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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by angelrose on October 28, 2000, at 18:55:55
Hi John:
I received Adrafinil today and I would like to try it. How much should I take? What should I expect?
I'm going on a business trip that will undoubtedly be quite stressful and I'm hoping that the Adrafinil will at least energize me. I'm still suffering from fatigue.
I'm currently on Prozac and I'm hoping to add Mirapex, possibly, when I see my doctor in 10 days.I enjoy reading your posts, they are always very informative.
Best Wishes
Posted by JohnL on October 29, 2000, at 3:38:08
In reply to To JohnL, posted by angelrose on October 28, 2000, at 18:55:55
> Hi John:
> I received Adrafinil today and I would like to try it. How much should I take? What should I expect?
Angelrose,
To start with, I would myself start with one tab with breakfast for a couple days. I just like to feel out a new drug. I think I actually cut the pills in half when I first started. That seems humorous now that I look back on it, since it turned out to be such a mild drug. But I'm always cautious that way, usually for nought.If all is well at one tab a day, i.e. no bad side effects, then you could do one tab with breakfast and another at lunch. Though dosing can go higher, the highest dose I've personally tried is two tabs at breakfast and one at lunch. But once the drug was working, I found I could maintain it with just one a day.
I felt a good boost the very first day. It then faded for a few days. Gradually it came back. At about 10 days I started feeling definite improvement. At 2 to 3 weeks it was really working. And it continued to improve after that. Benefits I noticed were: motivation to plan and get things done, enjoyment of doing things, energy to do them, more talkative, comfortable with strangers, quicker thinking, could breeze through crossword puzzles that previously were too hard. As a general rule, it is slow and gradual, unlike typical stimulants.
I discovered by happy accident that it works best for me when combined with a little Prozac. Side effects to be aware of are: 1)possible inner tension, uneasiness, anxiety-like...if it happens, just lower the dose...I only felt this mildly at 3 tabs a day; 2)any kind of rash or strange skin disorders...very rare...but if it happens you might have to stop and then try again later; 3)insomnia-like effects...if it happens, take the last dose no later than lunchtime; 4)possible limp sexual organ in men...you're lucky to be a girl.
If you ever need to quit for whatever reason, withdrawal effects for me were nill. Never felt any. One more important thing to keep in mind is liver tests. At 3 months you should get one. Not likely a concern at low doses, my tests came back normal, but still worth mentioning. In the absence of liver tests, it could be a planned strategy to take 2 week breaks once every three months or so. But at low doses, this is not likely a concern. Just worth being aware of.
Wishing you the best! Since Adrafinil can work on both depressed people as well as normal people, there's a good chance you will experience benefits. Got my fingers crossed for you!
John
Posted by Maniz on October 29, 2000, at 9:20:43
In reply to Re: To Angelrose, posted by JohnL on October 29, 2000, at 3:38:08
Hi,
Are liver problems related only to increased enzimes or to real liver damage?.
I am sorry I am insisting on this question but I need to know.
Thanks
...
>One more important thing to keep in mind is liver tests. At 3 months you should get one. Not likely a concern at low doses, my tests came back normal, but still worth mentioning. In the absence of liver tests, it could be a planned strategy to take 2 week breaks once every three months or so. But at low doses, this is not likely a concern. Just worth being aware of.
>
> Wishing you the best! Since Adrafinil can work on both depressed people as well as normal people, there's a good chance you will experience benefits. Got my fingers crossed for you!
> John
Posted by JohnL on October 30, 2000, at 5:27:47
In reply to Adrafinil and liver. Re: To Angelrose » JohnL, posted by Maniz on October 29, 2000, at 9:20:43
> Hi,
>
> Are liver problems related only to increased enzimes or to real liver damage?.
>
> I am sorry I am insisting on this question but I need to know.
>
> ThanksInformation on Adrafinil is scarce. Nothing I have seen though indicates risk of liver damage. Even the medication pamphlet/label doesn't mention it. Just the enzyme thing.
No matter what medication you take, risk of liver damage or other serious adverse events are always present. Granted the numbers are very rare, like 1 in 1000, or 5 in 1000, like that, but still they exist. Drugs that have a higher potential for liver damage say so on the label. Like Cylert for example. In the absence of specific warnings, I can only assume the risk is there as it is with any other drug, except the risk is very low.
I don't think I would be comfortable taking 4 tabs a day of Adrafinil for a year without a liver test, and without knowing what early symptoms of liver toxicity look like. On the other hand, I'm perfectly comfortable with one or two tabs a day. My own liver tests so far have always come back normal, no change.
John
This is the end of the thread.
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