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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Christina on April 9, 2002, at 8:09:01
Hi. I used to post here a while ago, and now I'm back. For the past seven years, I was on various cocktails of ADs and mood stabilizers for my marked dysthymia.
The last medication was Prozac.
I saw a new pdoc and he diagnosed me with marked adult ADD - innattentive type.
He took me off Prozac and started me on Adderall.
So far it's been great. I'm more focused and have even lost a few of the 40 lbs I gained on ADs. Of course I know I still have some Prozac in my system, so I'm watching for rebound depression from a lack of ADs.
My question is about dosing. Currently I take 10 mgs in the morning, and I'm fine until lunch. Then I take another 10 mgs, but it's less effective. I know most people take a higher dose in the morning, then a lower one at lunch. But has anyone tried a higher second dose. Currently I have NO problem sleeping. In fact by 9 pm, I'm ready for bed.
Also, has anyone stopped taking ADs and relied soley on stimulants for dysthymia/ADD?
Posted by fachad on April 9, 2002, at 9:35:32
In reply to Adderall Dosing, posted by Christina on April 9, 2002, at 8:09:01
Christina asked: I know most people take a higher dose in the morning, then a lower one at lunch. But has anyone tried a higher second dose.
fachad replies: I always take a higher dose in the afternoon for that exact reason. Sometimes I even skip the morning dose or wait til mid-morning to take it. You could take 5mg in the AM (split your scored 10mg tablet), then take 15 mg in the PM.
Christina asked: Also, has anyone stopped taking ADs and relied solely on stimulants for dysthymia/ADD?
fachad replies: Yes, I have done that for the most part. Sometimes I have to take ADs for a while if a severe episode hits, but mostly just stims for prevention and maintenance of symptom control.
See these posts and their threads for more elaboration on the idea of stimulant monotherapy for depression and stimulants as ADs:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020215/msgs/94717.html
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020307/msgs/97130.html
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020307/msgs/97130.html
> Hi. I used to post here a while ago, and now I'm back. For the past seven years, I was on various cocktails of ADs and mood stabilizers for my marked dysthymia.
> The last medication was Prozac.
> I saw a new pdoc and he diagnosed me with marked adult ADD - innattentive type.
> He took me off Prozac and started me on Adderall.
> So far it's been great. I'm more focused and have even lost a few of the 40 lbs I gained on ADs. Of course I know I still have some Prozac in my system, so I'm watching for rebound depression from a lack of ADs.
> My question is about dosing. Currently I take 10 mgs in the morning, and I'm fine until lunch. Then I take another 10 mgs, but it's less effective. I know most people take a higher dose in the morning, then a lower one at lunch. But has anyone tried a higher second dose. Currently I have NO problem sleeping. In fact by 9 pm, I'm ready for bed.
> Also, has anyone stopped taking ADs and relied soley on stimulants for dysthymia/ADD?
Posted by SLS on April 9, 2002, at 10:25:36
In reply to Re: Adderall Dosing and Stimulant Monotherapy » Christina, posted by fachad on April 9, 2002, at 9:35:32
> > Christina asked: Also, has anyone stopped taking ADs and relied solely on stimulants for dysthymia/ADD?
> fachad replies: Yes, I have done that for the most part. Sometimes I have to take ADs for a while if a severe episode hits, but mostly just stims for prevention and maintenance of symptom control.Hi fachad.
Are you ADD or AD/HD also?
Do you think that in some cases, the depressive mood disturbances that accompany ADD are actually a part of that disorder and thus responsive to stimulants when people with depression alone would not be?
- Scott
Posted by Spongemomsquarepants on April 9, 2002, at 11:32:54
In reply to Adderall Dosing, posted by Christina on April 9, 2002, at 8:09:01
Hi,
I was wondering why your Dr. didn't suggest Adderall XR, it is once a day time released. Maybe that would be a good choice?Viki
Posted by Katalina on April 9, 2002, at 12:35:06
In reply to Adderall Dosing, posted by Christina on April 9, 2002, at 8:09:01
> Hi. I used to post here a while ago, and now I'm back. For the past seven years, I was on various cocktails of ADs and mood stabilizers for my marked dysthymia.
> The last medication was Prozac.
