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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by dave40252 on August 7, 2002, at 15:59:31
Hi all, today my p-doc prescribed ritalin 20mg in the am and 20mg at noon as an adjunct to the 250mg of wellbutrin and 40 mg of celexa i have been taking. I would appreciate it if those with experience with ritalin as an adjunct to ad's would let me know how it worked for them, what i might expect and whether there is anything i should watch out for - thanks for any help.
Posted by katekite on August 7, 2002, at 20:22:25
In reply to going on ritalin, posted by dave40252 on August 7, 2002, at 15:59:31
If you haven't taken any stimulants (Ritalin, dexedrine, Adderall, etc) in the past it is hard to know exactly how you will react. I would suggest for the first dose taking at most, 10 mg, or even 5 (though most people can tolerate 10). For some most any dose can cause jitteriness, so it is good to start cautiously.
The great thing about Ritalin or other stimulants is that there's not much waiting for it to work. About 45 minutes and you should feel some effect. Takes a few doses to get used to it. If you feel no effect at all at 10 mg then definitely go to 20 the next dose. Likewise, if you feel jittery the dose is just too high and you should drop it down for the next one.
I was prescribed Ritalin for attention deficit disorder that was just recently diagnosed. I found it helpful. For me, Adderall and Dexedrine are both more energizing - and mood lifting - than Ritalin, though I actually prefer Ritalin for it's mellow feeling. Everyone feels something a little different.
Let me know how it goes.
Kate
Posted by dave40252 on August 9, 2002, at 12:40:42
In reply to Re: going on ritalin, posted by katekite on August 7, 2002, at 20:22:25
Thanks for your thoughts. As a cover her ass thing my p-doc decided i hsd to get an ekg before i started it. Just had that done this morning so it will be next week before i start it - i am cautiously optimistic that it will "get me over the hump."
Dave
Posted by may-b on August 9, 2002, at 17:09:20
In reply to Re: going on ritalin, posted by katekite on August 7, 2002, at 20:22:25
Hi Kate
> The great thing about Ritalin or other stimulants is that there's not much waiting for it to work.I have just started today on 10 mg of dexedrine spansules once in the a.m. to help with concentration, focus and motivation. Here's hoping. Feel slightly druggy -- i.e., tense tummy and slightly wired -- but have been able to work all day for the first time in weeks.
> I was prescribed Ritalin for attention deficit disorder that was just recently diagnosed. I found it helpful. For me, Adderall and Dexedrine are both more energizing - and mood lifting - than Ritalin, though I actually prefer Ritalin for it's mellow feeling. Everyone feels something a little different.
Thanks for your informative input.
-may-b
Posted by may-b on August 11, 2002, at 16:20:48
In reply to Re: going on ritalin/stimulant » katekite, posted by may-b on August 9, 2002, at 17:09:20
Hi stimlulant people
Does anyone have a paradoxical feeling of tiredness using dexedrine spansules?
I am only on day 4 of the dexedrine spansules, and I had to reduce the dose from 10 mg to 5 mg to reduce the feeling of jitteriness along with somewhat higher blood pressure readings...but I have been having waves of tremendous fatigue roll over me...
Focus, concentration and learning are better though...
thanks for input,
-may-b
Posted by may-b on August 13, 2002, at 12:23:32
In reply to question re dexedrine spansules, posted by may-b on August 11, 2002, at 16:20:48
Hi all
Have been ploughing through past posts on dexedrine spansules and have noted that some of dexedrine users have a reaction of extreme fatigue. Any ideas about what this indicates? If focus improves, but energy is even more inconsistent?
thanks,
-may-b(following is excerpted from past posts)
>Dexedrine spansules I found energizing and they lasted too long for me so that it was hard to sleep. If I took it one day the next day I was just really tired from being up and going the whole previous day. It felt nice at the time of the energy but not really 'me'.
katekite>I have tried dexedrine by itself and it made me drowsy, groggy...
