Posted by bleauberry on April 8, 2010, at 17:03:12
In reply to Adrafinil+Prozac quest. for Bleauberry, posted by conundrum on April 7, 2010, at 22:25:01
I never tried adrafinil on its own, so I don't know how that differs from the combo with prozac.
My experience overall was very similar to what literature on the web says about it. That is, it is not a direct acting stimulant like ritalin or adderal, though it might feel that way the first couple days or so.
It takes a while to do its thing. At about one month you become more talkative and depression lifts. The next phase motivation and interest return. In the final phase, cognitive function returns. The whole process is about 3 months.
Expecting instant results with adrafinil is not realistic, in my opinion.
In terms of anhedonia, it does not by itself all of a sudden turn on interest and joy. That does come, but very subtle and over time. It creeps up on you so that you aren't even aware it's happening until a couple months later, and then you go, wow, I've got a new hobby, I've been busy, I'm engaged in the world again, how did that happen.
Another thing about it is that it allows one to feel motivation and joy, but only when they do something that requires it. The motivation and joy is on demand. Kind of like viagra. Viagra will not make an erection unless there is stimulation. Adrafinil will not directly cause motivation and joy unless there is stimulation. It is there waiting for you to do something, and then when you do, it kicks in. Otherwise, without stimulation, it doesn't do much in terms of anhedonia.
Which kind of goes along with my personal beliefs, as well as what is taught in neurology testbooks for med students, that the brain needs to be exercised in the desired direction. To simply sit back and wait for anhedonia to just disappear probably won't happen without some work. The brain needs to be retaught. It learns that by doing things that should be interesting or fun, even if they don't feel that way at the time. Adrafinil makes it so that when you engage like that, it kicks in on demand almost instantly. But you gotta take it for a couple months to get to that point.
poster:bleauberry
thread:942702
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100406/msgs/942781.html