment next week with my pdoc that give me the ritalin, we discuss last time to start a low dose, 5 mg twice a day for the first week.
Interesting you use it like emergency med, wut emenrgency means to you?
Posted by 8675309 on July 31, 2010, at 12:50:31
In reply to Anyone use Ritalin for depression???, posted by Sendow on July 29, 2010, at 16:40:21
> Anyone use Ritalin for depression? i have lack of motivation anxiety and want to do nothing... i tried all meds ssri snri wellbutrin...too sides effects.
> Now i'm on Luvox and klonopin.
> I never take stimulants and Ritalin is the only one available in my country. Any suggestions?
> ThanksYes but tolerance developed fast. Good @ beginning. Not good later.
Posted by linkadge on July 31, 2010, at 18:59:56
In reply to Re: Anyone use Ritalin for depression??? » Sendow, posted by 8675309 on July 31, 2010, at 12:50:31
Ritalin is about the only med that has been helping my depression.
I don't take it everyday because I am not depressed everyday (I either have recurrent brief depression, or some bipolar vairent).
Anyhow, SSRI's leave me way to impaired. The TCA's are a little better for me, but still a lot of side effects.
I don't take the medication everyday and I havn't grown tollerant (that I can tell). 5-10mg a day for me is sufficient.
Linkadge
Posted by ed_uk2010 on August 1, 2010, at 3:56:19
In reply to Re: Anyone use Ritalin for depression???, posted by linkadge on July 31, 2010, at 18:59:56
>Ritalin is about the only med that has been helping my depression. I don't take it everyday because I am not depressed everyday.....
That seems like a good solution for you. Which symptoms does it help most? Also, are they any symptoms of your depression that it doesn't help?
Posted by linkadge on August 1, 2010, at 11:23:18
In reply to Re: Anyone use Ritalin for depression??? » linkadge, posted by ed_uk2010 on August 1, 2010, at 3:56:19
Hmm, when I'm depressed, I feel dead. I don't want to move much, do much, and have a hard time experiencing any pleasure.
The ritalin changes these symptoms pretty quickly. I have been using a bit of benadryl or chlorpheniramine if anxiety is a big problem.
Linkadge
Posted by ed_uk2010 on August 1, 2010, at 13:05:24
In reply to Re: Anyone use Ritalin for depression???, posted by linkadge on August 1, 2010, at 11:23:18
> Hmm, when I'm depressed, I feel dead. I don't want to move much, do much, and have a hard time experiencing any pleasure.
>
> The ritalin changes these symptoms pretty quickly. I have been using a bit of benadryl or chlorpheniramine if anxiety is a big problem.It's great that you find the antihistamines helpful. I can tolerate chlorpheniramine but diphenhydramine makes me feel ill. None of the antihistamines help my anxiety.
Have you tried hydroxyzine?
Posted by bleauberry on August 1, 2010, at 13:19:00
In reply to Re: Anyone use Ritalin for depression???, posted by linkadge on July 31, 2010, at 18:59:56
I find Link's story fascinating, because it highlights something that I have sometimes wondered. That is, maybe sometimes it is wrong to take a med every day, but more advantageous to take it as needed.
Me for example. I was in the worst shape of the year yesterday. Awful horrible gut wrenching anxiety and deep dark depression at the same time, along with heavy fatigue. Wow, what a horrible thing. I knew from experience that a mere 5 beads of cymbalta would supply just the right amount of serotonin and norepinephrine to target those symptoms with overloading the receptors with too much, and a mere 25mg amisulpride would synergistically help on the dopamine and serotonin side of things.
Sure enough. 8 hours later, better than I was in quite a while. But also from experinece I know that if I keep taking these things every day, forget it, all the good goes away and it just goes downhill. The good will last several days, and then it's time for another move....depending on what symptoms present themselves at the time. In other words, I am not assuming that I am chronically deficient in serotonin or any other neurotransmitter all the time, but rather things change in waves. I adjust to those waves. I do so in what might be called a homeopathic methodology...micro doses.
Now, I don't have low serotonin all the time. If I did, an ssri would feel good immediately every time. If it doesn't, it means there is not low serotonin. The med might later do something else downstream, but why mess with serotonin if it aint the problem? Might just create new problems.
Not a cure, but no longterm daily med was either.
For sure, a good management tool.
Ritalin is also one of my standby as-needed meds. I know when to use it and what it will do and what symptoms it is specific for.
I have unfortunately not found any chronic use of any med to be of value to me in over 15 years, so instead I adjust on a daily basis. I guess it might be more accurately called disease management than disease elimination. But then, lots of diseases are like that. It's not just depression.
> Ritalin is about the only med that has been helping my depression.
>
> I don't take it everyday because I am not depressed everyday (I either have recurrent brief depression, or some bipolar vairent).
>
> Anyhow, SSRI's leave me way to impaired. The TCA's are a little better for me, but still a lot of side effects.
>
> I don't take the medication everyday and I havn't grown tollerant (that I can tell). 5-10mg a day for me is sufficient.
>
> Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on August 1, 2010, at 20:09:54
In reply to Re: Anyone use Ritalin for depression??? » linkadge, posted by ed_uk2010 on August 1, 2010, at 13:05:24
Hydroxyzine is way too strong an antihistamine. If I use it for sleep, I could sleep the rest of the next day.
You're right, benadryl definately makes me feel more wonkey than chlorpheniramine. Chlorpheniramine seems more like an AD.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on August 1, 2010, at 20:19:31
In reply to Re: Anyone use Ritalin for depression???, posted by bleauberry on August 1, 2010, at 13:19:00
Whatever gets me up and out of the house usually turns things around (even if only for a few days).
So, suppose I take 2.5mg of ritalin, it gets me out exercising, a good hour jog probably boosts BDNF and other good things, that might help me sustain my mood for another few days.
Just get the ball rolling. I'm not looking for long term answers any more. Just enough to get into some sort of zone, one day at a time.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on August 1, 2010, at 21:21:08
In reply to Re: Anyone use Ritalin for depression???, posted by linkadge on August 1, 2010, at 20:19:31
>Whatever gets me up and out of the house usually turns things around (even if only for a few days).
I think that's probably the case for a lot of people. Funny how you find hydroxyzine too strong. I find it only causes mild drowsiness, unlike diphenhydramine which knocks me out.
Posted by linkadge on August 2, 2010, at 7:40:51
In reply to Re: Anyone use Ritalin for depression??? » linkadge, posted by ed_uk2010 on August 1, 2010, at 21:21:08
Mind you, I took the 50mg (?) beads. I stopped trying to open them up, the liquid inside tastes like poison.
Linkadge
Posted by ed_uk2010 on August 2, 2010, at 15:16:44
In reply to Re: Anyone use Ritalin for depression???, posted by linkadge on August 2, 2010, at 7:40:51
Have you ever tried taking chlorpheniramine every day? Or just when needed?
This is the end of the thread.
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