Posted by HannahBeGood on December 18, 2002, at 1:12:07
In reply to jobs for ADDers, posted by cybercafe on December 16, 2002, at 12:22:45
For me, ritilan (sp?) was a total bummer, even at max dose, I had to go to bed and nap 2 hrs. just to get rid of the Jagged anxiety it caused me. Its effect wd. last about 45 minutes, I felt nothing positive, no focus or motivation or clarity-Just completely uncomfortable for an hour and then exhausted and HAD to sleep.
But, 2 yrs. later a real p-doc let me try Adderall, which was a vast improvement, but still thought we could fine-tune. I now take 30-45 mgs. of dexedrine spansules, and have Dexstrostat 5mg.(immediate release) to augment with when necessary. I usually end up taking a 40-60mg. combo daily, and I take a break every couple of weeks to just relax...and veg. On those days I may take anywhere from 15mgs. to nothing, just so my muscles and brain can totally relax and I don't wear myself out. I have fibro and chronic myofascial pain in neck, shoulders and head along w/a herniated cervical disc. So, deep sleep is important. But I can nap with 60 mgs. of dex in me, or NOT, the choice is mine. And I suffer no insomnia whatsoever.I also have clonazepam, darvocette, soma and propanolol on my med roster & have recently added Lexapro. I do not need the darv. and soma every day, but clonaz and propanolol are a great combo for severe anxiety (which I had long before adding p-stims to my meds).
Point of message: Try all the different p-stims before you decide they are not right for you.I was not dx'd ADD til I was 45 yrs. old. Keeping my pain under control has certainly helped my life-long (since late teens) depression and anxiety, but with hypersomnia + ADD, I simply cannot function even halfway normally without the p-stims.
I know my dose is high,but I have a high tolerance to many drugs and my pain and anxiety meds relax me a bit (they have to, since muscle tension/spasm is my worst pain prob) and I do not get the jagged jitters with the high dose of dex. It calms me somewhat, b/c it allows me to function much better (tho I am not yet fully recovered from my dep.) and I am interested in things again. Before Adderall, i was in the grips of a major depression and had lost all interest in life or the future.That was Sept 2001. I have taken dozens of A-D's, but none helped with fatigue or motivation. For some patients, p-stims are the best antidepressant available.
Take care.
poster:HannahBeGood
thread:131883
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021217/msgs/132263.html