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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fluffykitty on November 7, 2001, at 11:00:23
Hi all. Ive been gone for a month but now Im back.
I read the extremely good book, Driven To Distraction, about ADD as recommended by my pdoc and we discussed it after I read it. He has diagnosed me with ADD and given my own experiences and after reading the book I have to concur.
He suggested I try Ritalin or Welbutrin (Im also taking Neurontin now). For the last few years I have used coffee to get going and then caffiene pills which Ive discussed in earlier threads. Sometimes sudafed. Someone suggested Bronkaid but since I dont have asthma I dont want to mess with it. :-/Anyway he prescribed Ritalin SR 20mg which I took this morning. Didnt take the caffiene. I think I may be going through caffiene withdrawel but I just dont think this is working. I can wait a few more days with no caffiene and then take the Ritalin again and see what happens. And not take the Neurontin in the am.
Basically I feel wierd, overstimulated to some degree, like my head is going to explode (could be the no caffiene), too much adrenaline or something. And paradoxically somewhat tired but it also could be the neurontin and caffiene withdrawel.
Anyone have similer experiences? Should I try the
regular Ritalin in smaller doses? Or should I try
Welbutrin instead? What I really need is a subtler form of stimulation not a sledgehammer. Also based on what I read about someone else's experience with Adderall earlier in the week I dont want to go there.Thanks a lot !
fk
Posted by Bill L on November 7, 2001, at 12:21:14
In reply to Ritalin experiences / ADD / welbutrin etc, posted by fluffykitty on November 7, 2001, at 11:00:23
My doctor suggests one change at a time so that you can tell what is doing what. I think it's good advice. It sounds like you made 2 changes at the same time: 1) stopping caffeine and 2) starting Ritalin. Why don't you keep taking the Ritalin and the caffeine for a while? Then you can stop the caffeine later and see what that effect is. If you do well with both at the same time, then keep taking both.
> Hi all. Ive been gone for a month but now Im back.
> I read the extremely good book, "Driven To Distraction", about ADD as recommended by my pdoc and we discussed it after I read it. He has diagnosed me with ADD and given my own experiences and after reading the book I have to concur.
> He suggested I try Ritalin or Welbutrin (Im also taking Neurontin now). For the last few years I have used coffee to get going and then caffiene pills which Ive discussed in earlier threads. Sometimes sudafed. Someone suggested Bronkaid but since I dont have asthma I dont want to mess with it. :-/
>
> Anyway he prescribed Ritalin SR 20mg which I took this morning. Didnt take the caffiene. I think I may be going through caffiene withdrawel but I just dont think this is working. I can wait a few more days with no caffiene and then take the Ritalin again and see what happens. And not take the Neurontin in the am.
>
> Basically I feel wierd, overstimulated to some degree, like my head is going to explode (could be the no caffiene), too much adrenaline or something. And paradoxically somewhat tired but it also could be the neurontin and caffiene withdrawel.
>
> Anyone have similer experiences? Should I try the
> regular Ritalin in smaller doses? Or should I try
> Welbutrin instead? What I really need is a subtler form of stimulation not a sledgehammer. Also based on what I read about someone else's experience with Adderall earlier in the week I dont want to go there.
>
> Thanks a lot !
>
> fk
Posted by michael on November 11, 2001, at 4:04:49
In reply to Re: Ritalin experiences / ADD / welbutrin etc, posted by Bill L on November 7, 2001, at 12:21:14
If you do opt to go with both caffeine & the ritalin, just keep in mind that regular size doses of both of them together might be a bit much in the beginning... since they're both "stimulants".
michael
> My doctor suggests one change at a time so that you can tell what is doing what. I think it's good advice. It sounds like you made 2 changes at the same time: 1) stopping caffeine and 2) starting Ritalin. Why don't you keep taking the Ritalin and the caffeine for a while? Then you can stop the caffeine later and see what that effect is. If you do well with both at the same time, then keep taking both.
>
> > Hi all. Ive been gone for a month but now Im back.
> > I read the extremely good book, "Driven To Distraction", about ADD as recommended by my pdoc and we discussed it after I read it. He has diagnosed me with ADD and given my own experiences and after reading the book I have to concur.
> > He suggested I try Ritalin or Welbutrin (Im also taking Neurontin now). For the last few years I have used coffee to get going and then caffiene pills which Ive discussed in earlier threads. Sometimes sudafed. Someone suggested Bronkaid but since I dont have asthma I dont want to mess with it. :-/
> >
> > Anyway he prescribed Ritalin SR 20mg which I took this morning. Didnt take the caffiene. I think I may be going through caffiene withdrawel but I just dont think this is working. I can wait a few more days with no caffiene and then take the Ritalin again and see what happens. And not take the Neurontin in the am.
> >
> > Basically I feel wierd, overstimulated to some degree, like my head is going to explode (could be the no caffiene), too much adrenaline or something. And paradoxically somewhat tired but it also could be the neurontin and caffiene withdrawel.
> >
> > Anyone have similer experiences? Should I try the
> > regular Ritalin in smaller doses? Or should I try
> > Welbutrin instead? What I really need is a subtler form of stimulation not a sledgehammer. Also based on what I read about someone else's experience with Adderall earlier in the week I dont want to go there.
> >
> > Thanks a lot !
> >
> > fk
Posted by fluffykitty on November 12, 2001, at 11:13:09
In reply to Re: Ritalin experiences / ADD / welbutrin etc, posted by Bill L on November 7, 2001, at 12:21:14
I want to post followups to my experience here FYI but also to aid the research study being conducted with this board.
I decided what I would do is cut the pills up and try a smaller dose. I would also reduce my morning dose of Neurontin and take it later and also just take half the amount of caffiene or about 50mg.
I read that when you break up the Ritalin SR, since you are defeating the purpose of the coating, its more or less like taking regular ritalin.
I broke a tablet up into about 1/4's or 1/3's and on sat morning tried it, took one piece. It was a much more manageable dose and I felt it has a calming and focusing effect with less of the unpleasant side effects. However I do think it does give me slight head and chest pains so Ill have to talk to my doctor about this. It also seems that it works well synergystically with caffiene. They both do different things. The caffiene makes me feel awake and alert, it opens my mind so to speak where as the Ritalin gives my mind focus and calm.
I tried a half pill on sunday and that was too much so Im going back to the smaller amount. Im wondering if a beta blocker would aid in reducing the side effects. ?
Anyway I got a lot done while on the med both sat and sunday. So thats a good thing! :)
Posted by fluffykitty on November 14, 2001, at 11:54:18
In reply to Ritalin experiences / ADD / welbutrin etc, posted by fluffykitty on November 7, 2001, at 11:00:23
Ok so I met with my pdoc and I will not be continuing the Ritalin. It was also giving me chest and head pains. That cant be good. So I will be trying Wellbutrin. Low doses at first to see what it does.
Posted by 3 Beer Effect on November 18, 2001, at 14:30:56
In reply to Re: Ritalin experiences / ADD / welbutrin etc, posted by fluffykitty on November 14, 2001, at 11:54:18
don't get the spansules though, get the immediate release.
This is the end of the thread.
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