Posted by utca5utca on April 14, 2008, at 14:45:51
In reply to Memantine +glutamate ex.toxicty, dramatic recovery, posted by temoigneur on March 29, 2008, at 19:48:24
Two questions for temoigneur and undopaminergic (or anyone else who has taken Memantine):
(1) How rapid is Memantine's onset in relieving stimulant tolerance?
(2) Is it safe to start dosing at the 20mg range and titrate upwards from there? It seems low dose Memantine has proven ineffective for combating stimulant tolerance. I read undopaminergic's post about slowly titrating from 5mg. What was your experience, temoigneur? Did you go directly to 30mg? (Does anyone else have any experiences to share?)
If it's of use to anyone, here is a brief history of my life with stimulants:
I've been on various stimulants for the past seven years. Prior to stimulant usage, the only medications that have helped me over 13 years of medical treatment have been the combination of Prozac + Desipramine. (This combo worked incredibly well for nearly two years until it began to sputter and eventually stop working whatsoever. I have revisited the combo a couple of times in the years since, but to no avail.)
Adderall was the first stimulant to help me. (Ritalin and its cousins had no effect on me at all.) Adderall at 30mg/day gave me my life back. For seven months, I felt alive again.
After that seven month mark, tolerance quickly set in. My doctor increased the dosage and included Wellbutrin SR to the mix. Provigil was added shortly afterwards but not taken on any regular dosing cycle.
(Wellbutrin SR did have some beneficial effect, but it stopped working after about four months. Wellbutrin XL was tried, but had immediate negative effects. The effects of Provigil were very mildly beneficial, but at an almost imperceptible level.)
As time went on, the Adderall was becoming less and less effective and was also causing some very harsh crashing in the evenings. My doctor prescribed Klonopin to combat the crashing and panic attacks.
Not long afterwards, Dexedrine tablets and Dexedrine spansules were added so I could go off the Adderall for a while.
The Klonopin was preventing the harsh crashing, but it was also causing severe memory deterioration and cognitive impairment in general. (And continues to do so.)
I also became dependent on the Klonopin because of the fact that my stimulants won't work unless I take them with Klonopin. There seems to be some sort of synergistic relationship between the two. (Has anyone experienced anything similar?)
So, fast-forward to present day. My current intake of meds is roughly as follows:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
* Dexedrine tablets (generic)
- 30mg in AM, 20mg in PM* Dexedrine Spansules (brand name)
- 15mg in AM* Adderall tablets (brand name)
- 15mg in AM, 15mg in PM* Klonopin tablets (generic)
- 2mg in AM, 2mg in PM- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
This cocktail of stimulants and Klonopin are my only means of having some semblance of a functional life. Without them I am a total vegetable. The fact that tolerance continues to develop and dosages continue to increase terrifies me.
Adding to my frustration is the toll that this is taking on my bank account. Generic Adderall and generic Dexedrine spansules have very adverse effects on me, so I really have no other choice but to shell out more and more $$ for the brand name versions.
Anyway, that's my backstory. Apologies for the rambling.
Any input regarding my questions on Memantine or alternative methods for curbing my stimulant tolerance (or anything else in general) would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks -utca.
poster:utca5utca
thread:820576
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/neuro/20080204/msgs/823254.html