![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by West on November 1, 2009, at 16:17:17
100mg makes me feel good and I think of all the interesting ways to spend the day for about 1 hour then I feel moody and dysphoric for about another 10. Popular activity includes moving furniture and objects around and getting angry at them when they purposefully hurt my feelings.
I only take it once in a blue moon, mainly to feel better about spending the rest of the time snoozing.
Venlafaxine 225mg
Clonazepam 0.5mg
Zopiclone 7.5mg
American Spirit roll-up x 7
Posted by bleauberry on November 1, 2009, at 17:16:31
In reply to Modafinil only worsens my depression, posted by West on November 1, 2009, at 16:17:17
Yeah, me too. Actually the first day or two is ok, better energy, a little more life, kind of irritable though, but by day 3 I am on the couch thinking death is better.
Weird, because I used to take its parent, Adrafinil, for several years and it was good to me. That was in combination with 20mgProzac and 5mgZyprexa. But a revisit to Adrafinil was just as bad as Modafinil. It's a differenct chapter these days. What used to be no longer is.
I got the same really bad depressive reaction as Modafinil when I tried Wellbutrin, three different times just to be sure.
Modafinil is a great med for a lot of people. Actually it is one of the highest scoring meds at patient rating forums. But it isn't meant for me.
I figured this all meant that I do bad on norepinephrine drugs. Until I tried Ritalin, or Savella, which actually felt good. This brain chemistry stuff is a ton more complicated than we know.
Posted by rjlockhart04-08 on November 1, 2009, at 19:52:30
In reply to Re: Modafinil only worsens my depression, posted by bleauberry on November 1, 2009, at 17:16:31
Armodafinil could be a good option, I take it..it's effect begin's and I think it's not active to some of Modafinil's effect, it's like Dexedrine to Adderall...Adderall has levoamophetamine/dextroamphetamine
Dexedrine is only d-amphetamine.I don't notice it really, I noticed Adderall or Dexedrine and I wish my doctor would understand that their effective. Yet their amphetamine's and are known for their effect's for a long time since...WW2
Hope that helps...
Posted by West on November 2, 2009, at 14:46:26
In reply to Re: Modafinil only worsens my depression, posted by rjlockhart04-08 on November 1, 2009, at 19:52:30
I see, so armodafinil is the d-isomer- and you get less unpleasant NE stimulation as a result?
I remember modafinil being a god sent when I took it with duloxetine but not know with venlafaxine. Think I wrote some stuff here a year ago eulogising it. Interestingly a sibling of mine got breakthrough depression from it too, at 400mg - a lot - with Nardil 90mg, and had to stop after a month.
We can predict: possible enzyme interactions
We can't predict: anything else beyond thatMix and match.
Posted by floatingbridge on November 4, 2009, at 17:49:28
In reply to Modafinil only worsens my depression, posted by West on November 1, 2009, at 16:17:17
Hi West, I'm one of the few that do not like provigil. Dyshporic is the exact word. If I was riding a bummer--my mind would just zip along with the terrible thoughts. Sometimes I felt like a character out of re-animator--no matter what type of cr*ppy mood I was in, my mind would go and go. I lasted about a week and handed the remainder to my shrink.
fb
> 100mg makes me feel good and I think of all the interesting ways to spend the day for about 1 hour then I feel moody and dysphoric for about another 10. Popular activity includes moving furniture and objects around and getting angry at them when they purposefully hurt my feelings.
>
> I only take it once in a blue moon, mainly to feel better about spending the rest of the time snoozing.
>
> Venlafaxine 225mg
> Clonazepam 0.5mg
> Zopiclone 7.5mg
> American Spirit roll-up x 7
>
>
Posted by Franz on February 17, 2014, at 13:20:44
In reply to Re: Modafinil only worsens my depression, posted by bleauberry on November 1, 2009, at 17:16:31
Wow. I did a search on "modafinil depression" on this site and came to this thread. I have similar effects. First 50-100 mg are good (more alert, talkative, but not much motivation) but at the end of the day I feel bad. Dyshporic is a good term as mentioned. Bad thoughts, pessimistic, guilt, etc. Of course my Dr and psychologist do not understand. Most stimulants (caffeine, I have not tried many) let me tired, but this one has a plus of sadness.
Anyone can give an explanation? I read that it raises all neurotransmitters except GABA, which lowers. I take a small dose alprazolam at night. Maybe more benzo during the day can help or will that negate the effects of modafinil?
