Posted by Tomatheus on September 16, 2006, at 17:32:00
In reply to Re: What works on norepinephrine?, posted by dbc on September 16, 2006, at 3:46:34
dbc,
Thanks for your responses. I found them to be helpful.
I'm not sure that I'd respond to amphetamines as favorably as you have, given the fact that I didn't find Wellbutrin to be all that stimulating. Then again, even though the effects and mechanism of action of Wellbutrin are similar to those of amphetamines, there are obviously some differences, as well. So, it's quite possible that I might find Adderall or Dexedrine to be significantly more stimulating than Wellbutrin.
I just started a trial of low-dose T3/T4 (thyroid hormones) for my depressive disorder, so I'm obviously hoping that the T3/T4 medication will provide me with enough relief that I won't need to think about switching and/or adding meds any time soon. However, if my current medication trial does not turn out to be successful, an amphetamine will probably be near the top of my list of meds to try next, assuming that my pdoc would be willing to prescribe it. If my current pdoc refuses to prescribe me Adderall or Dexedrine (which is a possibility, considering that he specializes in treating mood and anxiety disorders), I may consider seeing a doc who specializes in treating ADHD. Based on my own self assessment, I think that I should meet the DSM-IV criteria for inattentive ADHD (or just plain ADD, as it used to be called).
I have also been considering asking my pdoc about EMSAM, but like you, I'm avoiding it for the time being mostly because of its outrageous price. I have been paying for my meds out of pocket for a few years now (even when I did have insurance as a student, it covered next to nothing), and I don't think that I'll be getting any halfway decent insurance any time soon. So, even though I could probably handle paying for 1-2 months' worth of EMSAM without much of a problem, I don't think that I'll realistically be able to afford it long-term without going bankrupt. Considering that I've responded better to MAOIs than I have to any other class of medications, I'd really like to try EMSAM at some point. However, I think that I'd be best served by trying some more affordable options first.
Anyway, thanks again for your responses. I appreciate them.
Tomatheus
poster:Tomatheus
thread:686094
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060909/msgs/686623.html