It's frustrating when you know something works, but you can't get it...

[NicktheQuik]

How many medications minimum do you think one would have to go through before the doctor thinks a stimulant like dexedrine would be an option? I know it most likely just depends on the doctor, but I'm curious to hear what anyone here has heard/known/experienced on this subject.

I've tried Adderall (Only about 5 times this whole year) because my friend has a prescription for it now for his add, and it's been awesome. I don't do it just cuz it gives me any kind of high, but when we do it (I only do it when Im with him) it gets me talking A LOT more then I usually do, we just drive around and hang out on playgrounds for hours and hours. I know getting stimulants is probably last resort for depression/Social Anxiety though.

So far I've been on Citalopram for about 3 months, Zoloft for about a month, and next time I see my doctor (The 21st) I'll have been on Remeron for about 6 weeks. (All three of these meds have been taken separately) Citalopram and Zoloft I've felt nothing, and Remeron very little. I think it's just made things that were already comfortable, a little more comfortable.

So I'm targeting Wellbutrin next because it doesn't seem like my problem is seratonin related, and I think it might be a dopamine related problem. And as far as I know Wellbutrin might be one of the only medications I can get prescribed that effects dopamine levels, even if just a little.

[Arisa1536]

Originally Posted by NicktheQuik

How many medications minimum do you think one would have to go through before the doctor thinks a stimulant like dexedrine would be an option? I know it most likely just depends on the doctor, but I'm curious to hear what anyone here has heard/known/experienced on this subject.

I've tried Adderall (Only about 5 times this whole year) because my friend has a prescription for it now for his add, and it's been awesome. I don't do it just cuz it gives me any kind of high, but when we do it (I only do it when Im with him) it gets me talking A LOT more then I usually do, we just drive around and hang out on playgrounds for hours and hours. I know getting stimulants is probably last resort for depression/Social Anxiety though.

So far I've been on Citalopram for about 3 months, Zoloft for about a month, and next time I see my doctor (The 21st) I'll have been on Remeron for about 6 weeks. (All three of these meds have been taken separately) Citalopram and Zoloft I've felt nothing, and Remeron very little. I think it's just made things that were already comfortable, a little more comfortable.

So I'm targeting Wellbutrin next because it doesn't seem like my problem is seratonin related, and I think it might be a dopamine related problem. And as far as I know Wellbutrin might be one of the only medications I can get prescribed that effects dopamine levels, even if just a little.

well i agree with you completely
zoloft and Citalopram are not that great for Anxiety, they are good for depression and if thats all you have then sure take them, but i still cannot see why doctors and shrinks are prescribing SSRI's for severe social and general anxiety its crazy, i know so many people who they do NOT work on, people with depression they work for but anxiety is different, and IMO a hell of a lot worse, i know i have both chronic anxiety and major depression combined and you know what works for both?

A mixture of therapy, medications and Benzo's
not just one pill or one bout of cognitive therapy or relaxing tape on breathing technique will do the job

this Wellbutrin you speak of sounds like the best option as its used for major depression accordign to drugs.com
You should not take Wellbutrin if you have:

• epilepsy or a seizure disorder;
• an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia;
• if you are using a second form of bupropion; or
• if you have suddenly stopped using alcohol or sedatives (such as Valium)

that could be why the doc never mentioned it to me, oh also its not available this side of the world dammit

But as with any anti depressant, you gotta watch out for those side effects which include,as with most anti depressants

• seizure (convulsions);
• severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
• fever, swollen glands, rash or itching, joint pain, or general ill feeling;
• confusion, trouble concentrating; or
• hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior.
• Less serious Wellbutrin side effects may include:

• headache or migraine;
• sleep problems (insomnia);
• nausea, vomiting, constipation, dry mouth;
• dizziness, tremors (shaking);
• appetite changes, weight loss or gain;
• mild itching or skin rash, increased sweating; or
• loss of interest in sex.

Hope i could help

i am similar to you in thinking, only i am like that with lorazepam, they work great and the doc and all the psych team say no no no and give me clonazepam instead which are good but loraz are that much better

[jakeforpresident]

Don't ask for dexedrine. Just start listing dopamine related complaints like:
-depression
-anxiety
-excessive sleep
-lack of focus/failing motivation, etc.

Just look ADD symptoms up online as well as dopamine defeciencies. You may notice you have all of them, so its not really lying or drug seeking behavior.

Good luck

[RockiNToM]

I know exactly what it's like.

