Posted by utopizen on November 13, 2002, at 19:44:06
In reply to what's an ADD med like? , posted by cybercafe on November 13, 2002, at 19:10:30
> antidepressants take months to work, and often only give a partial response
>
> how do stimulant/ADD meds compare? am i going to feel 100% normal (whatever that's like) right after taking my first pill?
>>You mean strictly for ADD? ADD meds will cause anxiety in those with pre-existing anxiety disorders, possibly even those without (but I'm not sure).
As for an AD knocking out ADD, um, I've heard in repeatedly as one of the "alternative options," but only in the "comma form." You know, some medical paper goes on for like 50 pages on stims, and in the last paragraph they rattle off AD meds as possible alternatives. They do this with Desoxyn too... they'll talk about dexedrine and ritalin and adderall, but desoxyn is just mentioned as one of the others.
I really and skeptical about claims ADs are even options for ADD. I think it would have to be a very mild case of ADD if so, or maybe just a lucky response. I've taken Wellbutrin, Celexa, Paxil, Buspar, Neurontin, and now on 225mg of Effexor. I never changed in my concentration with any of these, only with the stims.
I'm pretty sure that when docs refer to ADs as effective for ADD, they're generally referring to ADHD with hyperactivity, not ADHD inattentive type. Although exceptions always occur, I'm pretty sure that's what a doc really means when they consider this as an alternative. Clonidine's also used as an alternative, and we certainly know that doesn't help anyone concentrate on anything beyond their sleeping.
Ritalin though, let me tell you- it made me feel terrible. When I first got it I for the first time in my 18 years of life could concentrate on what a teacher was saying. So I was estatic and didn't focus on the way it made my stomach ache and head ache and leave me constipated and dysphoric. Everything felt dull, it was terrible. Eventually I switched to Adderall, only after several months of tolerating Ritalin while I was riding on the placebo magic that made me ignore the side effects.
Adderall was great... Dexedrine too. I like both, but Adderall lasts longer, and Dexedrine only lasts for a few hours. I suppose I should probably try out the spansules. Desoxyn was great too, but it only worked at a dose higher than the PDR said was average, which of course means to my doc stay the hell away from it. Desoxyn was simply the best, but my doctor doesn't consider that a legitimate reason to get it over Adderall. Geez, they're both in the same schedule, but let's act like Adderall's asprin...
poster:utopizen
thread:127522
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021108/msgs/127528.html