Posted by jealibeanz on April 21, 2007, at 0:12:19
So, right now, my medications include:
Provigil, 200mg b.i.d. - fatigue
Ritalin LA, 30 mg b.i.d. - ADHD
Lunesta, 3mg - insomnia
Xanax XR, 3mg - GAD!!!!
Reactions:
I have no major complaints with the Lunesta or Provigil. The Lunesta has almost always worked well for the past year and a half. The Provigil gently wakes me up in the morning and keeps me going at noon.
I tried Ritalin LA after Concerta, 54 mg, because oddly enough, it only lasted 3-4 hours. I never thought Ritalin LA worked well. I started with 20 mg b.i.d. It only worked for about 2-3 hours, then quit. My dosage was increased to 30 mg b.i.d. There was no benefit. The only reason why I'm not going back and complaining that it's not working is because Provigil was added. So now, I don't even know how much the Ritalin help, and I'm no longer crashing from it because Provigil masks that effect.
I do think that Ritalin LA increases my anxiety. I stopped recently for 2 weeks, then went back on. Last week was absolute hell. I'm much better now. Hitting my body hard with a strong stimulant dose was a shock to the system!
I hate hate hate Xanax XR. Xanax works, XR doesn't. Not at all. Continuing to take it is pointless.
My proposal:
I've begun to consider asking to try Strattera again, in exchange for Ritalin LA. Strattera used to help a decent amount with concentration in the first few months, then faded off to nothing by month 6. I was on 60 mg. I know it initially made me tired for a day or two, but wore off. After that, I think it increased energy, at least for a few months.
Maybe I should have increased to 80 or 100 mg. I may ask about this med.
I am slightly afraid of giving up the stimulant because I need to be alert and functional, but he doesn't have a problem prescribing them, so I guess I could try Strattera and then switch back if I need to.
I thiiiink Strattera was slightly depressing/dulling. I remember after d/c'ing, that I felt like I'd lost my real personality. Hmm... won't be able to remember til I try again.
Annnnd of course I'd love to have Xanax back instead of XR. That's probably a pipe dream. I hardly see the point in suggesting it. I do however, see a point in just stopping the ridiculous XR, even if it means no other anxiety med.
poster:jealibeanz
thread:751836
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070419/msgs/751836.html