Posted by Bob on September 27, 1999, at 11:58:34
In reply to Re: Effexor dose, posted by Stressed Mom on September 26, 1999, at 23:20:55
As someone mentioned on a different thread, when you change more than one medication at the same time, you cannot be sure which new med (or lack of an old med) is contributing to a main effect or side effect. Maybe folks with experience with these two meds can say more, but scientifically it's a crap shoot. Why did his doctor switch from Ritalin to adderall plus effexor? Was it due to the short time period that ritalin has for efficacy? If so, ask him what each of the new meds is supposed to do. Is one being prescribed to address the hyperactivity and the other to compensate for side effects of the first? or is the second meant to augment the therapeutic effect of the first? In any event, if the ritalin really isn't working as well as you need the meds to work, then talk with your doctor about which medicine your son should switch to first -- perhaps even while taking the ritalin -- and then when should the second one be eased in. You should also ask if the ritalin should be tapered off instead of stopped cold turkey.
Again, folks more experienced with ADD/ADHD and these meds might be able to be more specific, but the suggestions above are standard "experimental" procedure -- if you change two variables at the same time, you can't tell which determines any subsequent effects. Worse yet, by ending one med and starting two new meds, you were changing three variables.
Good luck,
Bob
poster:Bob
thread:932
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990914/msgs/12125.html