Posted by fachad on March 22, 2002, at 19:28:17
In reply to Depression, ADD, sleepiness and dopamine , posted by Charlotte on March 22, 2002, at 5:45:20
Each person's experience with these meds is different.
I found that for me
- Ritalin has the best effect on mood, and a good effect on energy.
- Dex has the best effect on energy, and a good effect on mood.
- Adderall gave me dry mouth, which I cannot stand.
If you take Ritalin, you should consider Concerta or Metadate which will save you from the up / down misery of short acting ritalin
> So I'm taking 150 mg Wellbutrin 2 x day, and Ritalin 5mg am and 10 mg afternoon (and most of the time take 5mg evening just to get to 8:00pm without falling asleep). I'm asking my pdoc for something else the next time I need to refill, and would like your opinions on either Dexadrine or Adderall.
>
> The WB has been effective for the depression (after 9 weeks!) I thought, but have noticed that the tears, the feeling of crying, is "right there" still if I have to talk to anyone about personal issues that may be bothering me. I know that sounds stupid... but there you have it. I'm also feeling just as withdrawn and anti-social as before I started talking the meds, and negative thoughts still race through my mind until the Ritalin takes effect on my concentration (which I have to dose at 3.5 hour intervals).
>
> And I still have no energy.
>
> But in the past when I've taken Prozac for depression (the Ritalin is very new for me), I was always emotionally "flat-lined" after about 3 weeks. There was NO WAY I would cry about anything - even if I wanted to. But I couldn't really have any other emotion either. Much like a zombie. Is that the best effect you're looking for with an AD?
>
> Through the years I've drank coffee like crazy and smoked cigarettes. Probably self-medicating. My understanding of seratonin and dopamine is very limited, but I'm wondering if I'm having an almost better effect with meds this time because of their effect on dopamine levels? Prozac affects seratonin I think. So if I'm all about the dompamine, then maybe I've burned most of my receptors - or whatever - out with the coffee and cigarettes?
>
> I think Adderall and Dexadrine also affect dopamine levels, right? That's why Dexadrine can be addicting? But I wonder if either one of these meds would be superior to Ritalin in my situation for the ADD and for a longer lasting effect -- and the sleepiness too, which would also perhaps be effective on the depression and anti-social tendancies as a sidenote?
>
> I'm sorry this is so long and rambling! Hope I made sense. Any opinions appreciated.
poster:fachad
thread:99428
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020322/msgs/99524.html