Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 979400

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formication as stimulant side-effect

Posted by g_g_g_unit on February 16, 2011, at 2:11:34

Is it possible to develop formication on a therapeutic stimulant dose out-of-the-blue?

I was started on 20mg of Dexedrine last Friday. I was told to take the last dose half an hour before bed, given that stimulants supposedly improve sleep efficacy in ADD patients over time. Anyway, I found myself still awake at 3am and so ended up taking 15mg of Imovane to sleep. I only managed to sleep 6 hours or so, and the next day, I noticed that while staring at the clouds for a certain period of time, they would start to seem animated. As soon as I blinked, however,the illusion would disappear. I refrained from dosing at night and didn't notice anything peculiar the next two days, but was still sufficiently freaked out to eventually cease the drug until I had spoken to my psychiatrist.

He suggested I continue with it, but refrain from dosing at night. So after a day's break, I resumed the drug yesterday: 3 hours after my first 5mg, I began to feel a strange pinching, crawling sensation on my skin, which appeared again today. I've tried researching the sensation (formication), and have noticed that some people have experienced it as a genuine side-effect of certain medications (Adderall, Lamictal, etc.), but it still seems kinda weird. I should add that I am not under the delusion that there *are* insects on/under my skin (i.e. delusional parasitosis), which I believe is the conviction commonly associated with amphetamine psychosis. It's merely an annoyance which I'm trying to put up with for now.

The clincher is that I have an OCD-related fear of going psychotic, and was thus hesistant about taking stimulants in the first place.

I'm guessing the first experience could be accounted for by disturbed sleep and having amphetamine in my system over a 24-hour period, but the skin prickling/crawling, etc. has me worried again.

 

Re: formication as stimulant side-effect

Posted by Elanor Roosevelt on March 2, 2011, at 22:06:23

In reply to formication as stimulant side-effect, posted by g_g_g_unit on February 16, 2011, at 2:11:34

I read your title too quickly and read "fornication" and thought "Oh , I hate sex on stims." A sad little double joke--I've been having a difficult time reading.

Sounds like your doctor has to understand that dexedrine is not for you. I hope he comes up with something that will help you feel as well and safe as you deserve to feel.


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