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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 26. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tballs on September 9, 2009, at 23:05:44
I've had generalized anxiety,ocd and depression for many years and have been trying to treat it with medication (counseling hasn't helped) for the last 3 and 1/2 years with no success. I've tried ssri's,tricyclics, antipsychotics, mao inhibitors, anticonvolsants (like dilantin,lamictal...) and finally naltrexone nothing has helped except anafranil which has helped with depression but not anxiety. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with strattera for these problems and how it worked? also any other medications that may be used
I've had generalized anxiety,ocd and depression for many years and have been trying to treat it with medication (counseling hasn't helped) for the last 3 and 1/2 years with no success. I've tried ssri's,tricyclics, antipsychotics, mao inhibitors, anticonvolsants (like dilantin,lamictal...) and finally naltrexone nothing has helped except anafranil which has helped with depression but not anxiety. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with strattera for these problems and how it worked? also any other medications that may be used
Posted by SLS on September 10, 2009, at 6:28:19
In reply to strattera, posted by tballs on September 9, 2009, at 23:05:44
I hope you are not looking for a single drug to take care of all your diagnosed disorders. You might have no better choice but to take Anafranil (clomipramine) and look for drugs to add on to it specifically to treat the anxiety.
I tried Strattera once to treat bipolar depression. I had no luck with it. I can't speak for everyone, but Strattera does not seem to be that effective for treating disorders other than ADD/ADHD. Interestingly, it can improve the depressive symptoms of ADD/ADHD.
If your doctor reports having had success with Strattera, you might want to extend to him the benefit of the doubt. If it were me, I wouldn't bother with Strattera. That is merely an opinion based upon observation. I could be wrong.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on September 10, 2009, at 12:05:07
In reply to Re: strattera » tballs, posted by SLS on September 10, 2009, at 6:28:19
An old babbler is now on straterra with vyanased and requip at low dose and sometimes takes zyprexa low dose also he actually isn't on the combo of straterra and vyvanase but is presenting his doc with medical journal articles that it's safe. I didn't answer your question but for the OCD have you tried luvox? Although it pooped out on me after two weeks at 250mg I maintain myself on luvox 50mg and low dose valium and xanax. But when that luvox worked it really worked well. Phillipa
Posted by 10derHeart on September 10, 2009, at 13:23:13
In reply to Re: strattera » tballs, posted by SLS on September 10, 2009, at 6:28:19
>Interestingly, it can improve the depressive symptoms of ADD/ADHD.
Yes, this has been my experience exactly, going on 6 years on Strattera. I didn't even quite realize this for a while, as with ADD and comorbid depression, at least for me and a subset of others I've found in ADD/ADHD groups online, it can be somewhat of a chicken and egg situation (but not exactly). Really difficult to sort out whether the depression arises out of the extreme difficulty of coping with every day life due to the ADD impairments, or is depression "always" present, or at least present simultaneously or "first?" Then throw in some sneaky anxiety issues (unrecognized in my case) to boot and it gets pretty circular....
Sorry...this is of no help for the OP, but your statement struck me as perfectly explaining my stable state for all this time (of course fabulous therapy may have helped 'a little' - lol)
From reading posts here for several years, I'd take a guess (and that's ALL the weight it should be given!) Strattera might not be so useful for ocd and gad...in fact, I seem to be in a minority of Babblers it has helped with any condition. I am truly fortunate. Prior to Strattera, I also responded pretty well (maybe 50-75% improvement over baseline unmedicated ADD/depression?) with a combo of Prosac and IR Ritalin......it's just that Strattera works even better and is easier to dose and get prescribed. And it does not complicate treatment of hypertension like I suspect Ritalin sometimes did in the dose level I needed (at least 80 mg/day).
Whoa...I am rambling. I need to blame you, Scott. Surely it can't be an inherent trait of mine to go on and on - so must be your fault!
;-)
Posted by rjlockhart04-08 on September 10, 2009, at 21:55:58
In reply to Re: strattera » SLS, posted by 10derHeart on September 10, 2009, at 13:23:13
Strattera, what it did for me was increase attention, and alertness, with indirect effect's. It's like Provigel, only it provides more of a "Wellbutrin" yet, it doesnt work on dopamine, only NE.
