Posted by mike99 on January 8, 2006, at 17:17:00
In reply to Re: Cardiovascular Stimulation-Strattera vs Stimul, posted by vbAgent on January 8, 2006, at 15:41:49
> hi mike99, many people are hypersensitive to stimulants. This doesn't necessarily mean you can't benefit or that it's the wrong medication.
>
> Have you considered using a beta blocker? Beta blockers, like Toprol or atenolol, are commonly combined with a stimulant to dull the cardiovascular activation. The (p)doc will want to aim for a beta blocker that has minimal impact on the CNS (central nervous system) in the brain; one that doesn't readily cross the blood-brain barrier.
>
> About Strattera, I have tried it, but with little success. I experienced nausea and dizziness from it. This is NOT to say you will also exerience these adverse effects. Your mileage may vary.
>
> I think staying on a low dose of a stimulant or non-stimulant, like Strattera, is a good idea in your case. Strattera *may* increase blood pressure. So, if you give it a trial run start with a low dose.Hi and thanks for the input, vbAgent. I have long considered adding a beta-blocker or alpha/beta blocker (like labetalol) to a stim. Not to be dismissive of this suggestion, but if regular doses of stims were to cause me mild symptoms I would consider this.
However, given the severe reaction I've had to even miniscule doses of stimulants (please see previous post) AND the fact that even an SSRI and L-Tyrosine have caused me chest pain/tachycardia/high blood pressure (which I still can't figure out-- and I have never taken an SSRI at the same time as a stimulant), I will never again touch a stimulant.
I'm sorry to hear Strattera did not work for you. I get the general impression it's really not that great of a treatment and actually don't hold out much hope for it. Nonetheless it seems to help some people and I'd be grateful if it could give me just have the benefits that stimulants do-- if I could tolerate it. In such a case I'd consider taking a beta-blocer w/ Strattera, but I'm quite gunshy about trying anything with adrenergic properties at this point.
Again, thanks for your reply and input. I really hope I can find something that works.
poster:mike99
thread:595951
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060108/msgs/596708.html