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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ed_uk on January 5, 2005, at 20:05:52
Hi!
Most people on babble who use stimulants take them everyday. Does anyone take them only when absolutely necessary? eg. if they need to concentrate on some paperwork or college work etc. Tolerance to stimulants used for ADD seems so common that I wondered whether anyone had had better luck using them intermittently. Please will you share your experience.
Thank you,
Ed.
Posted by D minor on January 5, 2005, at 20:25:52
In reply to Stimulants when needed..., posted by ed_uk on January 5, 2005, at 20:05:52
My brother has ADD. He only takes his ritalin before class or a little before he has to study. Otherwise we say he's "free," or he has a vacation from the medication. It seems to work well for him. He can get his work done when he needs to, but have fun when he wants to.
dm
Posted by ed_uk on January 5, 2005, at 20:55:13
In reply to Re: Stimulants when needed..., posted by D minor on January 5, 2005, at 20:25:52
I just did the Dr. Amen online test....
It basically said that my brain is very messed up! LOL
ADD, combined type.......not probable.
ADD, inattentive type.....highly probable.
Cingulate system hyperactivity.....highly probable.
Limbic system hyperactivity.......probable.
Basal ganglia hyperactivity........probable.
Abnormal temporal lobe system.......may be possible.Apparantly, inattentive ADD symptoms often respond well to stimulants but my alleged cingulate system hyperactivity means that if I took a stim I might start to overfocus on certain things. Maybe it would help if I took a stim + an SSRI. What do you think? Anyway, no one will prescribe me a stim so I guess I'll never find out.
Ed.
Posted by Maxime on January 5, 2005, at 21:45:22
In reply to Re: Stimulants when needed..., posted by D minor on January 5, 2005, at 20:25:52
I take 30 mg Adderall XR. If I don't take it I get dizzy to the point of falling over and i feel like I am going to throw up.
Max
Posted by Mr.Scott on January 5, 2005, at 22:25:31
In reply to Stimulants when needed..., posted by ed_uk on January 5, 2005, at 20:05:52
Hi,I take Provigil (and Ritalin or Dexedrine in the past) when my depression gets so bad as to threaten my ability to work. I have BP2 with SAD (depressed in winter), so sometimes it's real bad and I just can't tolerate much antidepressant. In this case I will use a stimulant either intermittently or for a month or two at a time full well respecting the abuse potential when used like this. I took ritalin for a while last winter, and will occassionally take half a provigil this winter as needed.
Scott
Posted by jonh kimble on January 6, 2005, at 2:05:12
In reply to Re: Stimulants when needed... » ed_uk, posted by Mr.Scott on January 5, 2005, at 22:25:31
Yes, I do that and have done so for many years. I recognize now that my problems are much more treatable from the psychological side of things, yet I have a doctor whos willing to prescibe any reasonable stim. (adderall, rit., dex) and they certainly do cause a tolerance so i use them when Ive got alot to do (in college), strenuous mental tasks, tests, and sometimes when I wanna have more fun. I know that last one sounds bad but I use reasonable doses and for me its probably how others use coffee. I simply find coffee to anxiety provoking and just doesnt have that extra well, kick. I however, am someone who has a track record for being a drug user and not abuser. Some people cannot do this. I read an interesting article on how smaller amygdalas are associated with likely of drug abuse (difficulty anylyzing consiquences). I imagine my amygdalas big, or for whatever reason Im good with them. So although there are people like me who benefit from stimulants (even tho no add) it makes sense that there arent amphetamine shops along with coffee shops. Know yourself, but if dont abuse and see the potential for benefit, I say go for it.
Tom
Posted by TheOutsider on January 6, 2005, at 5:24:34
In reply to Re: Stimulants when needed..., posted by jonh kimble on January 6, 2005, at 2:05:12
High Ed, sorry its me again
I am certainly able to take Dexedrine as needed, for example when I have some forms to fill out, then I can go for days without taking it.
For some people stimulents are highly addictive (I'm sure you know this). Its hard for me to understand how thats possible, but we're all different.
Posted by thinkfast on January 6, 2005, at 5:48:51
In reply to Stimulants when needed..., posted by ed_uk on January 5, 2005, at 20:05:52
hey Ed...do you have AOL or AIM...let me know..i'd like 2 talk 2 u
Posted by ed_uk on January 6, 2005, at 6:04:40
In reply to Re: Stimulants when needed..., posted by TheOutsider on January 6, 2005, at 5:24:34
Hi :-)
>High Ed, sorry its me again
Don't be sorry, it's good to hear from you!
I've just been trying to revise for my exams, it really hard. My attention span is two seconds, I'm not kidding! Sometimes I can't even finish a sentence without getting distracted. I've been thinking of dropping out of uni and getting a job. My pdoc says there is not a problem because I am not depressed and I've never been hyperactive.... but there is a very big problem- I am at risk of failing my exams. I can't even concentrate on TV progs!