Mitch
Posted by katekite on August 13, 2002, at 21:36:57
In reply to ?? for Ritch, Katekite, Rainbowlight, pstim users, posted by may-b on August 13, 2002, at 12:23:32
Hi,
Yes I think it wasn't so much that dexedrine directly made me tired as that it is a little energizing (for me) while it works and so when it wears off I finally realize how exhausted I really am. Maybe if I had stuck it out I would have built up "muscle" or cardiovascular strength or something but it is just much simpler for me to take Ritalin.
Do you find the tiredness is during the effective period of the Dexedrine spansules (maybe 10 hrs) or after or the next day? Is it something that happens reliably or just sometimes?
Kate
Posted by Ritch on August 14, 2002, at 8:19:10
In reply to ?? for Ritch, Katekite, Rainbowlight, pstim users, posted by may-b on August 13, 2002, at 12:23:32
> Hi all
>
> Have been ploughing through past posts on dexedrine spansules and have noted that some of dexedrine users have a reaction of extreme fatigue. Any ideas about what this indicates? If focus improves, but energy is even more inconsistent?
>
> thanks,
> -may-b
>
> (following is excerpted from past posts)
>
> >Dexedrine spansules I found energizing and they lasted too long for me so that it was hard to sleep. If I took it one day the next day I was just really tired from being up and going the whole previous day. It felt nice at the time of the energy but not really 'me'.
> katekite
>
> >I have tried dexedrine by itself and it made me drowsy, groggy...
>
> Mitch
>
Hi,I am not on any pstims now-I have tried Focalin, Adderall, and Dexedrine. They all tend to make me too uptight and I can't tolerate it. However those three were very different. Adderall made me unusually quiet. I just never had much to really say about anything (I liked being able to listen to somebody *one* time and get it-however). The Focalin in contrast made me somewhat chatty, but it was concise, ordered, and I didn't stray from the immediate subject. The best way to sum up the dexedrine was "inconsistent". There were times that I could stay on task with something, other times not. It definitely had a "sleepy-eyed" feeling about it. One thing notable about it was my *posture*. I sat straight up in chairs, etc.,-wasn't slouching all the time.
Mitch
Posted by may-b on August 14, 2002, at 9:47:51
In reply to Re: ?? for Ritch, Katekite, Rainbowlight, pstim users, posted by katekite on August 13, 2002, at 21:36:57
Hi Kate
Thanks for your response.
> Do you find the tiredness is during the effective period of the Dexedrine spansules (maybe 10 hrs) or after or the next day? Is it something that happens reliably or just sometimes?
I feel the fatigue crashes throughout the effective period starting shortly after I take the pill until I heave myself into bed. I have been waking each night for a couple of restless hours as if the dex still has one more wave of effect.
Also am told I am red-faced and even at 5 mg/day it pushes my average bp up 10 points. At 10 mg /day my BP went up 25 points.
> ...it is just much simpler for me to take Ritalin.
I had asked the doc for Ritalin but she went with Dex Spansules. What makes Ritalin simpler for you to take?
Thanks,
may-b
Posted by may-b on August 14, 2002, at 9:51:08
In reply to Re: ?? for Ritch, Katekite, Rainbowlight, pstim users » may-b, posted by Ritch on August 14, 2002, at 8:19:10
Hi Mitch
The detail regarding the different effects of each drug helps. "Inconsistent" is definitely the word for dex. Thanks for your input,
-may-b
Posted by katekite on August 14, 2002, at 12:13:49
In reply to Re: ?? for Ritch, Katekite, Rainbowlight, pstim users, posted by may-b on August 14, 2002, at 9:47:51
For me Ritalin is predictable in effect: every time is the same. I don't feel any extra energy, in fact when it hits I feel a slow onset of an enjoyable limp feeling and I realize how tense I was holding my muscles. That tenseness is the physical side of what I used to think was anxiety and now think must be an 'inner restlessness' that is described by people with ADD. Doesn't matter to me what its called as long as it goes away, LOL.
I had trouble sleeping after taking dexedrine: I felt like it lasted 12-14 hrs and then a rebound. Ritalin has a rebound for me but at least it seems predictable as to what it's like (irratibility) and how long it lasts (about an hour). I didn't get waves of tiredness with dexedrine. I wonder if you would get the same thing with the short acting dexedrine -- maybe somehow the slow release mechanism of the spansules is not releasing the drug smoothly for you but more in spurts? I found Adderall 'smoother' than dexedrine but can't really explain easily what smoother is.
