Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1105687

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Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression? » Roslynn

Posted by pedr on August 14, 2019, at 15:15:40

In reply to Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression? » pedr, posted by Roslynn on August 14, 2019, at 14:08:45

> Dear Pete,
>
> I am so glad you found something that helps. That is invaluable. I am still searching.
>
> By the way, I am assuming you take regular Adderall and not XR? Does one work better than the other for you?
>
> Does it work right away or does it take a while to build up?
>
> Thank you,
> Roslynn

Hi Roslynn,

thank you for the well wishes but I can only dream that it "works". It makes me feel more human for about 3 hours a day. The rest of the day I strongly want to not exist.

I am indeed taking 4x15mg Adderall (I break up 3x20mg tabs into 4 doses to spread out my good periods). I've been on Vyvanse with initial success but it began lasting shorter and shorter periods, as did Concerta (Ritalin XR). So I ended up with something dependable and predictable i.e. multiple IR doses.

It doesn't take time to build up, which is one great thing about stimulants. They work immediately - or not at all. On the flip side, they lose efficacy w.r.t. depression as they "build up" in your system, tragically.

HTH,
Pete

 

Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression? » pedr

Posted by Roslynn on August 15, 2019, at 14:11:11

In reply to Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression? » Roslynn, posted by pedr on August 14, 2019, at 15:15:40

>
> thank you for the well wishes but I can only dream that it "works". It makes me feel more human for about 3 hours a day. The rest of the day I strongly want to not exist.
>
> I am indeed taking 4x15mg Adderall (I break up 3x20mg tabs into 4 doses to spread out my good periods). I've been on Vyvanse with initial success but it began lasting shorter and shorter periods, as did Concerta (Ritalin XR). So I ended up with something dependable and predictable i.e. multiple IR doses.


Hi Pete,

Thank you for the information. I'm sorry it's only helpful for you for the three hours :( I truly hope something will come along to help you feel better longer.

 

Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression? » Roslynn

Posted by linkadge on August 16, 2019, at 15:17:04

In reply to Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression? » pedr, posted by Roslynn on August 15, 2019, at 14:11:11

I'm not sure if Ritalin may work a bit more on a longer term basis as it has a slightly different mechanism than amphetamines.

Amphetamines cause more monoamine release, which may deplete dopamine over time. Ritalin is more of a reuptake inhibitor than releaser.

Linkadge

 

Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression?

Posted by Christ_empowered on August 16, 2019, at 15:41:45

In reply to Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression? » Roslynn, posted by linkadge on August 16, 2019, at 15:17:04

i was reading some David Healy material...

he recalled a patient whose depression responded to Dexamyl (dexedrine+amytal, a barbiturate-type sedative, once quite popular). The 'goof-balls' still get a bad name, but...

from reading over Healy's material, it seems that dosage escalation wasn't all that common, and true abuse was not frequent, either. This person/patient held steady at the same dose of Dexamyl for years...

and then, the DEA decided that uppers (especially combined with downers) were bad news, and the medical establishment also came to badmouth the stimulants for depression. I'm guessing that's when doctors began to draw an (artificial, more sociopolitical than medical) line between "real" treatments and mere "pep pills," etc.


not that uppers for depression are always the best idea (clearly, your doctor thinks it is for you, right now...), but...as Szasz often points out, psychiatry runs a lot on dogma and trends in prescribing, social changes, legal factors, etc....not bona fide medicine, healing, etc.

anyway...

--personal experiences-- have led me to believe that Ritalin, focalin are probably better for long term use than amphetamines. the crash is generally less severe, tolerance seems to be less of an issue, and ritalin seemed to play nicely with the other psych drugs (or at least...better than amphetamines...).

ok. i just mentioned dexamyl, yet again, to point out that combining uppers and downers is not necessarily a bad thing, its actually an old approach.

hope this helps. :-)

 

Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression? » Christ_empowered

Posted by pedr on August 16, 2019, at 16:01:58

In reply to Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression?, posted by Christ_empowered on August 16, 2019, at 15:41:45

> i was reading some David Healy material...

that's funny. My dad knows him a little bit as they both worked at the same hospital in North Wales ( https://goo.gl/maps/386z1LPA8nvESoZH6 , https://davidhealy.org/curriculum-vitae/ ). He even asked Healy some stuff upon my behalf.

