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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SteveB on June 2, 2003, at 19:17:38
Dear fellow Psycho-Babblers,
I need some advice from all you well-informed people. Here's my problem - I'm in my late 30s and have suffered from ADD, depression and anxiety (SP in particular) since my teens. They are all intricately related and for years I've tried to figure out any cause & effect between the 3.
I originally though the problem stemmed from depression - i.e. I'm depressed, so I can't focus mentally and don't want to deal with people. So I tried the SSRI's (Proxac & Serzone), but they just made me feel spacey and unfocused. I also tried Wellbutrin, but the increased agitation was unbearable.
So I concluded that the root of the problem was my anxiety - I'm anxious, so can't relax and relate to people, so I get depressed. I tested the theory by taking Klono for several months, and while it did reduce the anxiety it did nothing for my mental acuity & sociability. I'd find myself more relaxed in a social setting, but also a lot less friendly. I essentailly became content but deadly boring.
I'm now convinced that my problem is actually ADD. I've always had huge issues with concentration and memory (word-retrieval in particular), so I simply don't trust myself in a social setting. Familiar words fail me mid-sentence and I frequently stumble over my words like a bumbling idiot. The result is that I've developed an unnatural fear of social situations and the lack of harmonious human interaction has made me anxious & depressed.
I guess what I'm asking is what medication is best suited for treating word-retrieval, mental focus & memory problems. I thought it was anxiety that prevented me from being relaxed and mentally sharp, but seemingly that's not it.
Are stims the way to go??? If so, which ones should I try??
Posted by Questionmark on June 3, 2003, at 3:33:51
In reply to Opinions, advice, help - Please !!!!!!!, posted by SteveB on June 2, 2003, at 19:17:38
Interesting. i've had the same exact thoughts on what my biggest problems are-- though not in that order. My advice would be to try a stim and see how it effects you. Don't just try it once though. You'll almost definitely get some positive effects initially. But also see how it effects you when it is wearing off-- maybe the worst disadvantage of stims.
Also think about Provigil. i think it may be pro-cognitive. And if you feel like dealing with all the extra shinanana, try Parnate. i am on it now and though i don't particularly like it, it's definitely got some significant procognitive effects (and unlike stims, these effects don't abate and even get worse upon coming down-- cuz there is no come-down w/ Parnate).
And although same kinda crap but less so comes with coffee (caffeine) as w/ stims, you might try its blessed benefits. It has wonderful procognitive effects-- oh blessed drug. And there's lots of natural shtuff you can try to help you: e.g., gingko, ginseng, rhodiola, NADH, DMAE (or somehting), gotu kola, vitamins minerals etc.
Good luck to you.
Posted by SteveB on June 4, 2003, at 12:32:20
In reply to Re: , posted by Questionmark on June 3, 2003, at 3:33:51
Hi Quentionmark,
Thanks for the reply. I've been back on Wellbutrin for the past 2 days and feel a little more with it, but the anxiety that comes with it is hardly worth the increased mental acuity. So I'll drop by the ol' pdoc this week and talk him into letting me give stims a go.
I've tried dexedrine as a recreational drug in my college days and found it highly effective, but very "chemical" and short-lived. Eight hours after popping the dex I'd crash in a heap. So I'd hardly consider it for sustained ADD/anxiety treatment.
If I go on stims I'd ideally want one that fairly mild (I'm very sensitive to meds) and with a long half-life so I won't be wolfing down pills several times a day. Any suggestions?? What's Provigil's profile in terms of potency & duration?? Also, someone on the board mentioned Demoline - have you or anyone else tried it??
Thanks for your inputs guys & gals!
This is the end of the thread.
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