![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 rustynail on June 1, 2006, at 6:14:34
This is my first post here.
For the last four weeks been on 10mgs of Selegiline. I have tried just about everything and generally go to the doctor and convince him that this or that medication is worth a try. Mostly I get what I want, which may be good or may be bad, but thats the risk I take. Before Selegiline I was desperate and convince him for a script of Parnate only to find out at the last minute that its an unknown with asthma( of which sometimes is great and sometimes is really bad) So ditched the Parnate and ended up with Selegiline. Before all this my most recent venture was into Zyprexa, scribed by pdoc. 2 months later on 10 mgs was a total suicidal zombie and nearly lost my job as I spent my days trying to work out what it was I was actually doing. Before zyprexa 6 months on Endep which eventually made me brain dead and craving alcohol to the point of drinking a bottle a night. Before that was on edronax (6 months) but the side effects were to much to bear. All of these did little to assist with the constant nagging depression/mania/concentration/motivation issues that I have had all my life. Prior to the Edronax I tried ssri/snri/lithium and they did no good. This is over a 15 year period.The usual scenario is I go into the agreement of a new med without expectation, then find there is some sort of change after a few weeks followed by stability for a week or so then crash back to where I was before. So as you can imagine this life cycle has been really frustrating and at times when I have had total despair I have admitted myself into hostpital to stop me doing stupid things like driving my car into a wall or jumping off a height. Anyway thats a bit of background. I have been diagnosed with depression, bipolar type 1 and 11. Some doctors have said that i cant be treated while others are to quick to make an assesment. I believe I have adult ADD and untreated for all these years has lead me to this place I am in today. I have tried dex amphetamine for a few weeks and by far this was the best thing for me that I have ever tried. Though I got it illegally and can not find a doctor that will prescribe it.Ok to my question. Selegiline has proven so far to be kind of the answer. It has definately pulled me out of my depression after the first 2 weeks.though the first 2 weeks i was vomitting hard in the mornings upon waking but I generally do this on meds anyway so I just rode it out. That has subsided somewhat. My concentration has improved beyond my wildest dreams and motivation is getting better everyday.I feel more in control and stable than I have ever felt. There are no side effects to note except in the initial ability to get an erection. Once stimulated though there is no problems.( maybe I am just getting older).
Ok so I have suffered from anxiety constantly all my life and have developed techniques to keep it under control. However with Selegiline I feel there is an underlying anxiety that is there and would like to take something to smooth it out.I like the energy levels and all the benefits of this drug and if there was something (not benzodiazapam) that would do the trick that would be swell. Any suggestions? The interesting thing for me is I had no anxiety on the dexamphetamine. I think if I could get that I would be good but it is really really hard..
Posted by Larry Hoover on June 1, 2006, at 6:29:53
In reply to Selegiline and anxiety, posted by rustynail on June 1, 2006, at 6:14:34
> I believe I have adult ADD and untreated for all these years has lead me to this place I am in today.
Have you run through the Amen clinic checklist? It differentiates different types of ADD, and makes specific recommendations therefrom.
http://www.amenclinic.com/ac/tests/add_test1.php
I'm suggesting this, because addressing your concerns might be easier with a more restricted focus on what specifically challenges you the most.
Lar
Posted by rustynail on June 1, 2006, at 7:47:36
In reply to Re: Selegiline and anxiety » rustynail, posted by Larry Hoover on June 1, 2006, at 6:29:53
> > I believe I have adult ADD and untreated for all these years has lead me to this place I am in today.
>
> Have you run through the Amen clinic checklist? It differentiates different types of ADD, and makes specific recommendations therefrom.
>
> http://www.amenclinic.com/ac/tests/add_test1.php
>
> I'm suggesting this, because addressing your concerns might be easier with a more restricted focus on what specifically challenges you the most.
>
> LarThanks for your suggestion
here is the results
ADD Combined Type
Not Probable more infoADD Inattentive Type
Highly Probable more infoCingulate System Hyperactivity
Highly Probable more infoLimbic System Hyperactivity
Highly Probable more infoBasal Ganglia Hyperactivity
Highly Probable more infoTemporal Lobe System
May be possible more infoI amswered the questions honestly and it seems as usual there is conflicts..
Posted by Larry Hoover on June 1, 2006, at 8:52:42
In reply to Re: Selegiline and anxiety, posted by rustynail on June 1, 2006, at 7:47:36
> > http://www.amenclinic.com/ac/tests/add_test1.php
> >
> > I'm suggesting this, because addressing your concerns might be easier with a more restricted focus on what specifically challenges you the most.
> >
> > Lar
>
> Thanks for your suggestion:-)
>
> here is the results
>
> ADD Combined Type
> Not Probable more info
>
> ADD Inattentive Type
> Highly Probable more info
>
> Cingulate System Hyperactivity
> Highly Probable more info
>
> Limbic System Hyperactivity
> Highly Probable more info
>
> Basal Ganglia Hyperactivity
> Highly Probable more info
>
> Temporal Lobe System
> May be possible more info
>
> I amswered the questions honestly and it seems as usual there is conflicts..So, click on the more info link, for each one, and it will give you some ideas. Think about them a bit. What do you learn?
