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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by joe schmoe on March 1, 2013, at 6:55:49
A friend of mine is convinced she has ADD and has gone to a pdoc for treatment but with no success. She has tried a variety of stimulants, which have had absolutely no effect - they neither helped her focus, nor did they make her jumpy. They were like placebos.
Anyone have any idea how or why a stimulant would not affect someone at all?
I have no experience with stimulants. Since I have anxiety, the last thing I would ever want to try is a stimulant.
Are there any alternatives for adult ADD? She already takes Effexor for depression.
Posted by Phillipa on March 1, 2013, at 9:54:04
In reply to Why would someone be immune to stimulants?, posted by joe schmoe on March 1, 2013, at 6:55:49
I'm like you no experience with stimulants. Only thing I can think of is wellbutrin as boy it acted as some sort of stimulant for me. Also as you know anxiety for me also. Phillipa
Posted by ikasug on March 1, 2013, at 12:35:24
In reply to Why would someone be immune to stimulants?, posted by joe schmoe on March 1, 2013, at 6:55:49
My mother takes phentermine on occasion for weight loss and does not feel stimulated, does not lose weight and certainly does not feel in a better mood. When I tried her phentermine, adderall in college, etc. I was always wired but not able to focus. It probably has to do with our similar depressive mindset, but I have it far worse than she does and I can at least feel it in my body. Who knows.
Posted by poser938 on March 1, 2013, at 15:12:20
In reply to Re: Why would someone be immune to stimulants?, posted by ikasug on March 1, 2013, at 12:35:24
Has your friend ever used any kind of stimulant in the past? In my experience, I was prescribed adderall a few years ago and for about a month it was great. I felt energized and focused. Then after taking it for a few weeks it just abruptly stopped working. I stopped taking it for a few weeks and tried it again and it still didn't do anything. As year tried it again and still nothing.
So maybe if she has used any stimulants they could have had a longterm effect on her. In somewht technical terms, I believe stimulants can cause this by causing the brain to produce much less dopamine to be produced and therefore doing awaywith the effects of dopamined increasing meds.
Posted by poser938 on March 1, 2013, at 15:16:05
In reply to Re: Why would someone be immune to stimulants?, posted by ikasug on March 1, 2013, at 12:35:24
In the month that adderall did help, even though its speed, it did away with my anxiety completely. It was great. But after it stopped working I developed severe anxiety.
Posted by joe schmoe on March 1, 2013, at 16:21:06
In reply to Re: Why would someone be immune to stimulants?, posted by poser938 on March 1, 2013, at 15:12:20
> Has your friend ever used any kind of stimulant in the past?
Nope, she only tried them because of her difficulty in trying to focus. None of them worked at all for her.
Posted by linkadge on March 1, 2013, at 16:35:28
In reply to Re: Why would someone be immune to stimulants? » poser938, posted by joe schmoe on March 1, 2013, at 16:21:06
When you hear of people taking stimulants for their 'energizing effects', this is typically not a case of ADHD. Stimulants tend to do the opposite in people with ADHD (namely slow down thoughts and hyperactivity).
If stimulants don't work, it could mean that the problems are not due to ADHD, or that they are simply not addressing her particular abnormality.
Stimulants don't work for everybody. Why? Who knows.
Linkadge
Posted by joe schmoe on March 1, 2013, at 16:41:49
In reply to Re: Why would someone be immune to stimulants?, posted by linkadge on March 1, 2013, at 16:35:28
I was under the impression that stimulants
- would help ADD people focus
- would make non-ADD people jumpy
Neither effect happens to her, which puzzles both of us.
Posted by poser938 on March 1, 2013, at 17:32:39
In reply to Re: Why would someone be immune to stimulants? » linkadge, posted by joe schmoe on March 1, 2013, at 16:41:49
There is ADD and then there is ADHD.
ADD is most common in adults.
ADHD is most common in children.Anywas, her situation is odd. I'm just not sure about it. Maybe she could just try supplements like Tyrosine.
Posted by linkadge on March 1, 2013, at 18:19:17
In reply to Re: Why would someone be immune to stimulants?, posted by poser938 on March 1, 2013, at 17:32:39
It is possible that the effexor is nullifying the stimulant (to some extent). SSRIs, for some people completely wipe out the effect of any form of euphoriant.
Linkadge
Posted by phidippus on March 2, 2013, at 14:47:26
In reply to Why would someone be immune to stimulants?, posted by joe schmoe on March 1, 2013, at 6:55:49
>Anyone have any idea how or why a stimulant would not affect someone at all?
Probably too low a dose.
Stimulants actually help treat some anxiety disorders. I take it and I have OCD.
>Are there any alternatives for adult ADD?
Strattera.
Eric
Posted by bleauberry on March 3, 2013, at 11:59:40
In reply to Why would someone be immune to stimulants?, posted by joe schmoe on March 1, 2013, at 6:55:49
Dopamine receptors can become oversensitive, undersensitive, and genetics can cause them to start the game one way or the other. Insults from disease, inflammation, drugs, and meds can change those sensitivities, and once they are changed we are in no man's land, a place of mystery far beyond human comprehension.
To make it more confounding, there are many different types of dopamine receptors, and they all play various roles, and they are located in various regions of the brain. It's almost like trying to figure out a puzzle with blind folds on.
I do not believe your questions have useable answers. Theoretical answers yes. Whether that turns into clinical usefulness is doubtful.
Effexor is playing a role in this, maybe making some things a little better and other things worse.
Experimentation with stuff is the only way to find out what is going to help or not. And I would strongly suggest venturing outside the small limited box of psychiatry to find other ideas.
Approaches such as anti-inflammation, anti-microbial, and anti-toxin, as well as careful choice of foods in the grocery cart, all make more of a difference than people realize. Sometimes even cure. But almost always at least helpful.
I have seen, right here at babble, remission happen after decades of failed meds, by things as simple and basic as.....going gluten free....diagnosing a sleep apnea problem....suspecting lyme disease....and such.
This is the end of the thread.
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