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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JahL on November 19, 2000, at 14:39:46
Quite recently a TRD specialist sent me for an ECG, the results of which, she said, were indicative of areas of low blood flow in the brain. Unfortunately I had to sack her before she could expand upon this. No-one since has shown any interest in this insight, surprising since I have tried over 20 meds w/o success & am currently extremely depressed.
As I understand it, stimulants can be effective in correcting poor blood flow. I have requested a Ritalin trial from 3 pdocs w/o success. Stimulants are frowned upon here in the UK & ADD is not generally recognised as a condition.(I am coming 2 the conclusion that I am ADD. Despite supreme success in exams etc, I have always had difficulty focussing/holding attention. These days I have great difficulty processing information; reading a book has become an impossibility. What do others think? Is ADD akin to having brain fog?)
What I'd appreciate is informed responses to my thoughts on the appropriateness of stimulants, as well as any convincing success stories. Clever/good ones will be presented to my pdoc this Thurs. He will take some convincing.
Thanks,
Jah.
Posted by anita on November 20, 2000, at 17:45:54
In reply to Low Blood Flow/Ritalin Query., posted by JahL on November 19, 2000, at 14:39:46
Hi Jah,
Reduced blood flow in the brain is a very general observation. _Where_ the blood flow is low is more significant, although science hasn't gotten to the point where one can say exactly what it means, tho theories have been put forth. Jay Goldstein in his book _Betrayal by the Brain_ talks about it in relation to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but it is really difficult to understand fully.
Whether or not you have ADD, Ritalin and other stimulants can definately be helpful for brain fog, and even depression. If you haven't tried stimulants before, I'd push for the Ritalin. Have you ever tried Wellbutrin? That could be a second choice.
You could look up studies on Medline on Ritalin and depression and print them out for your doc. Good luck!
anita
> Quite recently a TRD specialist sent me for an ECG, the results of which, she said, were indicative of areas of low blood flow in the brain. Unfortunately I had to sack her before she could expand upon this. No-one since has shown any interest in this insight, surprising since I have tried over 20 meds w/o success & am currently extremely depressed.
>
> As I understand it, stimulants can be effective in correcting poor blood flow. I have requested a Ritalin trial from 3 pdocs w/o success. Stimulants are frowned upon here in the UK & ADD is not generally recognised as a condition.(I am coming 2 the conclusion that I am ADD. Despite supreme success in exams etc, I have always had difficulty focussing/holding attention. These days I have great difficulty processing information; reading a book has become an impossibility. What do others think? Is ADD akin to having brain fog?)
>
> What I'd appreciate is informed responses to my thoughts on the appropriateness of stimulants, as well as any convincing success stories. Clever/good ones will be presented to my pdoc this Thurs. He will take some convincing.
>
> Thanks,
> Jah.
Posted by Maniz on November 20, 2000, at 18:53:13
In reply to Re: Low Blood Flow/Ritalin Query., posted by anita on November 20, 2000, at 17:45:54
Hi,
Not very informed here, but just some ideas.
It seems to me that in some cases of poor concentration there can be a depression/anxiety problems. So, It might be right to see if depression is your problem.
I have read reports about depression and low blood flow too. As Anita perfectly mentioned, this is difficult to interpret. There are aldo studies on OCD and blood flow. I understand many brain studies are done by injecting a radiactive substance (glucose). So the blood carries the glucose to the brain. More active areas show out because they consume more "marked" glucose.
BTW, more active does not mean more efficient. There are lots of websites showing the more efficient brain consumes less energy and uses less areas.
Well...I am digresing.
If you are considering a stimulant (ritalin, etc) for blood flow, why not to go the safe way first?. I would suggest to consider nootropics like Vinpocetine, Piracetam (or analogues Aniracetam, Pramiracetam), Hydergine, DMAE, citicholine (in Eurpoe it is called brand name Reagin), etc.. They are safer and cheaper. I am not sure if available in UK. Piracetam is better combined with a choline supplement.
Also, some people say it is possible to "activate" brain areas by "excercising" them (by learning, solving problems, etc). this can be more evident in old age. Physical (running, walking, sports) excercise also helps (works for me, for other people, meditation, brain wave entrainment, etc).
Hope it helps. Please tell us what you finr out.