>
> he recalled a patient whose depression responded to Dexamyl (dexedrine+amytal, a barbiturate-type sedative, once quite popular). The 'goof-balls' still get a bad name, but...

I pray to see stimulants become "the next ketamine" i.e. the next drug that the establishment rediscovers is actually a very good antidepressant that was thrown out with the bathwater due to knee-jerk policy.

>
> from reading over Healy's material, it seems that dosage escalation wasn't all that common, and true abuse was not frequent, either. This person/patient held steady at the same dose of Dexamyl for years...

Right. I'd love to get another 20mg to cover another hour of my day but my PDoc won't budge. I "get it" but it also pisses me off no end. What actual harm would 80mg do that 60mg isn't already doing?

> and then, the DEA decided that uppers (especially combined with downers) were bad news, and the medical establishment also came to badmouth the stimulants for depression. I'm guessing that's when doctors began to draw an (artificial, more sociopolitical than medical) line between "real" treatments and mere "pep pills," etc.
>

Yup. It's a tragedy that sounds all too familiar. Think MAOI's, LSD, Ketamine...

>
> not that uppers for depression are always the best idea (clearly, your doctor thinks it is for you, right now...), but...as Szasz often points out, psychiatry runs a lot on dogma and trends in prescribing, social changes, legal factors, etc....not bona fide medicine, healing, etc.

Yup and a lot of CYA thrown in, tragically. A lot of PDocs are just too scared to prescribe what they really believe would help in my case I suspect.

>
> anyway...
>
> --personal experiences-- have led me to believe that Ritalin, focalin are probably better for long term use than amphetamines. the crash is generally less severe, tolerance seems to be less of an issue, and ritalin seemed to play nicely with the other psych drugs (or at least...better than amphetamines...).

Well YMMV as they say as I haven't observed that personally. Concerta/ritalin "pooped out" almost completely in terms of lifting my mood whereas Adderall hasn't. Fully. Yet. Sigh.
Don't get me wrong, I frikking hate feeling human for 1-hour patches 3 times a day and feeling hopelessly dependent on a stimulant. But it's the best arrangement I've found. Pretty fucking tragic when I write it down.

>
> ok. i just mentioned dexamyl, yet again, to point out that combining uppers and downers is not necessarily a bad thing, its actually an old approach.
>
> hope this helps. :-)

Well it may not have helped (it's not like I can get Dexamyl prescribed...) but it certainly was an interesting post. Thank you.

Pete

 

Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression? » Roslynn

Posted by pedr on August 16, 2019, at 16:04:10

In reply to Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression? » pedr, posted by Roslynn on August 15, 2019, at 14:11:11


> Hi Pete,
>
> Thank you for the information. I'm sorry it's only helpful for you for the three hours :( I truly hope something will come along to help you feel better longer.

You're welcome. Good luck to you.
Pete

 

Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression?

Posted by Ruuudy on September 15, 2019, at 13:27:33

In reply to Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression? » Christ_empowered, posted by pedr on August 16, 2019, at 16:01:58

I had been taking Zenzedi for the past year or so, but I stopped taking it right before starting the Spravato (esketamine) treatments I have been taking for the past couple of months.

However, I happened to be out of town at a trade show where I needed some "pep" to get me going, so I busted out the Zenzedi, and I definitely felt a boost to my mood.
It's a bitch trying to fall asleep at night, though.

But I can tell you from my experience that simulants help me out with my depression.

I just switched over to Pristiq yesterday to replace the fluoxetine I've been taking for the past 29 years.
I also had a Spravato treatment this past Friday after not having one for over a month.
I just not so sure about the Spravato at this point - I think it might be being overhyped.
We'll see. I know it ain't cheap!!!

 

Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression? » Ruuudy

Posted by pedr on September 15, 2019, at 13:53:54

In reply to Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression?, posted by Ruuudy on September 15, 2019, at 13:27:33

keep us posted on the Spravato.

