Posted by Ritch on February 21, 2002, at 9:52:32
In reply to Re: Neurontin + Adderall question, posted by Peter on February 21, 2002, at 2:06:31
> >Hi Mitch:
> Today was my first day on Adderall XR with my Neurontin (3 x day: 200mg+ 100mg + 200mg) and klonopin (1.5mg daily). I found that while I had short bursts of clarity, focus, and slight mood elevation, on the whole I felt very spacey and 'air-headed' most of the day. Within 6 hours of my morning dose I felt like I had a 'pot hangover', and later on through the night I simply felt brain dead. Also, although I never felt racy, my heart rate at times went up to 120bpm, which I know is way too high.
> I told my pdoc about these problems and he recommended that I either add a beta-blocker to the adderallXR (to lower the heart rate) and adjust doses until it's more effective, or switch to Concerta. He said there's a chance I might not encounter the high heart rate with Concerta, and supposedly Concerta works longer than adderall XR, which would be nice since I'm a musician and I do most of my work late at night. Also, my past experiences with beta-blockers (Inderal, Tenormin) were negative-they gave me ice cold hands and feet, which really hindered my ability to play music.
> Do you know anything about Concerta-if it really lasts longer than AdderallXR? Is it as effective? Thanks,
> Peter
Yuck! It doesn't sound you and Adderall is mixing very well. I noticed the "wavy" energy levels all day on it, too. Some of that "waviness" may be your Neurontin levels fluctuating, too. It has about a 5 hr half-life. Amphetamine is too similar to adrenaline. I haven't tried methyphenidate (Ritalin), or dexmethylphenidate (Focalin), however. Maybe the new Focalin would be something to mention to your doc. Concerta is plain old Ritalin, but in a more sophisticated releasing form. I have heard good things about it. But, you tend to be stuck on relatively high doses-I believe 18 and 36mg. I wonder if the Focalin (dexmethylphenidate) would be even less likely to raise heart rate than Ritalin? Focalin has a short half-life though like non-sustained release Ritalin. I wonder if you just took the immediate release stuff anyway with your first two Neurontin doses-might it work better?good luck,
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:94684
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020215/msgs/94915.html