Posted by leeran on May 13, 2003, at 3:05:12
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin » leeran, posted by Snoozy on May 13, 2003, at 2:01:27
Oh yes, I can identify with the sound of chewing, snoring, fifteen year old fingers running imaginary skateboards along the edge of the kitchen counter, etc. (and I have some hearing loss in one ear - but sounds can still get to me).
At the time I saw this psychiatrist I was taking 150 mg. of Wellbutrin in the morning and 150 in the afternoon. He felt that doubling that would get me kick started.
The sound of his voice irritated me so I didn't go back!
Actually, he was my second choice but his was the first appointment available - so I ended up going with the psychiatrist who had been recommended (on another message board) and I feel quite comfortable with this one.
Thanks for the link to the other post re: high doses of Wellbutrin. I may have kept the prescription from the first psychiatrist (I didn't have it filled because my prescription from the general practitioner had several refills remaining). Now I'm curious to take a look . . . maybe it was a different dosage (?) because if 450 sounded high, 600 sounds astronomical. But I do remember him using the words "doubling the dose."
Re: Adderall - I think I'm okay with it.
My son takes 30 mg. and I take 40 mg. (20 a.m. - 20 at noon). Our town has a noon whistle which is a good reminder for me to take the second dose. Or maybe it's the Adderall that helps me remember? Who knows . . .
After a year on Wellbutrin I was able to keep a lot of the weight off that I had gained over several years (I'm still on 150 mg.). As might be expected, I have lost weight on Adderall. Not a miracle loss, but following an era when it seemed I gained a pound or two per month it's a nice change.
Quite frankly, I'm a lot more respectful of Adderall after taking it myself. I was never thrilled with the idea of stimulants for my son, but over the years (since third grade) they have become a part of his life and have made a big difference in his self-esteem and ability to plow through school without getting behind.
After taking 40 mg. per day since February I realize that Adderall is an even more powerful medication than I realized (thus the heightened "respect"), which leaves me questioning the long-term impact stimulants have had on my son.
We have tried the non-stimulant route with him (biofeedback training) and although it helped him considerably, it has worked best in concert with Adderall.
In answer to your question - no, I haven't tried other stimulants for A.D.D. (I was just diagnosed in late January).
My son took Ritalin starting midway through third grade and eventually graduated to Adderall. I'll never forget him telling me (about a week after first taking Ritalin in third grade) that he would like to write a letter and thank "whoever invented Ritalin" because of how much better it made him feel in school. On the one hand, I felt so happy to hear that he felt better - yet so sad to know that he had felt "out of it" during the previous school years. Of course, I also felt the sorrow of knowing that I was administering a stimulant to a third grade child when, like so many other people, I had seen the many drawbacks of Ritalin on shows like 20/20, Dateline, etc.
Wow, this was a long response. Sorry about that. In the process I spilled half a bottle of water on myself and the dog has started snoring.
Thanks again for your input on Wellbutrin, Snoozy!
poster:leeran
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030505/msgs/226281.html