Comments on: Determining the Best Stimulants http://www.askdrjones.com/adhd/determining-the-best-stimulants/ Ask Dr. Jones Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:15:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Bryan http://www.askdrjones.com/adhd/determining-the-best-stimulants/#comment-9428 Bryan Mon, 09 Apr 2007 11:22:24 +0000 http://www.askdrjones.com/2005/01/26/determining-the-best-stimulants/#comment-9428 I have been a desperate ADHD sufferer since birth. Symptoms have turned into suicidal depression, general social and other anxiety, agoraphobia, and acute insomnia. I cannot work anymore under these conditions and have frequent impulses to attempt suicide. I finally after a lot of apprehension was convinced to seek out pharmaceutical antidepressants, since I was on a daily basis having suicidal ideation. I've Tried SSRIs and was basically a zombie on them found little to no relief from the symptoms I was trying to alleviate. I went to a psychiatrist to tell my story and immediately she said "that sounds like ADHD dude." I was always hyperactive and inattentive during my childhood. My Mother fought the school district to keep me in school without taking any sort of medication for it (IE Ritalin.) Just this last year I tested very high when I took the ADHD test and began stimulant drug treatment immediately. I've been on Adderol, Welbutrin, Dexedrine, and Now Ritalin. I have had success from all of these drugs like: better mental focus, the ability to cope with daily tasks, the clouds were lifted from head, my depression improved, and my anxiety was better too. I also take a regiment of benzos for anxiety. Each and every one of the above listed stimulants also left me with crazy side effects: Worse insomnia, crashing effects, loss of appetite, little to no sex drive, psychosis with one in particular (Adderol), some left me too jittery, etc you get the point. Before all of this I stumbled across Ephedrine. I was on my way to work as a construction laborer and was dead tired. I decided to go to the local gas station and pick up some "Trucker Speed" A.K.A Ephedrine. It got me through the day and I noticed this sort of bliss, normalcy, ability to cope with tasks as never before, and many other desirable and very deserved feelings that I had been denied of for way too long. I continued to use Ephedrine for around 4 years. It finally out of nowhere went up around 4 times in price. I couldn't afford to use it before the price increase. So I’ve been researching online for the past 5 to 7 months in hopes to find something with a pharmacology similar to Ephedrine. I tolerated it well, I slept, ate, had no sexual problems, and didn't CRASH!!! from it like all these other ADHD meds. I took a printout to my doctor on Desoxyn ( which is made straight from ephedrine minus the harmful chemicals used to make "meth"). She'd never heard of it and told me she'd print it out and give it to the other doctors in the clinic to see what the deal was with this stuff and why they weren't prescribing it. I went in for my next visit with her and it wasn't pretty. I thought she was going to have a heart attack when she found out what Desoxyn was. She's not an actual MD so she sort of practices under the MDs in the clinic and respects there take on things or advice on any such matters. They were appalled to say the least that a patient of hers was asking to be prescribed this. They told her that It was a scheduled I drug (Like" Heroin, Crack, or Ecstasy). She wrote me up a lab demanding a drug screen before she would write any scripts for me (the normal regiment that she‘d already been prescribing me). I left there feeling hopeless, ashamed, and like some sort of junkie. Desoxyn isn't made like Meth. It is a Schedule II drug and has been FDA approved (since the 1960's) as an appropriate ADHD prescribable drug. I don’t feel that I deserved to be treated in such a way that she did. I'm not asking someone to prescribe me a meth lab!!! I've read nothing but good reviews on this stuff (revolutionhealth.com), little to no side effects, and most importantly it is made from the drug that saved my life for 4 years (Ephedrine). I live in MN and wondered if you knew of an MD, Psychiatrist, or Clinic that is familiar, respects, and is comfortable prescribing Desoxyn. Any sort of feedback would be great. Thank you for taking the time to read this, Bryan I have been a desperate ADHD sufferer since birth. Symptoms have turned into suicidal depression, general social and other anxiety, agoraphobia, and acute insomnia. I cannot work anymore under these conditions and have frequent impulses to attempt suicide. I finally after a lot of apprehension was convinced to seek out pharmaceutical antidepressants, since I was on a daily basis having suicidal ideation. I’ve Tried SSRIs and was basically a zombie on them found little to no relief from the symptoms I was trying to alleviate. I went to a psychiatrist to tell my story and immediately she said "that sounds like ADHD dude." I was always hyperactive and inattentive during my childhood. My Mother fought the school district to keep me in school without taking any sort of medication for it (IE Ritalin.) Just this last year I tested very high when I took the ADHD test and began stimulant drug treatment immediately. I’ve been on Adderol, Welbutrin, Dexedrine, and Now Ritalin. I have had success from all of these drugs like: better mental focus, the ability to cope with daily tasks, the clouds were lifted from head, my depression improved, and my anxiety was better too. I also take a regiment of benzos for anxiety. Each and every one of the above listed stimulants also left me with crazy side effects: Worse insomnia, crashing effects, loss of appetite, little to no sex drive, psychosis with one in particular (Adderol), some left me too jittery, etc you get the point. Before all of this I stumbled across Ephedrine. I was on my way to work as a construction laborer and was dead tired. I decided to go to the local gas station and pick up some "Trucker Speed" A.K.A Ephedrine. It got me through the day and I noticed this sort of bliss, normalcy, ability to cope with tasks as never before, and many other desirable and very deserved feelings that I had been denied of for way too long. I continued to use Ephedrine for around 4 years. It finally out of nowhere went up around 4 times in price. I couldn’t afford to use it before the price increase. So I’ve been researching online for the past 5 to 7 months in hopes to find something with a pharmacology similar to Ephedrine. I tolerated it well, I slept, ate, had no sexual problems, and didn’t CRASH!!! from it like all these other ADHD meds. I took a printout to my doctor on Desoxyn ( which is made straight from ephedrine minus the harmful chemicals used to make "meth"). She’d never heard of it and told me she’d print it out and give it to the other doctors in the clinic to see what the deal was with this stuff and why they weren’t prescribing it. I went in for my next visit with her and it wasn’t pretty. I thought she was going to have a heart attack when she found out what Desoxyn was. She’s not an actual MD so she sort of practices under the MDs in the clinic and respects there take on things or advice on any such matters. They were appalled to say the least that a patient of hers was asking to be prescribed this. They told her that It was a scheduled I drug (Like" Heroin, Crack, or Ecstasy). She wrote me up a lab demanding a drug screen before she would write any scripts for me (the normal regiment that she‘d already been prescribing me). I left there feeling hopeless, ashamed, and like some sort of junkie. Desoxyn isn’t made like Meth. It is a Schedule II drug and has been FDA approved (since the 1960’s) as an appropriate ADHD prescribable drug. I don’t feel that I deserved to be treated in such a way that she did. I’m not asking someone to prescribe me a meth lab!!! I’ve read nothing but good reviews on this stuff (revolutionhealth.com), little to no side effects, and most importantly it is made from the drug that saved my life for 4 years (Ephedrine). I live in MN and wondered if you knew of an MD, Psychiatrist, or Clinic that is familiar, respects, and is comfortable prescribing Desoxyn. Any sort of feedback would be great. Thank you for taking the time to read this, Bryan

