Posted by AndrewB on June 10, 2000, at 15:53:19
Reboxetine and Adrafinil take approximately 2 weeks, sometimes longer to take effect. These drugs have been wonderful for many people, providing mental and physical arousal sometimes along with an antidepressant effect. However many people either don’t respond to the medicines or experience intolerable side effects.
Naphazoline is alpha agonist like adrafinil that comes in the form of eye drops. I believe Naph. offers a way to predict whether one will respond to reboxetine, adrafinil, and possibly other drugs that act mainly on the alpha 1 andrenergic receptor.
It acts in seconds to minutes. When it works, one’s tiredness, lack of mental clarity or mood should improve. Simply put a drop in each eye, as instructed below. Wait 10 minutes. If no effect is felt, add two more drops. To maintain the effect, you will have to apply more drops (when you begin to ‘drag’ again) as needed. This may be once a day for others it may be six times or more a day. For some the drops may be too strong. In this case simply dilute with normal sterile saline solution.
Naphazoline is an alpha agonist with a short onset of action and a short half life. Basically, its action is through the same receptors as reboxetine and adrafinil but the onset of the arousal effect is much more rapid. I take reboxetine and the arousal effect I experience from it is about the same as I feel when I take Naphazoline.
You can take Naphazoline on an ongoing basis though the label instructions advise against it. But in fact, some Chronic Fatigue Immune Disorder Syndrome (CFIDS) doctors have some of their patients taking these eye drops for years. I’m not recommending this. I’ve only been taking Naph. for 3 days and I can’t say yet if it is better or worse than the reboxetine I take. (My reboxetine, btw, has partially pooped out.) Naphazoline, certainly, gives a person more control over their degree of arousal; take a little more if you didn’t get much sleep, take less on evenings you want to cut down on sexual side effects.
Naphazoline can be purchased at the local drug store under a variety of tradenames such as Vasocon and Naphcon. A prescription is not required. They cost about $14 for 15mL in the US and about half that in Canada. Read the box before you buy. It should list as active ingredients Naphazoline Hydrochloride at an approximate strength of 0.01%. Naph. should contain no other active ingredients. Brands that have ‘A’s at the end of their trade names, such as VasoconA and NaphconA, contain an antihistamine also as an active ingredient. Do not buy these.
It is my guess that people will experience some (but not all) of the same side effects on Naph. as they would with adrafinil or reboxetine. For example, if Naph. gives one agitation, anxiety, or sexual side effects, there is a good chance reboxetine or adrafinil will do the same. I think reboxetine though can give a person side effects that you wouldn’t get with either Naph. or adrafinil.
Too much Naph. may cause headaches, anxiety, agitation, insomnia, sweating, rapid heart beat. Do not take it if you have high blood pressure or cardiac disease as the medicine will raise blood pressure and can induce arrythmias.
MORE NAPHAZOLINE INFORMATION: (source: Mayo Clinic Health Oasis at www.mayohealth.org/usp/html/202389.htm)
Medical Problems:
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of ophthalmic naphazoline. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) or
Heart disease or
High blood pressure or
Overactive thyroid-Use of ophthalmic naphazoline may make the condition worseEye disease, infection, or injury-The symptoms of the condition may be confused with possible side effects of ophthalmic naphazoline
To use:
First, wash your hands. With the middle finger, apply pressure to the inside corner of the eye (and continue to apply pressure for 1 or 2 minutes after the medicine has been placed in the eye). Tilt the head back and with the index finger of the same hand, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to form a pouch. Drop the medicine into the pouch and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed. To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). Also, keep the container tightly closed.Side Effects of This Medicine:
With overuse or long-term use: Increase in eye irritationSymptoms of too much medicine being absorbed into the body: Dizziness; headache; increased sweating; nausea; nervousness; weakness
Symptoms of overdose: Decrease in body temperature; drowsiness; slow heartbeat; weakness (severe)
poster:AndrewB
thread:36854
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000610/msgs/36854.html