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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by llurpsienoodle on July 8, 2008, at 21:13:54
Okay--- I know this is kind of unorthodox, but I have had the paradoxical reaction to wellbutrin of a much needed decrease in anxiety and agitation, at least until the WB wears off (I take generic SR, 150 mg). I have pdoc tomorrow am and was wondering whether it's worth my while to ask for the extended release version or perhaps 300mg and decrease the stoopid zoloft to 50 or eliminate it altogether?
or another stimulant? provigil?
current symptoms- fatigue, anxiety, psychomotor agitation (like I have to get up and DO stuff, and tapping my foot and shaking my knee and stuff)
appreciate any input you have...
-Ll
Posted by chiron on July 8, 2008, at 23:10:24
In reply to stimulants for anxiety? a paradoxical reaction, posted by llurpsienoodle on July 8, 2008, at 21:13:54
What effect does the Zoloft have on you?
If the Wellbutrin helps your anxiety & agitation I would say definitely ask for the extended version. Increase? Maybe? Hopefully your dr. is smart enough to have some suggestions based on your paradoxical reaction.My dr. couldn't believe Topomax caused me so much agitation because it is supposedly one of the most successful drugs for decreasing it. It caused me more agitation than any drug I've tried. Weird.
Posted by Phillipa on July 8, 2008, at 23:36:31
In reply to Re: stimulants for anxiety? a paradoxical reaction, posted by chiron on July 8, 2008, at 23:10:24
Lurpsienoodle can't remember your full med cocktail or if it's changed are you on a mood stabalizer or still the zydis? Could it be akethesia? And if you are bipolar wellbutrin seems to help better than other ad's from what I've read. Hope pdoc has some answers for you. I know I tap my foot, pick cuticles and lick my lips but in my case I'm pretty sure it's anxiety. Let us know what the pdoc decides along with you. Love Phillipa
Posted by cactus on July 9, 2008, at 0:45:25
In reply to stimulants for anxiety? a paradoxical reaction, posted by llurpsienoodle on July 8, 2008, at 21:13:54
It's funny Li, I have had anxiety for years and until this current bout of situational anxiety sorts itself out, Provigil (modafinil) has alleviated my anxiety completly. Sometimes stims do quash the prickly pear inside of us. I had to start a small dose of 50mg then back to 100mg because the relentless fatigue kicked back in again. I don't need to go back to 200mg as yet but I will soon. I love modafinil, it's been amazing for me. Good luck hon,
I'd definitely ask to give it a go, peace out hon, cactii
Posted by raisinb on July 9, 2008, at 10:21:24
In reply to stimulants for anxiety? a paradoxical reaction, posted by llurpsienoodle on July 8, 2008, at 21:13:54
This is really interesting--drugs have such different effects on all of us.
A close friend and I started Zoloft at about the same time. I got increasingly mellow (the first week, my mom told me I sounded "drugged"), while my friend suffered back-to-back panic attacks--literally, ten or twelve a day.
If the WB works for you, sure, why not ask to increase it? Or, alternatively, Remeron worked for my friend. Sounds like Zoloft maybe isn't for you?
Posted by llurpsienoodle on July 9, 2008, at 10:49:13
In reply to Re: stimulants for anxiety? a paradoxical reaction » llurpsienoodle, posted by raisinb on July 9, 2008, at 10:21:24
Wellbutrin 2x a day 300mg SR (generic)
zoloft (stay the same 100mg)
abilify decrease to 5mg from 10mg "this will help add more pizazz, but we don't want to add TOO much pizazz" pdoc says
lamictal (stay the same 300mg)prn zyprexa zydis
prn sonata
prn klonopin-Ll
I feel hopeful about this. I don't wanna be launched into some hyperactive agitated mixed state mania. that would be bad. Feeling hopeful is often the difference between successful and unsucessful drug responses.
Posted by raisinb on July 9, 2008, at 17:37:18
In reply to what we decided to do » raisinb, posted by llurpsienoodle on July 9, 2008, at 10:49:13
I hope the change helps. Keep us posted on how you are doing.
Posted by llurpsienoodle on July 9, 2008, at 17:58:47
In reply to Re: what we decided to do » llurpsienoodle, posted by raisinb on July 9, 2008, at 17:37:18
Thanks raisin b [ran?]
Usually I don't like to make 2 med changes at once- inc wellbutrin and dec abilify, but that's what I'm doing. PiZaZZ
lol
-Ll
Posted by Mistermindmasta on July 9, 2008, at 20:46:59
In reply to stimulants for anxiety? a paradoxical reaction, posted by llurpsienoodle on July 8, 2008, at 21:13:54
I think this reactions isn't too weird. I believe some people with ADD-like traits have anxiety problems more induced by the ADD than anything. Sometimes you just gotta clear your head and you arent worried any more.