I'm pretty certain for me personally my mood problems ARE dopamine related. With my anxiety I noticed it improved when my mood is elevated, so that's another reason why treating my mood would be effective after all the anti-depressants I've taken that didn't do much.

Right now I'm on tramadol which gives me some dopamine stimulation and I noticed right away from day 1 that I could think clearer and I felt less depressed. Unfortunately it's not used for treating mood disorders or anxiety so that rules that out as something to rely on.

The next step for me would be to try either MAOI that acts on dopamine or a stimulant. But for me personally getting either (yes even a MAOI) is rather difficult given how by the book my doc is.

Very depressing when I could just walk into a supermarket store and buy a crate load of alcohol to solve most my mood and anxiety problems. Stupid but I wouldn't be surprised if people were driven to this type of extremity from anal doctors.

[crayzyMed]

Many ppl here also have ADHD-I, so just get tested for that and get a stimulant.

[NicktheQuik]

Yea I think I may actually have ADD. Both of my twin brothers (They're 18 now) were diagnosed with it in 2nd grade and stayed back, and all through school they've had school problems. They were on adderall for a little while but stopped because they didn't like the side effects I guess.

But anyways, from what I've heard add can be really genetic, so if they have it I'm under the assumption that it's very likely that I have a strong case of it also. I've talked to my psycho therapist about it also, but I almost think he's thinking, "Nah you don't have much add so you don't need to get tested" and I can never get around to actually seeing someone about a real test.

So for now I'm most likely gonna follow jakeforpresident's advice which I've already been planning on doing.

[NicktheQuik]

Yea I've talked to my friend on numerous occasions, about how I wish there was some way I could tell my doctor that a stimulant like adderall works for me, without actually telling him. Cuz then he'd probably think I have a drug seeking behavior, and be really cautious about prescribing me anything.

[bben]

The active ingredient in Dexedrine is ten times easier then adderall to get.

Thats because Dexedrine is simply extended release dextro-amphetamine.

Dextro-Amphetamine what vyvanse metabolizes into. So just ask for vyvanse.

Shrinks love vyvanse because its supposedly abuse proof, as in you cant snort it or inject it. So by asking for vyvanse you get extended release dextro-amphetamine (converted from lisdextroamphetamine).

It even makes you look less like a drug seeker since vyvanse is supposedly abuse proof. Thats a load of **** though and its almost just as easy to abuse.

[NicktheQuik]

So I could get Vyvanse for SA/Depression?

[TiMeZuP]

Originally Posted by NicktheQuik

So I could get Vyvanse for SA/Depression?

I know things shouldnt be this way in a perfect world. But there is a good possibility that VyVanse would help your SA/Depression. However the powers that be consider this a no no. Stims are for people with ADHD, Docs dont like to consider stims off label because its a huge liability to them. If your interstesting in the possibilities your best options is to explore Inattentive ADD or ADHD-I to find how you fit that criteria.

[NicktheQuik]

I'm pretty sure I have the Inattentive ADD. I just don't know if I'm gonna see someone about it. There's a guy in the same building as my psycho therapist and psychiatrist, but I don't wanna make the call, I'd rather be referred to him by my therapist, cuz we've already talked about add and possibly seeing someone about it, so I'm kinda just waiting for something to happen with him. I don't wanna go off on my own and do it.

[Positive]

Keep in mind drugs are drugs. You don't really want to be on them forever !

Anxiety is a genetic predisposition IMHO. It's just something you have to live with...

The important thing is to create change ! Change as in lifestyle changes. Being active, going out, doing things, thinking positive.

Drugs can only take you so far. Benzos stuns you, SSRIs are still 'anti depressents' but drugs don't create new memories for you, it can actually put you in worst shape !!

Being stunned up on benzos, booze, and smoking ain't a great feel to me.

[TiMeZuP]

^It takes Chemicals to change chemicals. Changing behaviors may bump someone up a peg or two but many people on here are so many pegs below normal.

[NicktheQuik]

Yea, I mean if I could do all that stuff you say like going out, doing things, changing my lifestyle, I would. It's not as simple as you make it sound.

And anxiety isn't just something I have to live with either, I can get help via therapy and medication, which I'm doing right now and I have seen improvement, albeit very little so far.


My friend use to take adderall for when he went to work and school because he'd be almost afraid to talk to customers and classmates, and just engage himself with people. But after a while of taking adderall, it actually helped him lower that wall between him and other people, so now the only reason he takes any stimulants is to help him concentrate on his school work.

This is a perfect example that I've seen first hand where medication did change someone for the better, and he doesn't even need them anymore to be who he wants to be.