How did you get your doc to prescribe Dex? Did you have to hold him at gun point? (as is necessary with mine if I need anything other than an SSRI.)
Best Regards,
Ed.
Posted by ed_uk on January 6, 2005, at 6:06:22
In reply to Re: Stimulants when needed..., posted by thinkfast on January 6, 2005, at 5:48:51
Hello!!!
>do you have AOL or AIM...
No I don't, how do I get them?
You could always send me a babblemail!
Regards,
Ed.
Posted by ed_uk on January 6, 2005, at 6:30:04
In reply to Re: Stimulants when needed... » thinkfast, posted by ed_uk on January 6, 2005, at 6:06:22
J Psychopharmacol. 2000 Mar;14(1):67-9.
Psychostimulants and psychiatrists: the Trent Adult Psychiatry Psychostimulant Survey.Bramble D.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, UK.
This study reports upon the results of a postal questionnaire survey of 107 adult psychiatrists which investigated their current use of psychostimulant pharmacotherapy and their attitudes towards the diagnostic status of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adulthood. Of the 88 respondents, only a minority of 11 (12.5%) used psychostimulants in their usual practice, albeit very infrequently (one or two prescriptions per year on average). Methylphenidate hydrochloride ('Ritalin') was the prescribers' most popular agent and 'narcolepsy' was the most frequently cited clinical indication for psychostimulants. ADHD appeared to represent only a very small area of current clinical activity and a minority of clinicians expressed the view that it did not exist in adults. It is concluded that psychostimulant therapy is relatively undeveloped in British adult psychiatry and that the clinical speciality generally appears to be unprepared for the growing numbers of adolescents with ADHD who are currently managed by child psychiatrists and who may require ongoing psychiatric care, including psychostimulant therapy.
Posted by bimini on January 6, 2005, at 11:14:52
In reply to Re: Stimulants when needed... » TheOutsider, posted by ed_uk on January 6, 2005, at 6:04:40
> How did you get your doc to prescribe Dex? Did you have to hold him at gun point?
LOL! Ed.
I would like to take stimulants as needed, I don't like taking meds, not even vitamins. I'm don't think I am depressed, but I do get irritated and angry, definitely not hyperactive. I do get distracted, attention leaves randomly and deminishes in the course of the day.
I don't notice mistakes, it may look funny but I don't catch it, later i wonder what the heck happened. For example I write a note which I can later make no sense of, like "8ber II pit grundlg sta Chicp." An abbreviation for some I know, mixed languages and number substitution. I figured out days later "8ber" means October, did I think octagon and wrote 8?My Doc insists I take stimulants every day and not skip. I want to take brakes.
bimini
Posted by paulbwell on January 10, 2005, at 19:13:45
In reply to Re: Stimulants when needed... » ed_uk, posted by Mr.Scott on January 5, 2005, at 22:25:31
>
> Hi,
>
> I take Provigil (and Ritalin or Dexedrine in the past) when my depression gets so bad as to threaten my ability to work. I have BP2 with SAD (depressed in winter), so sometimes it's real bad and I just can't tolerate much antidepressant. In this case I will use a stimulant either intermittently or for a month or two at a time full well respecting the abuse potential when used like this. I took ritalin for a while last winter, and will occassionally take half a provigil this winter as needed.
>
> ScottHi Mr Scott,
I take Ritalin 60mgs day, for some time and would like to try Dex, as the rit is pooping out.
Please share your experiences with each, dosage, CNS effects, SEs.
Much appreciated
Cheers Paul
Posted by Mr.Scott on January 10, 2005, at 21:37:49
In reply to Mr Scott, posted by paulbwell on January 10, 2005, at 19:13:45
Hi,
My experience has been that dexedrine is much smoother than is ritalin. It is less agitating, less anxiety producing, and the wear-off period is less intense (although concerta is a big improvement over older forms of ritalin..IMO.) I feel less aware that I'm on a stimulant when I've taken dexedrine, although I have experienced sexual dysfunction on Dex and not while on ritalin. It seems to be about one third more potent in me than ritalin. 40mg Dex = 60mg rit for me.
Hope that helps.
Scott
Posted by ed_uk on January 12, 2005, at 2:17:04
In reply to Re: Mr Scott » paulbwell, posted by Mr.Scott on January 10, 2005, at 21:37:49
Hello!
What type of sexual dysfunction did you experience on Dexedrine. I'm hoping to try Dex soon.
Thank you,
Ed.
Posted by Mr.Scott on January 13, 2005, at 18:28:39
In reply to Re: Mr Scott » Mr.Scott, posted by ed_uk on January 12, 2005, at 2:17:04
'Things' were a little too soft for my liking! But I'm sure as with all drugs ones response can be highly variable.
Scott
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