Posted by IsoM on January 16, 2002, at 2:08:04
In reply to Re: Depression with ADD » IsoM, posted by Mitch on January 16, 2002, at 0:37:32
I don't mind you asking at all. I'm not sure what would classify as anxiety for me. It seems to run in my family, yet it's not as bad as some people have who couldn't even function due to their anxiety. I know I definitely have symptoms of it but it only seems bad when my depression is bad too. That's when it turns into real fears for me.
Dexedrine more so, but Ritalin somewhat, makes me more sociable & tolerant of people & all their faults. My son with Asperger takes Dexedrine but when I questioned him whether he feels more sociable on it, he doesn't.
I actually found that after a while when the adrafinil had a chance to work (2-3 weeks), I was calmer & more relaxed. I noticed I wasn't holding my muscles tensed like I normally do until I notice the tension building in them by the pain produced.
Without the adrafinil, I tend to hold myself back & prefer to observe when I need to be around others. Dexedrine improves it immensely. But adrafinil does a far better job for me. It makes me feel more sociable but also much more relaxed. If I'm around people for long, even enjoying myself, I'll always come home with a headache from the mental stress. I learned to take pain killers at the beginning of such times to prevent the massive headache I'd have afterwards. Too often I'd forget & really pay for it. I noticed with adrafinil, I can interact around others & not build up the stress/tension level I normally do. No headache afterwards!
I'm a bad picker too. I pick the skin, or any irregularities, around my nails & other places. I'm not always aware I'm doing it till it hurts & starts bleeding. That's something else that's largely stopped now. And foot-tapping or leg swinging. I do that a lot when sitting around other people. I can actually sit still now. No shifting & fidgeting constantly. I don't mean I'm now a blob but I can be much more still. My movements sometimes bugged others - the typical kid in school who just couldn't hold still.
So, no - the adrafinil hasn't added to my anxiety at all. It's alleviated it. But then Buspar can calm many people down & it gave me the jitters. Valerian did too. Caffeine has no effect on me that I can notice either.
No, I don't get hypomanic on adrafinil. Perhaps if my dose was larger I might, but I only take 300 mg/day (normal recommended is 400- 1200 mg) but I think my other meds probably accentuate the effects. I do feel a little hypo on Dexedrine at times, but I know it's not real hypomania. I never feel like I don't have control & I can stand back & feel quiet if I wish.
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> I see my pdoc next week and I am going to bring up low-dose adrafinil as a possible swap for my low-dose bupropion. My depressions (that get scary anyhows) only to respond to stims or stim-like AD's. The *important* question I want to ask you is this (if you don't mind)- do you have comorbid anxiety probs? Whether yes or no, does the adrafanil seem to aggravate or create unwanted anxiety? Also, do you get any hypomania from antidepressants? If yes, does adrafanil seem to provoke it or not?
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> Mitch
poster:IsoM
thread:90082
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020110/msgs/90421.html