You know I, took it with Prozac..it didnt work well, norepheirphrine overload, i was irrtible. Should of got a shirt, said "It's not you, it's the strattera".
Lata..
Posted by tballs on September 11, 2009, at 0:04:55
In reply to Re: strattera, posted by rjlockhart04-08 on September 10, 2009, at 21:55:58
do any of you know or have an experience with dexedrine for anxiety, is it similar to stattera, some people said it calmed them down
Posted by SLS on September 11, 2009, at 6:31:50
In reply to Re: strattera, posted by tballs on September 11, 2009, at 0:04:55
> do any of you know or have an experience with dexedrine for anxiety, is it similar to stattera, some people said it calmed them down
It does happen. Brain circuitry and neurotransmission can vary quite a bit between individuals. With Dexedrine, a calming effect in the absence of ADD/ADHD is considered paradoxical and infrequent, but is no less real. Dexedrine can even calm some people with bipolar mania.
- Scott
Posted by floatingbridge on September 13, 2009, at 3:09:58
In reply to Re: strattera, posted by tballs on September 11, 2009, at 0:04:55
> do any of you know or have an experience with dexedrine for anxiety, is it similar to stattera, some people said it calmed them down
Hi,
My pdoc wants me to try starttera w/ the dexadrine I already take. I dunno. I also take a benzo, but started that way before the dexadrine. Dexadrine helps me feel calm, optimistic, and social. The down side for me is when it begins to wear off--I feel worse than cr*p. Hence the strattera. Hey, and I'm not sure this stuff is good for my brain. But here I am.
fb
Posted by tballs on September 13, 2009, at 11:19:19
In reply to Re: strattera » tballs, posted by floatingbridge on September 13, 2009, at 3:09:58
> My pdoc wants me to try starttera w/ the dexadrine I already take. I dunno. I also take a benzo, but started that way before the dexadrine. Dexadrine helps me feel calm, optimistic, and social. The down side for me is when it begins to wear off--I feel worse than cr*p. Hence the strattera. Hey, and I'm not sure this stuff is good for my brain. But here I am.
>
> fbdo you an anxiety disorder or depression
Posted by floatingbridge on September 13, 2009, at 11:54:37
In reply to Re: strattera, posted by tballs on September 13, 2009, at 11:19:19
> do you an anxiety disorder or depressionUmm. Good question. My current dx is MDD w/ PTSD. And ADD. I do have an awful lot of anxiety; however, 'anxiety disorder' has not come up. (Yet). My dx has changed over the course of my treatment. How about you? I remember you listed a cluster of symptoms. Depression for you? ADHD, too?
best
fb
(who is currently worried that her brain will begin to resemble Edie Sedgewick's due to d-amp.)
Posted by floatingbridge on September 13, 2009, at 12:05:21
In reply to strattera, posted by tballs on September 9, 2009, at 23:05:44
Hi, me again. I just re-read your initial post. So anxiety is a constant companion. And I'm sorry you are up against what seems to me to be so much. You don't mention any benzos in your list of meds. I think some people do better with them rather than endure the effects of anxiety. Have you gotten any relief from them?
I find therapy (right now) to be very helpful. Really. But it took me years (!) to find a good fit. Group therapy helped too.
Best regards,
fb
(You can also start a new thread if you want input about OCD or GAD treatments others here have found effective. Maybe more will respond w/ new info.)
Posted by Garnet71 on September 13, 2009, at 12:12:35
In reply to Re: strattera » tballs, posted by floatingbridge on September 13, 2009, at 3:09:58
Hey Floatingbridge:
Before you try the Strattera, why don't you try the other version of D-Amp: Dextrostat? I didn't like Dexedrine very much, which I tried after the Dextrostat when PDoc filled script wrong. Dextrostat gives me no side effects (except i'm starting to build a tolerance to it after 6 months). No crashing at all. It lasts about 6 hrs; I take 10 mg twice a day. It also seems to help with sleep quality.
They don't make the brand anymore, but if your PDoc writes the script for Dextrostat, it will be filled with the generic version.
"Dexadrine helps me feel calm, optimistic, and social. The down side for me is when it begins to wear off--I feel worse than cr*p."
