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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by blueberry on June 10, 2006, at 8:46:32
Scott, just an idea. Have you ever tried adrafinil? Forget modafinil. Even though modafinil is a metabolite of adrafinil, these two are completely different meds.
I don't know what made me think of it. By itself I'm not sure adrafinil is all that effective, though clinical studies show it is. But in combination with other meds it can really wake up those reuptake-inhibited neurotransmitters and put some life into them. Years ago I used adrafinil for about a year. It was the magic bullet that made a partial response on prozac and zyprexa turn into complete remission, beginning in about 3 days but being absolutely complete in a month.
Since you respond briefly to NE/DA stuff, adrafinil is in that category. While other meds increase the levels of NE/DA, adrafinil seems to spark them into action.
Of the dozens of meds I've ever taken, adrafinil was by far the most effective ever. But not by itself. I can't remember why I stopped. Again last fall I tried it with zoloft and within a week I was feeling almost normal. Then I got hit with a major downslide. I thought it was the adrafinil. But in reviewing my notes, this major downfall came 5 days after stopping depakote. I had an emergency room crash a couple months earlier, also on day 5 of stopping depakote. So now I wonder.
Anyway, do a google search on "adrafinil glutamate gaba" and you'll come across a very detailed page with tons of information and plenty of clinical studies to go through.
I mention adrafinil because it is in your arena (NE/DA), it is cheap, it doesn't poop out, it can work incredible with other meds, side effects are nill, and it represents a completely different mode of action than any other meds you have tried.
Posted by SLS on June 10, 2006, at 10:47:47
In reply to SLS, posted by blueberry on June 10, 2006, at 8:46:32
> Scott, just an idea. Have you ever tried adrafinil? Forget modafinil. Even though modafinil is a metabolite of adrafinil, these two are completely different meds.
Thanks, Blueberry.
Hmm.
I'll have to think about that one. I had a terrible experience with modafinil, so I am reluctant to have that stuff circulating in my blood stream. It made me more depressed, produced anxiety, and made me feel very foggy and dazed.
I have heard from others that the two drugs are different in their therapeutic effects. Have you ever tried modafinil?
- Scott
Posted by Tom Twilight on June 10, 2006, at 13:44:35
In reply to Re: SLS » blueberry, posted by SLS on June 10, 2006, at 10:47:47
Sorry to but in
I Just wanted to say that in my opinion Adrafanil and Modafanil are very different meds, despite being very similar on paper.
Its been quite a few years since I last took Adrafanil, but I remember it as being a good drug.
Only problem was it caused unbearable insomnia....Modafanil on the over hand I had high hopes for, but found it unpleasant, caused anxiety and insomnia, didn't help with mood.
I know I'm not the only one who likes Adrafanil but dislikes Modafanil.
Posted by blueberry on June 10, 2006, at 14:14:37
In reply to Re: SLS » blueberry, posted by SLS on June 10, 2006, at 10:47:47
Scott, yes, modafinil and adrafinil are night and day in their effects. Not at all similar in my experience. I have tried both. I hated modafinil. But adrafinil was awesome.
It has start-up stuff similar to too much coffee. I started at 75mg (quarter pill) and worked up. Recommended dose is 900mg, but my maintenance dose for a year was 300mg.
I think if someone tries it by itself or for a short time the benefits are not realized. In my opinion it needs a reuptake inhibitor and a month.
After I was on it for a month, there were no side effects and I was in remission. That was along with prozac and zyprexa, which by themselves had not really done the job. Somehow adrafinil tied it all together.
Anhedonia, motivation, pleasure, socialibility, talkativeness, interest, overall well being...these are the things that gradually improve over weeks. Concentration and cognitive function improves also. For me the improvements in all these areas was profound and took me by surprise. I had researched everything on adrafinil, but nothing gave me any hint it was going to work as good as it did.
Based on how it felt, I think the modafinil metabolite of adrafinil is small in proportion, quickly becomes invisible, and is overshadowed by other mechanisms.
This is the end of the thread.
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