Posted by SLS on February 17, 2014, at 14:24:54
In reply to solution? Re: Modafinil only worsens my depression, posted by Franz on February 17, 2014, at 13:20:44
> Wow. I did a search on "modafinil depression" on this site and came to this thread. I have similar effects. First 50-100 mg are good (more alert, talkative, but not much motivation) but at the end of the day I feel bad. Dyshporic is a good term as mentioned. Bad thoughts, pessimistic, guilt, etc. Of course my Dr and psychologist do not understand. Most stimulants (caffeine, I have not tried many) let me tired, but this one has a plus of sadness.
>
> Anyone can give an explanation? I read that it raises all neurotransmitters except GABA, which lowers. I take a small dose alprazolam at night. Maybe more benzo during the day can help or will that negate the effects of modafinil?I would consider discontinuing the modafinil. I doubt that there is any kind of trick you can use to reverse your negative reaction to it. Perhaps microdoses? Modafinil affected me in much the same way as it did you. In fact, it left me more depressed and in a brain fog for a few weeks after discontinuation. I now use Focalin (dexmethylphenidate) for days when I am especially anergic and demonstrate cognitive slowing and flat affect. It works pretty well. For me, the onset of clinical effect occurs approximately one hour after the dosing, and lasts for about five hours.
Have you tried Parnate, Effexor, or Wellbutrin?
- Scott
Posted by Franz on February 18, 2014, at 7:56:28
In reply to Re: solution? Re: Modafinil only worsens my depression » Franz, posted by SLS on February 17, 2014, at 14:24:54
> > Wow. I did a search on "modafinil depression" on this site and came to this thread. I have similar effects. First 50-100 mg are good (more alert, talkative, but not much motivation) but at the end of the day I feel bad. Dyshporic is a good term as mentioned. Bad thoughts, pessimistic, guilt, etc. Of course my Dr and psychologist do not understand. Most stimulants (caffeine, I have not tried many) let me tired, but this one has a plus of sadness.
> >
> > Anyone can give an explanation? I read that it raises all neurotransmitters except GABA, which lowers. I take a small dose alprazolam at night. Maybe more benzo during the day can help or will that negate the effects of modafinil?
>
> I would consider discontinuing the modafinil. I doubt that there is any kind of trick you can use to reverse your negative reaction to it. Perhaps microdoses? Modafinil affected me in much the same way as it did you. In fact, it left me more depressed and in a brain fog for a few weeks after discontinuation. I now use Focalin (dexmethylphenidate) for days when I am especially anergic and demonstrate cognitive slowing and flat affect. It works pretty well. For me, the onset of clinical effect occurs approximately one hour after the dosing, and lasts for about five hours.
>
> Have you tried Parnate, Effexor, or Wellbutrin?
>
>
> - ScottThanks Scott.
The microdoses is a good idea, although the pill is difficult to cut and tastes horrible. I read some people take 25 or 12.5 mg
Maybe the problem with modafinil is that it interacts with coffee. I don't drink much coffee but I need a couple of small cups a day.
I have tried SSRI with either poor results (lethargy from escitalopram) or tinnitus (fuoxetine). Wellbutrin my Dr said I will not tolerate, maybe he thinks it will cause anxiety.
I was thinking in trying selegiline (deprenyl) again. I remember it also made me feel tired.
dexmethylphenidate I don't think I will be prescribed because I asked if there were other stimulants I could try instead of modafinil and said no. Maybe he thinks it is addictive or he is not skilled at using it.
Posted by tony p on February 26, 2014, at 14:29:25
In reply to Re: solution? Re: Modafinil only worsens my depression, posted by Franz on February 18, 2014, at 7:56:28
> Maybe the problem with modafinil is that it interacts with coffee. I don't drink much coffee but I need a couple of small cups a day.
>
I do find that after taking modafinil (50-100mg) even a small amount of coffee seems to act as a trigger for an anxiety attack (with an eventual letdown). But for me the caffeine's *just* a trigger, I can drink more coffee (in moderation) the rest of the day without undue stimulation.IMHO, the most important thing with modafinil is to work with it. If I take it and do nothing I feel worse. If I do something even moderately active, it enhances my mood and energy. BTW, benzos do seem to combine well with M for me.
Re the slump: usual Rx is 1-2 x day, so a split dose or a second dose when the blahs hit would be normal. Modafinil is NOT an amphetamine-type stimulant, so it doesn't interfere with sleep (remarkably).
Posted by tony p on February 26, 2014, at 18:39:14
In reply to Re: solution? Re: Modafinil only worsens my depression, posted by tony p on February 26, 2014, at 14:29:25
Ironically, after my last optimistic-sounding post, I slumped quite early today & had an attack of agrophobia as well. Wrong day for that as I had a couple of outside things that HAD to be done today.
