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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 Hanna on July 1, 2004, at 9:53:24
Hello,
Has anyone out there with anxiety symptoms had success feeling *calmer* on stimulant meds (like Ritalin, Adderall, etc.)? Has anyone felt that a lower dose made you jittery but a higher dose helped you calm down?I have anxiety (OCD-type rumination, general anxiety symptoms). I was diagnosed at age 4 (25 years ago) and have tried many, many meds and therapies. Effexor controls my depression and helps my anxiety, and Klonopin helps me sleep, but no med has really every addressed my anxiety symptoms truly successfully. Lately, my doc has been wondering whether much of my anxiety is caused by ADD symptoms--like, perhaps my strict routines and obsessing are a way that I am anxiously structuring my thoughts because ADD is the real culprit. So... I am trying stimulant meds.
Yesterday, 5 mg of Ritalin made me very focused but I felt keyed up and had trouble taking a deep breath. I often have those physical anxiety symptoms, though, so I am not sure they were caused by the meds. I didn't sleep well last night, either. I am wondering if I should maybe try going up to 10mg... or if these are signs that I should give up all together.
Any experiences out there?
Thanks!
Hanna
Posted by Racer on July 1, 2004, at 18:51:36
In reply to Anyone feel *calmer* on stimulant meds?, posted by Hanna on July 1, 2004, at 9:53:24
Provigil reduced my anxiety to a manageable level. It's different from the Big Boys of stimulants, and I've never been on any of them. I also don't have any dx re: anxiety; just MDD with some anxiety attached.
With Provigil, I've found that taking higher doses always leaves me draggy and restless, but taking a lower dose helps me stay alert, focus more, etc. All the good stuff. (Then again, it's a stim and it sedates me, so I'm probably not the best model for anyone else, right?)
Have you talked to your doc about trying something like Strattera? It might help with both the depression and the anxiety, both, which might be a real bonus.
Best luck to you.
Posted by utopizen on July 1, 2004, at 19:10:26
In reply to Anyone feel *calmer* on stimulant meds?, posted by Hanna on July 1, 2004, at 9:53:24
With a high enough dose of Klonopin, your neurotransmitters can't move fast enough to have anxiety.
What doses of Klonopin have you tried? They come in 2mg pills, and some need as much as 16mg a day. I hope you've given the higher doses a shot.
This is the end of the thread.
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