Posted by BekkaH on July 3, 2002, at 23:41:57
In reply to Re: Focalin vs. Ritalin? (and Focalin Dose Questions) » BekkaH, posted by fachad on July 2, 2002, at 21:52:26
> > By the way, how is your Surmontil trial coming along?
>
> Still taking it in tiny doses. I'm seeing my pdoc in a few weeks and I'm going to ask then for the custom 2.5 mg capsules. (They can be made at a compounding pharmacy.) Till then, it's just open the capsule and take a "little bit". Maddeningly unscientific, but the best I can do for now.Very interesting. Can any pharmacy make them up? I've never heard of this. It sounds like a good idea since I have so much trouble combining meds. I usually need to take teensy tiny doses of any 2nd or 3rd meds. Usually I can't even try a third med due to adverse interactions.
When opening up capsule medicines, as long as they are not time release, you can also try this: Mix the contents of the capsule with 4 oz or 8 oz (or however much you want) of applesauce. Mix it very well so the medicine is well distributed. Then take the number of ounces that should contain the number of milligrams of the medicine you mixed in. Of course, this assumes that the medicine is well distributed and that it dissolves well, etc. Again, it's not very scientific, but it's better than taking the whole capsule.
> >How much Dexedrine are you able to combine with the Surmontil?
>
> Well, I take 40mg/day of Dex.Do you take Dex immediate release or SR? So, would you say that you're taking approximately 2.5-3 mg of Surmontil a day?
> The Surmontil is a unique TCA in that it does not affect either NE or 5-HT reuptake, so it should not potentate the pressor effects of dex. I limit the Surmontil dose because of other side effects like dry mouth, constipation and possibility of weight gain, not because of interactions with dex.
>
> I'm encouraged that you found Focalin so potent. How much Ritalin do you take? How much Focalin did you take?Well, I tried Focalin only briefly. I don't think I took more than 10 mg, but I know someone who took 10 mg twice a day and liked it much bettter than Ritalin (fewer side effects). I am currently on Dexedrine, but when I do take Ritalin, I take approximately 30-40 mg. When I take Concerta, I take 54 mg. I have been told that the Methylphenidate dosing is supposed to be twice the number of milligrams that you'd take of Dexedrine. I take 25-30 mg of Dex per day, but for some reason, I've never been able to tolerate 50-60 mg of Ritalin immediate release. I will try Focalin again some time. It takes a while to get used to any of these meds, and I didn't give Focalin enough time to work.
Bekka
poster:BekkaH
thread:110960
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020628/msgs/111357.html