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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Alejandro on April 1, 2005, at 10:38:15
Hi, It´s my first time posting here. Let me telll you something about me. I am 26 years old. I have ADHD (mixed type: more inattentive than hyperactive) and primary hypersomnia. Also have suffered severe anxiety disorders in the past, which are little problem right now. Cognitive- Behavioural Therapy is great for me, but meds help me a lot; that´s my current combo:
1. Prozac: 40 mg (in the morning)
2. Modafinil (Provigil): 100 mg
3. Ritalin: 40 - 60 mg/day
4. Clonazepam (Klonopin): 0,5 mg (before sleeping)Also take:
5. Caffeine: 200 mg/day
6. Vit B Complex + vit C + zinc
7. Magnesium saltsSo, 7 medications... I don´t like to take so much pills.
In my country, adderall is not available, so I should import it. I´ve never tried adderall but guess could work very well for me. What are, in your experience,the nmost important advantages and disadvantages comparing adderall and ritalin? I will appreciate your answer. Thanks a lot for your support.
Posted by Maxime on April 1, 2005, at 11:35:40
In reply to Adderall vs Ritalin, posted by Alejandro on April 1, 2005, at 10:38:15
Hello there. I know there several people on the board who use Adderall or Ritalin for ADHD. But Many use it for depression. I am sure you will get some responses but there is a board just for ADD and it's at:
http://www.addforums.com/forums/index.php?
You might want to check it out.Maxime
> Hi, It´s my first time posting here. Let me telll you something about me. I am 26 years old. I have ADHD (mixed type: more inattentive than hyperactive) and primary hypersomnia. Also have suffered severe anxiety disorders in the past, which are little problem right now. Cognitive- Behavioural Therapy is great for me, but meds help me a lot; that´s my current combo:
>
> 1. Prozac: 40 mg (in the morning)
> 2. Modafinil (Provigil): 100 mg
> 3. Ritalin: 40 - 60 mg/day
> 4. Clonazepam (Klonopin): 0,5 mg (before sleeping)
>
> Also take:
>
> 5. Caffeine: 200 mg/day
> 6. Vit B Complex + vit C + zinc
> 7. Magnesium salts
>
> So, 7 medications... I don´t like to take so much pills.
> In my country, adderall is not available, so I should import it. I´ve never tried adderall but guess could work very well for me. What are, in your experience,the nmost important advantages and disadvantages comparing adderall and ritalin? I will appreciate your answer. Thanks a lot for your support.
Posted by Alejandro on April 1, 2005, at 12:35:48
In reply to Re: Adderall vs Ritalin » Alejandro, posted by Maxime on April 1, 2005, at 11:35:40
Thanks, Maxime! I´ve checked out your link - It´s really useful. By the way, I would like to hear about experiencies from people who used these drugs for depression too. Major depression (also chronic "minor" depression) are very common in ADHD, and as an adult ADHD I can say that treating ADHD (symptomatic control) is what prevents me to fall in depression. So both disorders may be highly related.
> Hello there. I know there several people on the board who use Adderall or Ritalin for ADHD. But Many use it for depression. I am sure you will get some responses but there is a board just for ADD and it's at:
> http://www.addforums.com/forums/index.php?
> You might want to check it out.
>
> Maxime
Posted by tendency on April 1, 2005, at 13:29:31
In reply to Adderall vs Ritalin, posted by Alejandro on April 1, 2005, at 10:38:15
> In my country, adderall is not available, so I should import it. I´ve never tried adderall but guess could work very well for me. What are, in your experience,the nmost important advantages and disadvantages comparing adderall and ritalin? I will appreciate your answer. Thanks a lot for your support.
Adderall, for me, is far superior to ritalin xr. Actually, I've only ever tried the generic ritatlin xr (methylphenidate..i think). Adderall has fewer side effects for me. Ritalin made me *very* irritable anc cranky. In addition, it was not nearly as effective in controlling my ADD symptoms. Felt much weaker than adderall and not as 'smooth' in action if you know what i mean.
Posted by paulbwell on April 1, 2005, at 14:37:12
In reply to Re: Adderall vs Ritalin » Maxime, posted by Alejandro on April 1, 2005, at 12:35:48
> Thanks, Maxime! I´ve checked out your link - It´s really useful. By the way, I would like to hear about experiencies from people who used these drugs for depression too. Major depression (also chronic "minor" depression) are very common in ADHD, and as an adult ADHD I can say that treating ADHD (symptomatic control) is what prevents me to fall in depression. So both disorders may be highly related.
>
>
> > Hello there. I know there several people on the board who use Adderall or Ritalin for ADHD. But Many use it for depression. I am sure you will get some responses but there is a board just for ADD and it's at:
> > http://www.addforums.com/forums/index.php?
> > You might want to check it out.