I'm due to start in ~ 6 weeks. They're making me try it before I get VNS/DBS surgery done. It's highly unlikely to work because I've had Ketamine (for chronic pain) before and it made me feel belligerent, more depressed, hyper-irritable and just super miserable. Go figure.

You're right about the cost. Assuming my insurance coughs up, it's still $450 A TREATMENT out of my pocket and they require you try 8 treatments minimum (4 at the lower dose and 4 at the higher dose (or vice-versa)).

 

Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression? » Ruuudy

Posted by pedr on September 15, 2019, at 13:54:01

In reply to Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression?, posted by Ruuudy on September 15, 2019, at 13:27:33

keep us posted on the Spravato.

I'm due to start in ~ 6 weeks. They're making me try it before I get VNS/DBS surgery done. It's highly unlikely to work because I've had Ketamine (for chronic pain) before and it made me feel belligerent, more depressed, hyper-irritable and just super miserable. Go figure.

You're right about the cost. Assuming my insurance coughs up, it's still $450 A TREATMENT out of my pocket and they require you try 8 treatments minimum (4 at the lower dose and 4 at the higher dose (or vice-versa)).

 

Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression?

Posted by bleauberry on October 18, 2019, at 16:38:38

In reply to stimulants for treatment-resistant depression?, posted by Roslynn on August 11, 2019, at 14:37:06

I am a huge fan of stimulants for treatment resistant depression, or any depression.

I believe they should be first line, not last line.

Ritalin is, by far, my favorite choice. It helps the most people with the most symptoms of any other med any doctor can prescribe.

Ritalin can work in hours to day, rather than weeks to months.

Modafinil is also a good choice, very often overlooked.

I tend to shy away from Adderall as it is just a prescription version of the street drug that usually doesn't end well in the long run.

Ritalin, Modafinil or any stimulant can work on their own. Sometimes they work better combined with a reuptake inhibitor like prozac, which is in my opinion still the best out there after all these years.

 

Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression? » Roslynn

Posted by undopaminergic on December 9, 2019, at 13:10:41

In reply to stimulants for treatment-resistant depression?, posted by Roslynn on August 11, 2019, at 14:37:06

> Hi, anyone using a stimulant as a main component of their depression treatment and has it been successful?
>
> Is this more of an add-on/augmentation thing or can they be used as monotherapy for depression?
>

I think they are rarely used as monotherapy. However I've done so, and it worked out well, even though there were things left to be desired. Sometimes, there were even after-effects for some time after cessation.

I love to stay up late...

-undopaminergic

 

undopaminergic--stimulants for depression » undopaminergic

Posted by greg rizzo on January 9, 2020, at 20:57:07

In reply to Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression? » Roslynn, posted by undopaminergic on December 9, 2019, at 13:10:41

Provigil, modafinil,nuvigil (extended release formula (all pretty much the same thing, were developed for narcolepsy (when people can't stay awake).
I have been using it for over a year and I cannot describe how truly amazing it is for depression. I am amazed more psych docs don't recommend it for other than narcolepsy,To save time just google it, but basically increases seratonin and dopamine. It works immediately, is entirely legal (usually need script but I have ways around that). Otherwise very expensive. Take early in am or you'll have trouble sleeping. I have told very few people about this drug--just joined psych-babble.
The source I use is a covert secret--"tell ya but then I'd have to kill ya." Kidding of
course!
On a scale of 1 to 10 for immediate relief of depression and more energy I give it a 10. It's that good.

 

Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression?

Posted by greg rizzo on January 9, 2020, at 21:30:19

In reply to Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression? » Roslynn, posted by undopaminergic on December 9, 2019, at 13:10:41

Provigil, modafinil,nuvigil (extended release formula (all pretty much the same thing, were developed for narcolepsy (when people can't stay awake).
I have been using it for over a year and I cannot describe how truly amazing it is for depression. I am amazed more psych docs don't recommend it for other than narcolepsy,To save time just google it, but basically increases seratonin and dopamine. It works immediately, is entirely legal (usually need script but I have ways around that). Otherwise very expensive. Take early in am or you'll have trouble sleeping. I have told very few people about this drug--just joined psych-babble.
The source I use is a covert secret--"tell ya but then I'd have to kill ya." Kidding of
course!
On a scale of 1 to 10 for immediate relief of depression and more energy I give it a 10. It's that good.

