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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 22 of 22. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SteelyDan on January 17, 2008, at 19:06:37
My Pdoc started me on low dose (5 mgs. a day) of ritalin for my TR depression..he said after 2 weeks to ramp up to 10 mgs. I'm also on 90 mgs. of remeron and 300 mgs. of Effexor. Man, i hope this helps, is it possible to get a good result from such a low dose? This is my first time on a stimulant.
Posted by linkadge on January 17, 2008, at 23:01:25
In reply to Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression, posted by SteelyDan on January 17, 2008, at 19:06:37
Wow, thats california rocket fuel with a punch.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on January 17, 2008, at 23:42:54
In reply to Re: Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression, posted by linkadge on January 17, 2008, at 23:01:25
Dan keep us posted. Phillipa
Posted by tensor on January 18, 2008, at 4:29:30
In reply to Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression, posted by SteelyDan on January 17, 2008, at 19:06:37
Interesting, I'm thinking of Remeron + stim(modafinil or Concerta) also for TRD. I recently got a prescription for T3, it will take a few days though because the pharmacy had to order it, will probably arrive next week. Hope it will work.
/Mattias
Posted by Racer on January 18, 2008, at 10:43:12
In reply to Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression, posted by SteelyDan on January 17, 2008, at 19:06:37
> is it possible to get a good result from such a low dose? This is my first time on a stimulant.
It's very possible -- first of all, everyone's different and so many things are possible. Secondly, that worked for me... :-D
I should say that it helped me a lot. I went from marginal to functional with the addition of methylphenidate. I started out with half a 5mg pill, then 5mg, then 10mg. 10mg -- 5mg at breakfast and another 5mg at noon -- seemed the best choice for me for a very long time. I finally switched to Concerta -- long action form of methylphenidate -- and went up a bit on dose, but the 10mgs of Ritalin was enough to keep me functional for about two years, I think.
I can't tell when the stimulant kicks in -- there's no feeling of speediness, nothing saying, "Wow, you just took a stimulant!" -- and that seems to be the trick for me with dosage. If I can feel the medication start acting, I'm taking too much. (That is, when I first started, I could really feel it -- once I was adjusted and had found a stable dose, I couldn't feel it start working.) What I can tell, though, is that if I stop taking it for some reason, I'm more depressed, and more anxious. Some may be discontinuation, but I think more is simply that the drug does a job for me, and that job isn't getting done otherwise.
Good luck with it. I'm restarting Concerta next week, and looking forward to it!
Posted by SteelyDan on January 18, 2008, at 13:46:27
In reply to Re: Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression, posted by linkadge on January 17, 2008, at 23:01:25
> Wow, thats california rocket fuel with a punch.
>
> LinkadgeYea, i know that's what they call it, but it sure ain't working well for me. Hopefully the ritalin will help.
Dan
Posted by linkadge on January 18, 2008, at 22:25:09
In reply to Re: Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression » linkadge, posted by SteelyDan on January 18, 2008, at 13:46:27
You may also want to keep an eye on cardiac function. Remeron and methyphenidate with increase norepinephrine release, and methyphendiate and effexor will prevent its reuptake. You could have an unwanted increase in BP.
Linkadge
Posted by tensor on January 19, 2008, at 4:13:19
In reply to Re: Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression, posted by linkadge on January 18, 2008, at 22:25:09
> You could have an unwanted increase in BP.
..and heart beat; tachycardia and palpitations. Propranolol will counter-effect this. A beta blocker AKA Inderal, it's dirt cheap and effective.
/Mattias
Posted by SLS on January 19, 2008, at 5:23:14
In reply to Re: Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression » linkadge, posted by tensor on January 19, 2008, at 4:13:19
> > You could have an unwanted increase in BP.
>
> ..and heart beat; tachycardia and palpitations. Propranolol will counter-effect this. A beta blocker AKA Inderal, it's dirt cheap and effective.
>
> /Mattias
I would stay away from propranalol. It is known to depressonegenic in a large number of people. Atenolol might be a better choice. Unlike propranolol, atenolol does not cross the blood-brain barrier.
- Scott
Posted by SteelyDan on January 19, 2008, at 14:17:18
In reply to Re: Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression, posted by linkadge on January 18, 2008, at 22:25:09
> You may also want to keep an eye on cardiac function. Remeron and methyphenidate with increase norepinephrine release, and methyphendiate and effexor will prevent its reuptake. You could have an unwanted increase in BP.
>
> LinkadgeThank you. My pdoc is aware of this, so we are carefully watching my BP.
Dan
Posted by SteelyDan on January 19, 2008, at 14:25:40
In reply to Re: Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression » tensor, posted by SLS on January 19, 2008, at 5:23:14
> > > You could have an unwanted increase in BP.
> >
> > ..and heart beat; tachycardia and palpitations. Propranolol will counter-effect this. A beta blocker AKA Inderal, it's dirt cheap and effective.
> >
> > /Mattias
>
>
> I would stay away from propranalol. It is known to depressonegenic in a large number of people. Atenolol might be a better choice. Unlike propranolol, atenolol does not cross the blood-brain barrier.
