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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 sometimesblue on August 10, 2007, at 10:56:09
I find that if i take a dose of an ephedra based stimulant, such as those found in certain diet/energy pills, they provide me with the focus and energy I need to get through my day. The only problem is that if the dose is too high it aggrivates my anxiety.
Is anyone else done this, familiar with this, or have any theories as to why this could work?
Posted by d0pamine on August 10, 2007, at 14:21:49
In reply to Ephedra/Ephedrine...any one ever used them?, posted by sometimesblue on August 10, 2007, at 10:56:09
> I find that if i take a dose of an ephedra based stimulant, such as those found in certain diet/energy pills, they provide me with the focus and energy I need to get through my day. The only problem is that if the dose is too high it aggrivates my anxiety.
>
> Is anyone else done this, familiar with this, or have any theories as to why this could work?When I started college I had never heard of ADD or ADHD or the stims used to treat the conditions, (yes I was sheltered) but somehow I stumbled on the same thing you've figured out, and I'm really not sure how I would have graduated without it.
This is not an endorsement of doing such a thing as I've never researched it and am not aware of the health effects.
I can tell you also that when I got older and was having the same trouble in my programming career, my doctor had this bottle of neat pills called Adderall and they did the same thing, only much better. I took them for over 6 years and admittedly got a lot of work done. but when all was said and done I'm really not sure I"m the same person that I was when I started. If I had it to do over I would have researched non-stimulant solutions. Incidentally when I quit adderall I started emsam and while it doesn't have the same WOOHOO!!!! type effect I am able to get my work done. Who knows, in six years I may say I wish I'd never heard of EMSAM too. Best of luck and be careful these meds are very deceptive and nothing is free.
Posted by Glydin on August 10, 2007, at 15:52:04
In reply to Ephedra/Ephedrine...any one ever used them?, posted by sometimesblue on August 10, 2007, at 10:56:09
> I find that if i take a dose of an ephedra based stimulant, such as those found in certain diet/energy pills, they provide me with the focus and energy I need to get through my day. The only problem is that if the dose is too high it aggrivates my anxiety.
>
> Is anyone else done this, familiar with this, or have any theories as to why this could work?
>
>~~~ I think having stimulating properties is the quick and dirty answer as the why stims work.
Mild stims work well for me, in the beginning or with infrequent use, to do what needs to be done AND do it with the attention those tasks require. The downside for me is tolerance develops pretty quickly... particularly with caffiene. The same dose that once would have me thinking I could cut a yard of grass with dull scissors and have all the blades the same height, well, a few weeks later, it would take much more to think of being successful at such an endeavor... (slight humor there but I hope you understand my point).
And yes, there can be, for me, a very fine line between what feels great for energy/focus/drive/motivation and wretched for toxic anxiety symptoms.
Posted by JohnnyBLinux on August 11, 2007, at 0:26:47
In reply to Re: Ephedra/Ephedrine...any one ever used them? » sometimesblue, posted by Glydin on August 10, 2007, at 15:52:04
Ephedrine, as far I'm aware, is chiefly a cardiovascular stimulant; it causes bronchial constriction as well which is useful for asthma sufferers. I have used ephedrine in the past to get a temporary boost of energy. Amphetamines are derived from ephedrine. Please correct me if I'm wrong...
Posted by Maxime on August 11, 2007, at 21:37:35
In reply to Ephedra/Ephedrine...any one ever used them?, posted by sometimesblue on August 10, 2007, at 10:56:09
I suffered a mild heat attack from abusing ephedra but I still use it. I have an eating disorder.
It's effecting the norepinephrine receptors in your brain, thus the energy.
Be careful.
Maxime
Posted by SometimesBlue on August 13, 2007, at 9:47:51
In reply to Re: Ephedra/Ephedrine...any one ever used them? » sometimesblue, posted by Maxime on August 11, 2007, at 21:37:35
Thank you all for your input, it's greatly appreciated.
So here's another question...do you think I should explain this [situation] to my doctor and see if there are any alternatives? What can i suggest?
Posted by Maxime on August 19, 2007, at 16:43:29
In reply to So, here's another question...., posted by SometimesBlue on August 13, 2007, at 9:47:51
> Thank you all for your input, it's greatly appreciated.
>
> So here's another question...do you think I should explain this [situation] to my doctor and see if there are any alternatives? What can i suggest?You need to find out why you have no energy to begin with is it:
depression
hypothyroidism
lack of nutrutionIf it's depression, there are stimulation ADs out there. If it's hypothyroidism, then you need thyroid medication. If it's a nutritional problem, then you will have to take care of it.
I think you should tell your Dr. about your symptoms and how ephedra helped. But just because the ephedra helped, it doesn't mean you need a stimulant.
Talk to your doctor. :)
Maxime
Posted by SometimesBlue on August 21, 2007, at 9:32:17
In reply to Re: So, here's another question.... » SometimesBlue, posted by Maxime on August 19, 2007, at 16:43:29
I've been doing research into Atypical Depression and Meloncholical Depression...and I think I have Atypical Depression, as far as I can tell. Fatigue and eating more, compared to not eating and insomnia.
I have also been taking notes on how I feel on different days...someone online suggested this so I can talk to my Dr about EVERYTHING, and not leave something important out. And also my imput, based partly on the advise I get from you all on Psycho Babble.
Thanks :)
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