Posted by g_g_g_unit on April 9, 2011, at 7:31:56
In reply to Re: stimulants and mood disorders, posted by bleauberry on April 9, 2011, at 4:37:34
Thanks for your reply bleauberry.
Interestingly enough, IR Ritalin is the one stimulant I've yet to try (I had a bad reaction to the LA). What bothers me is that, like you, I tend to experience anxiety, dysphoria, irritability, etc., but still reap no concentration benefits due to the speedier thoughts - just a general increase in motivation and mental vigilance.
I've heard the amphetamine analogues agree the most with OCD (while Ritalin tends to exacerbate it), so may try Dexedrine again first in conjunction with an anxiolytic, but if things don't work out, I'll give Ritalin a shot.
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> Well, yes, I think all the above are possible, but there are other factors as well. For example, the meds themselves are well known for producing the kinds of negative effects you describe even in perfectly healthy normal people. Of all the stimulants, the one in my experience least likely to overspeed things and most likely to help is Ritalin.
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> No matter which med though, I think you have already discovered an important clue....low doses for you are the way to go.
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> I hated Dexedrine, Strattera, Reboxetine, but I like Ritalin. All made me overhyped, on edge, irritable, and generally dysphoric, though I could concentrate better. Even at low doses they felt wrong to me. Ritalin however is a different breed. Weird, but I found the immediate release generic to feel a lot better than the extended release brand, which felt bad like dexedrine. The one downfall with any of them is wear-off period, which I think many people become accustomed to longterm but is uncomfortable in the early going.
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> Some herbs to consider in accomplishing stimulant results except in a smoother more natural biological manner are Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng) or Corcyceps. Rhodiola Rosea is another one to consider. Unlike stimulants which hit immediately, these take weeks or months to bring on their healing and good effects, though you will feel something almost immediately. Unlike stimulants, they work on anxiety at the same time. They provide wide spectrum biological benefits throughout the body, glands, nervous system, and immune system, which of course stimulant meds do not do. As with the stimulants, starting with very low doses and gradually increasing if necessary is the way to go, because the same kind of overstimulation can happen if too aggressive too soon.
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poster:g_g_g_unit
thread:982316
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110406/msgs/982326.html