Posted by tballs on September 14, 2009, at 20:53:25
In reply to Re: strattera » tballs, posted by floatingbridge on September 13, 2009, at 12:05:21
unfortunately i didn't respond at all to the benzo's klonopin of xanax, I'm going to the doctor tommorow and he thinks maybe a adhd medicine could do the trick, I'm not sure if i have add or not i'm distracted easily but it's generally due to anxiety problems there are so many disorders that camflouge themselves as add like symptons, e.g for me i'm restless and have a hard time sitting still. i think my doctor will maybe prescribe me strattera or dexedrine/dextrostat is strattera or smarter choice b/c it's not a stimulant?
Posted by floatingbridge on September 14, 2009, at 21:49:26
In reply to Re: strattera, posted by tballs on September 14, 2009, at 20:53:25
Can ADD/ADHD be a culprit behind GAD? For me, sometimes my thoughts literally swarm with thoughts of EVERYTHING thing I need to do w/o any prioritization or organization. I used to think this was GAD (though never diagnosed). On d-amp, that all goes away for awhile. I'm starting to think that Strattera might be worth trying for me. (Scott said in one thread it sounded like a reasonable choice for me.--Sorry Scott that your opinion carries so much weight : D )
I don't know tballs--maybe your doc is on to something--and you haven't tried this avenue yet, correct? I do second Scot's opinion that mono-therapy might not be the best choice for now. Will you continue with the med you mentioned that has helped your depression? (I forget the name--sorry.)
fb
Posted by desolationrower on September 15, 2009, at 0:18:48
In reply to tballs + 10derheart Re: strattera » tballs, posted by floatingbridge on September 14, 2009, at 21:49:26
yeah, i think there a several ways it can cause anxiety. most directly, the outward hyperactivity of youth can turn into restless thoughts
-d/r
Posted by doxogenic boy on September 17, 2009, at 13:52:41
In reply to Re: strattera » tballs, posted by floatingbridge on September 13, 2009, at 3:09:58
> My pdoc wants me to try starttera w/ the dexadrine I already take. I dunno. I also take a benzo, but started that way before the dexadrine. Dexadrine helps me feel calm, optimistic, and social. The down side for me is when it begins to wear off--I feel worse than cr*p. Hence the strattera. Hey, and I'm not sure this stuff is good for my brain. But here I am.Hi floatingbridge.
How are you? Have you started with Strattera?
The first time I tried Dexedrine, it was in combination with escitalopram (Lexapro/Cipralex). It was an anxiety nightmare. Could there be another medication that can work against the anxiety from Dexedrine?doxogenic
Posted by tballs on September 17, 2009, at 23:54:27
In reply to Re: strattera » floatingbridge, posted by doxogenic boy on September 17, 2009, at 13:52:41
I'm trying pristiq now, I tried serzone and cymbalta which are also snri's too but he said pristiq acts differently then both of them.
Posted by doxogenic boy on September 18, 2009, at 13:11:07
In reply to Re: strattera, posted by tballs on September 17, 2009, at 23:54:27
> I'm trying pristiq now, I tried serzone and cymbalta which are also snri's too but he said pristiq acts differently then both of them.
What are the side effects of Pristiq, compared with Serzone and Cymbalta?doxogenic
Posted by Phillipa on September 18, 2009, at 19:47:41
In reply to Re: strattera » tballs, posted by doxogenic boy on September 18, 2009, at 13:11:07
I'd also like to know. Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on September 18, 2009, at 21:26:26
In reply to Re: strattera » floatingbridge, posted by doxogenic boy on September 17, 2009, at 13:52:41
Hi doxogenic.
I'm hanging in there and am alright--thanks for asking : )
My pdoc will be away from today (my last session w/ him was today) until the 20th of October. He helped me set up a good safety net.
So, no, I haven't tried Strattera. We'll (most likely) taper (somehow) the pristiq when he returns. I think I'm on board with him to try this. One step at a time....
As far as anxiety, well, I'm on benzos--right now xanax xr 1mg 3x per day) which seems to be enough w/ an occasional dose of regular xanax. I haven't tried many of the meds others here have to reduce chronic anxiety--like higher doses of ADs or other things, so I don't think I have much to offer you as an answer.