> Hi Jah,
>
> Reduced blood flow in the brain is a very general observation. _Where_ the blood flow is low is more significant, although science hasn't gotten to the point where one can say exactly what it means, tho theories have been put forth. Jay Goldstein in his book _Betrayal by the Brain_ talks about it in relation to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but it is really difficult to understand fully.
>
> Whether or not you have ADD, Ritalin and other stimulants can definately be helpful for brain fog, and even depression. If you haven't tried stimulants before, I'd push for the Ritalin. Have you ever tried Wellbutrin? That could be a second choice.
>
> You could look up studies on Medline on Ritalin and depression and print them out for your doc. Good luck!
>
> anita
>
>
> > Quite recently a TRD specialist sent me for an ECG, the results of which, she said, were indicative of areas of low blood flow in the brain. Unfortunately I had to sack her before she could expand upon this. No-one since has shown any interest in this insight, surprising since I have tried over 20 meds w/o success & am currently extremely depressed.
> >
> > As I understand it, stimulants can be effective in correcting poor blood flow. I have requested a Ritalin trial from 3 pdocs w/o success. Stimulants are frowned upon here in the UK & ADD is not generally recognised as a condition.(I am coming 2 the conclusion that I am ADD. Despite supreme success in exams etc, I have always had difficulty focussing/holding attention. These days I have great difficulty processing information; reading a book has become an impossibility. What do others think? Is ADD akin to having brain fog?)
> >
> > What I'd appreciate is informed responses to my thoughts on the appropriateness of stimulants, as well as any convincing success stories. Clever/good ones will be presented to my pdoc this Thurs. He will take some convincing.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Jah.
Posted by SLS on November 20, 2000, at 21:07:39
In reply to Re: Low Blood Flow/Ritalin Query., posted by anita on November 20, 2000, at 17:45:54
A question:
In the absence of vascular disease, does reduced blood flow produce reduced function or does reduced function produce reduced blood flow? Has this question been adequately addressed?
When the NIMH first began to publish these observations, I was dubious about their interpretations. Perhaps reduced glucose utilization (reduced neuronal activity) as demonstrated through PET scans is correlated with reduced blood flow regionally. I would like to know which comes first, or at least, how reduced blood flow would produce symptoms other than dementia.
- Scott
> Hi Jah,
>
> Reduced blood flow in the brain is a very general observation. _Where_ the blood flow is low is more significant, although science hasn't gotten to the point where one can say exactly what it means, tho theories have been put forth. Jay Goldstein in his book _Betrayal by the Brain_ talks about it in relation to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but it is really difficult to understand fully.
>
> Whether or not you have ADD, Ritalin and other stimulants can definately be helpful for brain fog, and even depression. If you haven't tried stimulants before, I'd push for the Ritalin. Have you ever tried Wellbutrin? That could be a second choice.
>
> You could look up studies on Medline on Ritalin and depression and print them out for your doc. Good luck!
>
> anita
>
>
> > Quite recently a TRD specialist sent me for an ECG, the results of which, she said, were indicative of areas of low blood flow in the brain. Unfortunately I had to sack her before she could expand upon this. No-one since has shown any interest in this insight, surprising since I have tried over 20 meds w/o success & am currently extremely depressed.
> >
> > As I understand it, stimulants can be effective in correcting poor blood flow. I have requested a Ritalin trial from 3 pdocs w/o success. Stimulants are frowned upon here in the UK & ADD is not generally recognised as a condition.(I am coming 2 the conclusion that I am ADD. Despite supreme success in exams etc, I have always had difficulty focussing/holding attention. These days I have great difficulty processing information; reading a book has become an impossibility. What do others think? Is ADD akin to having brain fog?)
> >
> > What I'd appreciate is informed responses to my thoughts on the appropriateness of stimulants, as well as any convincing success stories. Clever/good ones will be presented to my pdoc this Thurs. He will take some convincing.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Jah.
Posted by Noa on November 21, 2000, at 7:55:47
In reply to Re: Low Blood Flow/Ritalin Query., posted by anita on November 20, 2000, at 17:45:54
I was just reading about some nutritional deficiencies (B12, Folate) that can cause decreased blood flow. But both these are somewhat rare. B12 occurs only in strict vegans, or in people who lact intrinsic factor, or older people who develop intrinsic factor deficiency.
This is the end of the thread.
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