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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TommyIsland on August 3, 2005, at 1:10:26
Simple question: Has anybody had any success adding a Dopamine Agonist into their line of meds? I've been taking Effexor XR 150MG for like 5 years now and the more I research on the net it seems the more info I find that leads me to believe I have a very low level of Dopamine. I'm always tired, very very low energy levels, simple things seem overbearing to accomplish, my pain threshold level is very low, etc. I was taking Geodon for a couple of weeks and my energy was through the roof until I got up to 40MG a day and then I seemed to start getting auditory hallucinations.......strange. I stopped taking the meds and everything went back to normal and my new found energy was also gone with it.
Tommy!!!!!!!!
Posted by med_empowered on August 3, 2005, at 1:51:55
In reply to Adding A Dopamine Agonist to an SNRI, posted by TommyIsland on August 3, 2005, at 1:10:26
hey. I've tried stimulants (adderall, ritalin) in addition to SNRIs such as Cymbalta. It works reasonably well. Low-dose antipsychotics (Abilify for me) helped as well, but only for a short period and had some undesirable side effects. If you raise the Effexor high enough, you will probably get some dopamine action...I think the usual max is around 375, although you can go up to 600 for severe, treatment-resistant depression. On the other hand..this approach carries all kind of problems with it, and may or may not work. Based on my own experiences, I think that if your side effects from Effexor are minimal, you can probably add low-dose ritalin or adderall (if the dose gets too high you'll get the "crash" effect and you'll get all the usual amephetamine side-effects with minimal benefit) and do pretty well. Some people swear by the new anti-parkinson's and anti-alzheimer's drugs, like mirapex and exelon. I haven't tried Provigil myself, but it certainly seems that it would also be worth trying.
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on August 3, 2005, at 8:05:06
In reply to Adding A Dopamine Agonist to an SNRI, posted by TommyIsland on August 3, 2005, at 1:10:26
I was wondering what are the symptoms of low levels of dopamine?
I also have no energy/etc and I thought that this is more of a noradrenaline/norepinephrine issue. So currently I'm taking an NARI. I've also been on effexor, but I can't really remember how it compares to the NARI (reboxetine) because my circumstances are different now. Plus I don't know how much of it is 'learned' if you like. Like you get into a cycle of no energy etc etc.
Posted by TommyIsland on August 3, 2005, at 18:04:23
In reply to Adding A Dopamine Agonist to an SNRI, posted by TommyIsland on August 3, 2005, at 1:10:26
My Doc just switched me today to Cybalta......well I have to overlap it along with the Effexor Xr until I can wean off of the Effexor. I definitely told him I want to add something for the Dopamine eventually. Possible Ritalin would do the trick. I'm just so sick of having no energy and feeling like everything is some huge over the top impossible chore to do.
Tommy!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by paulbwell on August 9, 2005, at 20:31:21
In reply to Re: Adding A Dopamine Agonist to an SNRI, posted by TommyIsland on August 3, 2005, at 18:04:23
> My Doc just switched me today to Cybalta......well I have to overlap it along with the Effexor Xr until I can wean off of the Effexor. I definitely told him I want to add something for the Dopamine eventually. Possible Ritalin would do the trick. I'm just so sick of having no energy and feeling like everything is some huge over the top impossible chore to do.
>
> Tommy!!!!!!!!!!Hi,
I was given Imipramine for swcond line ADD treatment. I remember it activating and warming the middle of my brain and causing increased hunger, and sedation. Bringing back the Ritalin IR 10mg tabs, quickly turned on the frontal cortex (yes i could feel it)and produced a fullfiling feeling, where before i was looking for "something" to do this, Booze, Cigarettes, i have taken ritalin IR for 1 and @ years and althought the dose has risen, it still helps alot, I have read dexedrine and Adderall are somewhat more effective in adults, so we'll see.
Good luck
Posted by ed_uk on August 10, 2005, at 14:27:12
In reply to Re: Adding A Dopamine Agonist to an SNRI, posted by paulbwell on August 9, 2005, at 20:31:21
Hi P!