]]> By: RPP http://www.askdrjones.com/adhd/determining-the-best-stimulants/#comment-9427 RPP Sat, 13 Jan 2007 22:12:24 +0000 http://www.askdrjones.com/2005/01/26/determining-the-best-stimulants/#comment-9427 Dr. Jones: Thanks for your website. I've found that it has some of the most balanced, current advice available on the web. I was especially interested in your comments regarding stimulants. I'm a 39 y.o. male and I was diagnosed with depression about 7 years ago after the death of my father. I have received regular care from a psychiatrist for whom I have great respect and who I think has provided me with great attention and care. We've tried many different anti-depressants, with Effexor providing the best relief from severe depressive symptoms. My main problem, though, has been a more chronic treatment-resistant depression characterized primarily by low energy, difficulty concentrating, avoidance of social interaction, irritability, and a mild but persistent depressed mood. For these symptoms, Dexedrine has provided the best relief. It relieves my symptoms and elevates my mood to what I consider a normal level. However, I've never wanted to take a stimulant on a daily basis because it often makes me feel too "wired" and the positive effects seem too transient and artificial to me (if that makes any sense). I've been off all anti-depressants for a year or so now but have continued to fight the same chronic symptoms. I tried the Dexadrine spantials on a daily basis beginning last September, but again didn't like the "wired" feeling. My doctor switched me to the Daytrana patch in November and I've had pretty good luck with it. It helps with the symptoms listed above and keeps me from slipping into a deeper depression. It's not perfect, though. It doesn't help as much with mood elevation as Dexedrine and it causes a difficult-to-describe restlessness and irritability. I've also had some problems with impulsivity while on it. Overall, it's been good, but I would like something that's a little smoother and that provides more natural mood elevation. I noticed your comments on Adderall. I'm pretty sure I tried Adderall several years ago without much success. I'm sure I just used it intermittently then, though, since I was hesitant to use any stimulant on a daily basis. Do you have any thoughts on how I should proceed? It seems to me that stimulants obviously are the type of medication that addresses my symptoms most directly, and I wondered whether you had any thoughts on what type of stimulant might be best. Sorry for the length of this comment. I appreciate any advice you might have. Dr. Jones: Thanks for your website. I’ve found that it has some of the most balanced, current advice available on the web. I was especially interested in your comments regarding stimulants. I’m a 39 y.o. male and I was diagnosed with depression about 7 years ago after the death of my father. I have received regular care from a psychiatrist for whom I have great respect and who I think has provided me with great attention and care. We’ve tried many different anti-depressants, with Effexor providing the best relief from severe depressive symptoms. My main problem, though, has been a more chronic treatment-resistant depression characterized primarily by low energy, difficulty concentrating, avoidance of social interaction, irritability, and a mild but persistent depressed mood. For these symptoms, Dexedrine has provided the best relief. It relieves my symptoms and elevates my mood to what I consider a normal level. However, I’ve never wanted to take a stimulant on a daily basis because it often makes me feel too "wired" and the positive effects seem too transient and artificial to me (if that makes any sense). I’ve been off all anti-depressants for a year or so now but have continued to fight the same chronic symptoms. I tried the Dexadrine spantials on a daily basis beginning last September, but again didn’t like the "wired" feeling. My doctor switched me to the Daytrana patch in November and I’ve had pretty good luck with it. It helps with the symptoms listed above and keeps me from slipping into a deeper depression. It’s not perfect, though. It doesn’t help as much with mood elevation as Dexedrine and it causes a difficult-to-describe restlessness and irritability. I’ve also had some problems with impulsivity while on it. Overall, it’s been good, but I would like something that’s a little smoother and that provides more natural mood elevation. I noticed your comments on Adderall. I’m pretty sure I tried Adderall several years ago without much success. I’m sure I just used it intermittently then, though, since I was hesitant to use any stimulant on a daily basis. Do you have any thoughts on how I should proceed? It seems to me that stimulants obviously are the type of medication that addresses my symptoms most directly, and I wondered whether you had any thoughts on what type of stimulant might be best. Sorry for the length of this comment. I appreciate any advice you might have.