But it sounds like youre talking about physical symptoms of anxiety more than emotional here, so I dont know if what I wrote above applies. However, I am taking wellbutrin SR, and from day 1 I noticed a decrease in anxiety. For me, that happens with all stimulants, up to a certain point where the anxiety gets worse. But give me like 10mg amphetamine and it definitely 100% kills anxiety. So yeah, it makes sense. I feel physically and emotionally more relaxed from wellbutrin. Only side effect I had was 3 or 4 days of mild insomnia. No agitation, no anxiety, but maybe a slight increase in irritability near the end of the day.
> Okay--- I know this is kind of unorthodox, but I have had the paradoxical reaction to wellbutrin of a much needed decrease in anxiety and agitation, at least until the WB wears off (I take generic SR, 150 mg). I have pdoc tomorrow am and was wondering whether it's worth my while to ask for the extended release version or perhaps 300mg and decrease the stoopid zoloft to 50 or eliminate it altogether?
>
> or another stimulant? provigil?
>
> current symptoms- fatigue, anxiety, psychomotor agitation (like I have to get up and DO stuff, and tapping my foot and shaking my knee and stuff)
>
> appreciate any input you have...
>
> -Ll
Posted by llurpsienoodle on July 9, 2008, at 21:26:44
In reply to Re: stimulants for anxiety? a paradoxical reaction, posted by Mistermindmasta on July 9, 2008, at 20:46:59
> I think this reactions isn't too weird. I believe some people with ADD-like traits have anxiety problems more induced by the ADD than anything. Sometimes you just gotta clear your head and you arent worried any more.
YES! it's as if my anxiety was caused by indecision, and once I decided to do something (decisiveness facilitated by WButrin) I felt lots better.
>
> But it sounds like youre talking about physical symptoms of anxiety more than emotional here, so I dont know if what I wrote above applies. However, I am taking wellbutrin SR, and from day 1 I noticed a decrease in anxiety. For me, that happens with all stimulants, up to a certain point where the anxiety gets worse. But give me like 10mg amphetamine and it definitely 100% kills anxiety. So yeah, it makes sense. I feel physically and emotionally more relaxed from wellbutrin. Only side effect I had was 3 or 4 days of mild insomnia. No agitation, no anxiety, but maybe a slight increase in irritability near the end of the day.interesting. Well, my pdoc didn't want to start me on any new drugs this visit. rather we played around with things to decrease the sedating meds (abilify) and increase the activating ones (WB)
>thanks for your ideas--
-Ll
Posted by cactus on July 11, 2008, at 3:43:51
In reply to Re: stimulants for anxiety? a paradoxical reaction » Mistermindmasta, posted by llurpsienoodle on July 9, 2008, at 21:26:44
oh PIZAZZ, everyone want's it, but when you start tap dancing to the point that sparks come shooting out from your shoes, people generally do tend to notice.
Who ever would have thought too much PIZAZZ would be a bad thing. Only us guys I suppose, sigh.
Li, I know we all react differently to drugs but zoloft gave me so much pizazz I went spaz and ended up with mobile psych teams popping in everyday for 2 weeks. It didn't agree with me, but I thought I was just fine. What's wrong with bouncing off satellites, I'll tell you, they were getting in my way, I wanted to get to the moon. Thank god those days are over.
Anyway, good luck with the new med regime. I'll cross my spirit fingers for you. I've found modafinil gives me nice pizazz, whereas zoloft gives my sister nice pizazz, but I can't touch it.
Peace out, C
Posted by WickedGirl on July 17, 2008, at 5:37:53
In reply to Re: stimulants for anxiety? a paradoxical reaction » llurpsienoodle, posted by cactus on July 11, 2008, at 3:43:51
ROTFL! Oh snap! I had to respond to this one!
If I take Dexedrine (Dextroamphetamine), I become the nicest, most zen-like person. All philosophical and tolerant of everyone.
If I take regular Adderall, I get all the motivation that I need each day, but I also become a homicidal maniac (internally). I am a raving beeatch on it.
Now since the two are closely related (Adderall contains Dexedrine as well as three other amphetamine salts), my doctor does not believe that I have such a different reaction to each.
Oh, and I can take 400mg of Modafinil, and feel like I took nothing.
But give me serotonin drugs, and look out. I just want to jump off a bridge. Sheesh! Complicated stuff eh?
This is the end of the thread.
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