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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JackD on November 17, 2000, at 0:12:41
Sigh... here I am again, back to where I started. I sincerely empathize with all of you who have had unsuccesful drug trials. Hopefully, one of you can help me figure out the root of my problem...
Here's my story:
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I started out with ADD and dysthemia(but I thought I was just lazy). Took Ritalin 5mg 3x a day. AMAZING results: increased concentration, motivation, work capacity.BUT, my previous obsessiveness and anxiety were further excacerbated by the ritalin. I wanted to be un-ADDish and unanxious.
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So, I tried Paxil 20mg for 3 weeks. Nothing.---------------------
Then, I tried Wellbutrin SR 150 mg 1x a day. Amazing at first. No inhibitions, no anxiety, social confidence and performance increased tremendously. Made me feel always "in the moment" rather than disconnected.
BUT, the Wellbutrin helped less and less as the weeks went by. Eventually, it began making me morbidly depressed. More depressed than I've ever been in fact.
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So, I've stopped the Wellbutrin. I am trying different doses of Klonopin at the moment. It helps me physically, like keeps me from being fidgety in anxious situations, or sweating, and seems to keep me from panicking, but I feel a low level depression and mental anxiety.
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That's my story. There seems to be some dopamine-related chemistry problem. Could the Wellbutrin have been acting as a D2-D3 antagonist somehow? Is that what I might need? Amisulpride? I am so confused. Should I try another SSRI like Zoloft (it has Dopamine Re-Uptake properties). Is there any way to make the Wellbutrin work again? Lithium augmentation?
P.S. The Wellbutrin made me somewhat psychotic at times. It was really unpredictable. But when it worked, God, it worked.P.P.S. I have sleep problems. Never went to a doctor for it, but I always have nightmares and sleep WAY too much.
Posted by stjames on November 17, 2000, at 0:39:43
In reply to ADDers.... Help!, posted by JackD on November 17, 2000, at 0:12:41
I would take the fact Welbrutin worked as a positive.
To me this means there is a med or combo that will help
you greatly, you just need to find one that will not poop
out on you. This does happen to some people and the reasons
are not clearly understood. Effexor or Remeron (or both) would be my next choices.
Also 3 weeks was not enough time to really know if Paxil was doing any good, so another SSRI
would be a posibillity.Depression and ADD often go hand in hand, I have both. It is a pain; I am very good
at dealing with my ADD, but not when I am depressed. All the copeing skills go out the door.
My ADD was much less of a problem once the depression was taken care of.The problems you mentioned that Klonipin is treating could also be controled
with somethink like a beta-blocker. I take Inderal as needed and it has cut my
usage of Atavin in half.James
Posted by Shirley on November 17, 2000, at 5:44:39
In reply to ADDers.... Help!, posted by JackD on November 17, 2000, at 0:12:41
Jack,
Have you tried ritalin and an SSRI drug together?
For quite awhile, adderall and zoloft worked wonders for me. I too have ADD, Depression, and Anxiety.Because of other problems, I am currently trying to transition to prozac, which has not been easy.
But I too, have anxiety, depression, and add, and have noticed that some combination of an SSRI and a stimulant seem to work the best.For sleep, have you tried Remeron, an antidepressant? A few years, ago, I was taking three medicines at night, including Remeron, and was able to go down to just it, alone. If you do end up taking it, interestingly, a lower dose is sedating, while a higher one isn't.
Good luck as I definately understand your frustrations. I have asked some of the same questions of myself.
Shirley
Posted by JackD on November 20, 2000, at 16:01:41
In reply to Re: ADDers.... Help!, posted by stjames on November 17, 2000, at 0:39:43
I took Remeron with the Wellbutrin for a while to combat the depression the Wellbutrin caused. It worked pretty well, but it just made me way too sleepy and the depression ultimately returned. Also, strangely, the Wellbutrin seemed to stop the anxiety physically and mentally, and better than the Klonopin ever does. Ugh, I hate all this experimentation.
Posted by JackD on November 20, 2000, at 16:05:28
In reply to Re: ADDers.... Help!, posted by Shirley on November 17, 2000, at 5:44:39
I've never tried a stimulant+SSRI combo. SSRI's don't seem to work too well for me; they make me feel funny, like all sleepy and dreamlike. I like feeling as clear-headed as possible. Remeron does help my depression a little, and maybe the anxiety a little too. I took it a while with the Wellbutrin.
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