Lar
Posted by cecilia on June 1, 2006, at 8:59:35
In reply to Re: Selegiline and anxiety » rustynail, posted by Larry Hoover on June 1, 2006, at 8:52:42
Amazing-I took the test and it said it was unlikely I had ADD! I thought the Amen clinic diagnosed EVERYONE with some type of ADD. Cecilia
Posted by cecilia on June 1, 2006, at 9:08:06
In reply to Re: Selegiline and anxiety, posted by cecilia on June 1, 2006, at 8:59:35
(Not that I thought I had ADD, it's just that I skimmed through Amen's book once and it seemed like everything-anxiety, depression etc was some kind of ADD in his viewpoint.) Cecilia
Posted by Larry Hoover on June 1, 2006, at 9:20:17
In reply to Re: Selegiline and anxiety » rustynail, posted by Larry Hoover on June 1, 2006, at 8:52:42
> So, click on the more info link, for each one, and it will give you some ideas. Think about them a bit. What do you learn?
>
> LarUhhh, click on the "high probability" links, is what I meant. You may find something that just lights up your lightbulb.
Lar
Posted by nickguy on June 1, 2006, at 12:57:50
In reply to Selegiline and anxiety, posted by rustynail on June 1, 2006, at 6:14:34
rusty nail,
I have some social anxiety and depression, and I thought it was interesting you mentioned that amphetamine helped. When I took one of my friends time released adderall, I felt much less anxiety throughout the entire day. I felt more confident and felt much more energy. It was very nice.
Posted by Phillipa on June 1, 2006, at 13:16:49
In reply to Re: Selegiline and anxiety, posted by nickguy on June 1, 2006, at 12:57:50
That's how I felt when I took percocet for the first time only at night for the pain from a broken elbow what does it mean? Love Phillipa
Posted by nickguy on June 1, 2006, at 13:27:04
In reply to Re: Selegiline and anxiety » nickguy, posted by Phillipa on June 1, 2006, at 13:16:49
well, probably that adderall is speed and makes everybody feel good. But it's interesting that it lowered my anxiety.
as for percocet, it's as much a street drug as a pharmaceutical drug. People take it to feel high and relaxed.
Posted by rustynail on June 1, 2006, at 20:46:06
In reply to Re: Selegiline and anxiety » rustynail, posted by Larry Hoover on June 1, 2006, at 6:29:53
I don't really know how it works for anxiety. I only get anxiety towards the late part of the day. I guess when the drug is starting to wear off. I take the 10 MG at 7am in the morning and it is usually good till about 4 in the afternoon. If I take it later than 7am insomnia is an issue and I will not sleep till 1 or 2 in the morning. I went for the Selegiline because of the methampthetamine metabolism and it did exactly what I expected from it. The first part of the day when the drug is "peaking" the is no anxiety.I am pretty sensitive to interactions.
The amen clinic assessmnet just confuses me as you can see my results suggest conflicting information and different therapy and remedies for each condition. So is it possible to suffer from all of these conditions at once and if this is the case then that explains why no one has given a proper or adequate diagnosis? This is why I just keep doing trial and error and really thats all the docs do anyway.
However short of screaming at the docs to give me adderal or dexies( which in all honesty makes me look or appear to be a desperate druggie) This Selegiline may be a solution. Still need to smooth out the afternoon anxiety though Clonazepam?
Posted by ramsea on June 4, 2006, at 23:31:16
In reply to Re: Selegiline and anxiety, posted by rustynail on June 1, 2006, at 20:46:06
rustynail, i don't really have any insight into your condition but i just wanted to say you're not alone. i once tried seleginine and was also amazed--it cleared up my foggy head, helped inattention, depression and anxiety. it totally amazed me.
it did this for a couple of years, working more confidently than ever at my job, and then i tried prozac which seemed cheaper and easier to get, and which did inititially help. But then due to being bipolar somehow took me too far to mania and i had a severe breakdown requiring 3 months IP.
After that i was off seleginine for a long time. And when i tried it again it was effective but not quite so amazing. maybe due to other meds in my system.
so i am not really able to take it now, but my ADD-like symptoms were so surprisingly helped at first, just as you described.
as for getting an ADD diagnosis--as an adult it is still very hard to get this, as you have found out. my pdoc lumped the ADD symptoms into the bipolar 1.
still, i have been really helped by reading and following the tips for dealing with ADD, in several self-help/info ADD books for adults. even if the med is maybe the missing link to recovery, numerous tips help me to organize and get things done. Following a program also makes sense of past experience, so for me it helps to "own" the ADD regardless of what the pdocs etc say about it. some improvement beats none at all, in most cases--in mine anyway. ///ramsea
Posted by rustynail on June 9, 2006, at 7:07:23
In reply to Re: Selegiline and anxiety, posted by ramsea on June 4, 2006, at 23:31:16
Ramsea,
thanks for your input. generally I have learned to deal with the depression, which I think is a result of the inattention. Currently I am working in finance and lately may days have been analylising balance sheets for companies and all I can say if it wasn't for Selegiline I would not be able to do what I need to do every day. So until things change i am going to keep going. i found that i dropped the dose and the anxiety went away. healthy eating with low fat and as close to fresh food is defiantley a way to go but I have done this for years. I guess as adults we all learn to deal with our condition in our own ways. Take care...
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.