Posted by JohnL on July 4, 2000, at 5:58:29
In reply to bipolar disorder and adrafinil, posted by karel on July 1, 2000, at 20:52:25
> there have been a lot of posts recently about adrafinil and depression; does anyone have any experience with adrafinil and bipolar disorder? every antidepressant sends me into dysphoric hypomania, but without them, i get depressed (sluggish, can't concentrate or sleep well, anhedonia-- the whole nine yards). i've tried about every mood stabilizer out there, but i still get hypomanic. i'd be grateful for any info about using adrafinil for bipolar depression.
>
> thanks
Karel,It's too bad the hypomania you experience is the dysphoric type. Not exactly the type they refer to when they use the phrase "the manic advantage".
Will Adrafinil do that to you? Don't know. I think only a personal trial will tell. Of all the meds you might choose however, I think Adrafinil does have a very low potential for causing those dysphoric feelings. It is overall very gentle and slow acting. Not at all like other stimulants.
I know that dysphoric feeling you talked about. A lot of meds made me feel that way too. But Adrafinil doesn't. If Adrafinil does spark a hypomanic state, hopefully it will be the good kind...energetic, interested, motivated, sharp. Hypomania isn't a bad thing, as long as it's the good kind of hypomania. Lots of aggressive happy successful people are actually in that good hypomanic state and don't even know it. That's the 'manic advantage', as my doc calls it. It's common with artists and musicians.
Only one way to find out. You could start with 300mg a day. If there is any immediate reaction--good or bad--on the first day or two, try to ride it out and see how things develop over the next two weeks. I responded immediately on day 1, fell into depression day 2, but then witnessed a slow yet stunning retreat of all depressive and/or dysphoric symptoms over about a two week period. If all is well (either neutral or somewhat positive response) after two weeks, then you could consider upping to 600mg.
Certainly Adrafinil could spark that dysphoric hypomania. Any medication could. But in general I think the odds are in your favor with Adrafinil to experience good things without that dysphoric stuff.
JohnL
poster:JohnL
thread:38992
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000630/msgs/39297.html