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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Snoozy on May 5, 2003, at 18:26:37
Hi -
I went through a really bad patch over the weekend, but I'm feeling a bit better today. I want to thank everyone for their supportive messages.
I'm seeing my pdoc later this week, and I could use some advice/comments. My biggest problem right now is with incredible sleepiness all the time. I've been on 400mg Wellbutrin for a couple of years. Last week my pdoc gave me a script for Provigil (100mg). I don't know if this will work out for me, and my insurance rejected it (I don't know if I can get it covered on appeal or not).
Last week I had originally asked about Ritalin (2 previous pdocs had given it to me, but I had a problem with headaches. I have reason to believe now that it might not cause the same headaches). He was reluctant to prescribe it, seemingly because of the Schedule 2/DEA thing and prescribing it for tiredness. (I'll just add here that I have been on Darvocet and Xanax, and not abusive of them.) I don't really get this - isn't Ritalin practically a back-to-school staple, like pens and notebooks? And my 2 previous pdocs prescribed it for me.
I've seen posts here from people getting some pretty strong stimulants, so I'm just puzzled with the whole thing. I appreciate any thoughts on this issue. Thanks!
Posted by Snoozy on May 7, 2003, at 12:55:43
In reply to Need help with medication issue, posted by Snoozy on May 5, 2003, at 18:26:37
Posted by noa on May 7, 2003, at 16:12:19
In reply to Need help with medication issue, posted by Snoozy on May 5, 2003, at 18:26:37
It seems some docs are skittish about prescribing stims.
But if you get headaches from Ritalin, why go there? Have you tried other stimulant meds?
Posted by noa on May 7, 2003, at 16:13:55
In reply to Need help with medication issue, posted by Snoozy on May 5, 2003, at 18:26:37
Also, have you figured out why you are feeling sleepy? Is it from one of your meds? I think the benzos can cause sleepiness. I haven't heard of it with Wellbutrin (is supposed to be activating) but then again, there are always exceptions.
have you ruled out other causes? A sleep disorder? An endocrine problem?
Posted by Snoozy on May 7, 2003, at 16:40:27
In reply to Re: Need help with medication issue-PS, posted by noa on May 7, 2003, at 16:13:55
Thanks noa. I haven't figured out why I'm sleepy. I stopped taking Xanax about 2 months ago, and didn't notice any improvement in alertness. And I originally started taking Wellbutrin to give me insomnia - which for me balances out so I sleep a normal amount! (or used to).
I'm having a thorough physical next month. I guess I should just be relentless in hounding my doctor to check for things (it's hard to do when you're so tired). It has been a while since my thyroid was checked, but in all my years the hypothyroidism never made me this sleepy. Could be part of it though - I'll make sure it's checked next month.
The only stimulants I've tried are Ritalin, several years ago, and I've been using caffeine lately. I really try to avoid caffeine as it makes my migraines out of control. But when I haven't had any caffeine in a while, and I have some coffee, wow do I feel good.
I got some Provigil last week (100mg) and it doesn't seem too promising at this point. Are there other stimulants that might be helpful?
The reason I wanted to try Ritalin again (please bear with me on this convoluted tale) is first because I'm desperate. When I took Ritalin in the past, I was having migraines and daily chronic tension headaches. I was taking analgesics daily for the chronic headaches. I stopped taking them about a year ago, as my doctors were telling me the headaches were probably rebound headaches from the painkillers. It really helped with the chronic headache, but not the migraine, but it wasn't supposed to help with the migraine.
When I took Ritalin back then, it gave me a headache - it wasn't a migraine and it wasn't like my chronic headaches. I'm wondering if because my chronic headaches have abated, the Ritalin wouldn't bother me. Again, I'm desperate! Thanks for wading through all of this!
> Also, have you figured out why you are feeling sleepy? Is it from one of your meds? I think the benzos can cause sleepiness. I haven't heard of it with Wellbutrin (is supposed to be activating) but then again, there are always exceptions.
>
> have you ruled out other causes? A sleep disorder? An endocrine problem?
Posted by michael on May 7, 2003, at 18:25:40
In reply to Need help with medication issue, posted by Snoozy on May 5, 2003, at 18:26:37
> Hi -
>
> I went through a really bad patch over the weekend, but I'm feeling a bit better today. I want to thank everyone for their supportive messages.
>
> I'm seeing my pdoc later this week, and I could use some advice/comments. My biggest problem right now is with incredible sleepiness all the time. I've been on 400mg Wellbutrin for a couple of years. Last week my pdoc gave me a script for Provigil (100mg). I don't know if this will work out for me, and my insurance rejected it (I don't know if I can get it covered on appeal or not).
>
> Last week I had originally asked about Ritalin (2 previous pdocs had given it to me, but I had a problem with headaches. I have reason to believe now that it might not cause the same headaches). He was reluctant to prescribe it, seemingly because of the Schedule 2/DEA thing and prescribing it for tiredness. (I'll just add here that I have been on Darvocet and Xanax, and not abusive of them.) I don't really get this - isn't Ritalin practically a back-to-school staple, like pens and notebooks? And my 2 previous pdocs prescribed it for me.
>
> I've seen posts here from people getting some pretty strong stimulants, so I'm just puzzled with the whole thing. I appreciate any thoughts on this issue. Thanks!
>Some pdocs are just stimulant phobic - kind of ironic.... Maybe if you relate that it was helpful (except, of course, for the headaches) previously, and you'd like to try just try it again...? If he can't overcome his phobia, you either have to do without, or find a more well-adjusted pdoc. Frustrating. Just my 2 cents. Good luck.
michael
Posted by noa on May 10, 2003, at 17:23:33
In reply to Re: Need help with medication issue-PS » noa, posted by Snoozy on May 7, 2003, at 16:40:27
Snoozy--let us know how the physical goes and any developments.
This is the end of the thread.
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