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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Michelle G on March 12, 2002, at 17:29:48
I'm 35 now and I've been depressed since I was 12 years old! That is up until this past year! I finally found a combination of meds that work. It has been a long process, but I think I'm getting closer. 21/2 years ago I tried EFFEXOR XR with great results.(No depression or anxiety for 2 1/2 years and I quit drinking alcohol as well!) I was diagnosed with ADHD about a year ago and was put on 5mg Dextroanphetamine 3 times daily along with the Effexor (75mg XR twice a day). I have been feeling fabulous for the past year. Only one problem--I drink coffee and diet sodas all day long. I've been reading about the side effects of caffeine and nutrasweet and decided I'd like a healthier diet so I quit drinking the caffeinated drinks and artificial sweetners. Well after a week & half of withdrawl, I'm realizing I'm not as focused as I was before--and I am definitely more sleepy than before and I feel like I'm tossing and turning all night. It could be that I am possibly still withdrawing, but I am more inclined to think that my Dextroanphetamine needs to be raised to compensate for what the caffiene was doing before. Then I can have the focus and energy and great sleep again--without all the health risks associated with caffiene! Any input would be appreciated!
Posted by Mark H. on March 12, 2002, at 17:57:40
In reply to Dextroanphetamine + Effexor + Caffiene = Success?, posted by Michelle G on March 12, 2002, at 17:29:48
I agree with your assessment. I find that I need to switch between methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine to give my body a "break" from each while still being able to stay awake and focused during the day. Although I quit most caffeine 14 years ago, I still experience what you're talking about when I go on chocolate binges that sometimes last for months.
While my doctor doesn't want me to take the ritalin and dexedrine *together*, he has no problem with my switching between them on different days. This seems to keep me from building up a tolerance, especially to the dexedrine.
Check with your doctor about raising your dexedrine to compensate for your break from caffeine.
Best wishes,
Mark H.
Posted by Bekka H. on March 12, 2002, at 18:53:00
In reply to Dextroanphetamine + Effexor + Caffiene = Success?, posted by Michelle G on March 12, 2002, at 17:29:48
Hi Michelle. That's great that you finally found a medicine combo that works for you! Congratulations on quitting caffeine, too! The only thing I can think of is that you probably are in some kind of withdrawal. It sounds like you stopped "cold turkey." Maybe a slower withdrawal would have been a little easier on you? I think caffeinated sodas have a lot less caffeine than a cup of coffee. If you continue to have problems, maybe you could try a slower taper rather than stopping abruptly and rather than raising the dexedrine. The reason I'm reluctant to suggest raising the dexedrine is that the combo (Effexor + Dex) seems to be working so well for you, so you don't want to develop a tolerance to Dex. I try to keep the stimulant doses as LOW as possible to stave off tolerance. What do you think?
Posted by Hattree on March 12, 2002, at 20:18:40
In reply to Dextroanphetamine + Effexor + Caffiene = Success?, posted by Michelle G on March 12, 2002, at 17:29:48
Maybe Dex, Effexor and Caffeine does spell success for you. I wouldn't assume you'll get the same benefit from more dex. Its worth a try, but I'm not sure the caffeine is such a bad idea.
Posted by fachad on March 12, 2002, at 20:19:45
In reply to Dextroanphetamine + Effexor + Caffiene = Success?, posted by Michelle G on March 12, 2002, at 17:29:48
I don't think you can just substitute more Dex for the caffeine.
Not that it would be a good idea, anyway, but just because they are both broadly classed as "stimulants" does not mean they are chemically related or that they work the same way in your brain.
I doubt there is enough Dex in the world to prevent a caffeine withdrawal headache, because Dex is not nearly as good at constricting the swollen blood vessels in your head that are causing the headache and are screaming to be shrunk by your daily fix of caffeine.
I know from first hand experience that neither Dex nor Ritalin will replace Sudafed as a decongestant.
I agree with Bekka that a taper would be a better strategy.
Just for the record, Dex + Effexor + Caffeine could very likely = high blood pressure, fast heartbeat, or worse. Be careful because all three of those are known to raise blood pressure.
