Posted by Zeke on December 1, 1999, at 21:20:23
In reply to Addiction to Dexedrine, posted by Tracy on December 1, 1999, at 3:11:35
Hi Tracy --
I have ADD and take Dexedrine but only about half your dosage.
Since you take Dexedrine for a medical reason (ADD) I think it would be better to say you are dependent on rather than addicted to Dexedrine. (Are you increasing the dose yourself? I'd say that would be a sign of addiction. But I doubt you're doing that or you'd run out occasionally)
Tolerance to stimulants in ADD is supposedly rare (after some initial adjustment).
I do remember Dr. Paul Wender writing about a ADD patient who experienced tolerance to both Ritalin and Dexedrine. Wender's clever solution was to continue to swithch the patient between the stimulants periodically as the tolerance occurred. (It has since been discovered that Ritalin and the amphetamines effect different dopamine pools in the brain and (at clinical doses) they are not cross tolerant.)
So you might speak with your doctor about giving Ritalin a try again, building the dose as the tolerance builds. Then switch back, etc... Besides, if your doc writes much higher a dosage he'll soon get unwanted attention from the DEA or Medical Board!
Finally I wonder if the tolerance isn't so much in re your ADD, but to the superwoman and supermodel effects you mention. After a 60 hour week you should be slowing down a bit, and diet & exercise can help with the weight.
poster:Zeke
thread:16036
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991123/msgs/16062.html