Posted by Keith Talent on May 27, 2004, at 19:13:13
The reason that I ask is that I'm currently on 40 mg per day total of dextroamphetamine, and it seems like I haven't come close to reaching an optimal dose. I'm a big guy (1.93 m tall, a lean 109 kg mass (and rising through natural bodybuilding)), and the idea that psychiatrists prescribe 80 mg per day to kids who weigh a half or a third of my mass seems to support my view. I recall reading a post from one of the "experts" here (maybe chemist) that street speed abusers typically take 200 to 300 mg a day for days or weeks on end (benders) with no food and no sleep. Clearly, as someone who takes preventive health very seriously, and aims for longevity, I have nothing in common with such unfortunate persons.
Do any of you take 120 mg per day? In my case, it wasn't until my psychiatrist increased the dose from 20 to 30 mg per day that I felt ANYTHING, and even then it was barely noticeable.
I'm especially aware of the need to maintain excellent sleep hygiene when taking stimulants. So far, there has been no change in my total nightly sleep time (nine hours). I in no way feel jittery, speedy, nervous, unable to sleep or aggressive.
Since beginning the clon and dex, my level of global functioning has dramatically improved, but I feel that it still has a long way to go. To increase the dose above 40 mg per day, my psychiatrist would have to, yet again, get state health department approval because the drug is being prescribed for a non-ADHD, non-narcolepsy indication. I sense that he is wary and uncertain of this, and perhaps inexperienced in using stimulants for anything other than ADHD. Thankfully, I believe that he trusts that I'm not a drug abuser (I exercise about six days per week with weights and fairly intensive cardiovascular work, and eat well and am successfully completing a Bachelor's degree).
My diagnoses are:
Major Depressive Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Social PhobiaMy current medications are:
clonazepam 2 mg twice daily
dextroamphetamine 20 mg upon waking, 10 mg six hours later and 10 mg six hours later still
irbesartan 300 mg in the morning (for hypertension, which was present long before commencing the dex)
sertraline 100 mg in the morning
In short, I would be most grateful if any of you with experience of amphetamine use at greater than 40 mg per day would describe it - what drug, what dose, what indication(s), other drugs at the same time, side effects, dose-response effects, psychiatrist attitudes, effect on overall social and occupational functioning - and anything else that you consider relevant. I, and I daresay many others here at Psychobabble, would really appreciate it.
poster:Keith Talent
thread:351231
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040527/msgs/351231.html