]]> By: site admin http://www.askdrjones.com/adhd/determining-the-best-stimulants/#comment-9426 site admin Wed, 26 Jul 2006 03:00:12 +0000 http://www.askdrjones.com/2005/01/26/determining-the-best-stimulants/#comment-9426 Linda - Thanks for your question. Dr. Jones responded here: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.askdrjones.com/2006/07/25/treating-fibromyalgia/">Treating Fibromyalgia</a> Linda -

Thanks for your question. Dr. Jones responded here: Treating Fibromyalgia

]]> By: Linda http://www.askdrjones.com/adhd/determining-the-best-stimulants/#comment-9425 Linda Thu, 20 Jul 2006 03:20:38 +0000 http://www.askdrjones.com/2005/01/26/determining-the-best-stimulants/#comment-9425 I am taking cymbalta, concerta and ambien - this week to substitute daytrana - for fibromyalgia. Key problems are sleep, pain, mental fog, low energy to the level of cfs. Is it standard treatment to use a stimulant drug for this condition? I have relief in all areas when taking the meds - but the energy and motivation are still laggin behind. I would appreciate an email response. Thank you. Linda I am taking cymbalta, concerta and ambien - this week to substitute daytrana - for fibromyalgia. Key problems are sleep, pain, mental fog, low energy to the level of cfs.

Is it standard treatment to use a stimulant drug for this condition?

I have relief in all areas when taking the meds - but the energy and motivation are still laggin behind.

I would appreciate an email response.

Thank you.

Linda

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