Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on April 16, 2006, at 15:40:40
Ugh. Even taking Dexedrine is not helping with getting me moving. I'm at the point where I am ready to stop meds again, because I just don't seem to be functioning very well.
For the record, I currently take Wellbutrin XL 300mg, Dexedrine 5mg bid, naproxen 220mg bid, and am ready to sleep half the day. And I'm sleeping pretty darn well at night, too. (And I am falling asleep about an hour and a half after taking the Dexedrine.)
The Wellbutrin doesn't alleviate my depression, but it does improve it. The Dexedrine does seem to help boost my mood a bit, and certainly reduces both anxiety and monkey brain. I can't tell if the naproxen is doing much -- still having a fair amount of joint pain.
I get into fidget fits, where I will sit with both legs going at once, just kinda bouncing in place. I also get a bit beyond my normal irritablity sometimes, although not to the point it frightens me. (I'm getting irritable about things I normally get irritated by, just more than I think is quite my normal level.) But if I try to get up and actually DO anything, I just get hit with a wave of malaise that slows me down to a crawl, and generally can't keep going. I'm also having trouble with feeling overfull after eating, often for hours. (As in eating a slice of pizza for lunch at 2PM, and still feeling uncomfortably full around 8PM.) I think the stomach thing is a big part of what's bothering me, really -- imagine trying to clean the bathroom right after a large meal? Doesn't sound so good to me...
And, there's just that plain old lethargy that I have gotten on pretty much all antidepressants. Maybe I just don't have the energy to be aware I'm depressed?
Can anyone offer any insight or advice? I've brought this up a little with my T and pdoc, which is largely why I'm trying the stimulants, but it's hard to get across just how distressing this really is. (And it's hard to get across that I'm not necessarily looking for the anorexic hyperactivity, too. If that's the only way I can get energy, I'm ready to go off meds and get back to it at this point. I hate this feeling of being half-awake.)
Thanks.
Posted by Phillipa on April 16, 2006, at 23:12:11
In reply to Still sluggish and unproductive -- anything help?, posted by Racer on April 16, 2006, at 15:40:40
Don't go there please Racer. Love Phillipa
Posted by blueberry on April 17, 2006, at 19:18:40
In reply to Still sluggish and unproductive -- anything help?, posted by Racer on April 16, 2006, at 15:40:40
So sorry Racer. I've thought about it and thought about it. Your situation is puzzling. I remember years ago when prozac and effexor combination worked good for you. I wish our brains would stop readjusting to whatever meds we use.
One thing came to mind though. Whenever I have really overdone it in the dopamine department, I have gotten sluggish and down. Whether it was with drugs, meds, or supplements. A little dopamine for me is good, but a lot does the opposite. Maybe there is just too much dopamine stuff going on.
By the same token, the same applies to norepinephrine. For me anyway. My theory is that when the brain is completely awash in dopamine and/or norepinephrine, the receptors just stop firing. There are a ton of neurotransmitters there, but no activity, no firing. The feedback loop says shut down.
Not sure where to go from here. I know it sounds weird, but I would actually consider reducing the doses slowly. And I know it sounds even weirder, but I might consider something that will block some receptors, like remeron or zyprexa. Yeah, I know they are sedating and gain weight, that's the last thing you want. But when things are working backwards, who knows. Block some receptors to interrupt the feedback loop maybe. Just a weird thought.
Posted by Racer on April 17, 2006, at 22:02:54
In reply to Re: Still sluggish and unproductive -- anything help? » Racer, posted by blueberry on April 17, 2006, at 19:18:40
Thanks, Blueberry. I just read something -- did you post the link to it? My memory is nearly gone these days -- about the possibility that the fatigue and amotivation from SSRIs being because they cause an imbalance in the various neurotransmitters. That would fit in with what you suggest about too much being not a good thing.
And I think, periodically, about trying another drug, something that might work better -- but then I get into a rut about weight gain (and other side effects, but I have to admit it's a toss up about which bothers me more: weight gain or sedation). I go through a circle of thinking: Sorry, I tried to write it and got so anxious I just can't do it. It's basically as simple as "I lack sanity on some subjects." I know that some of that is the depression itself. If I wasn't still mildly to moderately depressed, I might see a rosier view, but as it is, I look back on my days on ADs that "worked," and all I remember is being fat, constipated, anorgasmic, and half asleep. If I could remember it being better, in some way, maybe it would be different. {sigh}
And all of that was really just to tell you that I really don't think I could take zyprexa, because of the weight gain, and I had a very, very brief trial of Remeron some time ago, and it was pretty terrible. I got that rage thing going -- even had to tell my husband to keep himself and the cats AWAY from me, because I felt so out of control. I was afraid I would hurt one of them, because I really felt just crazy.
Thanks for your input, though. I guess we'll see what my pdoc says when I see her next...
