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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rainbowlight on July 19, 2002, at 19:19:14
As you guys know I have been doing trials on different pstims for ADD. Aderall was horrible (bad physical symptoms), Ritalin made me feel good, now trying Dexidrene. The Dexidrene Spansules are giving me the same physical symptoms that the Aderall did. Should I just stick with the Ritalin or are there others I should try to make sure I am using the best one for me?
Posted by Ritch on July 19, 2002, at 21:35:55
In reply to KateKite/Fachad/Mitch - Question, posted by rainbowlight on July 19, 2002, at 19:19:14
> As you guys know I have been doing trials on different pstims for ADD. Aderall was horrible (bad physical symptoms), Ritalin made me feel good, now trying Dexidrene. The Dexidrene Spansules are giving me the same physical symptoms that the Aderall did. Should I just stick with the Ritalin or are there others I should try to make sure I am using the best one for me?
It sounds like amphetamine stimulants are going to cause you trouble, no matter what type. You could revisit the methylphenidate route and go with Ritalin SR or Concerta, next. I responded better to methylphenidate than to amphetamines for focus and attentiveness. The best anti-ADD effect I have had from nonstimulants was desipramine or a combo of nortriptyline and Zoloft.
Mitch
Posted by fachad on July 19, 2002, at 22:43:09
In reply to KateKite/Fachad/Mitch - Question, posted by rainbowlight on July 19, 2002, at 19:19:14
I think you have exhausted the possibilities of pstims for ADD.
I too found Adderall intolerable. Dex gives me some of the same bad physical symptoms as Adderall, but much milder. Ritalin was by far the most tolerable, with little or no physical symptoms.
So Ritalin is probably the best for you. You could try Focalin, which is to Ritalin what Dex is to Adderall (the dextro isomer only).
There are some other options for ADD meds.
There are some "pseudo-pstims" like phenteramine, pemoline, and modafinal (Provigil). They are not generally as effective as the real pstims. Also, pemoline has been linked to liver damage, and some are beginning to suspect liver problems with Provigil. Provigil is horrifically expensive.
Then there are the "activating ADs" like Wellbutrin, desipramine, and nortriptyline. These are generally less effective than the pseudo-pstims, and they have more side effects.
So I'd say that Ritalin is your best bet. Concerta is an excellent long acting formulation and everyone seems to recommend it.
> As you guys know I have been doing trials on different pstims for ADD. Aderall was horrible (bad physical symptoms), Ritalin made me feel good, now trying Dexidrene. The Dexidrene Spansules are giving me the same physical symptoms that the Aderall did. Should I just stick with the Ritalin or are there others I should try to make sure I am using the best one for me?
Posted by fachad on July 20, 2002, at 1:50:33
In reply to ADD Med Options » rainbowlight, posted by fachad on July 19, 2002, at 22:43:09
I just told BekkaH why I'm taking Dexedrine even though I actually prefer Ritalin. Here's the link:
Dexedrine vs. Ritalin
Posted by katekite on July 20, 2002, at 10:46:56
In reply to KateKite/Fachad/Mitch - Question, posted by rainbowlight on July 19, 2002, at 19:19:14
I remember you said you were very sensitive to ritalin, needing just a tiny dose. So it sounds like if you did best on ritalin you would be stuck with Ritalin itself as the other formulations don't come in a low enough dose. I guess if it comes down to it taking it every 3.5 or 4 hrs wouldn't be bad if it really was helping. Most people can figure out their own half-life close enough to dose regularly and avoid the rollercoaster.
Too bad about physical effects with dexedrine. I'm assuming you've tried tini tiny mini doses of it -- if you need 2.5 mg of ritalin you would probably need even less dexedrine, like 1.25 mg, any more might be too much.
You are on some other drugs, right? There's always a chance that if you get on a small dose of ritalin several times a day you will be able to reduce one of the other drugs. If ritalin is calming, that is. If you change the doses of other drugs you might find at some later date that you could retry dexedrine or adderall with a different effect (I find the other meds I am on change my responses to stimulants).
I'd like to try desipramine some day too, it sounds like its worth a shot.
This is the end of the thread.
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