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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by conundrum on April 7, 2010, at 22:25:01
Hey BB,
Do you need to be taking prozac already to notice the effects of adrafinil? Basically does adrafinil possess any hedonic, or motivational benefits on its own?
Posted by Economist on April 8, 2010, at 0:02:10
In reply to Adrafinil+Prozac quest. for Bleauberry, posted by conundrum on April 7, 2010, at 22:25:01
conundrum,
I'm surprised that with the number of years you have been experiencing anhedonia, you haven't tried a lot of different medications to combat it. You've only been on Pristiq since you came down with anhedonia, right?
Posted by Sigismund on April 8, 2010, at 1:21:40
In reply to Adrafinil+Prozac quest. for Bleauberry, posted by conundrum on April 7, 2010, at 22:25:01
>Do you need to be taking prozac already to notice the effects of adrafinil?
No>Basically does adrafinil possess any hedonic, or motivational benefits on its own?
Hedonic? Ha!
It was alright for a bit....all I could f*ck*ng get.
Posted by conundrum on April 8, 2010, at 6:54:25
In reply to Re: Adrafinil+Prozac quest. for Bleauberry » conundrum, posted by Sigismund on April 8, 2010, at 1:21:40
So i'll take that as a yes, it improves anhedonia on its own?
Posted by conundrum on April 8, 2010, at 6:56:30
In reply to Re: Adrafinil+Prozac quest. for Bleauberry » conundrum, posted by Economist on April 8, 2010, at 0:02:10
Didn' you read my other lengthy posts? I mentioned the other meds I took and also I explained why I wouldn't take any other psych drugs after stopping prozac. To me psych drugs are the last resort, I wouldn't have anhedonia if I hadn't taken them in the first place.
Posted by Phillipa on April 8, 2010, at 10:43:20
In reply to Re: Adrafinil+Prozac quest. for Bleauberry » Economist, posted by conundrum on April 8, 2010, at 6:56:30
Is the pristiq helping at all? Phillipa
Posted by Economist on April 8, 2010, at 12:17:29
In reply to Re: Adrafinil+Prozac quest. for Bleauberry » Economist, posted by conundrum on April 8, 2010, at 6:56:30
Perhaps other medication now can correct what Prozac did to you?
I don't think I saw the post where you listed all the meds you've taken.
Posted by conundrum on April 8, 2010, at 12:26:43
In reply to Re: Adrafinil+Prozac quest. for Bleauberry » conundrum, posted by Phillipa on April 8, 2010, at 10:43:20
It helps a little bit with color. I get more glimpses of feelings throughout the day, but its not a constant feeling. It doesn't really increase pleasure, reward or motivation either.
So i'd give it a 1 out of 10.
Also it has a lot of side effects that SSRIs have. I think its serotonergic effects diminish its noradrenergic effects.
Maybe something purely noradrenic would help? I just ordered some adrafinil, but now I'm questioning my decision, I'm also looking for a new psych.
Posted by conundrum on April 8, 2010, at 12:31:56
In reply to Re: Adrafinil+Prozac quest. for Bleauberry » conundrum, posted by Economist on April 8, 2010, at 12:17:29
hmm i think i posted it in the server anhedonia thread not sure.
I'm hoping the same thing. Sorta fight fire with fire. Like I said I've tried more natural products than you can shake a stick at and none have helped. I've tried CBT, group therapy, meditation, diet, exercise.
Cognitive Behavorial Therapy helped for a little while, but just with motivation and only in short bursts.
Just ordered some adrafinil but I'm kinda not sure I made the right choice.
Posted by Economist on April 8, 2010, at 12:34:50
In reply to Re: Adrafinil+Prozac quest. for Bleauberry » Economist, posted by conundrum on April 8, 2010, at 12:31:56
I just found the post where you talked about your medication history.
I guess I'm surprised the doctors didn't prescribe you an MAOI. If I were in your state (which I think I am) I'd be trying every single medication to eff around with my neurotransmitters and just see what works (which is what I'm doing now).
