Posted by bleauberry on August 19, 2009, at 16:41:42
In reply to Beginning Adrafinil, posted by ajax1 on August 17, 2009, at 18:13:04
I was on adrafinil for several years.
Being sensitive, I started with 300mg once a day. Too much. I got nervous, kind of a quivery voice thing, and felt both comfortably stimulated and uncomfortably stimulated at the same time. Cut down to half a pill for a few days, better, but then I didn't feel anything. Went up to 300mg again, didn't feel anything. Went up to 600mg, felt a little energy, soon pooped out. The overstimulated thing was only for the first few days.
But everything I had read said it takes weeks to work. It does not work in the same way as an immediate stimulant, but more like an antidepressant needing weeks. So even though I didn't feel it, I settled on 300mg and figured what the heck, no side effects, might as well see what happens.
A month later, it dawned on me, I was interested in things again, I was talking and sociable, I was part of life again.
For me adrafinil was a darn good mood stabilizer as well. I don't see why someone would say you need depakote with it. If anything, I think it goes best with a small amount of ssri. I guess everyone is different, so depakote might go well with it. I was on depakote for a while and I can see how these two meds might go well together.
Real important though...one thing at a time. Don't start the meds at the same time. You won't know what is doing what in terms of side effects, bad effects, or good effects. Is it one of the drugs? Is it the other? Or is it neither, but rather a interaction of the two? Choose one and stay on it at least two weeks before introducing the other.
Depakote is a heavy hitter. Adrafinil is fairly tame. I would start with Adrafinil, and be prepared to cut pills smaller if needed. But that's just me.
Both drugs have liver risks. If Adrafinil ends up being monotherapy or combination therapy, you should get a liver function lab test at least once every 6 months. I got one about every 4 months but they were always fine. Probably because I kept the dose at 300mg where for me it worked fine.
poster:bleauberry
thread:912650
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090818/msgs/913011.html