Ever tried desipramine? It's a lot more suitable for ADD than imipramine.
~Ed
Posted by Paulbwell on August 11, 2005, at 0:20:07
In reply to Re: Adding A Dopamine Agonist to an SNRI » paulbwell, posted by ed_uk on August 10, 2005, at 14:27:12
> Hi P!
>
> Ever tried desipramine? It's a lot more suitable for ADD than imipramine.
>
> ~EdNo i havn't tried pertofran (desipramine)but Imipramine is partly metabilised to it. However unfortunately I have been turned onto stimulants and i feel there may be no going back-they are just so life affirming and alerting, my Doc is going to put me on Concerta or maybe Dex. When your brain has been turned onto stimulants, it knows the score and kicks stink when there not there. Damn Dopamine releasers, the brain never forgets.
I was taken off Ritalin and was a mess.
Cheers
Posted by ed_uk on August 11, 2005, at 15:07:37
In reply to Re: Adding A Dopamine Agonist to an SNRI » ed_uk, posted by Paulbwell on August 11, 2005, at 0:20:07
Hi P!
>Imipramine is partly metabilised to it......
True but it's really quite different to imipramine - you should try it!
~Ed
Posted by Paulbwell on August 11, 2005, at 16:33:57
In reply to Re: Adding A Dopamine Agonist to an SNRI » Paulbwell, posted by ed_uk on August 11, 2005, at 15:07:37
> Hi P!
>
> >Imipramine is partly metabilised to it......
>
> True but it's really quite different to imipramine - you should try it!
>
> ~EdThanks Ed,
I may, but it's Stimulants and benzos at the moment, tried Imipramine for a while for 2nd line ADD/HD treatment (Doc hoping he wouldn't have to write for a class B med)but it was a disaster. Give me stimulants anyday, hoping to try Dexamphetamine 5mg IR as apparently it lasts longer and Amphetamines are (from what i'v read) often better for adults. Ritalin is VERY effective for hyperactivaty, but perhaps less so for the wide range of ails Dex can deal to.
Ritalin often causes some anti-social effects-demonstrated in animal tests also- while Dex and Amphetamine has repeated, shown, prosocial effects, i could do with a few more friends, and after 18 months on Ritalin and last month scripted 80mgs daily, perhaps i'v warranted a trial of another med.
Cheers
Posted by ed_uk on August 11, 2005, at 16:52:37
In reply to Re: Adding A Dopamine Agonist to an SNRI, posted by Paulbwell on August 11, 2005, at 16:33:57
Hi P,
I hope you get to try Dex :-)
~Ed
Posted by Paulbwell on August 11, 2005, at 20:18:16
In reply to Re: Adding A Dopamine Agonist to an SNRI » Paulbwell, posted by ed_uk on August 11, 2005, at 16:52:37
> Hi P,
>
> I hope you get to try Dex :-)
>
> ~EdYer maybe, or i should just dump the damn Pharmaceuticals, and take high dose fish oil and other suppliments, Depression will surely follow, as it did for near 2 weeks when i last ran outa Ritalin, and it was near 3 weeks before my Dopaminergic system came round. Man that was some tought time.
Cheers
Posted by ed_uk on August 12, 2005, at 1:26:41
In reply to Ed UK, posted by Paulbwell on August 11, 2005, at 20:18:16
Hi P,
The withdrawal is harsh - but you did recover :-)
~Ed
Posted by Paulbwell on August 12, 2005, at 1:45:10
In reply to Re: Ed UK » Paulbwell, posted by ed_uk on August 12, 2005, at 1:26:41
> Hi P,
>
> The withdrawal is harsh - but you did recover :-)
>
> ~EdYes thanks to my usual sh*t view of like (off alcohol @meds) and gallons of Coffee and Nicotine. I prefer to live under the influence of stims and benzos@ booze now and then, dull or stimulate my brain as the situation sees fit. Life is easier to handle under the influence of uppers and downers.
Cheers
This is the end of the thread.
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