Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by psychobot5000 on May 26, 2007, at 14:36:32
Hi there,
Looked at the profiles for the alpha 2 adrenergic agonists clonidine and guanfacine, and thought they might be useful for concentration problems and other issues. Specifically, I'm wondering whether they might be used at the same time as an MAO inhibitor (of course the labeling would say not to, but I don't consider that the end of the story). Anyone heard of clonidine or guanfacine are ever combined with an MAOi in practice? Better yet, anyone know any studies examining the safety of combining these meds with MAO inhibitors?
Such a combination seems to me as though it might be useful for depression, social phobia, or ADHD type symptoms.
Thanks for any replies, of course.
Best,
Psychbot
Posted by kaleidoscope on May 26, 2007, at 16:29:13
In reply to Clonidine or Guanfacine with MAOis, posted by psychobot5000 on May 26, 2007, at 14:36:32
Hi
Clonidine is generally quite sedating. It has been used in children to control overactivity and impulsive aggression - I wouldn't expect it to improve concentration but I could be wrong.
Guanfacine supposedly has less side effects.
K
Posted by F00TBALL on May 26, 2007, at 23:36:53
In reply to Clonidine or Guanfacine with MAOis, posted by psychobot5000 on May 26, 2007, at 14:36:32
Have you considered Provigil?
Posted by psychobot5000 on May 26, 2007, at 23:53:35
In reply to Re: Clonidine or Guanfacine with MAOis, posted by F00TBALL on May 26, 2007, at 23:36:53
> Have you considered Provigil?
Good thought. I have taken it, though, and unfortunately didn't find it useful for concentration issues at all. Made me a little anxious and wired, mostly. Good idea, though. I understand a lot of MAOi-using docs like to combine them with provigil, probably because it's the only stimulant-like med out there that doesn't seem to affect blood-pressure much.
My impression, though, is that studies on it concerning ADD benefits have mostly failed.
Posted by psychobot5000 on May 26, 2007, at 23:58:41
In reply to Re: Clonidine or Guanfacine with MAOis » psychobot5000, posted by kaleidoscope on May 26, 2007, at 16:29:13
> Hi
>
> Clonidine is generally quite sedating. It has been used in children to control overactivity and impulsive aggression - I wouldn't expect it to improve concentration but I could be wrong.
>Jury's still out on that one. Apparently the alpha 2 agonism is relevant to certain aspects of attention. But they can apparently be sedating, too, as one would expect from such vascular medications.
Guanfacine, the purer alpha2 agonist (clonidine seems to cause unnecessary sedation through alpha 1 blocking), seems likely to be approved in an extended release form for ADD, presumably because of this action on attention (see Connexyn).
Best,
Psychbot
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