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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 utopizen on April 22, 2003, at 19:14:21
Okay, I have this really cool p-doc I switched to. I told him I have been suffering my whole life w/ social phobia and ADD, and this other p-doc has been putting me on these stupid ADs that won't do anything for a 1 1/2 years. I told him I only responded to Klonopin, and he looked puzzled-- I explained to him my old p-doc was afraid I would get "withdrawls" and "seizures" and this guy laughed over the notion.
Well, I said how this old p-doc wanted to try things like Nardil or Straterra next, but this new guy said "I don't like fixing things that aren't broken" and just gave me 1mg 3x/day of Klonopin and 40mg AM dose of Nadolol (all-day beta blocker for anxiety) plus my regular 10mg 2x/day of Desoxyn (methamphetamine).
But he said next time I saw him he might augument with Straterra, hoping it may also play a role with my anxiety.
But I was always interested in Provigil-- see- even on Desoxyn, I get sleepy often reading more than a few pages. Without a stim, reading more than a few pages is impossible. And the only time it seems I don't get sleepy is the second I lay on my bed, so I've like coniditioned myself against when I'm suppose to be tired/awake.
I'm seeing an ENT that specializes in apnea/snoring, and then getting a sleep study, because even though I've 170 lbs and 19, I think something's wrong with my sleep. I want to feel refreshed, and not have to nap all the time, etc. Like right now, all I can do is search Google, because if I try reading or doing work I'll get passed out, and I still have to clean my face before sleep.
Anyway, anyone notice more concentration, drive on Provigil or Straterra? Less prone to need naps? Wake up in morning feeling refreshed? Klonopin has only worsened my wake-ups-- I've missed classes at times because I was so out of it I hit the alarm, and I sleep 10 hour nights and feel groggy/unmotivated. So I need to augument something here. I want to be more awake, energetic, less tired, refreshed...
Posted by Donna Louise on April 23, 2003, at 9:01:35
In reply to Should I try Provigil or Straterra....?, posted by utopizen on April 22, 2003, at 19:14:21
I have not tried Staterra, but I can tell you that Provigil has been very helpful in keeping me from feeling like I need to sleep all day. I have more enthusiasm for life and can think more clearly too. In my case, I think it is overiding or counteracting AD apathy.
Donna
Posted by fallsfall on April 23, 2003, at 11:32:35
In reply to Re: Should I try Provigil or Straterra....?, posted by Donna Louise on April 23, 2003, at 9:01:35
I started taking Provigil and it was helpful. I have depression and I had absolutely no energy. But it didn't do enough for me (200mg). So my pdoc added Straterra. Initially I had nausea issues, but the combination seemed to be good. We cut out the Provigil and the Straterra by itself was't doing much. So I tried them together again (and took Ginger for the nausea). Wow. What a combination. My energy levels have increased dramatically (not to normal yet, but we can't be too greedy). The nausea went away with time. It also is really good a reducing suicidal ideation.
Good luck!
Posted by Jack Smith on April 23, 2003, at 12:25:20
In reply to Should I try Provigil or Straterra....?, posted by utopizen on April 22, 2003, at 19:14:21
Posted by Snoozy on April 23, 2003, at 12:48:45
In reply to Should I try Provigil or Straterra....?, posted by utopizen on April 22, 2003, at 19:14:21
> But I was always interested in Provigil-- see- even on Desoxyn, I get sleepy often reading more than a few pages. Without a stim, reading more than a few pages is impossible. And the only time it seems I don't get sleepy is the second I lay on my bed, so I've like coniditioned myself against when I'm suppose to be tired/awake.
>
> I'm seeing an ENT that specializes in apnea/snoring, and then getting a sleep study, because even though I've 170 lbs and 19, I think something's wrong with my sleep. I want to feel refreshed, and not have to nap all the time, etc. Like right now, all I can do is search Google, because if I try reading or doing work I'll get passed out, and I still have to clean my face before sleep.
>
> Anyway, anyone notice more concentration, drive on Provigil or Straterra? Less prone to need naps? Wake up in morning feeling refreshed? Klonopin has only worsened my wake-ups-- I've missed classes at times because I was so out of it I hit the alarm, and I sleep 10 hour nights and feel groggy/unmotivated. So I need to augument something here. I want to be more awake, energetic, less tired, refreshed...
I am having the exact same problem with reading and sleepiness. It has gotten so bad that I can't even read the newspaper without nodding off. And as if that weren't bad enough by itself, I really love to read. Books are my only escape from depression.I end up just sitting at the computer staring, in a total fog. TV makes me really depressed, so I try to stay away from it. And I sometimes sleep through 2 alarms (2 hours of hitting the snooze button).
This has been going on for months and I am getting so desperate and depressed. Last week I had had enough, and I called my pdoc - and of course he's out of town for 2 weeks. And I don't think you'll ever get a dr who's covering for your dr to prescribe anything, especially a stimulant. I don't know why I even bothered when I knew that was the case.
Anyway, I would really love to hear if you find anything that helps you feel more awake and alert. If I find anything, I'll post it.
I'm off for more coffee....
Posted by jemma on April 23, 2003, at 14:58:22
In reply to Re: Should I try Provigil or Straterra....? » utopizen, posted by Snoozy on April 23, 2003, at 12:48:45
I love my modafinil (provigil). Keeps me awake, alert, cheerful, and motivated. But it doesn't do a lot for my concentration. For that I've used ritalin or low-dose selegeline, in addition to the modafinil. The norepenephrine keeps me awake, but it takes dopamine to help me focus.
- jemma
Posted by Viridis on April 24, 2003, at 3:24:55
In reply to Should I try Provigil or Straterra....?, posted by utopizen on April 22, 2003, at 19:14:21
Provigil is worth a try -- you should be able to get free samples, since the pharm co. is agressively promoting it.
For me, it increased energy and confidence without causing anxiety or insomnia, just didn't help enough with concentration (I have ADD), so I moved to Adderall, which works quite well. I'm thnking about trying Provigil + Adderall, but my pdoc is hesitant about using two stimulants simultaneously, although I suspect that I could convince him.
He says that Provigil works very well for some for ADD +/or depression, but it's hard to predict the response.
I will be trying Strattera soon, but don't want to quit Adderall, so that could be an issue. In any case, I found that Provigil mixed well with Klonopin, so it's worth a try.
This is the end of the thread.
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