> >
> > MaximeHi,
I take Ritalin IR 10mg tabs, for ADHD hyperactive type, and have to say it seems to treat my co-morbid depression better and cleaner (less SEs) than the 6 AD i have tried.
Posted by Maxime on April 1, 2005, at 16:11:10
In reply to Re: Adderall vs Ritalin » Maxime, posted by Alejandro on April 1, 2005, at 12:35:48
Hi again.
Well I used Ritalin and Ritalin SR for depression and it was a disaster. I would crash so hard that I wanted to self injure. I took Adderall XR and it was a god send. It wore off a little too early in the evening but I didn't come down with a crashing blow. But then it was taken off the market in Canada in February. I haven't been the same since. I suppose I could import it from the U.S. I have to go through whole request process with Health Canada. However, it was pulled off the shelves because children had suffered strokes and some had died in the U.S. so now as I write this I realise that there no hope in getting Health Canada to approve the request. Funny how typing something out can make thoughts so much clearer.Hope this helps.
Maxime
> Thanks, Maxime! I´ve checked out your link - It´s really useful. By the way, I would like to hear about experiencies from people who used these drugs for depression too. Major depression (also chronic "minor" depression) are very common in ADHD, and as an adult ADHD I can say that treating ADHD (symptomatic control) is what prevents me to fall in depression. So both disorders may be highly related.
>
>
> > Hello there. I know there several people on the board who use Adderall or Ritalin for ADHD. But Many use it for depression. I am sure you will get some responses but there is a board just for ADD and it's at:
> > http://www.addforums.com/forums/index.php?
> > You might want to check it out.
> >
> > Maxime
Posted by tendency on April 1, 2005, at 16:55:21
In reply to Re: Adderall vs Ritalin » Alejandro, posted by Maxime on April 1, 2005, at 16:11:10
> Hi again.
> Well I used Ritalin and Ritalin SR for depression and it was a disaster. I would crash so hard that I wanted to self injure. I took Adderall XR and it was a god send. It wore off a little too early in the evening but I didn't come down with a crashing blow. But then it was taken off the market in Canada in February. I haven't been the same since. I suppose I could import it from the U.S. I have to go through whole request process with Health Canada. However, it was pulled off the shelves because children had suffered strokes and some had died in the U.S. so now as I write this I realise that there no hope in getting Health Canada to approve the request. Funny how typing something out can make thoughts so much clearer.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Maximei really can't wait until the selegilene patch (emsam) comes out. i really think it will be a godsend for those of us struggling with dopamine related issues.
Posted by CareBear04 on April 2, 2005, at 13:43:01
In reply to Adderall vs Ritalin, posted by Alejandro on April 1, 2005, at 10:38:15
hey alejandro--
i think prozac plus either ritalin or adderall is good and powerful. i currently take 20mg of prozac + 30mg of adderall xr in the morning. early in the afternoon, i take a second dose of adderall xr 20mg. the prozac is a new addition, but in the past month or so, i've felt better than i have in years. i have inattention and hyperactivity, too, and adderall helps me focus and gives me energy enough to be more alert.i've never taken generic ritalin, but i take concerta, extended release ritalin. i like it quite a bit, too. before i compare it, i should say that i took adderall immediate release for over six months, and i wasn't very satisfied. to me, it feels weak compared to adderall xr, and i don't like having to take it often. i used to take XR in the morning and one or two doses of IR later in the day, but i just started taking two doses of XR and like that better. i think concerta is a little smoother even than adderall xr. i like that it can be taken with or without food, and it may start working a little sooner than adderall xr. it also lasts an hour or two longer fo rme than adderall xr. i'm not sure what the conversion is between adderall and ritalin, but i have to take considerably more ritalin to feel a comparable result-- 81mg of ritalin compared to 30mg of adderall.
hope this helps.
Posted by Spriggy on April 2, 2005, at 16:52:48
In reply to Re: Adderall vs Ritalin » Alejandro, posted by CareBear04 on April 2, 2005, at 13:43:01
My sister has ADHD (severely) and I often display some symptoms. I definitely have OCD issues but have some serious anxiety problems with underlying depression.
So would something like this benefit me? I can't take the typical AD's that touch seratonin. it's a big "no no" for me unless I want to wig out and hallucinate.
However, when I drink a cup of coffee (which I read inhibits dopamine) I feel great for hours on end.
If Dopamine is my main problem, would one of these drugs be beneficial for me OR would it make my anxiety worse???
Posted by zeugma on April 2, 2005, at 19:21:16
In reply to question about ADD/depression, posted by Spriggy on April 2, 2005, at 16:52:48
> My sister has ADHD (severely) and I often display some symptoms. I definitely have OCD issues but have some serious anxiety problems with underlying depression.