Posted by conundrum on April 8, 2010, at 12:58:50
In reply to Re: Adrafinil+Prozac quest. for Bleauberry » conundrum, posted by Economist on April 8, 2010, at 12:34:50
Well, my GP has been prescribing most of my meds and she is young and uncomfortable with prescribing older drugs that she doesn't know a whole lot about. Also the psych I saw previously wanted me to take an SNRI. So now I can say that I have and hopefully take something different. I think I'd do better on a TCA than an MAOI since they decrease norepinephrine in the long run.
My grandmom's nardil sitting around, shes not on it anymore as she is in the hospital. Maybe I could try that :P
Posted by Sigismund on April 8, 2010, at 16:36:02
In reply to Re: Adrafinil+Prozac quest. for Bleauberry » Sigismund, posted by conundrum on April 8, 2010, at 6:54:25
>So i'll take that as a yes, it improves anhedonia on its own?
It's a very qualified yes. Qualified by the brittle feeling it gave me. OTOH, when I needed it I took up to 6 tabs a day and felt almost OK. Later I liked it less. Once I took it with Hydergine with horrible results. I'd much prefer some Dex of course.
Posted by bleauberry on April 8, 2010, at 17:03:12
In reply to Adrafinil+Prozac quest. for Bleauberry, posted by conundrum on April 7, 2010, at 22:25:01
I never tried adrafinil on its own, so I don't know how that differs from the combo with prozac.
My experience overall was very similar to what literature on the web says about it. That is, it is not a direct acting stimulant like ritalin or adderal, though it might feel that way the first couple days or so.
It takes a while to do its thing. At about one month you become more talkative and depression lifts. The next phase motivation and interest return. In the final phase, cognitive function returns. The whole process is about 3 months.
Expecting instant results with adrafinil is not realistic, in my opinion.
In terms of anhedonia, it does not by itself all of a sudden turn on interest and joy. That does come, but very subtle and over time. It creeps up on you so that you aren't even aware it's happening until a couple months later, and then you go, wow, I've got a new hobby, I've been busy, I'm engaged in the world again, how did that happen.
Another thing about it is that it allows one to feel motivation and joy, but only when they do something that requires it. The motivation and joy is on demand. Kind of like viagra. Viagra will not make an erection unless there is stimulation. Adrafinil will not directly cause motivation and joy unless there is stimulation. It is there waiting for you to do something, and then when you do, it kicks in. Otherwise, without stimulation, it doesn't do much in terms of anhedonia.
Which kind of goes along with my personal beliefs, as well as what is taught in neurology testbooks for med students, that the brain needs to be exercised in the desired direction. To simply sit back and wait for anhedonia to just disappear probably won't happen without some work. The brain needs to be retaught. It learns that by doing things that should be interesting or fun, even if they don't feel that way at the time. Adrafinil makes it so that when you engage like that, it kicks in on demand almost instantly. But you gotta take it for a couple months to get to that point.
Posted by conundrum on April 8, 2010, at 23:02:01
In reply to Re: Adrafinil+Prozac quest. for Bleauberry, posted by bleauberry on April 8, 2010, at 17:03:12
A couple months is a while I mean thats longer than even prozac takes to start working. I wasn't expecting something huge but its a long wait for something thats not even approved for depression in most places.
Do you notice anything from the first dose? Like to indicate if it might work later on?
Posted by Economist on April 9, 2010, at 0:14:51
In reply to Re: Adrafinil+Prozac quest. for Bleauberry, posted by bleauberry on April 8, 2010, at 17:03:12
Adrafanil cannot be obtained in the US and must be bought from an overseas pharmacy, is this correct?
Posted by Sigismund on April 9, 2010, at 0:23:05
In reply to Re: Adrafinil+Prozac quest. for Bleauberry » bleauberry, posted by conundrum on April 8, 2010, at 23:02:01
>Do you notice anything from the first dose?
I did. Maybe it built up? (it's years ago now)
I'd expect you to notice the gut thing straight away. Don't take it on an empty stomach.
I did not have that response they talk about. What name did they dream up for this new type of drug? Doesn't matter, doesn't matter at all, just more stuff. But really, it's not terrible crap, probably worth a try.
This is the end of the thread.
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