Depression Medications - Suggestions? Anxiety, insomnia, depression -- stimulant?

Author

Suggestions? Anxiety, insomnia, depression -- stimulant?

Cassandra

2006-02-25, 6:57 pm

This kinda seems beyond counter intuitive to me, but I'm starting to
like the idea of trying a stimulant. I'm currently taking Wellbutrin
XL, 450mg, and today decided to try starting Provigil again, but that's
not a long term solution. (It's just the only thing in my cabinet
right now, so I'll take it again until I see my doctor on Friday.)

While taking Provigil, on and off for about two years, I generally
slept pretty well at night, and felt maybe a tiny bit more focussed and
calmer -- and it boosted my mood a bit, which helps everything. Since
stopping it, I'm more miserable -- BUT I stopped it because it seemed
to be increasing the depression. While taking it, too, I needed a nap
every day, at about the same time, around 4 hours after taking it. And
I felt restless, fidgety, etc. Which I don't like, but I feel that way
now, too.

Anyway, my anxiety is worse, with waves of guilt and panic sweeping
over me out of the blue, and also much more depressed. I was thinking
about asking my doctor to try a stimulant, dexadrine, ritalin,
something like that. Does anyone have any suggestions about which
might be a better first choice? Especially given the anxiety disorder?
(I'm hoping that between boosting my mood and maybe helping keep those
intrusive thoughts at bay, it might be at least a wash, if not actually
helpful for the anxiety, too?)

Any comments? That don't come from another planet? Thanks.

Nom dePlume

2006-02-25, 6:57 pm

"Cassandra" <babbler39@excite.com> wrote in message
news:1140312891.960997.273030@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> This kinda seems beyond counter intuitive to me, but I'm starting to
> like the idea of trying a stimulant. I'm currently taking
Wellbutrin
> XL, 450mg, and today decided to try starting Provigil again, but
that's
> not a long term solution. (It's just the only thing in my cabinet
> right now, so I'll take it again until I see my doctor on Friday.)
>
> While taking Provigil, on and off for about two years, I generally
> slept pretty well at night, and felt maybe a tiny bit more focussed
and
> calmer -- and it boosted my mood a bit, which helps everything.
Since
> stopping it, I'm more miserable -- BUT I stopped it because it
seemed
> to be increasing the depression. While taking it, too, I needed a
nap
> every day, at about the same time, around 4 hours after taking it.
And
> I felt restless, fidgety, etc. Which I don't like, but I feel that
way
> now, too.
>
> Anyway, my anxiety is worse, with waves of guilt and panic sweeping
> over me out of the blue, and also much more depressed. I was
thinking
> about asking my doctor to try a stimulant, dexadrine, ritalin,
> something like that. Does anyone have any suggestions about which
> might be a better first choice? Especially given the anxiety
disorder?
> (I'm hoping that between boosting my mood and maybe helping keep
those
> intrusive thoughts at bay, it might be at least a wash, if not
actually
> helpful for the anxiety, too?)
>
> Any comments? That don't come from another planet? Thanks.

The short answer is that I have no idea if a stimulant would help, or
why it should. However, the proof is in the pudding, and I don't see
any harm in trying. As for Ritalin versus Dexedrine, you might as well
go with whichever is cheaper--I can't think of any other criterion
that makes more sense!

I would suggest not taking an extended-release formulation, which is
more likely to cause insomnia, unless it develops that you need one.

Good luck, Cassandra. Stay in touch, and let us know how you're doing,
OK?
--
Nom dePlume, Ph.D.
Why, yes, in fact, I am a rocket scientist.

Guide to Medications for Mental Illness:
http://www.geocities.com/nomdeplume1000/

=====

Medmix

2006-02-25, 6:57 pm

Welbutrin always kept me awake, it's a stimulant. Wouldnt take it in the pm
at all. I take gabapentin 2400mg and good ole paxil every day. At night i
get zyprexa, 300mg trazadone, and 1mg xanax. That pretty much shuts the old
brain down for 8 hours

--
"I don't mind coming to work, but that eight hour wait to go home is a
XXXXX."

"Cassandra" <babbler39@excite.com> wrote in message
news:1140312891.960997.273030@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> This kinda seems beyond counter intuitive to me, but I'm starting to
> like the idea of trying a stimulant. I'm currently taking Wellbutrin
> XL, 450mg, and today decided to try starting Provigil again, but that's
> not a long term solution. (It's just the only thing in my cabinet
> right now, so I'll take it again until I see my doctor on Friday.)
>
> While taking Provigil, on and off for about two years, I generally
> slept pretty well at night, and felt maybe a tiny bit more focussed and
> calmer -- and it boosted my mood a bit, which helps everything. Since
> stopping it, I'm more miserable -- BUT I stopped it because it seemed
> to be increasing the depression. While taking it, too, I needed a nap
> every day, at about the same time, around 4 hours after taking it. And
> I felt restless, fidgety, etc. Which I don't like, but I feel that way
> now, too.
>
> Anyway, my anxiety is worse, with waves of guilt and panic sweeping
> over me out of the blue, and also much more depressed. I was thinking
> about asking my doctor to try a stimulant, dexadrine, ritalin,
> something like that. Does anyone have any suggestions about which
> might be a better first choice? Especially given the anxiety disorder?
> (I'm hoping that between boosting my mood and maybe helping keep those
> intrusive thoughts at bay, it might be at least a wash, if not actually
> helpful for the anxiety, too?)
>
> Any comments? That don't come from another planet? Thanks.
>

Don W. McCollough

2006-02-25, 6:57 pm

"Cassandra" <babbler39@excite.com> wrote in message
news:1140312891.960997.273030@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> This kinda seems beyond counter intuitive to me, but I'm starting to
> like the idea of trying a stimulant. I'm currently taking Wellbutrin
> XL, 450mg, and today decided to try starting Provigil again, but that's
> not a long term solution. (It's just the only thing in my cabinet
> right now, so I'll take it again until I see my doctor on Friday.)
>
> While taking Provigil, on and off for about two years, I generally
> slept pretty well at night, and felt maybe a tiny bit more focussed and
> calmer -- and it boosted my mood a bit, which helps everything. Since
> stopping it, I'm more miserable -- BUT I stopped it because it seemed
> to be increasing the depression. While taking it, too, I needed a nap
> every day, at about the same time, around 4 hours after taking it. And
> I felt restless, fidgety, etc. Which I don't like, but I feel that way
> now, too.
>
> Anyway, my anxiety is worse, with waves of guilt and panic sweeping
> over me out of the blue, and also much more depressed. I was thinking
> about asking my doctor to try a stimulant, dexadrine, ritalin,
> something like that. Does anyone have any suggestions about which
> might be a better first choice? Especially given the anxiety disorder?
> (I'm hoping that between boosting my mood and maybe helping keep those
> intrusive thoughts at bay, it might be at least a wash, if not actually
> helpful for the anxiety, too?)
>
> Any comments? That don't come from another planet? Thanks.

I'll put my gravity boots on for you.

Stimulants have their DOOOWWWNNN side.

Joe Leung

2006-02-26, 12:55 am

I agree, after the stimulant effect, the deppression comes back more
severe...

"Don W. McCollough" <letters@softhome.net> ¼¶¼g©ó¶l¥ó·s»D:UWcKf.31548$6f2.22889@trnddc02...
>
> "Cassandra" <babbler39@excite.com> wrote in message
> news:1140312891.960997.273030@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
> I'll put my gravity boots on for you.
>
> Stimulants have their DOOOWWWNNN side.
>
>
>