I'm very sensitive to stimulants in general and found 2.5mg of Ritalin to be enough. If I took 5mg my pulse and BP would go up by more than I found comfortable. So since I only take 2.5 mg of Ritalin at a time I can not switch to a long acting one like Concerta as they do not come in doses that low.
My pdoc recommended trying the shortest acting versions of each stimulant to see which was the best, then moving if possible to a longer acting equivalent. While I like Ritalin the best, if I need energy I take Adderall instead -- so it's possible to end up finding that no one stimulant is 'best' in every regard.
kate
Posted by may-b on August 14, 2002, at 15:11:48
In reply to ritalin, posted by katekite on August 14, 2002, at 12:13:49
Hi Kate
Thanks for the detail on your response to Ritalin and to dexedrine.
Today I forgot to take the dex in time so I didn't take any -- the result is I am low in motivation. Which is a drag since I have a lot of work to do...
> For me Ritalin is predictable in effect: every time is the same. I don't feel any extra energy,
This would be great. Something short acting that is predictable. A window of functioning time.
> I had trouble sleeping after taking dexedrine: I felt like it lasted 12-14 hrs and then a rebound.
This sounds familiar.
> I wonder if you would get the same thing with the short acting dexedrine -- maybe somehow the slow release mechanism of the spansules is not releasing the drug smoothly for you but more in spurts?"Spurts" would describe it. Thanks for the suggestion re short acting dex.
> I'm very sensitive to stimulants in general and found 2.5mg of Ritalin to be enough. If I took 5mg my pulse and BP would go up by more than I found comfortable. So since I only take 2.5 mg of Ritalin at a time I can not switch to a long acting one like Concerta as they do not come in doses that low.
I tend to be sensitive too so it is good to know about the very low doses of Ritalin.> My pdoc recommended trying the shortest acting versions of each stimulant to see which was the best, then moving if possible to a longer acting equivalent. While I like Ritalin the best, if I need energy I take Adderall instead -- so it's possible to end up finding that no one stimulant is 'best' in every regard.
Thanks, Kate. This was a big help.
-may-b
Posted by dave40252 on August 17, 2002, at 10:34:39
In reply to Re: ?? for Ritch, Katekite, Rainbowlight, pstim users » may-b, posted by Ritch on August 14, 2002, at 8:19:10
Well i just finished my first 5 days on ritalin and so far so good - i have a noticable improvement in the way i feel, motivation, ability to work, etc. little in the way of side effects, though i do feel kind of like crap for a while about 4:30-5 everyday when the second dose wears off. after a couple more weeks may ask about concerta if it is still going well. Anyone have any experience moving from ritalin to concerta?
Posted by katekite on August 17, 2002, at 15:52:55
In reply to Re: ?? for Ritch, Katekite, Rainbowlight, pstim users, posted by dave40252 on August 17, 2002, at 10:34:39
Posted by dave40252 on August 18, 2002, at 21:04:48
In reply to curious what your ritalin dose is? (nm) » dave40252, posted by katekite on August 17, 2002, at 15:52:55
hi, 20mg in the morning and 20 mg at noon. you think that may have something to do with the 4:30 feel like crap thing?
Posted by rainbowlight on August 19, 2002, at 21:47:36
In reply to ?? for Ritch, Katekite, Rainbowlight, pstim users, posted by may-b on August 13, 2002, at 12:23:32
I am currently taking Ritalin, 5 mgs. on an "as needed" basis. I am supposed to take it 3 times a day, but I can't tolerate it (too wired/anxious). I didn't like the Dexedrine spansules at all. They didn't help my focus at all and I had shortness of breath and chest tightness. The only pstim that seems to improve my focus is Ritalin. It seems, at least for me anyways, that the Aderall and Dexedrine both made me want to take a nap/sleepy. The Ritalin doesn't do that.
Posted by may-b on August 20, 2002, at 8:52:39
In reply to Re: ?? for Ritch, Katekite, Rainbowlight, pstim users, posted by rainbowlight on August 19, 2002, at 21:47:36
This is the end of the thread.
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