>
> So would something like this benefit me? I can't take the typical AD's that touch seratonin. it's a big "no no" for me unless I want to wig out and hallucinate.
>
> However, when I drink a cup of coffee (which I read inhibits dopamine) I feel great for hours on end.
>Caffeine indirectly causes dopamine release, but IMO does not resemble the effects of the prescribed stims very much. caffeine has a proven AD effect, at least within a certain dosage range. I think it's very possible that stims worsen depression, and anxious depressives in particular. But...(see below)
> If Dopamine is my main problem, would one of these drugs be beneficial for me OR would it make my anxiety worse??? >>Even if dopamine is a problem, stims and anxiety typically don't go well together (a generalization, some people find the reverse true but I most definitely do not). The problem is that if ADD, depression, and anxiety are comorbid, the result is hard to treat because depression and anxiety seem to be, in essence, maladaptive responses to stress, and stims are in effect CNS stressors. So anxiolytics and antidepressants, and stims, are in some sense opposites, and so there is something counterproductive about the combination (this is simply my opinion). I hope others with more knowledge of this topic can correct me, because I would hope to be wrong here.
-z
Posted by alohashirt on April 2, 2005, at 22:15:54
In reply to Re: Adderall vs Ritalin » Alejandro, posted by CareBear04 on April 2, 2005, at 13:43:01
One risk when moving from Adderall to Concerta is to
use the subjective feel of the med as a proxy for its effectiveness.I know that I get more work done on 72mg Concerta
than 30mg of Adderall but the 30mg of Adderall feels
"speedy" whilst the Concerta feels "normal"
Posted by Alejandro on April 3, 2005, at 15:59:02
In reply to Re: Adderall vs Ritalin » Alejandro, posted by CareBear04 on April 2, 2005, at 13:43:01
Thanks, tendency, paulbwell, alohashirt, CareBear04, Maxime for your answers.
I should have explained that I am talking about IR Ritalin. I´ve tried Ritalin LA and it made non sense for me: since I am quite hypersomniac and ritalin lost its awakening proppperties when taken in XR. Also, crashing (perhaps the main disadvantage of methylphenidate)
was not smoother. Finally, plasma peaks were not less pronounced (as we may think) but were unpreditable: ritalin LA kicked in suddenly 4 hours after taking it, then faded out quickly, then appeared again "magically" 2 hours later and finally crashed. So, XR forms of methylphenidate are poor for me if i compare it with IR Ritalin.
I agree with paulbwell about the lack of SE of Ritalin IR and its great effectiveness for co-morbid depression in ADHD. Yes, PROZAC + AMPHETAMINE-LIKE STIMs are a great combo, carebear! At least for ADHD co-morbid depression. I´ve tried MANY ADs (including: venlafaxine, desipramine, bupropion, sertraline, even PARNATE) and prozac was the best for me because: 1) it doesn´t impare congnitive functions; 2) it has an impressive sinergy when combined with Ritalin; 3) helps controlling some ADHD symptoms.
So, it seems that Adderall advantage may be its lack of crashing; and a neutral aspèct are its euphoric effects (for some, more pronounced that those of ritalin); these may be a problem also since: 1) dose escalation is more likely to occur; 2) poop out may be potentially devastating; 3) it may cause the false impression that thing are being made better, while it is self-confidence which sustains this feeling. I´ve found that ADHDs tends to admit that ritalin or adderall are very similar in their effectiveness on executive tasks, being ritalin even better for many, but self-perception is more benign in adderall. those are neutral attributes, because a higher self-steem is important to face life for an ADHD and here adderall could help much more. Do you agree about this preliminary conclusions? Certainly, I hope to make a decision about that soon, so your opinion is much appreciated.Alejandro
> hey alejandro--
> i think prozac plus either ritalin or adderall is good and powerful. i currently take 20mg of prozac + 30mg of adderall xr in the morning. early in the afternoon, i take a second dose of adderall xr 20mg. the prozac is a new addition, but in the past month or so, i've felt better than i have in years. i have inattention and hyperactivity, too, and adderall helps me focus and gives me energy enough to be more alert.
>
> i've never taken generic ritalin, but i take concerta, extended release ritalin. i like it quite a bit, too. before i compare it, i should say that i took adderall immediate release for over six months, and i wasn't very satisfied. to me, it feels weak compared to adderall xr, and i don't like having to take it often. i used to take XR in the morning and one or two doses of IR later in the day, but i just started taking two doses of XR and like that better. i think concerta is a little smoother even than adderall xr. i like that it can be taken with or without food, and it may start working a little sooner than adderall xr. it also lasts an hour or two longer fo rme than adderall xr. i'm not sure what the conversion is between adderall and ritalin, but i have to take considerably more ritalin to feel a comparable result-- 81mg of ritalin compared to 30mg of adderall.
> hope this helps.
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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