Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 234549

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ADD and Desipramine Experiences Needed

Posted by kotsunega on June 17, 2003, at 10:56:53

Hi Babblers,

I'm bipolar with ADD and currently take the following meds: Abilify, Wellbutrin, Prozac, Ritalin.

I'm tired of the Ritalin. It doesn't last more than an hour with me and seems pointless to continue taking with such a limited effect. I'm wondering what others' experiences are with Desipramine for ADD. I'm also interested in learning more about NE uptake inhibition. What does this action affect? Better focus? More energy? Etc. I'm basically wondering what desipramine does, and for which ADD symptoms.

Thanks, All!

- kotsunega

Re: ADD and Desipramine Experiences Needed

Posted by zeugma on June 17, 2003, at 21:41:34

In reply to ADD and Desipramine Experiences Needed, posted by kotsunega on June 17, 2003, at 10:56:53

> Hi Babblers,
>
> I'm bipolar with ADD and currently take the following meds: Abilify, Wellbutrin, Prozac, Ritalin.
>
> I'm tired of the Ritalin. It doesn't last more than an hour with me and seems pointless to continue taking with such a limited effect. I'm wondering what others' experiences are with Desipramine for ADD. I'm also interested in learning more about NE uptake inhibition. What does this action affect? Better focus? More energy? Etc. I'm basically wondering what desipramine does, and for which ADD symptoms.
>
> Thanks, All!
>
> - kotsunega

I have never taken desipramine, but I have taken nortriptyline (another secondary amine tricyclic) for the past year and i have also been taking Strattera for the past month. Strattera is probably more like desipramine than nortriptyline.

From what I understand, NE reuptake inhibition is an indirect way of boosting dopamine levels in prefrontal cortex, which is hypothesized to be the seat of Executive Function processes that become dysregulated in ADHD. This is because dopamine actually has a higher affinity for the nE reuptake mechanism than NE itself, although it has a stronger affinity for the dopamine reuptake mechanism. This is especially important in areas like the prefrontal cortex which have more NE than DA transporters. This is the theory put forward to explain Strattera's anti-ADHD effects: http://216.239.39.100/search?q=cache:CUeRXYUIUEAJ:axon.bhs.mq.edu.au/PSY_804/Ess

Subjectively, NE reuptake inhibition seems to increase energy and clearness of thought. This was somewhat obscured by the antihistaminic sedation of nortriptyline, but is definitely apparent in Strattera's effect.

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