I had only taken 50 mg in the AM & hadn't had much sleep, plus I changed my main AD a month ago (see Cymbalta 30 /60 thread), so not really surprising. So I've taken my own advice with another 50 mg & am already feeling better.
Posted by Franz on February 28, 2014, at 10:18:53
In reply to Re: solution? Re: Modafinil only worsens my depression, posted by tony p on February 26, 2014, at 14:29:25
> > Maybe the problem with modafinil is that it interacts with coffee. I don't drink much coffee but I need a couple of small cups a day.
> >
> I do find that after taking modafinil (50-100mg) even a small amount of coffee seems to act as a trigger for an anxiety attack (with an eventual letdown). But for me the caffeine's *just* a trigger, I can drink more coffee (in moderation) the rest of the day without undue stimulation.
Yes, combining with caffeine is a problem. I need to take some coffee but as you say ti tends to cause anxiety or a nasty sad or wired feeling, difficult to explain.>
> IMHO, the most important thing with modafinil is to work with it. If I take it and do nothing I feel worse. If I do something even moderately active, it enhances my mood and energy. BTW, benzos do seem to combine well with M for me.Good, I will take with alprazolam nex time.
>
> Re the slump: usual Rx is 1-2 x day, so a split dose or a second dose when the blahs hit would be normal. Modafinil is NOT an amphetamine-type stimulant, so it doesn't interfere with sleep (remarkably).I don't think I could tolerate a second dose, it would make it difficult to fall asleep.
Posted by tony p on March 7, 2014, at 20:18:18
In reply to Re: solution? Re: Modafinil only worsens my depression » tony p, posted by Franz on February 28, 2014, at 10:18:53
> > Re the slump: usual Rx is 1-2 x day, so a split dose or a second dose when the blahs hit would be normal. Modafinil is NOT an amphetamine-type stimulant, so it doesn't interfere with sleep (remarkably).
>
> I don't think I could tolerate a second dose, it would make it difficult to fall asleep.In my experience I have no trouble falling asleep on modafinil, but it makes me WANT to stay up!
Posted by Franz on March 9, 2014, at 13:12:04
In reply to Re: solution? Re: Modafinil only worsens my depression » Franz, posted by SLS on February 17, 2014, at 14:24:54
> > Wow. I did a search on "modafinil depression" on this site and came to this thread. I have similar effects. First 50-100 mg are good (more alert, talkative, but not much motivation) but at the end of the day I feel bad. Dyshporic is a good term as mentioned. Bad thoughts, pessimistic, guilt, etc. Of course my Dr and psychologist do not understand. Most stimulants (caffeine, I have not tried many) let me tired, but this one has a plus of sadness.
> >
> > Anyone can give an explanation? I read that it raises all neurotransmitters except GABA, which lowers. I take a small dose alprazolam at night. Maybe more benzo during the day can help or will that negate the effects of modafinil?
>
> I would consider discontinuing the modafinil. I doubt that there is any kind of trick you can use to reverse your negative reaction to it. Perhaps microdoses? Modafinil affected me in much the same way as it did you. In fact, it left me more depressed and in a brain fog for a few weeks after discontinuation. I now use Focalin (dexmethylphenidate) for days when I am especially anergic and demonstrate cognitive slowing and flat affect. It works pretty well. For me, the onset of clinical effect occurs approximately one hour after the dosing, and lasts for about five hours.
>
> Have you tried Parnate, Effexor, or Wellbutrin?
>
>
> - ScottI tried modafinil again, small 25-50 mg.
I took care to have tea instead of coffee because I notice caffeine increases anxiety on modafinil, but I need some.
I find that modafinil gives me energy e.g. I can put more effort and do tasks I have to do, like if I put a little willpower I feel that I can do it. After three days the same weir mood returned, like a tense or anxious feeling with dark thoughts, also last night it was very difficult to fall asleep.
I wish this worked better. Maybe I try it each other day.
Posted by former poster on March 17, 2014, at 13:22:07
In reply to Re: solution? Re: Modafinil only worsens my depression, posted by Franz on February 18, 2014, at 7:56:28
Modafinil scared me from ever taking a pill again.
I gave Modafinil a try about 10 years ago. It was amazing. Energy improved and I was able to sleep extremely good. After about 2 weeks side effects of nausea, malaise, feverish feeling became unbearable. Dr. told me to stop. That's when I had the most horrific "crash" effect. I never experienced a drug withdrawal so horrible as I did with Modafinil. Benzo's, amphetamines are easy to stop compared to this stuff. Took several months to feel "normal".
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.