 

Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression?

Posted by greg rizzo on January 9, 2020, at 21:32:32

In reply to Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression? » Ruuudy, posted by pedr on September 15, 2019, at 13:54:01

Provigil, modafinil,nuvigil (extended release formula (all pretty much the same thing, were developed for narcolepsy (when people can't stay awake).
I have been using it for over a year and I cannot describe how truly amazing it is for depression. I am amazed more psych docs don't recommend it for other than narcolepsy,To save time just google it, but basically increases seratonin and dopamine. It works immediately, is entirely legal (usually need script but I have ways around that). Otherwise very expensive. Take early in am or you'll have trouble sleeping. I have told very few people about this drug--just joined psych-babble.
The source I use is a covert secret--"tell ya but then I'd have to kill ya." Kidding of
course!
On a scale of 1 to 10 for immediate relief of depression and more energy I give it a 10. It's that good.

 

SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION

Posted by greg rizzo on January 9, 2020, at 21:38:01

In reply to Re: stimulants for treatment-resistant depression?, posted by bleauberry on October 18, 2019, at 16:38:38

Provigil, modafinil,nuvigil (extended release formula (all pretty much the same thing, were developed for narcolepsy (when people can't stay awake).
I have been using it for over a year and I cannot describe how truly amazing it is for depression. I am amazed more psych docs don't recommend it for other than narcolepsy,To save time just google it, but basically increases seratonin and dopamine. It works immediately, is entirely legal (usually need script but I have ways around that). Otherwise very expensive. Take early in am or you'll have trouble sleeping. I have told very few people about this drug--just joined psych-babble.
The source I use is a covert secret--"tell ya but then I'd have to kill ya." Kidding of
course!
On a scale of 1 to 10 for immediate relief of depression and more energy I give it a 10. It's that good.

 

Re: SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION » greg rizzo

Posted by undopaminergic on January 10, 2020, at 3:40:37

In reply to SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION, posted by greg rizzo on January 9, 2020, at 21:38:01

Goddammitt, man, how many times have you posted this duplicate, and why? It is beginning to annoy the hell out of me.

> Provigil, modafinil,nuvigil (extended release formula (all pretty much the same thing, were developed for narcolepsy (when people can't stay awake).
[...]
> On a scale of 1 to 10 for immediate relief of depression and more energy I give it a 10. It's that good.
>

It is not really *that* good for most people.

-undopaminergic

 

Re: SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION

Posted by greg rizzo on January 10, 2020, at 16:38:00

In reply to Re: SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION » greg rizzo, posted by undopaminergic on January 10, 2020, at 3:40:37

i'M NEW HERE SO BITE ME MAN. YOU POST MORE REPETITIVE CRAP THAN ANYONE ELSE, USUALLY FROM THE NET, NOT PERSONAL OR ORIGINAL EXPERIENCE.

 

Re: SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION

Posted by greg rizzo on January 10, 2020, at 17:33:13

In reply to Re: SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION » greg rizzo, posted by undopaminergic on January 10, 2020, at 3:40:37

tO DOPAMANIC:
WROTE: On a scale of 1 to 10 for immediate relief of depression and more energy I give it a 10. It's that good.
----------------------------------------------
YOU REPLIED:It is not really *that* good for most peopLE.

MY QUESTION---HOW WOULD YOU KNOW? EVER TRIED IT?
DOUBT IT--JUST MORE INTERNET PLAGARISM.

 

Re: SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION

Posted by greg rizzo on January 10, 2020, at 17:36:04

In reply to Re: SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION » greg rizzo, posted by undopaminergic on January 10, 2020, at 3:40:37

undopamanic
I wrote On a scale of 1 to 10 for immediate relief of depression and more energy I give it a 10. It's that good.
----------------------------------------------
>YOU REPLIED:It is not really *that* good for most peopLE.

MY QUESTION---HOW WOULD YOU KNOW? EVER TRIED IT?
DOUBT IT--JUST MORE INTERNET PLAGARISM.