BTW I haven't really been on the board for, gosh, a good week. Maybe you have another thread going about this? Maybe tonight I can cruise and see what's new.
Best to you,
fb
my babblemail is always on.
> Hi floatingbridge.
>
> How are you? Have you started with Strattera?
>
>
> The first time I tried Dexedrine, it was in combination with escitalopram (Lexapro/Cipralex). It was an anxiety nightmare. Could there be another medication that can work against the anxiety from Dexedrine?
>
> doxogenic
>
Posted by floatingbridge on September 18, 2009, at 21:45:13
In reply to Re: strattera, posted by tballs on September 17, 2009, at 23:54:27
tballs,
Good luck w/ the pristiq. It really works for some. What's you're starting dose?
Posted by doxogenic boy on September 19, 2009, at 16:25:48
In reply to Re: strattera » doxogenic boy, posted by floatingbridge on September 18, 2009, at 21:26:26
> Hi doxogenic.
>
> I'm hanging in there and am alright--thanks for asking : )
---That's good. :)
> My pdoc will be away from today (my last session w/ him was today) until the 20th of October. He helped me set up a good safety net.
---Do you have medicines to take as needed in case of a crisis?
> So, no, I haven't tried Strattera. We'll (most likely) taper (somehow) the pristiq when he returns. I think I'm on board with him to try this. One step at a time....
---Pristiq is not marketed in my country, but if my psychiatrist put in an application for it, I still can get it or almost any drug marketed in at least one country in the world.
I have tried venlafaxine (Efexor/Effexor), but I am a slow metabolizer via CYP2D6, so the venlafaxine metabolite desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) may be a different drug for me.
Wikipedia didn't give me much hope:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desvenlafaxinequote:
Response rates varied from 43-60%, lower than most current antidepressants, which have a 60-70% response rate.[12] Remission rates of 23-37% for desvenlafaxine are also lower than those of other antidepressants, which have rates of 30-40%.
quote end> As far as anxiety, well, I'm on benzos--right now xanax xr 1mg 3x per day) which seems to be enough w/ an occasional dose of regular xanax. I haven't tried many of the meds others here have to reduce chronic anxiety--like higher doses of ADs or other things, so I don't think I have much to offer you as an answer.
---Xanax (Xanor) is one of the few anti-anxiety drugs I haven't tried. How long have you used it? Is there any tolerance issue with it for you?
> BTW I haven't really been on the board for, gosh, a good week. Maybe you have another thread going about this? Maybe tonight I can cruise and see what's new.
---My latest thread is about lithium augmentation:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090912/msgs/917371.html
> Best to you,
>
> fb
>
> my babblemail is always on.My babblemail is also open.
If I get babblemail from someone, is there a word in subject or From-field (such as "Psycho-Babble") so that it is easy to know that it is babblemail? I get about 200 spam-mails in English a day, so I need a keyword in From-field or subject to know that it is babblemail. (I haven't seen any babblemail yet, so if anyone still have sent me something, they may try again and put "Psycho-Babble", "doxogenic" or "BABBLEMAIL" in the subject field and/or something easily recognizable i the From-field).
doxogenic
Posted by Phillipa on September 19, 2009, at 20:03:16
In reply to Re: strattera » floatingbridge, posted by doxogenic boy on September 19, 2009, at 16:25:48
I can do that for you. It will come the same way notifications to threads do only say babblemail from Phillipa
Posted by doxogenic boy on September 20, 2009, at 8:18:02
In reply to Re: strattera » doxogenic boy, posted by Phillipa on September 19, 2009, at 20:03:16
> I can do that for you. It will come the same way notifications to threads do only say babblemail from Phillipa
Thank you for helping. Are there lots of posters who use babblemail often?
doxogenic
Posted by floatingbridge on September 20, 2009, at 12:30:27
In reply to Re: strattera » Phillipa, posted by doxogenic boy on September 20, 2009, at 8:18:02
Hey, I babbled you. Did you get it? Sometimes I'll babblemail if I kinda' 'know' the person, and I don't want to take up thread space, or take the thread too off topic or just talk.
fb
> > I can do that for you. It will come the same way notifications to threads do only say babblemail from Phillipa
>
> Thank you for helping. Are there lots of posters who use babblemail often?
>
> doxogenic
>
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