Posted by Chairman_MAO on January 30, 2004, at 12:55:22
In reply to Inattentive ADD with Ritalin, posted by dazed on January 30, 2004, at 11:52:25
I have inattentive ADD symptomology (in other cultures those who WEREN'T ADD would be considered pathological, unlike neurosyphilis or Alzheimer's, which are always a pathology), and I found that Ritalin gave me muscle stiffness/tension, a generalized malaise, and mood swings not unlike those resulting from cocaine consumption--in addition to a great attention span and lots of energy. IMHO, amphetamine is a whole lot easier to take. But this is just MY experience.
As far as zombification, it will not make you a zombie in the same manner that 80mg/day of Valium would make you a zombie, for instance. However, stimulants, in my opinion, "lower the bar" for what the mind considers novel, stimulating, or positively reinforcing, so the price you pay might be a lack of innovative/unconventional thought/personality. It might also give you a tremendous boost in that area, so who knows.
As helpful as the stimulants are, I believe the LESS drastic the pharmacological intervention, the better. I am currently taking Trileptal and desipramine, and, overall, I find that it helps me with ADD just as well with less alteration of my personality.
The only way you will know what's right for you is cautious empirical experimentation.
poster:Chairman_MAO
thread:307288
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040127/msgs/307315.html