 

Re: SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION » greg rizzo

Posted by undopaminergic on January 11, 2020, at 3:24:05

In reply to Re: SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION, posted by greg rizzo on January 10, 2020, at 17:33:13

> tO DOPAMANIC:
> WROTE: On a scale of 1 to 10 for immediate relief of depression and more energy I give it a 10. It's that good.
> ----------------------------------------------
> YOU REPLIED:It is not really *that* good for most peopLE.
>
> MY QUESTION---HOW WOULD YOU KNOW? EVER TRIED IT?

Sure did. I had to take it in combination with methylphenidate, or I would get no effect at all.

What plagiarism?

And why are you writing in all caps?

-undopaminergic

 

Re: SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION

Posted by undopaminergic on January 11, 2020, at 3:25:21

In reply to Re: SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION, posted by greg rizzo on January 10, 2020, at 16:38:00

> i'M NEW HERE SO BITE ME MAN. YOU POST MORE REPETITIVE CRAP THAN ANYONE ELSE, USUALLY FROM THE NET, NOT PERSONAL OR ORIGINAL EXPERIENCE.
>

Did I ever post 5+ duplicates like you? No, I didn't.

-undopaminergic

 

Re: SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION » greg rizzo

Posted by undopaminergic on January 11, 2020, at 3:28:11

In reply to Re: SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION, posted by greg rizzo on January 10, 2020, at 17:36:04

> undopamanic
> I wrote On a scale of 1 to 10 for immediate relief of depression and more energy I give it a 10. It's that good.
> ----------------------------------------------
> >YOU REPLIED:It is not really *that* good for most peopLE.
>
> MY QUESTION---HOW WOULD YOU KNOW? EVER TRIED IT?
> DOUBT IT--JUST MORE INTERNET PLAGARISM.

There you go with another duplicate. I already replied to it.

-undopaminergic

 

Re: SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION » undopaminergic

Posted by pedr on January 11, 2020, at 8:29:52

In reply to Re: SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION » greg rizzo, posted by undopaminergic on January 10, 2020, at 3:40:37


> It is not really *that* good for most people.
>
> -undopaminergic

For me, I can get ~ 5 days of ~ 7 hours relief per day from my TRD if I take 400mg Provigil. Which is remarkable. Only Provigil and Adderall have that effect on me. But then it poops-out (or my brain down/up-regulates or whatever). I stopped it cold last time and went into a *severe* state of catatonia until I took another 200mg dose. Be wary, folks.

Pete

 

Re: SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION » pedr

Posted by undopaminergic on January 11, 2020, at 10:34:37

In reply to Re: SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION » undopaminergic, posted by pedr on January 11, 2020, at 8:29:52

>
> > It is not really *that* good for most people.
> >
> > -undopaminergic
>
> For me, I can get ~ 5 days of ~ 7 hours relief per day from my TRD if I take 400mg Provigil. Which is remarkable. Only Provigil and Adderall have that effect on me. But then it poops-out (or my brain down/up-regulates or whatever). I stopped it cold last time and went into a *severe* state of catatonia until I took another 200mg dose. Be wary, folks.
>
> Pete

Have you tried taking memantine or acamprosate with the stimulants? Apparently this augmentation strategy works better with amphetamines than with reuptake inhibitors (eg. methylphenidate). I don't know about modafinil, which is a reuptake inhibitor, but has other effects as well.

-undopaminergic

 

Re: SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION » undopaminergic

Posted by pedr on January 11, 2020, at 14:38:23

In reply to Re: SOLVED-BEST LEGAL STIMULANT FOR DEPRESSION » pedr, posted by undopaminergic on January 11, 2020, at 10:34:37


> Have you tried taking memantine or acamprosate with the stimulants? Apparently this augmentation strategy works better with amphetamines than with reuptake inhibitors (eg. methylphenidate). I don't know about modafinil, which is a reuptake inhibitor, but has other effects as well.
>
> -undopaminergic

ooh, no, I haven't. I've not heard of those two. TBH every single non-psychotropic/non-prescribed substance that're supposed to be good for depression that I've tried have failed miserably. I've tried all the big/popular ones I know of.

That said, I have no other options and if they're inexpensive, I'll duly give them a whirl.

Many thanks,
Pete


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