> I saw a new pdoc and he diagnosed me with marked adult ADD - innattentive type.
> He took me off Prozac and started me on Adderall.
> So far it's been great. I'm more focused and have even lost a few of the 40 lbs I gained on ADs. Of course I know I still have some Prozac in my system, so I'm watching for rebound depression from a lack of ADs.
> My question is about dosing. Currently I take 10 mgs in the morning, and I'm fine until lunch. Then I take another 10 mgs, but it's less effective. I know most people take a higher dose in the morning, then a lower one at lunch. But has anyone tried a higher second dose. Currently I have NO problem sleeping. In fact by 9 pm, I'm ready for bed.
> Also, has anyone stopped taking ADs and relied soley on stimulants for dysthymia/ADD?Hi there,
I read your post and have been wondering the same thing about myself.
I take 75 mgs. of Effexor XR (for the past six months) and also 30 mgs. of Adderall a day. I stay at home with my two toddlers so I have an early start to my day. I was getting up around 5:30 and then drinking a pot of coffee and feeling miserable until my morning dosage of adderall, around 9:00 when I would take 20 mgs. A half hour later I would be happy and productive and motivated to get things done around the house and not be annoyed with my children's tantrums, etc. I would then take my second dose around 2:00. A lot of days I could even skip the afternoon dose all together, probably still running on the high I felt from getting so much accomplished earlier in the day. The afternoon dose is definitely less effective for me. Maybe you could take 15 in the a.m. and 5 in the p.m. or ask your doc for 20 and 10. I started on 10 and 10 and after a week, I accidently took 2 10 mgs in the a.m. and felt an instant difference from just taking 10 mgs. I called my doc and he raised my dosage over the phone after I told him I felt much better on the higher dose.
ANYWAY, after reading someone's post here (3 Beers?) about taking their stimulant an hour before getting up, I tried that and found it so awesome to feel fully functional when rising, rather than like the walking dead until 9:00. So of course now, my 20 mgs. (taken around 5:00) is wearing off by 11:00 and I find myself in a quandry around 4-5ish. It's not that I'm crashing hard or anything, but I just don't want to get in a situation of needing more and more. I also have been taking .5 mgs of Klonopin at night for the past month or so and have been sleeping like a rock. Not sure if I really need the Klonopin, but my neuro was willing to prescribe and I have a hard time resisting a benzo for sleep.
To my point . .. I am considering tapering/quitting the Adderall to see if I even need it, or maybe taking 10 mgs. of Prozac instead. The only reason I'm leary of doing this is because I took Ritalin a couple of years ago for two days with nothing else and felt like an angry, hostile maniac. Then, a year later, while on Effexor, I tried Ritalin and it worked well. I think I need dopamine more than anything else, but I also need a little bit of seratonin, too.
Sorry, this probably wasn't much help, but just wanted to share . . .
Katalina
Posted by Christina on April 9, 2002, at 18:54:45
In reply to Re: Adderall Dosing and Stimulant Monotherapy » Christina, posted by fachad on April 9, 2002, at 9:35:32
I think I might try the higher dose in the afternoon to see if that helps.
If not, I may try the Adderal XR, but I've heard that people are not as thrilled with the time-released stims (both Adderall and Ritalin).
But then again, everyone is different, so it might be something that works for me.
Posted by noa on April 12, 2002, at 15:27:43
In reply to Re: Adderall Dosing, posted by Katalina on April 9, 2002, at 12:35:06
I have an early start too, and take my adderall first thing so I can function for getting dressed, etc. and out to work. I take the 2nd dose at around 11 and then again at 3:30 or 4:00. Usually, for me, this is early enough and I can still sleep okay that night. Now, I am going to try the xr to see how that is.
Posted by noa on April 12, 2002, at 15:30:35
In reply to Thanks for the information..., posted by Christina on April 9, 2002, at 18:54:45
Ritalin sr, for me, was barely longer acting than the regular ritalin. Like maybe 2 hours for regular and 3.5 to 4 at most for sr.
I find adderall to last about 5 to 6, although even if I have taken my second dose late, say around 12 to 12:30 pm, I still really feel ready for the 3rd dose by 4 pm. I think just because of the mental energy I've spent through the work day.
This is the end of the thread.
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