Posted by KaraS on July 11, 2004, at 2:49:49
In reply to Re: Best Med for Motivation » Ktemene, posted by Just a little... on July 10, 2004, at 16:51:32
> > > I was curious which meds people have had success with for raising their motivation. I'm currenly on Wellbutrin SR, but need to add something that will help me get excited about things and follow through with projects.
> > >
> > > I've tried Provigil, and although it keeps me awake, it doesn't give me motivation and actually makes me irritable.
> > >
> > > What has worked for you?
> >
> > *Neuropsychiatry: An Introductory Approach* (by David Arciniegas and Thomas Beresford) has the following list of medicines used to treat diminished motivation and apathy:
> > Bromocriptine 2.5 mg TID – 20mg TID (+) dopamine
> > Levodopa/carbidopa 10/100 mg BID – 50/250 mg QID (+) dopamine
> > Pergolide 00.5-1.5TID (+) dopamine
> > Amatadine 50mgBID – 100mgTID (+) dopamine
> > Methylphenidate 2.5-20 TID (+) dopamine/norepinephrine
> > Dextroamphetamine 2.5-20mg TID (+) dopamine/norepinephrine
> > Buproprion 75-150BID (+) dopamine/norepinephrine
> > Selegiline 5-10mg QD (+) dopamine/phenylethylamine
> > Protriptyline 15-60 QD (+) norepinephine, (-)acetylcholine/histamine
> > Tacrine 40mg QD-40mgQID (+) acetylcholine
> > Donepezil 5-10QD (+) acetylcholine
> >
> > I've tried Adderall, Selegiline and Buproprion
> >(Wellbutrin), and I would say that all three are
> >useful, but Adderall and Selegiline are more >effective for motivation than Buproprion.
>
> My psychiatrist tells me there is no pill for motivation, instead he tells me I suffer from a... too low initiative. Reading this confirms what I previously held true, I already started doubting myself.
>
> I started asking myself if I was imagining the effexor XR not working as good for me as it did, even at high dosage (I was very happy on it the first few months then *suddenly* my motivation dropped), I didn't get depressed though but I didn't feel like doing anything anymore *sigh*.
> Anyone experience something similar like this?
>
> Anyway, ... he (my psychiatrist) told me it was probably my own "idea": the effexor working less on motivation. That I should have "pushed" through, because the anti depressive effect was still there.
>
> Currently diagnosed as "light" autistic, previous diagnosis: Borderline personality disorder *sigh*.
>
> Thanks and take care all. =)
>
>
>Ktemene,
I am also searching for the best medication for motivation. So far I haven't had much success but I have a lot of different things left to try. I am now in the process of withdrawing from Effexor. It helped a bit with depression but also left me feeling lethargic and completely unmotivated. It is mostly an SSRI and they are well-known for producing that emotional blunting effect. It is not unusual for someone on any of the medications in this class to react the way that we have. My opinion is that your pdoc is way off base here!If you had success with Adderall, selegiline and Wellbutrin, why did you go off of them? I would also suggest you add to the list of meds to try:
desipramine, reboxetine (not available in the U.S. but you can order from abroad with a prescription) and Parnate. (Imipramine and nortriptyline may also be stimulating for some people.)There are also alternative supplements that are supposed to be motivating. I've just started one of them now, Rhodiola Rosea. Also, the Perika brand of St. John's Wort is reportedly very motivating - though most other forms of SJW are not. Lastly, some people have found SAM-e to be very motivating though it did nothing for me.
Good luck!
poster:KaraS
thread:363742
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040710/msgs/364928.html