>
>
> - ScottThanks Scott!
Dan
Posted by okydoky on January 19, 2008, at 15:04:12
In reply to Re: Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression, posted by linkadge on January 18, 2008, at 22:25:09
I've been on ritalin for years for trd. I started it for hypotensive episodes with parnate. 5mg and I would be like a rocket for an hour or two than a huge downer and I would start crying.
I only take the time released stuff so I do not get so up and down. It seems to where off after about 8 hours so I take it twice a day. It does not affect my sleep. My old psychopharmocologist said ritalin has some mood elevating effects but some of the other stimulants have much more.
When I don't take it I usually don't get out of bed so it helps me some. I do get more nervous and talking though.Good Luck
Posted by cumulative on January 19, 2008, at 16:24:27
In reply to Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression, posted by SteelyDan on January 17, 2008, at 19:06:37
The main problem I see with this is that it will last a fairly short time, and then you could rebound a bit.
I would consider the lower doses of the Daytrana patch, which you can take off whenever you want, or leave on.
Posted by tensor on January 20, 2008, at 7:41:20
In reply to Re: Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression » tensor, posted by SLS on January 19, 2008, at 5:23:14
> I would stay away from propranalol. It is known to depressonegenic in a large number of people. Atenolol might be a better choice. Unlike propranolol, atenolol does not cross the blood-brain barrier.
>
>
> - ScottI did not know that, thank you. I had my pdoc to presribe me propranolol when I started T3, just in case. But perhaps for prn use, it doesn't matter?
/Mattias
Posted by SLS on January 20, 2008, at 9:24:16
In reply to Re: Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression » SLS, posted by tensor on January 20, 2008, at 7:41:20
> > I would stay away from propranalol. It is known to depressonegenic in a large number of people. Atenolol might be a better choice. Unlike propranolol, atenolol does not cross the blood-brain barrier.
> I did not know that, thank you. I had my pdoc to presribe me propranolol when I started T3, just in case. But perhaps for prn use, it doesn't matter?I wish I could extend to you a personal observation. I've never tried propranolol, so I cannot say with any degree of confidence.
Just know that propranolol has the ability to produce depression. With this knowledge, you should be able to screen yourself for such a reaction.
People here have used propranolol for episodes of anticipatory anxiety and tremulousness. I don't think I ever saw anyone complain of an acute depressive reaction to it.
- Scott
Posted by rina on January 22, 2008, at 20:05:38
In reply to Re: Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression, posted by linkadge on January 18, 2008, at 22:25:09
I have to totally agree with linkage. Please be extremely careful and please!! please!! advocate your treatment. If I had known what I know now, my situation would have turned out a little better.
I now deal with a pituitary disorder as well as extremely elevated sed rate, high/low catecholamine/metanephrines and finally benign tumors in my brain because the stimulants were sucreting too many hormones throughout my body.
Not the actual hormones that we as women are use to but the hormones in reference to the adrenal glands in the body, so please be careful.
Posted by Phillipa on January 22, 2008, at 21:23:11
In reply to Re: Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression, posted by rina on January 22, 2008, at 20:05:38
What is the name of the pituiatary disorder as I have a micro adenoma on mine never read by anyone but a radiologist who said not to worry. Never took stimulants told the endo who asked me if I lactated said no and he said he doesn't read MRI's. So still unresolved as far as I'm concerned. Phillipa
Posted by rina on January 23, 2008, at 4:52:22
In reply to Re: Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression » rina, posted by Phillipa on January 22, 2008, at 21:23:11
Phillipa,
I have a pituitary tumor that is larger than one inch in diameter and is pressing on my optic nerve and putting pressure on my brain as it grows.
Posted by Phillipa on January 23, 2008, at 18:46:22
In reply to Re: Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression, posted by rina on January 23, 2008, at 4:52:22
Rina will it be removed? Love Phillipa sorry thread off track. Monte how is the ritalin going? Any improvement yet?
Posted by rina on January 23, 2008, at 22:05:34
In reply to Re: Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression » rina, posted by Phillipa on January 23, 2008, at 18:46:22
not sure what i want to do as of yet.
Posted by francineus on January 28, 2008, at 7:12:23
In reply to Re: Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression, posted by rina on January 23, 2008, at 4:52:22
I found ritalin to be really helpful to get me up and moving in the morning. It is a good and underused AD augmenter at low dosages. (As long as you dont' use to excess and have a hx of addiction to uppers)
Posted by okydoky on February 15, 2008, at 12:52:53
In reply to Re: Pdoc started me on Ritalin for TR Depression, posted by francineus on January 28, 2008, at 7:12:23
> I found ritalin to be really helpful to get me up and moving in the morning. It is a good and underused AD augmenter at low dosages. (As long as you dont' use to excess and have a hx of addiction to uppers)
I have used ritalin to get up in the morning for years. I use it as an antidepressant because I have not found anything else I can take that works at all.
I am trying to find an article or study about its use as an antidepressant because my prescribing doctor now does not believe me.
Can anyone direct me to any links with articles or studies about the use and/or efficacy of ritalin as an antidepressant? Not as adjunctive therapy.
Thanks,
okydoky
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