Posted by JohnL on January 7, 2000, at 3:21:50
In reply to lynn again, posted by lynn on January 6, 2000, at 22:49:52
> JOHNL: How was your appointment today?Hi Lynn. Thanks for asking. Let me attempt to answer some of your questions.
I know of one poster who found Klonopin+Selegiline to be a wonderful combination. That would imply that Klonopin with a stimulant might indeed be a good combination. But you know how we are all so different. There's really no way to tell without trying different things. The best we can do is make educated guesses to narrow the list of choices. The fastest way to try different choices is to start with fast-acting meds first. While ADs take at least a month, you'll know in mere days if an anxiety med or a stimulant med is going to be helpful or not. No need to waste time. Move quickly to another if needed.
Pamelor's primary side effects are dry mouth, maybe transient constipation, and some sedation, maybe slight transient blurred vision. I found things like Remeron and Serzone to be much more sedating than Pamelor though. I actually found Pamelor's side effects rather mild. Dry mouth was the most obvious side effect for me. I did have anorgasmia. It seemed dose-related. Lower doses were OK. I was also taking Prozac though, so I don't know whether it was the combination or one or the other that was guilty. I did not have anorgasmia when I took Pamelor with Zoloft (just a total lack of desire due to the Zoloft).
You have so many good questions, and yet we all respond so differently. I would like to make the following suggestion: Spend a few days or a few weeks doing this. Click on "tips' at the top of the main page. When you get to the tips page, go down the righthand side and click on search, leaving the search box blank. Then, one by one, click on each topic and read the doctor discussions on all the various issues. There are dozens of topics on everything you can imagine, and hours of reading. Maybe even take notes. You will come across a lot of information that is not relevent. But you will also discover a lot of information that will spark some really good ideas. You will discover what successes and failures doctors are having with symptoms just like yours. And since this information is real-world stuff by real doctors, you'll learn some tricks of the trade. I think anyone who studies Dr Bob's Tips can become more of an expert at pharmacology than a majority of practicing psychiatrists in a rather short amount of time.
Back to my appointment. My pdoc prescribed Ritalin no problem. He said I'll know almost immediately if it's right for me or not. If not, I am to call him and he will then call in a sample prescription to my pharmacy for a different stimulant. After a short trial on that, he will yet call in another prescription for a third if needed. So within two weeks I should know whether the psychostimulant route for me is appropriate or not. What a cool pdoc. I was lucky to find him. But as I said above, it was a result of banging on a lot of doors. He's an old timer, weeks away from retirement. But I was pleasantly surprised to find out he will still make himself available to a handful of clients and he will also offer consultation to my GP. So I'm not losing him as I had feared. Anyway, I'm wishing you progress and hope. JohnL
poster:JohnL
thread:17987
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000101/msgs/18269.html