Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 110401

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Weird side effect from dexedrine?

Posted by BLPBart on June 21, 2002, at 13:06:35

I have been taking dexedrine spansules (40 mg/day) since January for depression and ADD (the kind that Fachad describes as attention deficity hypoactivity disorder). I also take 300 mg/day wellbutrin SR. I've been doing great on this combo and then a couple of weeks ago a strange thing happened and I don't know if it's attributable to the meds or if it's totally unrelated like allergies.

Out of the blue one day about 2 weeks ago, I started having this weird problem with what seemed like excessive post nasal drip. Added to that, my throat felt weird, almost like it was a little constricted. This made me have a constant urge to swallow which then caused me to feel sick to my stomach from all of the post nasal drip (I really apologize to anyone that's getting totally grossed out). For whatever reason I attributed this to the dex even though it had never happened before. I tried experimenting to see if it happened if I didn't take or, or took a lower dose. So far, I haven't really been able to establish a pattern except that it starts in the late morning to afternoon and often lasts until late at night, although it always seems to be gone in the morning.

I do suffer from mild allergies so I take claritin before going to bed at night and also use a nasal spray. I don't know if this is just a weird allergy thing and has nothing to do with my medications, or if this is a severe reaction to my medications that I should be calling my doctor about.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

Re: Weird side effect from dexedrine?

Posted by Seamus2 on June 21, 2002, at 18:25:08

In reply to Weird side effect from dexedrine?, posted by BLPBart on June 21, 2002, at 13:06:35

Has your breath gone suddenly bad? Is this accompanied by a different taste in your mouth?

 

Re: Weird side effect from dexedrine?

Posted by BLPBart on June 21, 2002, at 18:44:11

In reply to Re: Weird side effect from dexedrine?, posted by Seamus2 on June 21, 2002, at 18:25:08

> Has your breath gone suddenly bad? Is this accompanied by a different taste in your mouth?

No, I haven't noticed anything like that. It sounds like you're thinking sinus infection. I've had those before and this doesn't seem to be the same thing. I didn't take the dex today and I'm still having the problem, although it doesn't seem as bad. I'm taking sudafed and mylanta for the stomach problem which seems to be helping so I'm leaning more towards allergies.

 

Re: Weird side effect from dexedrine?

Posted by Seamus2 on June 21, 2002, at 20:57:30

In reply to Re: Weird side effect from dexedrine?, posted by BLPBart on June 21, 2002, at 18:44:11

Yeah, I was thinking in the direction of some sort of infection. There are some weird fungal sinus infections, too.

Did you change laundry detergents?

I think it significant it doesn't occur in the morning, as though you're not exposed to the offending agent at night.?.

Eeez a puzzlement! Keep us posted.

Seamus

 

Re: Weird side effect from dexedrine? ยป BLPBart

Posted by medlib on June 24, 2002, at 21:00:57

In reply to Weird side effect from dexedrine?, posted by BLPBart on June 21, 2002, at 13:06:35

Hi BLPBart---

"Weird" is such a relative term at PB; for example, Dexedrine Spansules consistently put me to sleep (and I don't have ADD)!

The effects you described may be less weird than you imagine. If you are using a decongestant nasal spray such as Afrin at night, what you experience beginning in late morning could be rebound congestion. Both Afrin (and similar compounds) and Claritin are formulated to last 12 hours (Claritin-D is a 24 hour version). Rebound congestion is a fairly common "wearing-off/withdrawal" reaction which occurs when decongestants which are designed for short-term relief (3-4 days) are used on a continuing basis. This habituated response lasts until the next dose or several days, whichever comes first.

I'll hope for you that this process is responsible for your symptoms, since it is so simple to check out; either an extra dose of nasal spray in midafternoon makes things a bit better...or it doesn't. And, however uncomfortable withdrawal from nasal decongestants may be, it beats having to give up a psych med that works--at least, for me.

Note 1: Generally, allergic reactions to ingested substances (food, meds) are progressive (more severe with repeated exposures), while withdrawal reactions are regressive (diminished over time).

Note 2: It's easy to ignore Note 1 when it comes to nasal sprays. When I developed symptoms similar to yours, I presumed that my allergies were "acting up", though I "knew" better. (I live in the allergy capital of the world; daily pollen counts are a regular part of local weather forecasts.)

Good luck---medlib

PS I apologize if this post is inappropriate to your background; I don't check in here as often any more and seldom post to those I don't recognize, lest I unintentionally insult rather than inform. This post is so belated that it's unlikely to be read; thus, I can blather on with little risk of offending. Why I would do so is too weird to contemplate.

 

Re: Weird side effect from dexedrine?

Posted by pala on November 7, 2003, at 1:00:13

In reply to Weird side effect from dexedrine?, posted by BLPBart on June 21, 2002, at 13:06:35

About Dexadrine, you are absolutely right; I developed this post nasal drip while on Dexadrine, I gave up this terrible drug 5 months ago because of severe side effects like GIRD (Gastro Intestinal Reflux Disease, because of which mouth stinks)
still I have the same problem, dexadrine can cause some permanent physical problems, I tried Nasonex and all kinds of decongestants, the problem never vanished, if possible please stop these drugs of course with tapering.

pala

> I have been taking dexedrine spansules (40 mg/day) since January for depression and ADD (the kind that Fachad describes as attention deficity hypoactivity disorder). I also take 300 mg/day wellbutrin SR. I've been doing great on this combo and then a couple of weeks ago a strange thing happened and I don't know if it's attributable to the meds or if it's totally unrelated like allergies.
>
> Out of the blue one day about 2 weeks ago, I started having this weird problem with what seemed like excessive post nasal drip. Added to that, my throat felt weird, almost like it was a little constricted. This made me have a constant urge to swallow which then caused me to feel sick to my stomach from all of the post nasal drip (I really apologize to anyone that's getting totally grossed out). For whatever reason I attributed this to the dex even though it had never happened before. I tried experimenting to see if it happened if I didn't take or, or took a lower dose. So far, I haven't really been able to establish a pattern except that it starts in the late morning to afternoon and often lasts until late at night, although it always seems to be gone in the morning.
>
> I do suffer from mild allergies so I take claritin before going to bed at night and also use a nasal spray. I don't know if this is just a weird allergy thing and has nothing to do with my medications, or if this is a severe reaction to my medications that I should be calling my doctor about.
>
> Anyone have any ideas?

 

Re: Weird side effect from dexedrine?

Posted by Festus on November 10, 2003, at 22:10:54

In reply to Re: Weird side effect from dexedrine?, posted by pala on November 7, 2003, at 1:00:13

I think if you go on a bit further with the responses to this thread,they seem to have derived that there may have been an infection of the sinuses involved with this particular case,however,if you look at the date of the post you responded to,I bet he,s gotten over it by now.Sorry about the Dex side-effects you had,pala,I,ve heard of others that got weird stuff from it.I take it for ADD,and it gives me white sores on my tongue(YEOUCHHH!!)Festus


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