> I'm 35 now and I've been depressed since I was 12 years old! That is up until this past year! I finally found a combination of meds that work. It has been a long process, but I think I'm getting closer. 21/2 years ago I tried EFFEXOR XR with great results.(No depression or anxiety for 2 1/2 years and I quit drinking alcohol as well!) I was diagnosed with ADHD about a year ago and was put on 5mg Dextroanphetamine 3 times daily along with the Effexor (75mg XR twice a day). I have been feeling fabulous for the past year. Only one problem--I drink coffee and diet sodas all day long. I've been reading about the side effects of caffeine and nutrasweet and decided I'd like a healthier diet so I quit drinking the caffeinated drinks and artificial sweetners. Well after a week & half of withdrawl, I'm realizing I'm not as focused as I was before--and I am definitely more sleepy than before and I feel like I'm tossing and turning all night. It could be that I am possibly still withdrawing, but I am more inclined to think that my Dextroanphetamine needs to be raised to compensate for what the caffiene was doing before. Then I can have the focus and energy and great sleep again--without all the health risks associated with caffiene! Any input would be appreciated!
Posted by Michelle G on March 13, 2002, at 1:42:06
In reply to Re: Dextroanphetamine + Effexor + Caffiene = Success?, posted by Bekka H. on March 12, 2002, at 18:53:00
> Hi Michelle. That's great that you finally found a medicine combo that works for you! Congratulations on quitting caffeine, too! The only thing I can think of is that you probably are in some kind of withdrawal. It sounds like you stopped "cold turkey." Maybe a slower withdrawal would have been a little easier on you? I think caffeinated sodas have a lot less caffeine than a cup of coffee. If you continue to have problems, maybe you could try a slower taper rather than stopping abruptly and rather than raising the dexedrine. The reason I'm reluctant to suggest raising the dexedrine is that the combo (Effexor + Dex) seems to be working so well for you, so you don't want to develop a tolerance to Dex. I try to keep the stimulant doses as LOW as possible to stave off tolerance. What do you think?
Thanks for your reply! This was my first time posting on this sight and I'm amazed at the kindness of strangers!
I'm reading a lot about switching stimulant medications to stave off tolerance--so I'm glad you mentioned keeping the stimulant doses as low as possible. I do think I quit the caffeine rather abruptly! I was at a Korean health spa having my 1st-time experience of relaxing & "detoxing" my body (relaxing being my primary motive)when I decided--"hey, why not go for it now that my body has sweated out most of the caffeine in my body anyway!" (There were 4 dry saunas, with different herbs, salts, muds, etc. and a very wet steamy sauna, not to mention body scrubs, mineral pools and hot tubs to alternate with freezing pools to shock your pancreas into action! This was all unknown to me!)So I decided I'd be one-up on the whole withdrawl thing.Not! I had the headache of my life the next day--took 4 ibuprophen and took a 3 hour nap. I havn't had any more headaches, Just the no-energy kind of feeling a lot of the day. So maybe my withdrawl is not over...if I just give it a bit more time, I may start feeling some energy again. I hope. Or I wonder if cutting back on the dex for a few days (of misery) may not just help things out in the long run. I see my doctor Tuesday--I'd like to hold out til then. I don't know the dose ranges of dextroamphetamine anyway. (I'm taking 5mg 3x's daily now)
Again, thanks for your input, Bekka (and all who responded! Thanks!)
Posted by Mark H. on March 13, 2002, at 10:36:27
In reply to Re: Dextroanphetamine + Effexor + Caffiene = Success? » Bekka H., posted by Michelle G on March 13, 2002, at 1:42:06
I learned from these thoughtful posts as well.
I'd like to second Bekka's recommendation on keeping doses of stimulants as low as possible. In my experience, when I hit a certain limit (an amount that has changed over the years and varies even according to the heat of the day for me), adding more stimulant puts me to sleep. This paradoxical reaction is a great incentive to keep my dosage as low as I can while still retaining effectiveness. It's also one of the reasons that I'm experimenting (under care of my doctor) with rotating stimulants, to see if doing so will also help me keep from building tolerance.
At the same time, I appreciate the comments of those who pointed out that caffeine may be especially effective for you -- I tend to think narrowly of it as one of those health obstacles I gave up long ago -- but it was incorrect for me to generalize my experience. It may be just the thing for you.
(And Bekka, if I haven't said this before, your posting was *perfect* -- a model for the rest of us. Thank you so much for being here.)
With kind regards,
Mark H.
This is the end of the thread.
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