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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 utopizen on September 17, 2002, at 18:48:08
I feel like a zombie, and I have no idea why.
I take all these meds, and I end up talking like a zombie. Or in my more anxious states (ussually when I am stupid enough to convince myself to take Adderall for the day) I become an anxious zombie.
I have no variance in my voice, I talk like I'm half awake. I try really hard to help this, but it's hard to fake emotions you don't (can't) feel.
I feel a general malaise of boredom, detachment, depression-like feelings, often coupled with anxieties that are WORSE than when I started my treatment a year ago! Most of this can be blamed on Ritalin... I'm reluctant to blame Effexor for anything but feeling tired all day (I'm 3 weeks into 150 mg/day) and yet not being able to sleep until late at night.
Has anyone else been treated for anxiety, only to end up becoming more anxious from something (like Ritalin)?
I'm seeing my doctor in two weeks, and I'll ask him for some Dexedrine. You guys have been very supportive in helping me know which stims are better for anxiety... I just wish I saw my doctor sooner, so I could actually get some work done on Ritalin like I use to... I'm just too depressed on it these days to do that.
Posted by Ritch on September 18, 2002, at 0:15:54
In reply to Ritalin + Neurontin + Effexor XR = Zombie, posted by utopizen on September 17, 2002, at 18:48:08
> I feel like a zombie, and I have no idea why.
>
> I take all these meds, and I end up talking like a zombie. Or in my more anxious states (ussually when I am stupid enough to convince myself to take Adderall for the day) I become an anxious zombie.
>
> I have no variance in my voice, I talk like I'm half awake. I try really hard to help this, but it's hard to fake emotions you don't (can't) feel.
>
> I feel a general malaise of boredom, detachment, depression-like feelings, often coupled with anxieties that are WORSE than when I started my treatment a year ago! Most of this can be blamed on Ritalin... I'm reluctant to blame Effexor for anything but feeling tired all day (I'm 3 weeks into 150 mg/day) and yet not being able to sleep until late at night.
>
> Has anyone else been treated for anxiety, only to end up becoming more anxious from something (like Ritalin)?
>
> I'm seeing my doctor in two weeks, and I'll ask him for some Dexedrine. You guys have been very supportive in helping me know which stims are better for anxiety... I just wish I saw my doctor sooner, so I could actually get some work done on Ritalin like I use to... I'm just too depressed on it these days to do that.What doses (and when) are you taking of all your meds? That's important. You mentioned 150mg EffexorXR, though. Do you think you might really be bipolar instead of ADHD or have combined BP+ADHD? If it is combined, you might need to back off from your Effexor dosage quite a bit (that might also relieve some of the "zombie" feelings), and add on an effective antimanic agent such as Depakote or Tegretol (i.e.).
Mitch
Posted by utopizen on September 18, 2002, at 7:31:16
In reply to Re: Ritalin + Neurontin + Effexor XR = Zombie » utopizen, posted by Ritch on September 18, 2002, at 0:15:54
I wake up at 5am, take 1600mg of Neurontin and 150mg of Effexor. Then go back to sleep, and need it to work at 9am...I don't think the zombiness is coming from Effexor, it's really Neurontin. Problem is I have to choose between being a zombie or being anxious.
Ritalin is taken later in the day to study, since I've learned I turn into a complete dork in class if I take it for class. Now if I can only convince that girl I don't always talk like that...
I don't think I'm bipolar, since I've always had a very well-balanced mood... just naturally anxious though, especially around people. I actually have a pretty good mood I'm happy of, since I've never had depression.
> What doses (and when) are you taking of all your meds? That's important. You mentioned 150mg EffexorXR, though. Do you think you might really be bipolar instead of ADHD or have combined BP+ADHD? If it is combined, you might need to back off from your Effexor dosage quite a bit (that might also relieve some of the "zombie" feelings), and add on an effective antimanic agent such as Depakote or Tegretol (i.e.).
>
> Mitch
>
Posted by Ritch on September 18, 2002, at 9:47:38
In reply to Re: Ritalin + Neurontin + Effexor XR = Zombie, posted by utopizen on September 18, 2002, at 7:31:16
Whoa, 1600mg of N at 5? Yeah, I think I would be zombified, too. That stuff leaves your system really fast (half life 5-7 hrs). You might try 400mg 4x daily (or less-300mg 3x daily) and see how that goes-it might be a lot smoother.
>
> I wake up at 5am, take 1600mg of Neurontin and 150mg of Effexor. Then go back to sleep, and need it to work at 9am...
>
> I don't think the zombiness is coming from Effexor, it's really Neurontin. Problem is I have to choose between being a zombie or being anxious.
>
> Ritalin is taken later in the day to study, since I've learned I turn into a complete dork in class if I take it for class. Now if I can only convince that girl I don't always talk like that...
>
> I don't think I'm bipolar, since I've always had a very well-balanced mood... just naturally anxious though, especially around people. I actually have a pretty good mood I'm happy of, since I've never had depression.
>
>
> > What doses (and when) are you taking of all your meds? That's important. You mentioned 150mg EffexorXR, though. Do you think you might really be bipolar instead of ADHD or have combined BP+ADHD? If it is combined, you might need to back off from your Effexor dosage quite a bit (that might also relieve some of the "zombie" feelings), and add on an effective antimanic agent such as Depakote or Tegretol (i.e.).
> >
> > Mitch
> >
>
>
Posted by utopizen on September 18, 2002, at 10:17:41
In reply to Re: Ritalin + Neurontin + Effexor XR = Zombie » utopizen, posted by Ritch on September 18, 2002, at 9:47:38
I have a public speaking class in the morning at 9am, and this is the only "system" to lessen my anxieties fast enough, outside of waking myself up through the night multiple times...
If I took it when I went to sleep (at 1 or so) it would be out of my system before I left.I'd do the 4x routine if I didn't have anything in the morning...
> Whoa, 1600mg of N at 5? Yeah, I think I would be zombified, too. That stuff leaves your system really fast (half life 5-7 hrs). You might try 400mg 4x daily (or less-300mg 3x daily) and see how that goes-it might be a lot smoother.
>
> >
> > I wake up at 5am, take 1600mg of Neurontin and 150mg of Effexor. Then go back to sleep, and need it to work at 9am...
> >
> > I don't think the zombiness is coming from Effexor, it's really Neurontin. Problem is I have to choose between being a zombie or being anxious.
> >
> > Ritalin is taken later in the day to study, since I've learned I turn into a complete dork in class if I take it for class. Now if I can only convince that girl I don't always talk like that...
> >
> > I don't think I'm bipolar, since I've always had a very well-balanced mood... just naturally anxious though, especially around people. I actually have a pretty good mood I'm happy of, since I've never had depression.
> >
> >
> > > What doses (and when) are you taking of all your meds? That's important. You mentioned 150mg EffexorXR, though. Do you think you might really be bipolar instead of ADHD or have combined BP+ADHD? If it is combined, you might need to back off from your Effexor dosage quite a bit (that might also relieve some of the "zombie" feelings), and add on an effective antimanic agent such as Depakote or Tegretol (i.e.).
> > >
> > > Mitch
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
This is the end of the thread.
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