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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
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
Posted by Dr. Bob on June 9, 2003, at 4:31:07
In reply to My ADHD Comorbid Tale (or morbid lol) + ??'s, posted by Azurebay on June 8, 2003, at 15:11:26
> 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.
Welcome back. And sorry if it's more confusing here now, but Psycho-Babble is the board for medication-related issues. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030609/msgs/232559.html
Bob
Posted by utopizen on February 20, 2004, at 18:36:30
In reply to My ADHD Comorbid Tale (or morbid lol) + ??'s, posted by Azurebay on June 8, 2003, at 15:11:26
> >
> 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.
>
> N
> And any of you are welcome to email me directly if I may be of support: (azurebay)@(msn.com)
>
> With Thanks... and Smiles Always,
>
> Von
> aka AzureWOW- Aricept responsive to your brain- finally one patient who I've come across who can say this. I always had low hopes for it, because I assumed if it worked well, more docs would prescribe it.
I'd like to try it out. Suppose to work in 1/4 patients with ADD+Executive Dysfunction (time management, basically).
Anyone else try it at 5mg? I've never tried it.
Likely won't for awhile... doc I'm about to see will have to think about my ideas to switch back on Klonopin after a short trial of Xanax XR, try Adderall after a long trial of Desoxyn (my stims need changes, I don't know why, it's healthier I guess for stims to act in a different mechanism for only so long).
Already ordered Ambien online two nights ago, and FedEx got it to me. Couldn't wait another night hoping my new pdoc on Tue. will prescribe it, or my new sleep psychiatrist either. $140+$20 shipping for 10mg #30.
It's a shame, I have health insurance and I'm a poor college student, but I'm sick of not having control in my life because I don't sleep so often.
Dr. Bob doesn't advise postings on this, so I won't go further or say where I got it from.
Aricept I've kicked around for a year or so to my different p-docs, and they always are so-so about it and there's always some new AD or antipsychotic or something to trial for my social anxiety or ADD or sleepiness that it's been put off the back burner. But I wonder if it could actually make me focus, ,and not waste my time in my dorm and actually have me study. I like the idea you just take it the first day and notice the effect, if I'm not mistaken??
Oh, one doc claimed that Shire's dementia drug, similiar to Aricept and starts with a D, is more effective at treating ADHD. But he didn't seem to use any established explanations for it, sounded arbitrary.
good luck!!
This is the end of the thread.
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