Posted by Mark H. on March 4, 2005, at 21:08:02
In reply to Re: Dread and procrastination, posted by Phil on March 4, 2005, at 20:37:07
Hi Phil,
I've been steady at 40mg a day of Ritalin for the past several years. Some days I go as high as 60mg if I need to be very sharp in the afternoon for a demanding project, but that might average one day a week.
I've never had a problem with Ritalin triggering hypomania. Right now, this spurt of energy I'm experiencing is from my doctor having added in a bit of Lamictal last week. I find that I'm more energized, but I also have less impulse control -- I occasionally blurt out things to my colleagues that I normally would have enough sense not to say.
I haven't had a bout of hypomania for about three years now, I think, ever since I added in 2.5mg of Zyprexa into my mix of meds. I sleep wonderfully and I don't experience those awful agitated and angry states that I used to.
Here's my current regimen:
Morning:
Cytomel, 25mcg (potentiates the Effexor)
Pindolol, 2.5mg (blunts effects of too much adrenaline production)
Methylphenidate, 40mg (keeps me awake during the day; also potentiates the Effexor)
Effexor, 150mg (maintained at this level since 1997, thanks to the potentiating effects of the adjunctives I take, above)
and starting about 10 days ago, Lamictal, 25mg (to see if we can head off my expected depressive trough that's due to hit me in May).
Evening:
Clonazepam, 2.5mg (to control my kicking -- helps my wife sleep much better)
Pindolol, 5mg (a beta-blocker, again helps keep me from being over-stimulated by adrenaline)
Zyprexa, 2.5mg (AP, gives deliciously dreamy sleep, seems to prevent hypomania in me).
I hope that's not more than you wanted to know!
Best wishes,
Mark H.
poster:Mark H.
thread:466556
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050224/msgs/466701.html