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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 Geno on July 17, 2004, at 6:34:48
Hi, i just wanted to state some things i researched about attention deficite Disorder and medications such as adderall or Ritalin.
I have an addiction problem, maily to opiates, which is under control. IM clean, although a few people still say im not clean because im taking adderall and klonopin, which both can be addictive.
When i used to stop using opiates, i couldnt and didnt have no drive to even get out of bed. Even after withdrawls, i still just moped around and felt crappy. Well, a few months ago is was diagnosed with ADD, along with depression and axiety. So now i take Adderall 40mg split 2x a day, Klonopin 1mg 3x daily , and up to about 1 week ago i was on lexapro 10mg. Well i decided to get off ssri's for a while so i tapered down to 5 mg for a week. After a few days, im feeling these electric shock sensations. I did read that this is from abropt withdrawl from ssris. Iv been taking 5htp and Same for depression.But the adderall and klonopin work very good. They both actually motivate me, i function pretty good, enjoy doing simple tasks and can concentrate.( For example, i never could sit at my computer for more than 1 hr. Now, there has been times i was sitting doing reseach for 6-8 hrs! And felt calm and focused.
I do beleive that everyones addictions are different. Just because one is "an addict" doesnt mean he will abuse every single drug. For me, its just strong opiates. If i stopped alll these meds, even if i got through the withdrawls, id be back to using or just doing nothing or not wanting to do anything at all.
Geno
Posted by SLS on July 17, 2004, at 7:04:30
In reply to ADD medications, posted by Geno on July 17, 2004, at 6:34:48
Geno, you are 100% right in everything you have said and in what you are doing. Keep doing it!
Stay well.
- Scott
Posted by Viridis on July 19, 2004, at 1:26:02
In reply to ADD medications, posted by Geno on July 17, 2004, at 6:34:48
Sounds great! Although people throw the term "addiction" around pretty loosely, I'm not aware of any data to show that Klonopin is addictive (I've taken it for years at the same dose). It ranks very low on the World Health Organization's list of drugs that are difficult to discontinue (the widely-prescribed antidepressants Paxil and Effexor are at the top). People say this with no evidence or understanding of addiction whatsoever, and from what I've experienced and heard from my pdoc, this is an extremely safe med. Of course, if you should choose to quit it you'll have to do so gradually, just as with many blood pressure meds etc.
I also take Adderall, and find that it goes very well with Klonopin. Again, I haven't had any problem with it, and can go on and off it whenever I choose with no withdrawal.
I wish that people (including doctors) would stop calling these meds "addictive" when they don't even understand the meaning of the term. These drugs can be extremely helpful, and even (or especially) for those with a history of substance abuse they can be life-savers.
This is the end of the thread.
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