Posted by Phillipa on April 18, 2006, at 0:25:17
In reply to GRRRRRRRR! » blueberry, posted by Racer on April 17, 2006, at 22:02:54
Racer sorry the last part made me laugh!!!!. Love phillipa
Posted by Paulbwell on April 18, 2006, at 20:29:49
In reply to Still sluggish and unproductive -- anything help?, posted by Racer on April 16, 2006, at 15:40:40
> Ugh. Even taking Dexedrine is not helping with getting me moving. I'm at the point where I am ready to stop meds again, because I just don't seem to be functioning very well.
>
> For the record, I currently take Wellbutrin XL 300mg, Dexedrine 5mg bid, naproxen 220mg bid, and am ready to sleep half the day. And I'm sleeping pretty darn well at night, too. (And I am falling asleep about an hour and a half after taking the Dexedrine.)
>
> The Wellbutrin doesn't alleviate my depression, but it does improve it. The Dexedrine does seem to help boost my mood a bit, and certainly reduces both anxiety and monkey brain. I can't tell if the naproxen is doing much -- still having a fair amount of joint pain.
>
> I get into fidget fits, where I will sit with both legs going at once, just kinda bouncing in place. I also get a bit beyond my normal irritablity sometimes, although not to the point it frightens me. (I'm getting irritable about things I normally get irritated by, just more than I think is quite my normal level.) But if I try to get up and actually DO anything, I just get hit with a wave of malaise that slows me down to a crawl, and generally can't keep going. I'm also having trouble with feeling overfull after eating, often for hours. (As in eating a slice of pizza for lunch at 2PM, and still feeling uncomfortably full around 8PM.) I think the stomach thing is a big part of what's bothering me, really -- imagine trying to clean the bathroom right after a large meal? Doesn't sound so good to me...
>
> And, there's just that plain old lethargy that I have gotten on pretty much all antidepressants. Maybe I just don't have the energy to be aware I'm depressed?
>
> Can anyone offer any insight or advice? I've brought this up a little with my T and pdoc, which is largely why I'm trying the stimulants, but it's hard to get across just how distressing this really is. (And it's hard to get across that I'm not necessarily looking for the anorexic hyperactivity, too. If that's the only way I can get energy, I'm ready to go off meds and get back to it at this point. I hate this feeling of being half-awake.)
>
> Thanks.
Hi ya!Sorry to hear yr not doing so well. I know what you nean about the ASD's (i'v been on 6 of em) maybe the 60's was REALLY better?
Dexamyl=15mgs Dexedrine+64mgs Amytal for stim+some sedation,
and there was no NO HASSLE in geting VERY effective sleep meds, nembutal, Seconal,Amytal, to end the day,. I often wonder if this is more effective than what alot of folks have to endure todays-(Antipsycotics, mild sleep aids!! mild@SE ridden AD's, for relief.
Cheers
Posted by KayeBaby on April 19, 2006, at 3:07:17
In reply to Still sluggish and unproductive -- anything help?, posted by Racer on April 16, 2006, at 15:40:40
Racer
Wellbutrin is one of the few AD's that help me.
I still take it from time to time.150 mg work well BUT 300 made me rather despondant. Too much Dex, I have found, does something similar. I just want to sit there and just cannot get myself in gear.
Did you take the Wellbutrin at 150 mgs for a time and how did it effect you at that level?
Meds seem to effect me differently from the norm.
It makes it so hard to figure out what will help.Luck to us all.
Kaye> Ugh. Even taking Dexedrine is not helping with getting me moving. I'm at the point where I am ready to stop meds again, because I just don't seem to be functioning very well.
>
> For the record, I currently take Wellbutrin XL 300mg, Dexedrine 5mg bid, naproxen 220mg bid, and am ready to sleep half the day. And I'm sleeping pretty darn well at night, too. (And I am falling asleep about an hour and a half after taking the Dexedrine.)
>
> The Wellbutrin doesn't alleviate my depression, but it does improve it. The Dexedrine does seem to help boost my mood a bit, and certainly reduces both anxiety and monkey brain. I can't tell if the naproxen is doing much -- still having a fair amount of joint pain.
>
> I get into fidget fits, where I will sit with both legs going at once, just kinda bouncing in place. I also get a bit beyond my normal irritablity sometimes, although not to the point it frightens me. (I'm getting irritable about things I normally get irritated by, just more than I think is quite my normal level.) But if I try to get up and actually DO anything, I just get hit with a wave of malaise that slows me down to a crawl, and generally can't keep going. I'm also having trouble with feeling overfull after eating, often for hours. (As in eating a slice of pizza for lunch at 2PM, and still feeling uncomfortably full around 8PM.) I think the stomach thing is a big part of what's bothering me, really -- imagine trying to clean the bathroom right after a large meal? Doesn't sound so good to me...
>
> And, there's just that plain old lethargy that I have gotten on pretty much all antidepressants. Maybe I just don't have the energy to be aware I'm depressed?
>
> Can anyone offer any insight or advice? I've brought this up a little with my T and pdoc, which is largely why I'm trying the stimulants, but it's hard to get across just how distressing this really is. (And it's hard to get across that I'm not necessarily looking for the anorexic hyperactivity, too. If that's the only way I can get energy, I'm ready to go off meds and get back to it at this point. I hate this feeling of being half-awake.)
>
> Thanks.
This is the end of the thread.
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