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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 3 Beer Effect on October 12, 2004, at 23:10:06
I am looking for a med that can help me excel at work. Currently, I have alot of trouble getting out of bed in the morning (even if I go to sleep by 9:40 pm) & I donīt really wake up & start performing until after lunch (after iīve had a Red Bull). I canīt take anything that will cause memory loss because I am going to take a graduate school course next semester (so benzos, & almost all ADs are out).
Anyways, these are some meds I was considering. I would only try one med at a time (when I tried combos before especially with benzos they seem to cause memory loss/transient stupidity). Since I have a fairly new job, I canīt really take off work to see a psychiatrist once a month so I will probably just use an online doctor from one of those shady pharmacies in Miami.
1. Selegeline/Eldepryl 10 mg/day.
(Does this combined with DLPA somewhat reproduce the effects of Dextrostat but without the addiction problems?)if that doesnīt work, either
2. Wellbutrin XL or IR 300 mg/day.
(Is Wellbutrin IR a good stimulant- does that 100 mg morning dose wake you up quickly everyday?)or 3. Prozac 10 mg/day.
Iīve tried most of the SSRIs for (social phobia & mild depression). Unfortunately they caused memory loss & a sense of dumbness which definitely wonīt help me at work. But I read in a book that Prozac is stimulating & quickens thought(I have taken zoloft which also was stimulating at 100 mg but after a few months caused dumbness, insomnia & eventually manic type behavior & excessive disinhibition). I wonder if 10 mg will be stimulating without the dumbness issues & but at the same time help with my shyness?or 4. Clobenzorex (Asenlix) from Mexico (diet pill not sold in US that metabolizes in d-amphetamine)- has anyone tried this, is it better than Didrex for attention?
or 5. Didrex (benzphetamine).I canīt take Dextrostat or Ritalin because I used to see a psychiatrist & got addicted to both of those. That was atleast 2 years ago & I still have an intense craving for Dextrostat every morning when I get up.
Provigil is probably too expensive & not readily available online at a reasonable price.
Thanks,
3 Beer Effect
Posted by Bill LL on October 13, 2004, at 8:27:17
In reply to Best med for climbing the Corporate ladder?, posted by 3 Beer Effect on October 12, 2004, at 23:10:06
First of all, you should see a doctor in person. If you can't afford a pdoc, see an internist. Internists and other general docs write more prescriptions each year for antidepressants than do pdocs. You do not need to see a pdoc.
Since you had problems with Ritalin, ask your doc about Strattera. Although ADD drugs do not technically make you "smarter", they do help calm ADD people down and allow them to concentrate and do better mentally and socially.
I am doing very well with my daily dose of 30 mg Lexapro and 120 mg Strattera.
You mentioned that you are alert after Red Bull. I go right to the caffeine with caffeine pills. I usually take 2 NoDoze pills when I wake up each morning. Each has 200 mg of caffeine. A 16 ounce Starbucks has 500 mg caffeine. So I don't get as much as in a Starbucks, but the 400 mg does give me a lot of energy.
Posted by utopizen on October 13, 2004, at 10:09:40
In reply to Best med for climbing the Corporate ladder?, posted by 3 Beer Effect on October 12, 2004, at 23:10:06
> I canīt take anything that will cause memory loss because I am going to take a graduate school course next semester (so benzos, & almost all ADs are out).
>
Depression itself leads to memory loss. So the net gain an AD could give you would HELP your memory.And if you need energy, consider Cymbalta. Lots here report drive/concentration/focus is helped by it.
Posted by psychosage on October 13, 2004, at 13:31:32
In reply to Re: Best med for climbing the Corporate ladder?, posted by utopizen on October 13, 2004, at 10:09:40
provigil runs about $40 per 30/100mg tabs if you buy it as alertec through canadian mail order. you have to shop around and get a script first. as far as non-script sources, all I will say is that the price is going down and I have seen a couple of reasonable deals with pharmacies online that are abroad. of course it is best to play it safe.
thank god I am covered for it.
Posted by watergirl on October 13, 2004, at 15:29:41
In reply to Best med for climbing the Corporate ladder?, posted by 3 Beer Effect on October 12, 2004, at 23:10:06
Nice to see you around, 3 Beer.
I have been prescribed up to 450mgs of Wellbutrin. I LOVE WELLBUTRIN. I definitely prefer the sr version (2 Xs daily). When I was on it, mornings were so easy. I didnt need to pull the covers over my eyes upon awakening. I didnt want to smoke or drink or even smoke pot. I never did try the IR version. As far as I know,at least 6 months ago, only the IR version is available in Mexico.
BTW, Im not allowed Wellbutrin due to seizures I had while on it.Wellbutrin can induce anxiety. Many meds can, for that matter. Without Benzos & SSRIs, how do you plan on keeping anxiety at bay?
Look into parkinsons meds, they may help.
Maybe other class of ADs, like MAOI or TRICILICS. I dont really know about those work.
Check out the "Alternative Board". I guess there is some pretty good stuff at the Health food store.Did you ever find the 3 beer effect in pill form? Gabatril apeared ideal, it is a tease though.
Best Wishes,
Cindy
Posted by craig getty on October 14, 2004, at 15:12:03
In reply to Best med for climbing the Corporate ladder?, posted by 3 Beer Effect on October 12, 2004, at 23:10:06
3 Beer Effect - great name!
Wellbutrin SR (300 mg) works decently for me. Dosages can go up to 450 mg but I currently don't find any increased benefits when I go up on dosage. I haven't heard anything about the IR. Wellbutrin works better for me than Prozac or Zoloft. But remember everyone's body chemistry is different. You said Zoloft made you manic at 100 mg, but I never got sufficient energy even when I was on 400 mg (double the max recommended dose - I was getting it from a general doctor who didn't know what he was doing).
Provigil never did anything great for me. Adderall ER is helping me with energy and concentration. The ER part of it, makes the comedown easier, and I don't jones for more and more like I did on Ritalin as well as certain street drugs.
I'm always reluctant to go the diet pill avenue for increased energy. They can end up being as addictive - while not even as "effective" - as coke or meth (which I don't recommend either).
You could try alternatives, like Ginseng and Ginkgo Biloba. I thought these helped me in the past, but I suspect a large part of it was placebo. Some people swear by them - check out the alternative board. There's also massage therapy, accupuncture, and the obvious, often annoying, but true factors of proper diet and exercise.
Coffee can become bad news. Caffeine tolerance builds easily. I was out in the working world for a few years before going back to school. I got to the point where I would have up to 9 cups of coffee a day, but would still feel tired. Plus, I've read that there are other natural chemical in coffee aside from caffeine that add to the boost of coffee, but also can lead to withdrawal and moodiness. I've experienced that too. Try green tea instead. It has as much caffeine as coffee, but is actually good for you because it fights free radicals in your bloodstream.
Good luck,
Craig
Posted by Noa on October 16, 2004, at 12:20:13
In reply to Best med for climbing the Corporate ladder?, posted by 3 Beer Effect on October 12, 2004, at 23:10:06
Instead of medication (or at least before medication), I would recommend a sleep study to try to find out why you are still so tired after what should be a full night's sleep. Perhaps you have some form of sleep disorder?
If you do need meds, it is important to try to find out what the cause of your morning wakefulness problem really is so that the right type of med (or whatever other form of treatment)can be prescribed.
I also noticed your name and feel it is important to ask--is your name indicative of your daily routine? Ie, if you are consuming alcohol regularly, could that be contributing in some way to your difficulty being energetic in the morning?
This is the end of the thread.
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