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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by temoigneur on January 3, 2006, at 3:21:26
Hi, I see my pdoc tomorrow and am looking for a dopamine agonist without norepinephrine reuptake properties.. Dexedrine works extremely well for one day:( then rapidly poops out.. I was going to ask about wellbutrin but the NE properties cause too much anxiety.. is there a dopamine agonist void of NE reuptake properties that doesn't generally cause tolerance and is used succesfully in combination with antidepressants for apathy?
If Not, can anything be taken with a drug like wellbutrin to reduce or negate the NE reuptake property?
Thanks
Posted by Questionmark on January 3, 2006, at 7:52:30
In reply to Seeking Pure Dopamine agonist for apathy, posted by temoigneur on January 3, 2006, at 3:21:26
> Hi, I see my pdoc tomorrow and am looking for a dopamine agonist without norepinephrine reuptake properties.. Dexedrine works extremely well for one day:( then rapidly poops out.. I was going to ask about wellbutrin but the NE properties cause too much anxiety.. is there a dopamine agonist void of NE reuptake properties that doesn't generally cause tolerance and is used succesfully in combination with antidepressants for apathy?
>Amphetamines and other stimulants are not typically considered "DA agonists", just so you know-- though they do have direct and indirect DA agonist properties. They're usually just referred to as amphetamines, or CNS stimulants.
But if your problem is apathy, a true DA agonist should be quite helpful. A number of them exist, from the older ones like bromocriptine (Parlodel) to newer ones such as pramipexole (Mirapex) and ropinirole (Requip). You could also try amantadine or low-dose selegeline.
> If Not, can anything be taken with a drug like wellbutrin to reduce or negate the NE reuptake property?
Beta-blocker? Benzodiazepine? Alpha-2 agonist?
> ThanksSure thing.
Posted by med_empowered on January 3, 2006, at 8:17:44
In reply to Re: Seeking Pure Dopamine agonist for apathy, posted by Questionmark on January 3, 2006, at 7:52:30
apparently, some people have had success with Mirapex (used off-label for a variety of psychiatric ailments). I imagine this could also help you.
As for stimulants...I would think that Provigil or the amphetamines could be helfpul. If you're having a problem with amphetamine tolerance, you might want to talk to your doc **before** its RX'd and explain the situation..that will make adjusting the dosage much easier.
Posted by Jimmyboy on January 3, 2006, at 14:16:56
In reply to Re: Seeking Pure Dopamine agonist for apathy, posted by med_empowered on January 3, 2006, at 8:17:44
I am pretty sure I also have low dopamine problems, and I did not like Wellbutrin at all ( made me really anxious) , so several days ago I began taking low dose selegiline (5mg) in the morning with 500 mg Phenylalanine (amino acid supplement) and I have felt better than I ever have. Very alert, happy, motivated, but not too anxious.. Hopefully it will continue..
You might want to research that combo....
jim
Posted by Tom Twilight on January 3, 2006, at 17:00:54
In reply to Seeking Pure Dopamine agonist for apathy, posted by temoigneur on January 3, 2006, at 3:21:26
I'm suprised no one has yet mentioned Piribedil, although it is rather obscure I suppose...
Piribedil is an activating DA Agonist
Sadly its not available in America or the UK.
Its supposedly effective against cognative imparement.There are probably other ways to get it if you know what I mean.
Dopamine Agonists like Miripex look fine on paper, but often cause sedation in reality, for some reason
Posted by Phillipa on January 3, 2006, at 17:58:08
In reply to Re: Seeking Pure Dopamine-Piribedil?, posted by Tom Twilight on January 3, 2006, at 17:00:54
I need to google selegiline it is mentioned so often and I as well can't tolerate wellbutrin. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by theo on January 4, 2006, at 23:10:23
In reply to Seeking Pure Dopamine agonist for apathy, posted by temoigneur on January 3, 2006, at 3:21:26
Abilify helped for apathy and motivation.
Posted by DavidH44 on January 9, 2006, at 11:18:48
In reply to Re: Seeking Pure Dopamine agonist for apathy » temoigneur, posted by theo on January 4, 2006, at 23:10:23
I'm another low-dopamine guy (amphetamine was always my drug of choice in college). Amineptine (Survector -- no longer available) worked great when I was living outside the US.
When I returned to the US no one knew about Survector so I tried Wellbutrin since it was the only anti-depressant with a dopamine enhancer, and it was terrible for me: I had seriously uncontrollable episodes of rage that lasted for months even after I stopped taking the drug. Scared the hell out of me and my family.
I've tried a variety of things since then, and what seems to work best is something the docs say shouldn't work at all: a combination of low doses of zoloft and celexa, with amantadine (a dopamine enhancer prescribed for Parkinsons)
Good luck. Everyone's different.
This is the end of the thread.
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