Posted by Azurebay on June 8, 2003, at 15:11:26
Hi All,
It's been quite some time since I actively posted on this site, but for some reason it feels like either my story may help someone or some person may reciprocate with a missing link in my equation.
Here's the med cocktail I currently take:
MPH (methylphenidate) 20mg tid
Celexa 10 mg daily
Aricept 5 mg daily
Zyprexa (small doses of aprox 2.5-5mg)
Xanax 1mg tid or prnThe primary disorder stems from ADD/ADHD of the inattentive type. If you're familiar with Dr. Daniel Amen's work, I would most likely fall into his ADHD category of "Ring of Fire," simply meaning a combination of ADHD disorders that show up on SPECT scans like a fire throughout many parts of the brain.
At first, maybe a year ago, I was quite skeptical about Amen's theories. I almost gave up completely on the whole thing after trying literally dozens of med combinations. Now I'm more of a believe (and btw, so is my pdoc after researching his books and websites - www.brainplace.com or www.amenclinic.com).
It's my hope that those of you struggling with ADHD and co-existing conditions have the strength to find the combo that is right for YOU and your neuro-chemistry! It's taken me years of experimentation and research, mostly on my own, to find what works the best for me... and I still search for that one missing link, as I suspect many of us do :)
The lifesaver, which I once cursed as being "the worst drug ever," has become a godsend in this whole equation. That drug is Zyprexa in small doses! For some reason it stabilizes my brain's ability to be cohesively functional, despite what I've read about it's dopamine and serotonin antagonism, probably when taken at higher doses. I take it daily, but never more than 5mg.
The Celexa is in the equation because for me it's almost stimulating - quite the opposite reaction for many folks, and it's been a constant for several years in addressing both depression and anxiety that dates back to childhood.
The Xanax is in the cocktail because it truly keeps a addictive tendency under control without undue side-effects. Ya, they can say whatever they want about the warnings of addicts becoming addicted to benzos, but that's not my case.
Aricept, typically used for alzheimers and dementia, is like taking my brain from 64MB of RAM to 512MB LOL. I know it's an unusual add-on drug, but it does something remarkable. In other words, it either counteracts or in some manner helps my brain function with more clarity and creative vision.
Now, with all that said and without listing the pages upon pages of drugs and supplements that have been tried and failed in my life, I would kindly ask your comments about one matter.
I feel a certain APATHY or lack of motivation. Hell, I've written articles for major magazines and been a copywriter for several major companies, but I feel as if my "drive" to actually follow my passion in life is not all there.
Does this make sense to anyone? Or can anyone relate to this given the same or similar ADHD and combinations of meds?
I know one would first think about the benzo, then the Zyprexa, but both work well. Could it possibly be that I'm on the wrong dosage of MPH or even the wrong one, like Adderall, perhaps would work better? Hmmm maybe SSRI induced apathy, although a recent study showed that Zyprexa tends to reverse SSRI induced apathy?
Just thinking outloud, but your comments would be deeply appreciated.
And any of you are welcome to email me directly if I may be of support: [email protected]
With Thanks... and Smiles Always,
Von
aka Azure
poster:Azurebay
thread:232425
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030604/msgs/232425.html